# The Tiny Lab Movement

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-11-24
- Length: 1h 03m
- Episode: 468
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/468-the-tiny-lab-movement/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the 'Tiny Lab Movement,' contrasting the sterility of WeWork spaces with the focused efficiency of small, hardware-centric workshops. They detail Jones's use of flex PCBs to solve a microcontroller memory constraint in his USB Power Delivery project, highlighting the low cost and speed of modern online fabrication. The conversation also covers the practical realities of PCB manufacturing, including material tolerances like TG ratings, and explores the growing viability of FPGAs for embedded systems, citing open-source toolchain progress and recent conference insights.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=0) Introduction: The Tiny Lab Movement and WeWork Critique
- [6:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=389) Lab Space: Flex PCBs and Microcontroller Constraints
- [16:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=992) PCB Manufacturing: Turnkey Services and Material Tolerances
- [26:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=1606) Flex PCB Economics and Historical Context
- [31:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=1887) Robotic Warehouses and Battery Safety Failures
- [36:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=2201) Assembly Language, Machine Code, and Ben Eater
- [39:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=2365) FPGAs at Supercon: Soft Cores and Open Tools
- [46:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=2789) FPGA Practicality vs. Microcontroller Reroutability
- [52:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=3172) USB PD Implementation Challenges and Library Issues
- [1:00:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement#t=3616) Industry News: Yageo/Kemet Acquisition

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- WeWork (company)
- PCBWay (company)
- JLCPCB (company)
- Oshpark (company)
- Yageo (company)
- Kemet (company)
- Rogers (material)
- FR408 (material)
- RISC-V (chip)
- STM32 (chip)
- USB PD (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [293: Skateboard Tricks (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [100: Unintentional Radiator](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-05-06-100-unintentional-radiator) (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)
- [044 - Scots Army Knife](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-01-03-044-scots-army-knife) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [293: Skateboard Tricks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks) (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/2019-11-24-the-tiny-lab-movement. 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.