# I've bitten myself

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2018-05-21
- Length: 1h 12m
- Episode: 393
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/393-ive-bitten-myself/

## Summary

Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss PCB design challenges, specifically the critical importance of specifying solder mask expansion to avoid manufacturing rejections. They analyze the economics of PCB fabrication, the technical complexities of routing BGA packages, and the limitations of sharing ECAD footprint libraries across different tools. The conversation also covers the risks of component obsolescence in hardware startups and critiques the 'verified' badges on crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself#t=0) Introduction and Solder Mask Errors
- [1:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself#t=112) Solder Mask Expansion and PCB Manufacturing
- [11:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself#t=712) PCB Pricing and Fab Shop Economics
- [15:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself#t=950) BGA Routing and Via-in-Pad Techniques
- [28:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself#t=1734) ECAD Footprint Libraries and Standardization
- [37:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself#t=2240) Driving LCDs with Holtek Drivers
- [53:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself#t=3216) Kickstarter Verification and Hardware Risks
- [1:04:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself#t=3843) Component Obsolescence and Mitigation

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- KiCad (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- Holtek (chip)
- Samsung (company)
- Kickstarter (company)
- Indiegogo (company)
- Avnet (company)
- Dragon Innovation (company)
- EEVblog (company)
- Contextual Electronics (company)
- SAMD21 (chip)
- LoRa (product)
- Keithley Instruments (company)
- PCB Shopper (company)
- Upverter (company)
- SnapEDA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [PCB Assembly Mistakes Designers Keep Making: PCB West 2026 Preview](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-09-pcb-assembly-mistakes-designers-keep-making-pcb-west-2026-preview) (OnTrack)
- [Solving PCB Library Issues: Expert Advice from Elizabeth Bustamante](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-19-solving-pcb-library-issues-expert-advice-from-elizabeth-bustamante) (OnTrack)
- [20: Soldered Together By Monkeys](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-26-20-soldered-together-by-monkeys) (Embedded.fm)
- [92: Everybody Behave, Please](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-11-92-everybody-behave-please) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-02-11-the-spark-gap-episode-26) (The Spark Gap)

## 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/2018-05-21-ive-bitten-myself. 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.