Hardware Podcasts

Part Choice Triathlon

The Amp Hour · 30 Oct 2015 · 1h 23m · Episode 273

What this episode covers

Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the operational challenges of managing large makerspaces, such as the Case Western Reserve University innovation center, focusing on the need for active staffing and mentorship to prevent resource abuse. They analyze the consolidation of the semiconductor industry, specifically the bidding war for Maxim Integrated by Texas Instruments and Analog Devices, and the implications for component sourcing. The conversation also covers the controversy surrounding Siglent's enforcement of pricing policies on eBay and the technical details of the OSHchip, a DIP-packaged Bluetooth module by Philip Freidin.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Case Western Reserve University, Texas Instruments, Maxim Integrated, Analog Devices, Siglent
Products
OSHchip
Tools
LPKF, Webbench
Also
Larry Sears, Philip Freidin

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Embedded.fm · 57m

    322: Learn Assembly Code

    Ramiro Montes de Oca, CEO and founder of aThing.io, explains his company's 'motionless electronics'—modular, penny-sized components that connect via phone-style connectors without soldering. He discusses the technical architecture of these modules, the emerging chiplet industry standard led by the Chiplet Alliance, and the business challenges of scaling hardware manufacturing during global supply chain disruptions. Montes de Oca also shares insights from exhibiting at CES and the importance of design-for-manufacturing for early-stage founders.

    PCB design & layoutChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    8 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 46m

    S4E28 Kevin Distelhurst | Semiconductors – What They Are & How They’re Manufactured

    Kevin Distelhurst, a failure analysis engineer with a career in semiconductor manufacturing, explains the physics and fabrication of chips, detailing the transition from silicon devices to copper interconnects and the role of photolithography. He discusses the extreme precision required in cleanrooms, the use of scanning and transmission electron microscopes (SEM/TEM) for defect analysis, and the industry's shift towards integrating diverse components like wireless chips onto single packages as Moore's Law slows. Distelhurst also shares insights on the collaborative nature of chip design, the significant slowdowns caused by tool downtime and human error, and the challenges of training new engineers who must develop 'wisdom' through practice.

    Chips, FPGAs & semiconductorsDebugging & failure analysis
    8 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 03m

    360: Cats Love It!

    Ben Hest of Digi-Key discusses the company's massive warehouse operations, logistics, and the current semiconductor shortage. He explains how Digi-Key manages inventory for both hobbyists and large enterprises, the challenges of part allocation, and the transition from physical catalogs to digital tools like the BOM Manager and TechForum. Hest also highlights new components like the Raspberry Pi Pico and Parallax Propeller 2, and offers advice on navigating supply chain constraints.

    Sourcing & supply chainLogistics & fulfilment
    6 chapters

  • The Circuit · 14m

    The Circuit Ep:1 - Introductions

    Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, and Jay Goldberg, an investor in early-stage electronics and semiconductor companies, introduce their new podcast, The Circuit. They discuss the resurgence of interest in semiconductors, the economic implications of Moore's Law, and the shift toward chiplet architectures and advanced packaging to manage rising costs. The hosts outline future episodes covering geopolitics, supply chain resilience, and the strategic challenges facing major players like Intel and Apple.

    Chips, FPGAs & semiconductorsPricing, margins & unit economics
    8 chapters

  • The Circuit · 38m

    Episode 53: Supply Chain Demand Help and Dueling Mega Cycles

    Hosts Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg analyze Sam Altman's reported plan to raise $7 trillion for semiconductor infrastructure, interpreting it as a public negotiation tactic with Nvidia and TSMC rather than a serious fundraising effort. They discuss the simultaneous 'dueling mega cycles' of AI compute demand and spatial computing (Apple Vision Pro), noting how hardware constraints are slowing software innovation. The conversation shifts to Intel's Foundry Services (IFS) strategy, debating the economic viability of its heavy investment in high-NA EUV technology versus the need for efficient, competitive manufacturing to capture wafer scale customers.

    Chips, FPGAs & semiconductorsScaling production
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.