Picking a Pick and Place Pickiness

The Amp Hour · 21 Nov 2022 · 1h 08m · Episode 610

What this episode covers

Dave Jones from EEVblog discusses his intention to purchase a Neoden YY1 pick-and-place machine for in-house PCB assembly, while Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics encourages the move despite the machine's software and feeder limitations. The hosts compare the Neoden YY1 to open-source alternatives like the Lumen (Opulo) pick-and-place, noting the commercial machine's superior hardware despite its high cost and shipping fees. They also cover low-cost RISC-V microcontrollers from WCH, specifically the CH32V003, and discuss the challenges of integrating renewable energy into the power grid, citing issues with intermittency and the need for baseload power like nuclear.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Electromaker Show · 24m

    RISC V Special! 10 Cent parts, RISC V OS from scratch, New ESP32 devkits!

    The host discusses the WCH CH32V003, a 10-cent RISC-V microcontroller, highlighting projects by Dave from EEVblog, Charles Law's software-defined Nixie tube driver, and Bitluni's 16-chip supercluster. He recommends Sarah Jamie Lewis's OS development series and Warren Gay's book on RISC-V assembly for learning the architecture. The episode concludes with news on the ESP32-H2 development kit and a critical review of the TinkerBoard Revision 2, noting its high price and limited upgrades.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 20m

    123: Banished from Running Linux

    Bob Coggeshall, co-author of sudo and founder of Small Batch Assembly, explains how he transitioned from a career in software to running a boutique electronics assembly service for makers. He details the technical challenges of automating low-volume PCB assembly, including building a custom pricing engine in Python and integrating with the Octopart Common Parts Library to streamline customer workflows. Coggeshall also discusses his personal projects, such as driving Nixie tubes with high-voltage circuits and using microcontrollers like the ATmega328 and Atmel SAM D20.

  • The Electromaker Show · 40m

    I2C on your PC with Pico, Pocket Integrator Goes Live, OrangePi Monitor, and more!

    The host reviews the Electromaker of the Month winners, highlighting Sector 7’s sci-fi short film documenting the build of Project Lumen, a smart headboard with voice assistant and coffee brewing capabilities. The episode covers the Pocket Integrator, a device for Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators that adds MIDI sync and USB power, and Infineon’s battery-less NFC padlock. It also features Stephen Hawes introducing the Lumen PNP, an open-source desktop pick-and-place machine priced at $1,745.

  • Being an Engineer · 1h 00m

    Chris Denney | PCB Design, Fabrication, & Manufacturing

    Chris Denney, CTO at Worthington Assembly, discusses the complexities of small-volume PCB assembly, contrasting the 'one to 100 piece' prototype range with the new challenges of scaling to 10,000-piece monthly orders. He explains that while pick-and-place machines are incredibly fast, the real difficulty lies in parts management, moisture sensitivity, and avoiding common design mistakes like using non-manufacturable boards from services like OSH Park. Denney also highlights his partnership with CircuitHub, which uses software to generate instant quotes for low-volume work, allowing Worthington to focus on higher-volume production runs.

  • Hackaday Podcast · 1h 23m

    Ep 375: Rebuilding Tech on Our Terms and the Hero Nerd

    Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi discuss the shutdown of the RPiLocator.com tool, a nostalgic time capsule from the chip shortage era. They review listener hacks including a fake bike counter, a graphics upgrade for the Nintendo Entertainment System using a second Picture Processing Unit, and building dynamic RAM from discrete components. The episode also covers a drop-in replacement PCB for the Casio G-Shock watch, DIY robot actuators, and the evolution of the 'hero nerd' archetype in film.

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