# Building wafer.space with Tim Ansell

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2025-09-25
- Length: 58m
- Episode: 703
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/703-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell#t=0) Introduction and Open Source Silicon History
- [2:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell#t=154) The Collapse of eFabless and Wafer Space's Origin
- [10:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell#t=643) Wafer Space Pricing and Low-Volume Production Model
- [20:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell#t=1219) Technical Capabilities of GF180 MCU Process
- [25:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell#t=1553) Packaging Options: Chip-on-Board and Wire Bonding
- [34:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell#t=2074) CrowdSupply Campaign and Future Scaling
- [39:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell#t=2362) Design Tools and Getting Started with Silicon
- [46:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-09-25-building-wafer-space-with-tim-ansell#t=2806) Ecosystem Resilience and Community Resources

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- wafer.space (company)
- eFabless (company)
- Global Foundries (company)
- Skywater (company)
- Tiny Tape Out (product)
- OpenLane (tool)
- Open Road (tool)
- Sky130 (product)
- GF180 MCU (product)
- PCBWay (company)
- JLCPCB (company)
- Seeed Studio (company)
- Chip Foundry (company)
- IHP (company)
- MyBrains (company)
- CrowdSupply (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [454: Printf Hello](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-07-06-454-printf-hello) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 111: Talking Chips and Wafers with Chips and Wafers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-03-31-episode-111-talking-chips-and-wafers-with-chips-and-wafers) (The Circuit)
- [US Semi Fab SkyWater Seeks to Co-Innovate in Quantum, Photonics, and…Free Silicon?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon) (Moore's Lobby)
- [322: Learn Assembly Code](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-02-28-322-learn-assembly-code) (Embedded.fm)
- [044 - Scots Army Knife](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-01-03-044-scots-army-knife) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

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