Circuit Break - A MacroFab Podcast

ParkerWagon Chime ModuleInstalled back on Wagon and It works!USB Type-C Article UpdateHave the Type-C to FT230X completeDesign Block for EagleESD protection on the CC Pins?IP4234CZ6,125 USB ESD protectionStephenFound the old ribbon mic from MEP EP#110: Dangling TransformersGoing look at doing a quick spin of a stacked PCB based version instead of the 3d printed chassisBoards can screw together to clamp to the ribbon itself by having a gold pad on the PCBNeed a way to do fine tune adjustments on the ribbon tensionEmbedded transformer3D printed enclosure – Fusion 360 to 3d printing?PCM2912ABrian Benchoff’s Oreo Stackup PCBR.F.O.MIDI Association Announces MIDI 2.0 PrototypingWill be announced at NAMM 2019 (Jan 24-27th)In prototyping phaseFully back compatible with 1.0Solder Surface Tension and Why You Should CareThe Current Source aka Derek has a released a really cool video on surface tension and how it relates to PCB AssemblyDerek was on MEP EP#103A Choice of Grippers Helps Dual-Arm Robot Pick Up Objects Faster Than EverDex-Net 4.0Multi tool picking robotSuccessfully grasp 95 percent of unseen objects at a rate of 300 per hourHumans do double that at near 100% success rateLearns how to grip things by simulationThe physics it uses is slightly randomized to “cover up” sensor defectsThe Basics of USB Battery Charging: A Survival GuideMaxim app note on Lithium Battery charging over USBA bit dated as it only covers BC 1.1 but still applicable to USB 2.0 devicesNew Mouser interface?Part Searching just got more time consuming?Tags:  Chime Module, electronics podcast, EQ Build, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, USB Type-C, ribbon microphone, PCM2912, Oreo Stackup, MIDI 2.0, Solder Surface Tension, Derek, Derek Brodeur, The Current Source, Dex-Net 4.0, Maxim, Mouser

23 Jan 20191h

ParkerWagon Chime Module RepairedStarWars Detonator PropRPI3 CM Motherboard USB Hub SagaLAN9514MP62551 or TPS2054BImproving the Prop Dev StickChanging to QFN from QFP PropUSB Type C for USB 2.0Changing the power handling?Original part is TPS2113Only handles 5.5V MAXNCP3901 is a Dual input MuxHandles more power then I need but no built in current limitingMaybe MPS has a good standalone current limiter?StephenBeginning the eq build. There is a lot to do so it is taking a bit of timeGold fingers and connectors - They work!Trying a special coax connection - Different rings on top and bottomR.F.O.Bluetooth chip doesn’t need a battery because it harvests energy from the airWiliotEmbedded in consumer products to provide easy access to a digital manual when the original paper version is long lost, or it could be put on a clothing label and used to communicate the optimal settings to a washing machine$30 million financing from Amazon and SamsungPossible release in 2019 but they are shooting for 2020HOWMAX30 - MAX-30 Single User EarplugsIncorrect part listing on Amazon leads to hilarious reviewsTags: Chime Module, Detonator Prop, electronics podcast, EQ Build, LAN9514, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MP62551, NCP3091, Prop Dev Stick, RPI3 CM, Star Wars, TPS2054B, TPS2113, Wagon, Wiliot

16 Jan 20191h 2min

Cliff SchechtAn electrical engineer with a masters degreeSpends his days rescuing vintage gearIs the CEO and operates Reclaimed AudioReclaimed Audio offers repair and restoration services on audio, radio, and test equipment from the turn of the century through current state of the artRestoring Vintage Audio EquipmentHow to restore equipment and keep it true to original design, but get it ready for another 20 years run timeRebuilding power supplies on tube units for example, but not changing the audio path topology muchTips and tricks with test gearProperly evaluating a piece of unknown gearHow to restore vintage electronicsHow old is old enough to consider restoration/recappingWhen is it ok to power up? How do you power up vintage gear?Any myths you have debunked?Tags:  Audio Repair, Capacitors, Cliff Schecht, electronics podcast, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, Reclaimed Audio

9 Jan 201952min

Benjamin HeckendornAn electronics hacking entertainment guruFormer host of Element 14’s “ The Ben Heck Show”.Chris KraftA tinkerer currently working as a software engineer in the financial services industryExtensive background in 3d printing and building anything that seems interestingPast two yearsBoth where last seen on Episode 75: Does the simulation match reality?Ben has moved on from hosting "The Ben Heck Show"Chris has been experimenting with SLA resin printersHangprinterA very simplified explanation is you take a delta printer but instead of having the three motors that are attached to the side frame you instead locate those motors wherever and have wires/cables/etc that run up to points that you mountSome videos that show how it worksHangprinter PresentationThomas Sanladerer interviews The HangprinterBuilding the Hangprinter: The Basics!The first new/interesting thing Chris has seen in awhileProject is open source so people are free to contribute and find ways to improve the designOne thing I feel is potentially a missed opportunity is the focus is on making it cheapODriveDesigned to give motor control to hobby grade brushless DC motors instead of stepper motorsHackaday.io projectNew Makerbot printer named "Method"Non-heated bed is a “feature”?Latest design seems to prefer technologies that Stratesys can or already has patentedConsider the humble LuffaFor a long time manufacturing has mostly used subtractive techniquesUntil recently most manufacturing was about taking raw materials and cutting, bending, etc into the desired patternLook at that infillAdditive manufacturing is really different when you think about the possibilitiesWhat if we could use CRISPR to "reprogram" plants to produce other things? Like growing a replacement organs, body parts or something else completely?Tags: BenHeck, Benjamin Heckendorn, Chris Kraft, electronics podcast, Hangprinter, Luffa, MacroFab, macrofabe ngineering podcast, Makerbot Method, ODrive, SLA Resin Pritners

2 Jan 20191h 4min

Josh RozierBy day Josh Rozier does business intelligence and data analytics for a large, east-coast insurance monolithBy night he is Roz, a level 5 Scoundrel and chief troublemaker of the StarWars D20 RPG groupIs the Force a Force?Hyperspace Ramming12 Parsecs? Solo’s famous line that shows Lucas has no idea what he was writing.Predictions from the previous podcastStephen was right - Luke DiedParker was wrong. Though is Rey really a Jedi without training?Rey didn’t change her name to NeoPredictions for EP9?Is luke actually dead?Will we see CGI Carrie Fisher?Best and Worst movies of the Star Wars Franchise.Tags: Boson, electronics podcast, HyperDrive, Kessel Run, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, Midichlorians, Parsecs, StarWars, Vader

26 Des 20181h 41min

Brandon SatromDeveloper Advocate for Particle, an IoT platform companyThe founder of Carrot Pants Press, a company dedicated to educating makersOn the MacroFab Engineering Podcast Episode Number 122, Brandon discussed the Particle Photon and built an IoT breathalyzer with Parker live on the podcastWhat is currently distracting Brandon now?Why mesh networking mattersExisting mesh networking standardsThread/OpenThread and why Particle built OpenThread into 3rd gen devicesWhat is OpenThread?Mesh Christmas Tree project5 device network with a gateway and 4 edge devicesParticle Blog detailing more about the projectOne edge device publishes multicast messages to all other nodes, which light up neopixel strips when those messages are received on each deviceThe goal was to see how low latency UDP-based mesh messaging wasResearching theory around "the color of sound" and added a mode to the firmware that converts the frequency of a played note into a corresponding rgb value on the color spectrum. Kinda.SynethesiaWorking today on a mode that ties the Adafruit Neotrellis into the network to create a "tree synth"Questions from Jarret from our Public Slack ChannelCould you have a sportsgame of some sort, and hand out each spectator a little LED/LCD with mesh chip, and have all 10k systems attempting to figure out where they are in the stadium, and maybe also connect to a base station, so they all receive color information and turns the audience into a huge display?Reminds Parker of the North Korean "displays"What is a good distributed power system for mesh networking?I've started logging metrics for my indoor garden, but currently I'm using a million phone chargers plugged in everywhere and that kinda sucksUpdate on the Carrot Pants Press?Lastest kickstarter was a success!Tags: Carrot Pants Press, IoT, Mesh Networking, OpenThread, Particle, Synethesia

19 Des 201848min

Congratulations to our Slack member Mobius Striptease! Mobius’ pulse generator won first place at their Senior Design Expo!Article written about MacroFab: Houston electronics manufacturing company gears up for growth. Talks about the growth of MacroFab over the past 2 years.ParkerRPI3 Compute ModulePCM5122 RoutedLAN9514 Routedsingle upstream USB port on BCM2835Pin 44 Ethernet 25MHz outputPin 31 LAN RESETInformation found on the Raspberry pi forumNeed to add USB current limitingCM3 HOMEGuido Ottaviani made his own carrier board I have been looking at for inspiration to solve some of the final problems1473149-4Connector being used to socket the RPI3 Compute ModuleStephenCrazy EQ amplifier design continuationOpted to go with a card edge solution for each EQ bandEach band connects via a 36 pin PCI-Express connector+12V-12V+5v Reference-5V referenceGnd4 In SignalsCutBoostPotentiometer pin 221 modules in total. 1 module has all of the power and main signal in/out from the amp. This sends all of the other modules their power/ground and signals.Need to rethink things - Feedback loops are crappy.. Need to go with a 64 pin solution20 ins and 20 outsBeveled edges and Hard Gold plating discussion in a future episodeR.F.O.Debugging I²C with HardwareI²CDriver is a crowdfunded effort by James BowmanOpen Source tool used to easily drive I2C devicesControls with a GUI, command-line, C and C++ using a single source file, or Python 2 and 3, using a moduleLow Cost Reverse Polarity and Over Current ProtectionJeri Ellsworth's new video on reverse bias protectionHas a Robbie Robot on her desk!Methods“One of the options is to do nothing”Diode inputExploding DiodePMOS FETLow rds on - “almost not there”Body Diode - Watch out for thisTags: 1473149-4, 20-Band, CM3 Home, electronics podcast, EQ, i2c, Jeri Ellsworth, LAN9514, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, Mobius Striptease, PCM5122, Reverse Polarity, Reverse Polarity Protection

13 Des 201841min

Matt GlazerLead electrical engineer at KINETICBuilding IoT wearables for the industrial workforce by day and building electric long-boards by nightObsessed with space and can talk hours on end about the current state of space technologyJeff DoongHead of manufacturing at KINETICIn charge of making sure current products are manufactured correctly and new products are designed to efficiently scaleIf he wasn't at KINETIC, he'd be a farmer back home in CaliforniaKINETICWhat is KINETIC?Last time we had KINETIC on the podcast it was episode #53 with Aditya and Mijael. What has changed since February 2017?Product has a name now. Now longer called the device.Expand a bit more on what you two do at KINETIC?Any major engineering challenges yall had to overcome since the last prototype?KINETIC has been expanding to scale up manufacturing. What were some of the engineering changes needed to do so?Supply Chain management?Case Study on the MacroFab websiteTags: electronics podcast, Industrail, IoT Wearable, Jeff Doong, Kinetic, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, Matt Glazer, MEP, Scaling Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management

5 Des 201851min