# Keyzermas Vacation

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-12-23
- Length: 1h 23m
- Episode: 472
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/472-keyzermas-vacation/

## Summary

Chris Gammell, founder of MightyOhm, discusses his transition from Valve to independent product development, focusing on his efforts to learn SolidWorks and Altium to enable full electrical-mechanical co-design. He details the challenges of sourcing long-lead-time through-hole components for his Geiger counter kits and shares insights from attending the IEEE EMC symposium, emphasizing the importance of robust design over mere compliance. The conversation also covers the practical realities of 3D printing functional parts, the high cost of professional RF test equipment like VNAs, and the evolving landscape of vintage electronics and manufacturing supply chains.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=0) Introduction: Chris Gammell and MightyOhm
- [1:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=117) Conference Travel: DesignCon, IEEE EMC, and Chaos Camp
- [4:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=244) Career Shift: Leaving Valve and Learning SolidWorks
- [11:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=702) Software Licensing: SolidWorks vs. Fusion and Negotiation Strategies
- [25:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=1523) 3D Printing: Functional Brackets and Mechanical Design Lessons
- [33:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=1993) RF and EMC: VNAs, Connectors, and Far-Field Testing
- [48:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=2920) EMC Symposium Insights: Compliance, Immunity, and Firmware
- [1:01:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=3666) Vintage Hobbies: Sunbeam Cars and Sinclair C5 Authenticity
- [1:15:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation#t=4536) Supply Chain: Long Lead Times for Through-Hole Components

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- MightyOhm (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- Fusion (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- Valve (company)
- Prusa (product)
- Keysight (company)
- Rohde & Schwarz (company)
- Geiger counter kit (product)
- Sunbeam (product)
- Sinclair C5 (product)
- Yageo (company)
- Kemet (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)
- [35: All These Different Reasons Why You Might Want to Do Something](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-15-35-all-these-different-reasons-why-you-might-want-to-do-something) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep013: Naked Components, Shocking Power Supplies, Eye-Popping Clock, And The Hackaday Prize](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-04-05-ep013-naked-components-shocking-power-supplies-eye-popping-clock-and-the-hackada) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [36: Drive the Boat with a Wii Mote](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-22-36-drive-the-boat-with-a-wii-mote) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2018-01-01-the-spark-gap-episode-52) (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/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation. 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.