Building wafer.space with Tim Ansell

The Amp Hour · 25 Sept 2025 · 58m · Episode 703

What this episode covers

Tim Ansell, founder of wafer.space, discusses his new Singapore-based service that provides access to GlobalFoundries' GF180 MCU process for open-source silicon design, following the collapse of eFabless. He explains how wafer.space aims to lower the barrier to entry by offering 1,000 chips for $7,000, enabling low-volume production rather than just prototyping. Ansell details the technical capabilities of the 180nm process, the shift towards chip-on-board packaging via PCB manufacturers, and the growing ecosystem of open-source tools like OpenLane and Tiny Tape Out.

Mentioned

Companies
wafer.space, eFabless, Global Foundries, Skywater, PCBWay, JLCPCB, Seeed Studio, Chip Foundry, IHP, MyBrains, CrowdSupply
Products
Tiny Tape Out, Sky130, GF180 MCU
Tools
OpenLane, Open Road

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