Hardware Podcasts

An interview with Macrofab - Macro Manufacturing Mechanization

The Amp Hour · 2 Apr 2015 · 1h 34m · Episode 243

What this episode covers

Chris Church and Parker Doman of MacroFab discuss their software-enabled contract manufacturing model in Houston, Texas, designed for agile, low-quantity production. They explain how their platform allows customers to upload Gerber and BOM files to receive instant quotes, with pricing that scales transparently from single units to small batches, often undercutting traditional EMS providers. The founders detail their operational strategy, including refurbishing mid-90s pick-and-place equipment, maintaining a 'house parts' inventory of common passives to reduce costs, and handling fulfillment and testing for Kickstarter campaigns. They emphasize that their software-driven approach eliminates upfront engineering setup fees by letting users validate part placement online, making it viable to produce one-off boards profitably.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
MacroFab, Osh Park, Mouser, DigiKey, CircuitHub, SnapEDA
Products
Propeller
Tools
Eagle, KiCad, DipTrace

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