EP#78: No Guru Here

Parker and Stephen discuss the Cloudlifter mechanism they now use to help enhance the sound of this podcast, what phantom power is and what it actually does, more reverse polarity protections from the community, some of this show’s most audible fans, down with Slack, up with Discourse, an overdue box truck update, and much more. Relevant links:What Does a Cloudlifter Do (And Should You Be Using One)?What is Phantom Power & Why Do I Need It?Ideal Diode Bridge ControllerMEP EP#110: Dangling TransformersThank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our slack channel at Macrofab dot com / slack or email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

22 Sep 202359min

Parker and Stephen discuss power-only USB Type-C connectors entering the marketplace, Apple being forced to convert iPhones to USB-C after the EU established and enforced the Common Charger Directive and what such government legislations might mean for tech innovation, community discussion about reverse polarity protection, how the new Slack GUI is both not good and unnecessary, busy work vs. actual redevelopment, and much more. Relevant links:UJC Power-Only USB Type-C™ ReceptaclesHow to Navigate Apple’s Shift From Lightning to USB-CApple adds USB 3 speeds to iPhone 15 Pro but you won’t get those out of the boxMEP EP#332: This Podcast Intentionally Left BlankThank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our slack channel at Macrofab dot com / slack or email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

15 Sep 202355min

Parker and Stephen discuss some MacroFab updates including news about their pod community and Slack, what’s wrong and right about high-end GPUs and the marvels of KrisFix and his YouTube repair channel, what’s up with consumer electronics and their lack of reverse polarity protection, and Parker muses about when it’s time to call it day for a 3D Printer. More on these topics:Community:New community hub! Shifting away from the Slack channel?Are you in or near Houston, Texas any time soon? Please come out to Beers for Engineers! More info below! Dead on Arrival for high end GPUs - NvidiaRTX 4090 - The biggest problem with modern cards that the manufacturer refuses to repairKrisFix’s repair skillsPopping the padToo much Board Flex“RTX Technology Package” (air quotes) Decoding NVIDIA5000 Series Rumours?Why do so many consumer electronics not have reverse polarity protection?Looking through WindowsCan’t turn it up to 11Motherboards of Invention Guitar Pedal ProblemsThe hot legThe P Channel Set-up“Slap a diode on it”Italian Decisions Why Raspberry Pie “Won”Personal Project Updates:Should Parker replace his 3D printer?When to pull the plug on such a hard-working machineGood links:Beers for Engineers events!RTX 4090 - The biggest problem of modern cards that the manufacturer refuses to repairMEP EP#262: Flex PCB Primers MEP EP#313: Another Tool for Your ToolboxThank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our slack channel at Macrofab.com/slack or email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

8 Sep 202351min

Parker and Stephen discuss Infineon’s use of recyclable PCBs from Jiva Materials to create a soluboard, a recyclable and biodegradable PCB substrate, and its ecological and efficiency implications, an examination of the new Arduino Uno, which replaces the ATMEGA328P with two new models, Minima and Wifi, plus a CNC update and an extended meditation on saw blades and what they can and cannot actually cut.More on these topics:Infineon uses recyclable PCBs from Jiva MaterialsThe fibers are natural and have a lower impact than traditional glass based fibers.7.1kg and the carbon footprint of one square meter of standard FR-4 PCB is estimated to be 17.7kg.Does anyone really know what “carbon footprint” means?The non-toxic polymer that binds the fibers dissolves when immersed in hot water, leaving only compostable organic material. The polymer in the water can be disposed of in normal waste water.7.1kg and the carbon footprint of one square meter of standard FR-4 PCB is estimated to be 17.7kg.A 60% waste reductionElectronic devices can last FOREVERBad reviews vs. pollution vs. boiling the boards vs. useless promo itemsJiva MaterialsCompatibility with current PCB Assembly processes Repair, don’t replace!Hoping for some Jiva experimentation Board MouldMmmm, PCB soup…Making puzzle badges but also, BOIL YOUR BADGEBut is the PCB Spaceworthy?New Arduino Uno:The ATMEGA328P is no more! Replaced with a 32-bit ARM Cortex M4.Comes in two flavors:Minima which looks to just be the MCU and supporting hardware.WiFi which has 2.4Ghz capabilities and a LED Matrix?The Minima has a proper SWD debug connector where the WiFi version does not?Gripes with ArduinoSuper crisp silkscreening USB and HID Support Raspberry Pie has bit the bulletOnce Year Since the CNC Project Began: An UpdateWe are cutting!Getting garbage plywood and the state of Baltic BirchBuilding the interior of the box truckAlways find a local sourceUsing the wrong blade can feel so rightSAW (blades)Metal and wood and cold cutsWARNING: PODCAST DANGER ZONE AHEADGood links:Infineon uses recyclable PCBs from Jiva MaterialsJiva Materials New Arduino UnoMEP EP#352: CNC CraftingThank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our slack channel at Macrofab dot com / slack or email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

1 Sep 202359min

Matt has been teaching Robotics and Embedded Systems at the University of Advancing Technology since 2019. Before that, he worked in the pharmaceutical Industry for 15 years, primarily for Cardinal Health where he made radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive drugs) and worked as the Quality Unit in production for seven years, before switching to R&D as a Senior Principal Scientist. Guests:Matthew Prater from the University of Advancing TechnologyIncreasing the dosageMatt on how he began making radiopharmaceuticalsGoing from manufacturing five to thousands of doses a dayProgramming robotics…with an Excel sheet?Enviable synthesis machinesUp Late to Fight CancerBaking radioactive fluorineCancer cells that eat and make babiesChemistry and Robots“$130,000 to go from 23 seconds to forever”Check flights to Fargo at 3 AM before drugs diedHouse and ER and radioactivity and PET in cancer treatmentsGetting the fluorine carbon bond to happen where you want toA little bit of spicy sugarThe F-18 Radioactive TracerDoes F-18 spit out a proton?Giving up the graveyard shifts for R&DCancer and hypoxiaWorking on Meds that Battle Alzheimer’s diseaseDrug trials and brain slidesRegs and PigsThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Agreement StatesStoring radioactivity in a pigOil pipelines made from treesTwo terms for pigs that aren’t actually pigsWhat’s the deal with the University of Advancing Technology?Red Blue Security Teams and serious competitionThe Automated Motorcycle Visor and Coffin CasesVirtual front row seats and concert dronesAn Empire 6CNot the end, the endotoxinCan you eat horseshoe crabs?Summary/Takeaways: Matt’s fascinating background as a chemist and robotics and embedded systems provides him with a fascinating foothold in two worlds that intersect in intriguing waysBased on the hazardous materials involved, the pharmaceutical industry is at the forefront of robotics and software technology Connect with Matthew Prater:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-prater-32b0727a UAT Faculty: https://www.uat.edu/faculty-at-university-of-advancing-technology MEP EP#193: Robots Have Fall DamageThank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our slack channel at Macrofab dot com / slack or email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

25 Aug 20231h 11min

This special episode is recorded at DEF CON, the annual hacker community gathering in Las Vegas.  Hyr0n and Zapp from AND!XOR dive into the troubleshooting and triumphs of the Snackey vending machine project. From battling long queues to AI-enhanced innovation and mind-boggling challenges, explore the technical and creative journey behind this badge that will ignite your taste buds! Guests:Hyr0n & Zapp from AND!XOR Troubleshooting Snackey at DEF CON Snackey was a hit!  The vending machine attracted 2-hour long queues Troubleshooting a myriad of issues from a bag of potato chips getting stuck to power and display malfunctionsA primary glitch: Snackey refused to boot up, only to discover an extension cord mistaken for the real power sourceAI-Enhanced Snackey and Delving into Design Behind the scenes, the badge's back-end infrastructure hinged on CircuitPython, while AI, including Bard and ChatGPT, played a pivotal role in certain aspectsAn example of AI integration: modifying the progress bar scriptAI, however, was exclusively utilized for software, not hardware componentsAI came into play when a deep fake video featuring Billy Mays was created for the AND!XOR DC31 TrailerZapp walks us through the intricate design layers of the badge which included woodworking & laser engravingBadge Challenges 2023 The Gopher challenge presented a blend of traditional cybersecurity tasks and connection points, offering a puzzle for attendees to decipher A coin cell on the back of the badge transformed it into Snackey Jr. and provided some clever misdirection for those who thought it was a battery cell slot The Pizza Emoji Challenge, with its Morse code and homage to the TV remote inventor, showcased the multifaceted nature of Snackey's puzzles Summary/Takeaways: A key challenge for next year will be elevating the speed of Snackey’s operations to reduce wait times The collaborative essence of DEF CON highlights the ever-evolving landscape of hacking and creative engineering Connect with AND!XOR:Website: https://www.andnxor.com/ Github: https://github.com/ANDnXOR Hackady.io:  https://hackaday.io/ANDnXOR X: https://twitter.com/ANDnXOR Thank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our slack channel at Macrofab dot com / slack or email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

18 Aug 202347min

Join physicist and electrical engineering historian, Kathy Joseph, as she unravels captivating human stories behind electricity's evolution.  Discover quirky experiments and eccentric scientists like self-deprecating Heinrich Hertz and self-proclaimed wizard Matthias Bose. Learn how historical knowledge and storytelling inspire present and future engineers.Guests:Kathy Joseph, Physicist and Electrical Engineering Historical Expert Introduction to Kathy and Her Passion for the History of Science: Kathy's spark for electrical engineering history ignited when students misconceived electricity's source as "a plug in the wall" 🔌Explore her popular YouTube channel, Kathy Loves Physics, and discover the inspiration behind her book, The Lightning Tamers 🌩️Quirky Experiments and Peculiar Discoveries in Electrical Engineering:Kathy shares her extensive research processIncorporating storytelling makes science education more interesting, accessible and memorableWe hear intriguing anecdotes about famous scientists like Heinrich Hertz, who despite a self-critical nature made groundbreaking discoveries in electromagnetic waves and modern wireless communicationThe Eccentric Matthias Bose: Meet the 18th-century self-proclaimed wizard 🧙‍, known for electrifying women he called "Venus Electrificatus"Polarizing Sheets and Edwin Land: Discover how Edwin Land's invention of polarizing sheets, born out of a father's desire to satisfy his child's impatience for instant pictures, influenced the modern Polaroid camera 📸Appreciate the passionate and artistic nature of scientists and engineers and the relevance of their stories to the present day 🧑‍🎨Looking Ahead: Reflect on the significance of historical knowledge in inspiring the next generation of engineersSummary/Takeaways: Kathy Joseph's passion for storytelling and the human side of science adds depth and relevance to the history of electrical engineeringUnderstanding the context and personalities behind scientific discoveries enhances our appreciation for their significanceConnect with Kathy:Website: https://kathylovesphysics.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathyLovesPhysicsTwitter: https://twitter.com/ILuvePhysicsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathylovesphysics/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/KathyLovesPhysicsHistoryThank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our slack channel at Macrofab dot com / slack or email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

11 Aug 202339min

This week we’re joined by Josh Manley, Co-Owner and CEO of CADClass.org. Through a comprehensive array of courses and literature, CADClass.org provides education of various software and design methodologies, catering to individuals across all proficiency levels.  Since 2010 Josh has been utilizing his experience to create educational opportunities for anyone and everyone who wants to learn engineering skills. Guests:Josh Manley from CADclass.orgOvercoming CAD misconceptions3D printing has incredible applications beyond "toys"Most YouTube portrayals of CAD often condense the work and set unrealistic expectationsBuilding a successful learning community:Going beyond video contentLeveraging social discussion toolsGiving the community a voice for their goals and needsSummary/Takeaways:Effective education requires real-world (and exciting) applications for studentsCAD education must incorporate traditional engineering principals in order to have physical world successConnect with Josh:Programs can be found at www.cadclass.orgJosh’s physical book, Mastering Fusion 360Free or donation-based copy of the eBook is at www.cadclass.org/pages/bookTwitter @CAD_ClassYouTube @cadclassonlineThank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our slack channel at Macrofab dot com / slack or email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

4 Aug 202354min