Thoroughly Considered · 11 Mar 2021 · 1h 01m · Episode 67
Myke Hurley explains his deep dive into the custom mechanical keyboard hobby, detailing the ecosystem of group buys, keycap vendors like GMK, and high-end manufacturers such as Rama Works and Keychron. He discusses the modular nature of the hobby, the role of Twitch streamers in popularizing the aesthetic, and the shift from cottage industry to scaled production. The hosts then analyze the Apple Watch 'Numerals' face design and speculate on the future of a potential round Apple Watch.
makers and hobbyists and large enterprises
Other shows on the same ground, closest first.
Hosts Chris White and Elecia White discuss recent projects and gift ideas, including Elecia's work on the Fitbit Surge and Chris's 'Wordy' wearable ring. They also cover Chris's custom hardware controller for the game Kerbal Space Program, the Chiptronics educational kit, and the broader maker movement, addressing misconceptions about its impact on professional engineering.
Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Al Williams discuss recent community hacks, including Fiona Bell and Leah Bukley’s paste extrusion of glass and eggshells, John Duffy’s bespoke Raspberry Pi multimeter, and Shadow Man 39’s 8-bit mechanical computer built from K’Nex. They also analyze the industrial design stagnation in modern smartphones and the complex logistics of the North American cold chain infrastructure. The episode covers the failure of AI coding tools, USB-C power delivery hacks, and a lock-picking robot that failed due to mechanical binding.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their recent projects, including Diresta’s accidental launch of a 3D-printed webcam mount, Clagett’s zinc casting of ‘steal apples’ and stained glass work, and Picciuto’s restoration of a Juno 106 synthesizer. The hosts also critique modern smart TVs, specifically LG models, for intrusive pop-ups and input switching, contrasting them with ‘dumb’ monitors. They explore the rapid iteration of small-batch manufacturing, from sourcing hardware to packaging, and share recommendations for YouTube channels like Veritasium and Dave’s Auto Center.
Chris Gammell of Valve discusses his transition from chip design to consumer electronics, highlighting the steep learning curve of design for manufacturability (DFM) and the challenges of scaling production. He details the logistics of running his side business, MightyOhm, specifically the manual assembly and component sourcing for his Geiger counter kits. The conversation also covers the Seattle hardware community, including swap meets and amateur radio events, and the utility of free RF design tools like QUCS.
Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the lack of an online marketplace for custom LCDs, noting that while PCB prototyping is commoditized, custom displays require direct manufacturer engagement and high-volume orders to justify tooling costs. They also cover the discontinuation of Altium's Circuit Maker in favor of Upverter, the impact of 25% tariffs on electronic components and manufacturing equipment, and the release of KiCad 5 and CircuitPython 3. The conversation touches on hardware hacking games like NAND Game and Exapunks, and the challenges of teaching engineering to deaf students via ASL.
The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Thoroughly Considered. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.