EP#83: The One Man Entertainment Machine

MEP EP#380: The Simplest SMT Component… In The WorldStephen’s CNC steps closer to being completed on this CNC electronics centric podcast! We discuss design snafus and problems with poorly constructed CNC controllers and design misses in the mechanical assembly. Then Parker receives a newsletter that has the simplest SMT component in the world. What could that component even be used for?Topics:Stephen’s CNC - What remains?The 2000 mm ball screws in right before the episodeDrives/drivers/power supply have arrived!Need to orderController - purchased NVEMNow the STB4100Limit switchesE-chainMPGSafety stuff like the change over switch and breakerNeed to make a box for the FRO/SRO/SJOWhy this isn’t a normal thing is strangeMaking the surface of the tableMDF with sunken screwsSoftwareMaking control box wiring diagramsBrewery controllerThunder ohm style wiringMax maxPrintable heat shrink to match diagramsElectrical Enclosure Vevor 24x24x8Cabling woesThe Simplest SMT component… In The WorldHarwin Surface Mountable Contact PadsMarketing material statesSurface mountable contact pad, ideal as a mating area for Spring Contacts, Spring Loaded Contacts and Spring Loaded Contact Connectors.Any reason to use these? Datasheet shows that the gold thickness is no thicker than normal ENIGContact Pad 0.025um - 0.075umIPC-4552 0.05um - 0.20um

26 Touko 202347min

MEP EP#379: Taking pictures with magnetic fluxTwo major topics this week! Major Box Truck updates and going over the Texas DMC Occupations Code for what a Motor home is. Then we flash back to the year 2000. Parker was only 13 years old when he took a photography merit badge class for scouts and was introduced to digital photography through the Sony MVC-FD5. This Sony camera stores images on a floppy disk. Will this archaic storage media sink Parker’s nostalgia for this camera or will it just spawn extra projects? Podcast News:Switching Podcast hosting seems to have gone seamlessly!Trying out a new piece of recording software this week.Topics:Box Truk UpdatesBrake Lights arrived and installed!Spare tire holder built and installed360 degree camera system partially installedStarting work on the “RV” portionBuilt the shower stall so farTexas DMV Occupations Code, Section 2301.002 (21)“Motor home” means a motor vehicle that is designed to provide temporary living quarters and that:(A) is built on a motor vehicle chassis as an integral part of or a permanent attachment to the chassis; and(B) contains at least four of the following independent life support systems that are permanently installed and designed to be removed only for repair or replacement and that meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute, Standards for Recreational Vehicles:A cooking facility with an on-board fuel source; Motor Vehicles Adapted or Designed for Human Habitation Assembled and Reconstructed Vehicle Manual 11-2 TxDMV October 2020A gas or electric refrigeratorA toilet with exterior evacuationA heating or air conditioning system with an on-board power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine;a potable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet, and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection; orA 110-125 volt electric power supply.Sony MVC-FD5Digital Camera from Parker’s pastFloppy Drive problemsBuilding a “fake” vintage luggable computer

20 Touko 20231h 14min

MEP EP#378: Crawfish ConundrumCooking crawfish a mile above sea level? How will the crawfish cook differently? On this episode of the MacroFab Engineering Podcast, Parker and Stephen discuss the different seasoning, boil and soak times, and building an inexpensive boil pot from materials and supplies Stephen already has. Parker also makes the Box Truk an official project on the podcast even though it has nothing to do with electrical engineering. The last topic is on 3D printing and what is the state of Parker’s and Stephen’s machines and what they use the 3D printers for. Podcast News:Switching Podcast Hosting CompaniesTopics:Box Truk UpdatesTransmission cooler and fan installed and wired upThermal switch and relay setupFinished up the rear light wiring but waiting on the brake lightsInstalled a used on board air system for filling up tires and running pneumatic toolsNext on the listInstall a spare tire holderCheck for leaks in the transmission linesInstall the 360 degree camera systemCrawfish BoilKeg conversionWhat do we need?Boil ingredientsButterSaltCrab boilCrawfish oilLouisiana oilMinced garlicCornPotatoSausageMushroomTortelliniPost boil ingredientsThree Dee PrintingTony_W from the slack channel “I find 3D printers to be close to magic. You make a wish in fusion 360. Export the wish to the Voron. And voila, when you wake up the next morning, there is your wish on the build plate.”Parker’s current state of PrintingCurrently just print polycarbonate from polymaker on a modified Wanhao D6Other materials to look into? TPU based materials for making rubber isolatorsResin printer is an Elegoo mars 3Want to experiment with more resins but haven’t found the time.What materials should I look into? Upgrade the printer to the larger versions? Chrome plating 3d prints

12 Touko 20231h 6min

MEP EP#377: Countdown to HypeComponent selection for your next product design is difficult as is with having to juggle temperature requirements, supply chain availability problems, and functionality parameters. Now consider your product in an environment that will actively destroy the semiconductors. This episode we dip our toes into Radiation exposure for electronics! Topics:Electronics and radiationRadiation Handbook for ElectronicsSilicon does strange things in the presence of radiationFailures - Two Flavors - non permanent or permanentSEE (single event error)SEU (single event upset)SEL (single-event latch-up)SEGR (single-event gate rupture)SEB (Single event burnout) PN junctionsFetsCMOS - MemoryTypes of radiation exposureTID (total ionizing dose)Rate specificELDRS (Enhanced low dose rate sensitivity)ProtonNeutronSpaceX starshipStarship is the largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever flown and the first intended to be fully reusableLaunch was great to watchDamage to launch padTwice the thrust of the Saturn VWhat kind of topics and discussions do Senior or Principal Engineers Care about?How many times can you sit through an introduction on a topic?Ion Open Accelerator: Designing & Manufacturing A PCBA

3 Touko 202359min

MEP EP#376: Starting From The BeginningWhen did you start listening to the podcast? Have a favorite episode? Let Stephen and Parker know which is your favorite. Also, we are going to do another design contest! The Box Truck also gets an update from Parker.May the Fab be with you! MacroFab event page.Topics:Favorite Episodes from listeners? When did you start listening to the podcast?Stephen’s Favorite episode?Brandon Sander of Inheritance MachiningIdea Tank episodesEpisode #77Episode #223Episode #296Parker’s Favorite episode?Centex Paranormal EpisodeJOSH - the podcast editorJames Lewis on MLCC / Ceramic CapacitorsTop downloaded is #153 Discrete Atomic Luffa ControlNext Electrical Engineering ContestProjects that use FR4 in structural waysListeners have any ideas?Box Truck Build UpdateAuxiliary Power InfrastructureFiguring out automotive wiring schematicsWhat has been completed so farUnder hoodFactory Auxiliary Fuse BoxTrailer ControllerBanks iDash

26 Huhti 202359min

MEP EP#375: From Zero to Hero in PythonTopics:Why is python requested in embedded software/firmware engineer jobs?The Complete Python Bootcamp From Zero to Hero in Python - UdemyRapid Harness SoftwareDesigning some pinball harnessesPowerful for a single taskHas a free version but limitedCNC stuffCritical speeds on ball screwsLengthDiameterEnd supportsSFU2010 got 700in/min which is almost a foot a second.Rotational speed of 1778 RPMPower supplies for stepper motorsShared axis power supply considerations.

19 Huhti 20231h 2min

MEP EP#374: Brandon Sander of Inheritance MachiningBrandon Sander:Classically trained in mechanical engineering, Brandon inherited his grandfather’s personal machine shop in the winter of 2021. He created a Youtube channel to document restoring these machines, continuing his grandfather’s legacy, and getting back to his metalworking roots.Topics:How inheritance machining came aboutMaking drawings by handProjectsUseful items - knurling tools/ tap follower/ etcTool upgrades - tool holders/better hold downsRestoration projectsWhich project did you like the best? The worst?The most difficult?Have there been any projects for YouTube that have been scrapped midway through?What you hope to do with the shopMost recent episode showed working on “organic” material - will there be more of this?What is left to do to call the shop "done" (I know this is probably not achievable!)Machine setupFilming “tools”What are your plans with the channel going forward?Do you have any advice for a young guy about to start work in a machine shop?

14 Huhti 20231h 4min

Joel Westerberg is head of IT at teenage engineering. Joel started at teenage engineering in 2013 by working on the OD-11 loudspeaker project. Joel has been involved in building the teenage engineering factory system and various other projects. Joel does everything from backend services, embedded development, to pcb design.David Eriksson is the head of hardware and co-founder of teenage engineering. A DJ and synth enthusiast since age 12, David started teenage engineering in 2006. David is responsible for platform and electronics design, software architecture, and designing manufacturing systems.Topics:What is Teenage Engineering?How did the company start?Managing the scaling from your first product launch of the OP-1 to the wide selection of products you currently offerHow do you handle all these products?Shared components and Designs?. Button design - OP-1PCB design - OP-1The Pocket OperatorHow did you come up with the pocket operator idea?9 different operators with some special edition Capcom and rick and morty versionsAny more in the works?The LCD screensProduct design cyclesDesign for manufacturability rules?Biggest Achievements and Wins?What is Teenage Engineering the proudest of?Worst moment? Hardware is hard. What is a problem you had to overcome and beat?

5 Huhti 20231h 18min