# PLEASE be a die shrink

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2021-08-16
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 554
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-16-please-be-a-die-shrink
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/554-please-be-a-die-shrink/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the terror of receiving Product Change Notifications (PCNs) from distributors like DigiKey, specifically highlighting Vishay's decision to remove markings from their TNPW series resistors, which complicates automated optical inspection. They analyze the M.2 connector standard, detailing how keying (A, B, E, M) dictates pinout functionality for applications ranging from NVMe drives to cellular modems from Blue's Wireless and SparkFun. The conversation also covers Espressif's new ESP32-C3, a RISC-V based microcontroller that maintains the ESP32 branding despite a different architecture, and the economic challenges of producing low-volume test equipment like the B-Funk function generator.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-16-please-be-a-die-shrink#t=0) Introduction: Moving to North Carolina and Label Printers
- [10:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-16-please-be-a-die-shrink#t=609) M.2 Connector Keying and Pinout Standards
- [25:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-16-please-be-a-die-shrink#t=1523) Bryman Multimeter Firmware and Right to Repair
- [37:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-16-please-be-a-die-shrink#t=2228) Economics of Low-Volume Test Equipment (B-Funk)
- [51:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-16-please-be-a-die-shrink#t=3110) Vishay PCN: Removing Resistor Markings
- [57:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-16-please-be-a-die-shrink#t=3463) Espressif ESP32-C3 and RISC-V Adoption

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- DigiKey (company)
- Mouser (company)
- Vishay (company)
- TNPW series (product)
- M.2 (product)
- Blue's Wireless (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- ESP32-C3 (chip)
- Espressif (company)
- Bryman (company)
- BM786 (product)
- B-Funk (product)
- Siglent (company)
- Logic Pro (product)
- AD9837 (chip)
- LTZ1000 (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-05-06-the-spark-gap-episode-32) (The Spark Gap)
- [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)
- [322: Learn Assembly Code](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-02-28-322-learn-assembly-code) (Embedded.fm)
- [For Want of a Resistor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2026-09-16-for-want-of-a-resistor) (Oxide and Friends)
- [EP014: Keeping Raspberry's SD Card Alive, We Love MRRF, and How Hot Are Flip Chips?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-04-12-ep014-keeping-raspberrys-sd-card-alive-we-love-mrrf-and-how-hot-are-flip-chips) (Hackaday Podcast)

## 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/2021-08-16-please-be-a-die-shrink. 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.