# Your Mind Is The Tool

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2024-11-06
- Episode: 682
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/682-your-mind-is-the-tool/

## Summary

Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss troubleshooting a dead short in a PCB where a manufacturer modified Gerber files, causing a via to be placed on the wrong layer. They analyze why standard e-test fails to catch such errors and debate whether two-layer PCBs are sufficient for complex designs, referencing tools like KiCad and JLC. The conversation shifts to Dave Jones's decision to stop designing his own products, citing the high NRE costs, lack of discipline in solo projects, and the competitive advantage of rebranding existing hardware. They also touch on industry news, including the retirement of Jack Gansell and the passing of BBS inventor Ward Christensen.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool#t=0) Introduction: Chris Gammell and Dave Jones
- [0:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool#t=51) Troubleshooting a PCB dead short caused by manufacturer Gerber modifications
- [10:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool#t=609) The limitations of PCB e-test and manufacturing standards
- [19:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool#t=1191) Why Dave Jones stopped designing his own products
- [36:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool#t=2218) The business case for rebranding vs. custom hardware
- [50:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool#t=3008) Debating if two-layer PCBs are sufficient for complex designs
- [59:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool#t=3542) Industry news: Jack Gansell retirement and Ward Christensen obituary

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- KiCad (tool)
- JLC (company)
- Advantest R6581 (product)
- Arduino Pico (product)
- Homebrew Computer Club (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Top 10 Product Design Mistakes You Must Avoid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-02-25-the-spark-gap-episode-27) (The Spark Gap)
- [92: Everybody Behave, Please](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-11-92-everybody-behave-please) (Embedded.fm)
- [Solving PCB Library Issues: Expert Advice from Elizabeth Bustamante](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-19-solving-pcb-library-issues-expert-advice-from-elizabeth-bustamante) (OnTrack)
- [PCB Assembly and Design for Manufacturing with Duane Benson of Screaming Circuits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-03-pcb-assembly-and-design-for-manufacturing-with-duane-benson-of-screaming-circuit) (Predictable Designs 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/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool. 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.