# Merry Keyzermas!

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2015-12-25
- Length: 1h 28m
- Episode: 279
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/279-merry-keyzermas/

## Summary

Chris Gammell, an engineer at Valve, discusses the high-volume manufacturing of the Steam Controller, detailing the transition from prototype to a massive automated assembly line in Illinois. He explains the engineering challenges of designing for production variation, such as component tolerances and temperature-sensitive magnets, and the complexities of designing for automation. Gammell also shares insights from his frequent trips to China for PCB assembly, emphasizing the importance of a portable 'China kit' and rapid quality control processes.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas#t=0) Introduction: Chris Gammell and Valve's Steam Controller
- [4:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas#t=274) Designing for Production Variation and Temperature
- [12:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas#t=742) Automated Assembly Line in Illinois
- [17:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas#t=1030) Design for Automation and Iterative Constraints
- [29:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas#t=1765) PCB Assembly in China and the 'China Kit'
- [46:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas#t=2776) Supply Chain Management and Component Substitution
- [57:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas#t=3455) Quality Control, Rework, and Factory Dynamics

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Valve (company)
- Steam Controller (product)
- DinoLite (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- OneNote (tool)
- NXP (chip)
- Nordic (chip)
- nRF51 (chip)
- iFixit (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [154: Physics Is a Big Pain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain) (Embedded.fm)
- [Chris Denney | PCB Design, Fabrication, & Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-12-16-chris-denney-pcb-design-fabrication-manufacturing) (Being an Engineer)
- [57: Mashed in the Gears](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2020-02-19-57-mashed-in-the-gears) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [PCB Assembly and Design for Manufacturing with Duane Benson of Screaming Circuits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-03-pcb-assembly-and-design-for-manufacturing-with-duane-benson-of-screaming-circuit) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [140: Physics Is the Same Everywhere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-02-25-140-physics-is-the-same-everywhere) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.