# Once Every Couple Months

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2018-07-23
- Length: 1h 03m
- Episode: 400
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/400-once-every-couple-months/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the lack of an online marketplace for custom LCDs, noting that while PCB prototyping is commoditized, custom displays require direct manufacturer engagement and high-volume orders to justify tooling costs. They also cover the discontinuation of Altium's Circuit Maker in favor of Upverter, the impact of 25% tariffs on electronic components and manufacturing equipment, and the release of KiCad 5 and CircuitPython 3. The conversation touches on hardware hacking games like NAND Game and Exapunks, and the challenges of teaching engineering to deaf students via ASL.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=0) Introduction: Dave Jones and Chris Gammell catch up
- [3:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=195) Custom LCDs: High tooling costs and lack of online marketplaces
- [10:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=636) PCB Panelization: Tools, Gerbers, and assembly workflows
- [16:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=973) DEF CON Badge: Prototyping with Neoden 4 and M hub
- [19:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=1142) Scientology E-meter teardown and KiCad 5 news
- [22:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=1365) Altium Circuit Maker shutdown and Upverter acquisition
- [29:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=1778) Tariffs: 25% impact on components, equipment, and supply chains
- [44:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=2660) Hardware Games: NAND Game, Exapunks, and Shenzhen IO
- [51:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=3060) Teaching Engineering in ASL and accessibility challenges
- [58:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months#t=3532) RISC-V, Arm smear site, and Hackaday Super Conference

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- JLC PCB (company)
- PCB Shopper (other)
- Altium (company)
- KiCad (other)
- Circuit Maker (other)
- Upverter (other)
- CircuitPython (other)
- Macrofab (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- Mouser (company)
- NAND Game (other)
- Exapunks (other)
- Shenzhen IO (other)
- Hackaday Super Conference (other)
- Arm (company)
- RISC-V (other)
- Sci-5 (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [20: Soldered Together By Monkeys](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-26-20-soldered-together-by-monkeys) (Embedded.fm)
- [PCB East 2025: Exhibitors, AI Trends & Networking Opportunities](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-05-09-pcb-east-2025-exhibitors-ai-trends-networking-opportunities) (OnTrack)
- [123: Banished from Running Linux](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux) (Embedded.fm)
- [069 - Canned Cheese and Onion Rings](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2024-04-17-069-canned-cheese-and-onion-rings) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [171: Perfectly Good Being Square and Green](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green) (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/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months. 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.