# The Ghost of Keyzermas Past

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2016-12-23
- Length: 1h 17m
- Episode: 328
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/328-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past/

## Summary

Jeff Kaiser, an engineer at Valve, discusses his recent travels to Bell Labs sites in New Jersey, including the historic Holmdel horn antenna used for radio astronomy, and his work on the Steam Controller. He details the challenges of high-volume manufacturing, such as managing component lot variations, ensuring yield through statistical process control tools like JMP, and the necessity of factory support for designers. Kaiser also reflects on the importance of prototyping, embracing failure, and the evolving landscape of hardware education and maker communities.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=0) Introduction: Jeff Kaiser and MightyOhm
- [1:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=96) Travel to Sydney and Hardware Conferences
- [9:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=551) Bell Labs History and The Idea Factory
- [15:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=900) Visiting Bell Labs Sites: West Street, Murray Hill, and Holmdel
- [24:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=1491) The Holmdel Horn and Radio Astronomy Discovery
- [34:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=2085) Valve and Steam Controller Manufacturing Support
- [41:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=2464) Statistical Process Control, JMP, and Yield Management
- [51:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=3061) Component Sourcing, Samples, and Supply Chain Risks
- [58:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=3504) The Batterizer Controversy and Open Source Hardware
- [1:06:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past#t=4013) CCC Conference, Makerspaces, and Future Goals

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Valve (company)
- Steam Controller (product)
- Bell Labs (company)
- MightyOhm (company)
- JMP (tool)
- Minitab (tool)
- Holmdel Horn (product)
- Batterizer (product)
- Geiger counter (product)
- AVR Rescue Shield 2 (product)

## 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)
- [25: Thunderdome for Antennas](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 065: A mallard is a tool you use when you do chisel work](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-04-01-episode-065-a-mallard-is-a-tool-you-use-when-you-do-chisel-work) (Making It)
- [119: Do Your Neighbors Have Any Idea?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ray Kampmeier | The Humble Transistor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-10-07-ray-kampmeier-the-humble-transistor) (Being an Engineer)

## 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/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past. 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.