# Motors on PCBs with Carl Bugeja

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2024-03-26
- Length: 56m
- Episode: 663
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/663-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja/

## Summary

Carl Bugeja, founder of microbots.io, discusses his transition from electronics engineering and YouTube experimentation to commercializing PCB motors and actuators. He details the engineering challenges of designing flexible PCB coils, managing manufacturing tolerances, and selecting drivers for tiny robotics. Bugeja explains how his company is scaling production and developing new products like the 'Time Flap' display and a foldable rover robot.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja#t=0) Introduction and Background
- [10:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja#t=626) PCB Actuator Design and Physics
- [19:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja#t=1180) Manufacturing Tolerances and Quality Control
- [28:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja#t=1690) Driver Selection and Component Sourcing
- [23:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja#t=1422) Scaling Production and Testing
- [25:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja#t=1526) Future Products: Time Flap and Rover
- [39:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja#t=2344) Career History and Startup Lessons
- [49:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja#t=2961) Scaling Multiple Actuators and Future Vision

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- microbots.io (company)
- ESP32-C3 (chip)
- Allegro (company)
- Arduino (other)
- Flexare (product)
- Method Electronics (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- DigiKey (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [448: Little Squiggles All Around](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around) (Embedded.fm)
- [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)
- [Can AI Design IoT Hardware? | Flux's Matthias Wagner | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2026-04-14-can-ai-design-iot-hardware-fluxs-matthias-wagner-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [293: Skateboard Tricks (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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