MEP EP#343: Bricking BadBricking Microcontroller - Watch those fuses  Pic, AVR, STM Atmel ATXMEGA16A4U AVR studio and microchip studio AVRDUDE  Air Filter / Canister  Long Running Project between Chris Kraft and Parker Mods on the red Jeep necessitated moving the original air cleaner First design was all 3D printed around 2016 / 2017   This is right around when 3D printing large objects like this started to get fessable on a hobby printer PLA glass fiber Worked but the material couldn’t handle the underhood temperatures   Second design was welded together out of steel   Material was due to tool and cost constraints Working to this day Used a filter that is not manufactured anymore   Third design is a combination of everything Parker has learned about 3d printing   Polycarbonate seems to hold up in under engine bay temperatures   Endcaps printed in this material Heat set brass inserts for screws   Aluminum mounting brackets for 3” hoses  Carbon fiber for the main body   

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep343-bricking-bad/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#343: Bricking Bad</a> </h4>Bricking Microcontroller - Watch those fuses <ul> <li>Pic, AVR, STM</li> <li>Atmel ATXMEGA16A4U</li> <li>AVR studio and microchip studio</li> <li>AVRDUDE</li> </ul> Air Filter / Canister <ul> <li>Long Running Project between Chris Kraft and Parker</li> <li>Mods on the red Jeep necessitated moving the original air cleaner</li> <li>First design was all 3D printed around 2016 / 2017 <ul> <li>This is right around when 3D printing large objects like this started to get fessable on a hobby printer</li> <li>PLA glass fiber</li> <li>Worked but the material couldn’t handle the underhood temperatures</li> </ul> </li> <li>Second design was welded together out of steel <ul> <li>Material was due to tool and cost constraints</li> <li>Working to this day</li> <li>Used a filter that is not manufactured anymore</li> </ul> </li> <li>Third design is a combination of everything Parker has learned about 3d printing <ul> <li>Polycarbonate seems to hold up in under engine bay temperatures <ul> <li>Endcaps printed in this material</li> <li>Heat set brass inserts for screws</li> </ul> </li> <li>Aluminum mounting brackets for 3” hoses </li> <li>Carbon fiber for the main body</li> </ul> </li> </ul>

MEP EP#343: Bricking Bad

MEP EP#342: Hackery ExpertsHyR0n  Mathematician Computer Scientist AND!XOR employee of the month Working on badges and things Hackery  Previous Podcast Episodes  Incognito Mode episode number 69 Arduino, The Gateway Drug To #BadgeLife episode number 109 Espress-ify? Designing Products Around the ESP-32 Platform episode number 144 Feel the Hum episode number 183 Better Encryption than Zoom, Firmware Stacks episode number 238 And a couple of the Starwars Specials  DEFCON 30 AND!XOR Badge  Its a watch, with some watch things, hacker apps (TV B Gone, BLE Interrogator), Games, &amp; Challenge Give them away for free at DEF CON following sponsorship from companies and philanthropists. Off the shelf device with hacked firmware   LilyGo T-Watch 2020 V3   But how did we get there?   A story of supply chain woes Original Watch idea - supply chain issues and crazy costs / quantity buy requirements Look at consumer watches we could hack (PineTime, then LilyGo)   It wasnt just software, a true micropython implementation was done for firmware Always interested in python   We always lived in a C world Makes hacking it easier for end user   Micropython vs Circuit Python The Hacking Challenge - BENDER  Flashing Party - Things you should think about - i.e. Design for Drunk Hacker Production   You’re going to do the same thing thousands of times, what do we automate? Loop script for provisioning Push bare minimum over serial, then use wifi to complete Turning screen green once flash done and charge at 100%   Other thoughts?   Really different than what we do, was really fun People like bling more than function, but …   

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep342-hackery-experts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#342: Hackery Experts </a></h4><a href="https://twitter.com/hyr0n1" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">HyR0n</a> <ul> <li>Mathematician</li> <li>Computer Scientist</li> <li>AND!XOR employee of the month</li> <li>Working on badges and things Hackery</li> </ul> Previous Podcast Episodes <ul> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep69-incognito-mode/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Incognito Mode</a> episode number 69</li> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep109-arduino-gateway-drug-badgelife/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Arduino, The Gateway Drug To #BadgeLife</a> episode number 109</li> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-144-espress-ify-designing-products-around-the-esp-32-platform/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Espress-ify? Designing Products Around the ESP-32 Platform</a> episode number 144</li> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep183-feel-the-hum/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Feel the Hum</a> episode number 183</li> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep238-better-encryption-than-zoom-firmware-stacks-with-andxor/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Better Encryption than Zoom, Firmware Stacks</a> episode number 238</li> <li>And a couple of the Starwars Specials</li> </ul> DEFCON 30 AND!XOR Badge <ul> <li>Its a watch, with some watch things, hacker apps (TV B Gone, BLE Interrogator), Games, &amp; Challenge</li> <li>Give them away for free at DEF CON following sponsorship from companies and philanthropists.</li> <li>Off the shelf device with hacked firmware <ul> <li><a href="http://www.lilygo.cn/prod_view.aspx?TypeId=50053&amp;Id=1380&amp;FId=t3:50053:3" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">LilyGo T-Watch 2020 V3</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>But how did we get there? <ul> <li>A story of supply chain woes</li> <li>Original Watch idea - supply chain issues and crazy costs / quantity buy requirements</li> <li>Look at consumer watches we could hack (PineTime, then LilyGo)</li> </ul> </li> <li>It wasnt just software, a true micropython implementation was done for firmware</li> <li>Always interested in python <ul> <li>We always lived in a C world</li> <li>Makes hacking it easier for end user</li> </ul> </li> <li>Micropython vs Circuit Python</li> <li>The Hacking Challenge - BENDER </li> <li>Flashing Party - Things you should think about - i.e. Design for Drunk Hacker Production <ul> <li>You’re going to do the same thing thousands of times, what do we automate?</li> <li>Loop script for provisioning</li> <li>Push bare minimum over serial, then use wifi to complete</li> <li>Turning screen green once flash done and charge at 100%</li> </ul> </li> <li>Other thoughts? <ul> <li>Really different than what we do, was really fun</li> <li>People like bling more than function, but …</li> </ul> </li> </ul>

MEP EP#342: Hackery Experts

MEP EP#341: Project Snackey RecapProject Snackey at Defcon30  What we did   CTF Codes   What went wrong What went right People’s reactions Improvements for next year   Lock Picking Village Hardware improvements Physical Security   

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep341-project-snackey-recap/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#341: Project Snackey Recap</a> </h4>Project Snackey at Defcon30 <ul> <li>What we did <ul> <li>CTF</li> <li>Codes</li> </ul> </li> <li>What went wrong</li> <li>What went right</li> <li>People’s reactions</li> <li>Improvements for next year <ul> <li>Lock Picking Village</li> <li>Hardware improvements</li> <li>Physical Security</li> </ul> </li> </ul>

MEP EP#341: Project Snackey Recap

MEP EP#340: Necrobiotic SynthesizersProject Snackey  See y'all at defcon 30!  Stuff you want to learn about?  Canbus FPGA design AWS web development Manim - python  My Spider-sense is Tingling  Spiders are just hydraulic animals 

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep340-necrobiotic-synthesizers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#340: Necrobiotic Synthesizers</a> </h4>Project Snackey <ul> <li>See y'all at defcon 30!</li> </ul> Stuff you want to learn about? <ul> <li>Canbus</li> <li>FPGA design</li> <li>AWS web development</li> <li>Manim - python</li> </ul> <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/07/inflating-spider-corpse-creates-robotic-claw-game-of-nightmares/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">My Spider-sense is Tingling</a> <ul> <li>Spiders are just hydraulic animals</li> </ul>

MEP EP#340: Necrobiotic Synthesizers

MEP EP#339: Educated CompromisesProject Snackey  Announcement video lands before this podcast gets released.  Project Diffprobe  Looking at teardowns of other diff probes ADA4817   2pA input bias -3dB bandwidth of 1050MHz Very low input capacitance Combine to make an instrument amp   Perhaps going with an integrated instrument amp   INA12 Page 27 of the datasheet -  Right-Leg Drive    Hardware subscriptions?  BWM to offer heated seat subscription 18/mo 180/year 300/3year 415/unlimited These subscriptions are for “luxury” items in the car, what is next?   Subscription based displacement?    Displacement as a Service - DaaS   Thanks I hate it.   

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep339-educated-compromises/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#339: Educated Compromises</a> </h4>Project Snackey <ul> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVtjuQFF1TU" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Announcement video</a> lands before this podcast gets released.</li> </ul> Project Diffprobe <ul> <li>Looking at teardowns of other diff probes</li> <li>ADA4817 <ul> <li>2pA input bias</li> <li>-3dB bandwidth of 1050MHz</li> <li>Very low input capacitance</li> <li>Combine to make an instrument amp</li> </ul> </li> <li>Perhaps going with an integrated instrument amp <ul> <li>INA12</li> <li>Page 27 of the datasheet -  <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driven_right_leg_circuit" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Right-Leg Drive</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> Hardware subscriptions? <ul> <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">BWM to offer heated seat subscription</a></li> <li>18/mo 180/year 300/3year 415/unlimited</li> <li>These subscriptions are for “luxury” items in the car, what is next? <ul> <li>Subscription based displacement?  <ul> <li>Displacement as a Service - DaaS</li> </ul> </li> <li>Thanks I hate it.</li> </ul> </li> </ul>

MEP EP#339: Educated Compromises

MEP EP#338: Feature Complete or Minimal Viable ProductsProject DiffProbe  Landed on the topology Stephen wants   High voltage dividers   Compensation capacitors CMRR calibration (120dB rejection) Offset correction   Buffers and Instrumentation Amplifiers Differential Stage 10x and 100x attenuation means offsets have to be bang on   Opamps (3 of them)   Buffers   Low input bias current Low offset Bandwidth?   Differential amp   Low offset. Capable of driving 50 ohm load to the scope   Gain setting resistors   Vishay ACAS 0612 - Precision resistor network 4x0603 resistors to make a diff amplifier with a gain of 2  Relative tolerance of 0.05% Worst case relative temp-coefficient 15ppm      Project Snackey  Firmware is “feature complete” Display Commands How the vending motors actually work   INA219 Current Sensor Interrupts Improved method for next revision?   The one byte Serial Buffer problem   NEOPIXEL (WS2812) vs APA102 (SK9822) Blocking functions DMA - Direct memory access Importance of full system integration testing    Timer Lockouts for motors   Is there a better way?   

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep338-feature-complete-or-minimal-viable-products" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#338: Feature Complete or Minimal Viable Products</a> </h4>Project DiffProbe <ul> <li>Landed on the topology Stephen wants <ul> <li>High voltage dividers <ul> <li>Compensation capacitors</li> <li>CMRR calibration (120dB rejection)</li> <li>Offset correction</li> </ul> </li> <li>Buffers and Instrumentation Amplifiers</li> <li>Differential Stage</li> <li>10x and 100x attenuation means offsets have to be bang on</li> </ul> </li> <li>Opamps (3 of them) <ul> <li>Buffers <ul> <li>Low input bias current</li> <li>Low offset</li> <li>Bandwidth?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Differential amp <ul> <li>Low offset. Capable of driving 50 ohm load to the scope</li> </ul> </li> <li>Gain setting resistors <ul> <li><a href="https://www.vishay.com/docs/28770/acasat.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Vishay ACAS 0612</a> - Precision resistor network</li> <li>4x0603 resistors to make a diff amplifier with a gain of 2 </li> <li>Relative tolerance of 0.05%</li> <li>Worst case relative temp-coefficient 15ppm</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Project Snackey <ul> <li>Firmware is “feature complete”</li> <li>Display Commands</li> <li>How the vending motors actually work <ul> <li>INA219 Current Sensor</li> <li>Interrupts</li> <li>Improved method for next revision?</li> </ul> </li> <li>The one byte Serial Buffer problem <ul> <li>NEOPIXEL (WS2812) vs APA102 (SK9822)</li> <li>Blocking functions</li> <li>DMA - Direct memory access</li> <li>Importance of full system integration testing </li> </ul> </li> <li>Timer Lockouts for motors <ul> <li>Is there a better way?</li> </ul> </li> </ul>

MEP EP#338: Feature Complete or Minimal Viable Products

MEP EP#337: CSV File WoesProject Snackey  Input Firmware is completed Output Firmware is skeltonized/frameworked Need to add a “Power Good” signal   Auxiliary circuits need software resets on power cycling Due to how Arduino hardware/software works    The Dangers of Basing your Project on Someone Else’s  ExtractModel Fortran No Github One CSV file change causes script to break Is it really broken? What to do?  DIY Meat Smoker Ideas  ~$1600 for the smoker body “round” part Currently 534lbs  JWST sends its first official photos  Incredible engineering feat Had to start with “what do we need to invent” to make this 

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep337-csv-file-woes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#337: CSV File Woes</a> </h4>Project Snackey <ul> <li>Input Firmware is completed</li> <li>Output Firmware is skeltonized/frameworked</li> <li>Need to add a “Power Good” signal <ul> <li>Auxiliary circuits need software resets on power cycling</li> <li>Due to how Arduino hardware/software works</li> </ul> </li> </ul> The Dangers of Basing your Project on Someone Else’s <ul> <li>ExtractModel</li> <li>Fortran</li> <li>No Github</li> <li>One CSV file change causes script to break</li> <li>Is it really broken?</li> <li>What to do?</li> </ul> DIY Meat Smoker Ideas <ul> <li>~$1600 for the smoker body “round” part</li> <li>Currently 534lbs</li> </ul> JWST sends its first official photos <ul> <li>Incredible engineering feat</li> <li>Had to start with “what do we need to invent” to make this</li> </ul>

MEP EP#337: CSV File Woes

MEP EP#336: Heirloom DocumentationUtracerV6  The right way to do instructions Full table of contents Broken out into sections. The ref designators match the section   Build Test   At the end is a full calibration section   Section for logging your calibration values   A whole section for building enclosures and wiring dos4ever.com  Project Snackey  PCBA completed! Smoke monster is still contained within the circuit Wrapping up the wiring inside the machine before moving onto code Installed a kiosk receipt printer where the coin return used to be and got it working Microswitches - The fidget spinner for electrical engineers?  DIY Meat Smoker Ideas?  Introducing the Low Poly Smoker!  Nvidia could spend $10 billion to secure RTX 4000 components  Hold there place in line at TSMC? 

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep336-heirloom-documentation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#336: Heirloom Documentation</a> </h4>UtracerV6 <ul> <li>The right way to do instructions</li> <li>Full table of contents</li> <li>Broken out into sections. The ref designators match the section <ul> <li>Build</li> <li>Test</li> </ul> </li> <li>At the end is a full calibration section <ul> <li>Section for logging your calibration values</li> </ul> </li> <li>A whole section for building enclosures and wiring</li> <li><a href="http://dos4ever.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dos4ever.com</a></li> </ul> Project Snackey <ul> <li>PCBA completed!</li> <li>Smoke monster is still contained within the circuit</li> <li>Wrapping up the wiring inside the machine before moving onto code</li> <li>Installed a kiosk receipt printer where the coin return used to be and got it working</li> <li>Microswitches - The fidget spinner for electrical engineers?</li> </ul> DIY Meat Smoker Ideas? <ul> <li>Introducing the Low Poly Smoker!</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/nvidia/RTX-4000-5nm-10-billion" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Nvidia could spend $10 billion to secure RTX 4000 components</a> <ul> <li>Hold there place in line at TSMC?</li> </ul>

MEP EP#336: Heirloom Documentation

MEP EP#335: Your Toaster is ToastProject: Diff Probe  Circuit Cellar design Hack a Day project Active Differential probe with 600V Common mode and 600V differential mode Measure virtually any two points. No need for ground reference. Perhaps a battery system with a boost converter? Excuse to finally use that 3d printer to make a case Basically all precision components  UtracerV6 enclosure  Decided to make an enclosure that better suits my use case Stripped down from last time. It does not need all the bells and whistles from last time. Fixed sockets FTDI and SMPS for 6.3V and 19.5V  EOL: The Chip Shortage You Don’t See Coming  Instant obsolescence No phase-out period    Foundries are booked three years out Suppliers are working on their most profitable lines and filling standing orders New fabs coming online won’t be buying old wafer equipment New foundries will be making new parts   Avoiding instant obsolescence   What parts are more readily available and are continuity coming back into stock Look at the market segments using the components you need  Put out orders for the components that you need regardless of lead times.     Ask and Engineer on MIT website

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep335-your-toaster-is-toast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#335: Your Toaster is Toast</a> </h4>Project: Diff Probe <ul> <li><a href="https://circuitcellar.com/research-design-hub/high-voltage-differential-probe/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Circuit Cellar design</a></li> <li><a href="https://hackaday.io/project/169390-a-10x-100mhz-differential-probe" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hack a Day project</a></li> <li>Active Differential probe with 600V Common mode and 600V differential mode</li> <li>Measure virtually any two points. No need for ground reference.</li> <li>Perhaps a battery system with a boost converter?</li> <li>Excuse to finally use that 3d printer to make a case</li> <li>Basically all precision components</li> </ul> UtracerV6 enclosure <ul> <li>Decided to make an enclosure that better suits my use case</li> <li>Stripped down from last time. It does not need all the bells and whistles from last time.</li> <li>Fixed sockets</li> <li>FTDI and SMPS for 6.3V and 19.5V</li> </ul> <a href="https://epsnews.com/2022/06/20/eol-the-chip-shortage-you-dont-see-coming/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">EOL: The Chip Shortage You Don’t See Coming</a> <ul> <li>Instant obsolescence</li> <li>No phase-out period <ul> <li>Foundries are booked three years out</li> <li>Suppliers are working on their most profitable lines and filling standing orders</li> <li>New fabs coming online won’t be buying old wafer equipment</li> <li>New foundries will be making new parts</li> </ul> </li> <li>Avoiding instant obsolescence <ul> <li>What parts are more readily available and are continuity coming back into stock</li> <li>Look at the market segments using the components you need </li> <li>Put out orders for the components that you need regardless of lead times. </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a href="https://engineering.mit.edu/engage/ask-an-engineer/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ask and Engineer on MIT website</a>

MEP EP#335: Your Toaster is Toast

MEP EP#334: Double as good!Project: SNACKEY  PCBs and Components arrived All PTH components fit Assembly starts tomorrow  Nichicon Obsolescence  Removing 8 and partial 2 of there SMT Aluminum Electrolytic lines Nichicon has 43 lines of SMT Electrolytic capacitors alone  Lines they are getting rid of have these qualities:   Standard range High reflow temp Low impedance   New series is UBH which seems to partially cover what they are removing   High Temperature Range Vibration Resistance Low temperature ESR specification    Jeep A/C Troubles?   Jeep AC started acting weird Vacuum leak Replaced the controller module and introduced new problems!  uTracerV6  New version arriving soon 1000V @1A  Check out the previous version Stephen modified on episode 135 

<h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep334-double-as-good/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#334: Double as good!</a> </h4>Project: SNACKEY <ul> <li>PCBs and Components arrived</li> <li>All PTH components fit</li> <li>Assembly starts tomorrow</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.tti.com/content/dam/ttiinc/products/PCN/Nichicon/NIC-OBSL-PTN-195.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Nichicon Obsolescence</a> <ul> <li>Removing 8 and partial 2 of there SMT Aluminum Electrolytic lines</li> <li>Nichicon has 43 lines of SMT Electrolytic capacitors alone </li> <li>Lines they are getting rid of have these qualities: <ul> <li>Standard range</li> <li>High reflow temp</li> <li>Low impedance</li> </ul> </li> <li>New series is UBH which seems to partially cover what they are removing <ul> <li>High Temperature Range</li> <li>Vibration Resistance</li> <li>Low temperature ESR specification</li> </ul> </li> </ul> Jeep A/C Troubles? <ul> <li>Jeep AC started acting weird</li> <li>Vacuum leak</li> <li>Replaced the controller module and introduced new problems!</li> </ul> uTracerV6 <ul> <li>New version arriving soon</li> <li>1000V @1A </li> <li>Check out the previous version Stephen modified on <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-135-hamster-chirps/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">episode 135</a></li> </ul>

MEP EP#334: Double as good!

MacroFab's Engineering Podcast! Where Electrical Engineers, Parker Dillmann and Stephen Kraig talk about electrical engineering topics, DIY projects, and industry news. Sometimes cool people stop by the podcast to drop some knowledge.

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MacroFab Engineering Podcast

The Q&amp;A EpisodeIris Weeden  MacroFab's Marketing Director Award-winning marketer with ten years of experience Native Houstonian and lover of music, dogs, and beers   Episode 100!!!!!!  The Q&amp;A Episode Thanks to our listeners who submitted questions through email and our Slack channel   Questions  Brandon Drury  How in the hell does one survive engineering school? What should a person expect to get from a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering? What's the dumbest/smartest thing a person can do with shift registers? What's a good resource for learning how to prototype? My wires are always a mess. I have no idea what kind of box can hold panel-style outlets. I'm looking for a resource that will improve my ability to take a circuit that works into a form factor, that will allow it to be tested in a halfway reliable way.   Emmett Naughton  What's the best way to get a electrical engineering job? Mostly for somebody with a degree but who doesn't have job experience in the field.   Stephen Newberry  What is the best method for us hardware engineers to monetize our side projects? I personally don't have the time to handle manufacturing or customer support in the long term. I've considered contacting companies to sell a design for a lump sum or royalty based model, but I've never gone through with it. What are your suggestions on what will or won't work best?   Tom Anderson  I would like to hear the story behind: What is the worst electrical shock that (one of the guys) has ever had? From Episode #85   Hyr0n of the AND!XOR team  What is the difference between a duck? All of a sudden one of the following two things no longer exists: Craft Beer OR Lead-Alloy Solder. Which do you pick?   Zapp of the AND!XOR team  Would you rather assemble 1,000 duck sized horse PCBs or 1 horse sized duck PCB?Tags: 1000 Duck sized Horse PCBs, electronics podcast, MacroFab, macrofab  engineering podcast, MEP, PCB material, Podcast, Question and Answer

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep100-qa-episode/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Q&amp;A Episode</a> <ul><li>Iris Weeden <ul> <li>MacroFab's Marketing Director</li> <li>Award-winning marketer with ten years of experience</li> <li>Native Houstonian and lover of music, dogs, and beers</li> </ul> </li> <li>Episode 100!!!!!! <ul> <li>The Q&amp;A Episode</li> <li>Thanks to our listeners who submitted questions through email and our Slack channel</li> </ul> </li> <li>Questions <ul> <li>Brandon Drury <ul> <li>How in the hell does one survive engineering school?</li> <li>What should a person expect to get from a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering?</li> <li>What's the dumbest/smartest thing a person can do with shift registers?</li> <li>What's a good resource for learning how to prototype? My wires are always a mess. I have no idea what kind of box can hold panel-style outlets. I'm looking for a resource that will improve my ability to take a circuit that works into a form factor, that will allow it to be tested in a halfway reliable way.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Emmett Naughton <ul> <li>What's the best way to get a electrical engineering job? Mostly for somebody with a degree but who doesn't have job experience in the field.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Stephen Newberry <ul> <li>What is the best method for us hardware engineers to monetize our side projects? I personally don't have the time to handle manufacturing or customer support in the long term. I've considered contacting companies to sell a design for a lump sum or royalty based model, but I've never gone through with it. What are your suggestions on what will or won't work best?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Tom Anderson <ul> <li>I would like to hear the story behind: What is the worst electrical shock that (one of the guys) has ever had? From Episode #85</li> </ul> </li> <li>Hyr0n of the AND!XOR team <ul> <li>What is the difference between a duck?</li> <li>All of a sudden one of the following two things no longer exists: Craft Beer OR Lead-Alloy Solder. Which do you pick?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Zapp of the AND!XOR team <ul> <li>Would you rather assemble 1,000 duck sized horse PCBs or 1 horse sized duck PCB?</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul>Tags: 1000 Duck sized Horse PCBs, electronics podcast, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, PCB material, Podcast, Question and Answer

MEP EP#100

Podcast Notes  Parker designed the Macro Duino! Basically a Arduino clone using Type C USB, a FT230X as the USB UART bridge, and proper power switching with the Ti TPS2113A. See Figure 1. Also supports 3.3V and 5.0V. Earlier this week Parker had an article about adding external Part Libraries and DRC rules to Eagle. Check it out  here. Some new work on the PinHeck Pinball System. Parker is working on adding the Octavo OSD3358 to replace the Parallax Propeller as the A/V processor. Stephen has been working on his Brewing Rig. He is giving a talk at Destination Codes about the Brewing Rig since it will involve programming and hardware. For flow control, Stephen is using a  Atlas Scientific flow meter and a  motorized ball valve from Amazon. LattePanda is the platform Stephen wants to use for the Brewing Rig. Runs Windows10. KAIST process engineers, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, have developed a  chip packaging technology that creates flexible integrated circuits. The substrate they designed is very interesting.  Fixing the Ampere: Redefining the SI Unit.  ON cleared to buy Fairchild. ON has received the US FTC’s blessing to proceed with its $2.4 billion takeover of Fairchild on condition that it sells off the Ignition IGBT business.  Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro theme!

Podcast Notes <ul> <li>Parker designed the <a href="https://twitter.com/LnghrnEngineer/status/770766359445835776" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Macro Duino</a>! Basically a Arduino clone using Type C USB, a FT230X as the USB UART bridge, and proper power switching with the <a href="http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tps2112a.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ti TPS2113A</a>. See Figure 1. Also supports 3.3V and 5.0V.</li> <li>Earlier this week Parker had an article about adding external Part Libraries and DRC rules to Eagle. Check it out <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/adding-external-part-libraries-drcs-cam-files-eagle/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>.</li> <li>Some new work on the <a href="https://github.com/LonghornEngineer/Pinheck_Pinball_System" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PinHeck Pinball System</a>. Parker is working on adding the <a href="http://octavosystems.com/octavo_products/osd335x/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Octavo OSD3358</a> to replace the Parallax Propeller as the A/V processor.</li> <li>Stephen has been working on his Brewing Rig. He is giving a talk at <a href="http://www.destination.codes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Destination Codes</a> about the Brewing Rig since it will involve programming and hardware.</li> <li>For flow control, Stephen is using a <a href="http://www.atlas-scientific.com/product_pages/kits/1-2_flow_meter.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Atlas Scientific flow meter</a> and a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/HSH-Flo-12VDC-Control-Motorized-Electric/dp/B00VPRR42Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> motorized ball valve from Amazon</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://www.lattepanda.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LattePanda</a> is the platform Stephen wants to use for the Brewing Rig. Runs Windows10.</li> <li>KAIST process engineers, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, have developed a <a href="http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/korea-develops-roll-based-packaging-flexible-silicon-ics-2016-08/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> chip packaging technology</a> that creates flexible integrated circuits. The substrate they designed is very interesting.</li> <li><a href="http://hackaday.com/2016/08/30/fixing-the-ampere-redefining-the-si-unit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Fixing the Ampere: Redefining the SI Unit</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/cleared-buy-fairchild-2016-08/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> ON cleared to buy Fairchild</a>. ON has received the US FTC’s blessing to proceed with its $2.4 billion takeover of Fairchild on condition that it sells off the Ignition IGBT business.</li> </ul> Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs for the intro and outro theme!</a>

MEP EP#31

Podcast Notes  This week Stephen and Parker have a guest. Greg Sheridan of Octavo Systems. Greg is the Marketing and Sales Manager for Octavo Systems. Octavo Systems builds "System-in-Package" or SiP style chips to reduce the complexity of board layout and offset the costs more PCB layers. Their first product is a Beagle Bone on Chip IC called the OSD3358. Greg can rattle off the part number no problem as he was the one that came up with the naming convention. OSD3358-512M-BAS. Octavo Systems takes the die of the IC they want to integrate and combine it with the DRAM, decoupling, and power regulation needed and put them on a custom substrate. The IC die is then bond wired to the substrate. Octavo Systems gets their dies direct from the manufactures like Texas Instruments. The OSD3358-512M-BAS can be purchased at  Digi-key in singles for almost $50. The BGA is a large pitch of 1.27mm. Octavo hopes it will help out the maker group. Uses normal IC packaging technology so it should be fairly robust. Thermal performance is very good. FCC/CE certification will be coming soon. Greg does not expect any problems given how short the traces are. Octavo is looking at integrating more devices for the future. They are not  limited to the semiconductor process when selecting sub systems. The Ello 2M on CrowdSupply is a really "neat" stackable PCB portable computer for learning to program and hack hardware. Runs a PIC32MX MCU and Basic OS. All open source on github. Greg saw the PocketCNC at MakerFaire. They have a version made completely our of FR4 called the  Machine Shield. Industrial enclosures for the the Raspberry Pi actually exist. Video explaining how the Raspberry Pi 2 reset when a Xenon Flash his the PCB. Nest releases an open source version of its networking protocol called OpenThread. Will make all IoT devices talk to each other.  Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro theme!

Podcast Notes <ul> <li>This week Stephen and Parker have a guest. <a href="http://octavosystems.com/people/greg-sheridan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Greg Sheridan</a> of <a href="http://octavosystems.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Octavo Systems</a>.</li> <li>Greg is the Marketing and Sales Manager for Octavo Systems.</li> <li>Octavo Systems builds <a href="http://octavosystems.com/technology/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"System-in-Package"</a> or SiP style chips to reduce the complexity of board layout and offset the costs more PCB layers. Their first product is a <a href="http://beagleboard.org/bone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beagle Bone</a> on Chip IC called the <a href="http://octavosystems.com/family/osd-family/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OSD3358</a>.</li> <li>Greg can rattle off the part number no problem as he was the one that came up with the naming convention. OSD3358-512M-BAS.</li> <li>Octavo Systems takes the die of the IC they want to integrate and combine it with the DRAM, decoupling, and power regulation needed and put them on a custom substrate. The IC die is then bond wired to the substrate.</li> <li>Octavo Systems gets their dies direct from the manufactures like <a href="http://www.ti.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Texas Instruments</a>.</li> <li>The OSD3358-512M-BAS can be purchased at <a href="http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/octavo-systems-llc/OSD3358-512M-BAS/1676-1000-ND/6012564" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Digi-key in singles</a> for almost $50.</li> <li>The BGA is a large pitch of 1.27mm. Octavo hopes it will help out the maker group. Uses normal IC packaging technology so it should be fairly robust. Thermal performance is very good.</li> <li>FCC/CE certification will be coming soon. Greg does not expect any problems given how short the traces are.</li> <li>Octavo is looking at integrating more devices for the future. They are not <a href="http://octavosystems.com/2016/03/21/sip-metrics-moores-law-equivalent/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> limited to the semiconductor process</a> when selecting sub systems.</li> <li>The <a href="https://www.crowdsupply.com/knivd/ello-2m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ello 2M on CrowdSupply</a> is a really "neat" stackable PCB portable computer for learning to program and hack hardware. Runs a PIC32MX MCU and Basic OS. All <a href="https://github.com/knivd/ELLO-2M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">open source on github</a>.</li> <li>Greg saw the <a href="http://www.pocketnc.com/pocketnc/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PocketCNC</a> at MakerFaire. They have a version made completely our of FR4 called the <a href="http://www.pocketnc.com/blog/2016/5/26/may-2016-update-maker-faire-and-the-fr4-machine-shield" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Machine Shield</a>.</li> <li>Industrial enclosures for the the Raspberry Pi actually exist.</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDfRCi1UV0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Video</a> explaining how the Raspberry Pi 2 reset when a Xenon Flash his the PCB.</li> <li>Nest releases an open source version of its networking protocol called <a href="https://github.com/openthread/openthread" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OpenThread</a>. Will make all IoT devices talk to each other.</li> </ul> Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs</a> for the intro and outro theme!

MEP EP#17

 Stephen and Parker have been testing the main opamp for the OPA541. Stephen wrote a blog post detailing the opamp tests with simulation and real world testing. GitHub link to the repository for the SSPS. Giant 200W 8Ohm resistor. Liquid Cold Plate Heat Sinks for cooling the opamps in the SSPS. Isolators for the opamps made out of Aluminum Oxide. Part no. 4180. They make Beryllium Oxide Ceramic isolators but not in the right size. Antek transformers is the company that makes the Doughnut (Toroidal) Transformers Parker and Stephen are looking at. Really neat Super Capacitor Flashflight. A 30F 3V cap would weigh 5.685x10^-12 kg more fully charged vs discharged. It would take roughly 176 billion of these super caps to have a charge weight gain of 1 kg. Carbon film capacitors sounds almost as cool as carbon nano tubes. If they can replace bypass caps it would make compact board layouts easier. President Obama going to sign bill to combat chip piracy. FTDI rejoices? Microchip releases the MPLAB Xpress which is cloud-based. Stephen is excited about a GUI interface that auto generates setup and register code.  Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro theme!

<ul> <li>Stephen and Parker have been testing the main opamp for the OPA541. Stephen wrote a <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/super-simple-power-supply-ssps-design-part-1/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blog post</a> detailing the opamp tests with simulation and real world testing.</li> <li>GitHub link to the <a href="https://github.com/MacroFab/SSPS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">repository</a> for the SSPS.</li> <li>Giant <a href="http://www.parts-express.com/8-ohm-200w-non-inductive-dummy-load-resistor--019-030" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">200W 8Ohm resistor</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://www.richardsonrfpd.com/Pages/Product-End-Category.aspx?productCategory=10190" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liquid Cold Plate Heat Sinks</a> for cooling the opamps in the SSPS.</li> <li>Isolators for the opamps made out of <a href="http://www.aavid.com/product-group/interface/insulators" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aluminum Oxide</a>. Part no. 4180. They make Beryllium Oxide Ceramic isolators but not in the right size.</li> <li><a href="http://www.antekinc.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Antek transformers</a> is the company that makes the Doughnut (Toroidal) Transformers Parker and Stephen are looking at.</li> <li>Really neat <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Micro-usb-30F-Supercapacitor-Flashlight/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Super Capacitor Flashflight</a>.</li> <li>A 30F 3V cap would weigh 5.685x10^-12 kg more fully charged vs discharged. It would take roughly 176 billion of these super caps to have a charge weight gain of 1 kg.</li> <li><a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/du-rrc021016.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carbon film</a> capacitors sounds almost as cool as carbon nano tubes. If they can replace bypass caps it would make compact board layouts easier.</li> <li>President Obama going to sign bill to combat <a href="http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328931&amp;_mc=RSS_EET_EDT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chip piracy</a>. FTDI rejoices?</li> <li>Microchip releases the <a href="https://www.microchip.com/mplab/mplab-xpress" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MPLAB Xpress</a> which is cloud-based. Stephen is excited about a GUI interface that auto generates setup and register code.</li> </ul> Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs</a> for the intro and outro theme!

MEP EP#3

Podcast Notes  Parker has a new update to the Jeep Bluetooth Radio Mod. To level shift the Bluetooth audio to what the  TDA7340S expects, Parker is going to build a differential opamp. The Bluetooth audio adapter has a 50mV DC offset and a 1.9V Pk-Pk at max volume where the TDA7429L is expecting a 4.65V DC offset with a 800mV Pk-Pk. See Figure 1. Stephen has a crazy idea to make the "ultimate" inexpensive  resistor standard. His plan is to use a big array of resistors that are in parallel/series. He hops that statistically it will swamp out the tolerance. Stephen will use different manufactures to swamp out batch issues. Next week we should have some analysis on this project done. Analog-EETimes article: Why the zero-ohm resistor? NASA Wants SpacePoop Hackers. Reminds Parker of this Apollo 10 radio transcription. See page 416. New Bluetooth 5 spec is  out. Key updates to Bluetooth 5 include longer range, faster speed, and larger broadcast message capacity. Samsung exploding battery  update.  Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro!

Podcast Notes <ul> <li>Parker has a new update to the Jeep Bluetooth Radio Mod. To level shift the Bluetooth audio to what the <a href="https://mxcdn.macrofab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/TDA7340S.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> TDA7340S</a> expects, Parker is going to build a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_amplifier" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">differential opamp</a>. The Bluetooth audio adapter has a 50mV DC offset and a 1.9V Pk-Pk at max volume where the TDA7429L is expecting a 4.65V DC offset with a 800mV Pk-Pk. See Figure 1.</li> <li>Stephen has a crazy idea to make the "ultimate" inexpensive <a href="https://www.element14.com/community/groups/test-and-measurement/blog/2015/01/05/vishay-precision-resistor-standard--how-the-pros-made-one-for-me" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> resistor standard</a>. His plan is to use a big array of resistors that are in parallel/series. He hops that statistically it will swamp out the tolerance. Stephen will use different manufactures to swamp out batch issues. Next week we should have some analysis on this project done.</li> <li>Analog-EETimes article: <a href="http://www.analog-eetimes.com/news/why-zero-ohm-resistor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why the zero-ohm resistor</a>?</li> <li>NASA Wants <a href="http://hackaday.com/2016/12/04/nasa-wants-spacepoop-hackers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpacePoop Hackers</a>. Reminds Parker of this <a href="https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a410/AS10_CM.PDF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apollo 10 radio transcription</a>. See page 416.</li> <li>New Bluetooth 5 spec is <a href="https://www.bluetooth.com/news/pressreleases/2016/12/07/bluetooth-5-now-available" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> out</a>. Key updates to Bluetooth 5 include longer range, faster speed, and larger broadcast message capacity.</li> <li>Samsung exploding battery <a href="https://www.instrumental.ai/blog/2016/12/1/aggressive-design-caused-samsung-galaxy-note-7-battery-explosions" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> update</a>.</li> </ul> Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs for the intro and outro!</a>

MEP EP#45

Standard-ishStephen  Using an oscilloscope as a dynamic signal analyzer Analog scopes   Parker  Gameboy update  Code compiles! Quartus II still compiled my Gameboy Project 1.25mm? pitch 21 pin. Connectors are hard to find. Custom flexi cable to solve the problem? Should have board laid out next week   Arduino Article  Raspberry pi addon boards are called HATs - Hardware attached on top Missed opportunity for calling them pi plates :(     RFO  Fatberg follow up  First mentioned on MEP EP#85 Space Engineers VS Caffeinated Chipmunks   QHL600/750 Series DC-DC Brick Converters by XP Power  600 W or 750 W and are designed for 300 VDC nominal input applications 180V to 425V DC input 4.60" x 2.40" x 0.50" Ideal for AC input applications with PFC, baseplate cooled ESG solutions and high voltage battery applications such as electric vehicles   Found a 300V capacitor repackaged as 450V  How to test the voltage rating on caps?   Have listeners ever purchased counterfeit or fake parts? Let us know!   Announcements  Twitter Chat Info  April 20th Friday at 1PM CST   Meetup Info  May 23rd 6PM at MacroFab HQ in Houston Brandon Satrom from Particle. Going to give a talk about IoT fundamentals.   Houston Hardware Happy Hour  First Thursday of each month May 3rd at Slowpokes Bring hacks and hang out      Visit our Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags:  Counterfeit Parts, electronics podcast, Fake News Parts, Fatberg,  Gameboy VGA Adapter, HAT, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP,  Pi Plates, Podcast, QHL600, QHL750

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep116-standard-ish/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Standard-ish</a> <ul><li>Stephen <ul> <li>Using an oscilloscope as a dynamic signal analyzer</li> <li>Analog scopes</li> </ul> </li> <li>Parker <ul> <li>Gameboy update <ul> <li>Code compiles! Quartus II still compiled my Gameboy Project</li> <li>1.25mm? pitch 21 pin. Connectors are hard to find.</li> <li>Custom flexi cable to solve the problem?</li> <li>Should have board laid out next week</li> </ul> </li> <li>Arduino Article <ul> <li><a href="https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/38780/what-is-hat-compatible" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Raspberry pi addon boards are called HATs</a> - Hardware attached on top</li> <li>Missed opportunity for calling them pi plates :(</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>RFO <ul> <li><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/18/world/museum-of-london-fatberg-exhibit/index.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Fatberg follow up</a> <ul> <li>First mentioned on <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep85-space-engineers-vs-caffeinated-chipmunks/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#85 Space Engineers VS Caffeinated Chipmunks</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/x/xp-power/qhl600-750-series-dc-dc-brick-converters" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">QHL600/750 Series DC-DC Brick Converters by XP Power</a> <ul> <li>600 W or 750 W and are designed for 300 VDC nominal input applications</li> <li>180V to 425V DC input</li> <li>4.60" x 2.40" x 0.50"</li> <li>Ideal for AC input applications with PFC, baseplate cooled ESG solutions and high voltage battery applications such as electric vehicles</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/electronics/comments/8cdsnv/i_found_a_300v_capacitor_repackaged_as_450v/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Found a 300V capacitor repackaged as 450V</a> <ul> <li>How to test the voltage rating on caps?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Have listeners ever purchased counterfeit or fake parts? Let us know!</li> </ul> </li> <li>Announcements <ul> <li>Twitter Chat Info <ul> <li>April 20th Friday at 1PM CST</li> </ul> </li> <li>Meetup Info <ul> <li>May 23rd 6PM at MacroFab HQ in Houston</li> <li>Brandon Satrom from Particle. Going to give a talk about IoT fundamentals.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Houston Hardware Happy Hour <ul> <li>First Thursday of each month</li> <li>May 3rd at <a href="http://www.slowpokeshtx.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slowpokes</a></li> <li>Bring hacks and hang out</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Visit our <a href="https://join.slack.com/t/macrofab/shared_invite/enQtMjgzMzcwMjE4NDE4LTlmODY2ZDU0MjhiYjY0N2U4Mjc0MjdlMjBkMWFkODJmMjJmMzI3YTZmZTkyNWY3N2JiMWQ1ZDE1MjFmYzAwZGI" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: Counterfeit Parts, electronics podcast, Fake News Parts, Fatberg, Gameboy VGA Adapter, HAT, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, Pi Plates, Podcast, QHL600, QHL750

MEP EP#116

 Audio quality of the podcast leveled up! Stephen and Parker went over to The Pharmacy Recording Studio which is run by Josh Moore. He hooked them up with 2 (!) microphones and a nice an acoustically pleasing room. Big thanks to Josh! Parker has been working on the X-Y Platform which has been code named the SAIM which stands for Semi-Automatic Inspection Machine. Half of Parker's job is coming up with "cool" acronyms. The SAIM will be a PCB inspection machine for low volume runs at MacroFab. See Figure 1. Parker gets Open Beam and Open Builds confused again. Similar names and similar products! Parker is using Open Builds V-Slot Linear Rails for the SAIM. Controlling the SAIM is the Macro PLC. It is a in house designed CNC controller based off the Parallax Propeller. Stephen has been working on the FX Development board. This board has all the power supplies and trimmings you need to develop guitar pedals, analog effects, and synthesizer circuits. The board has two solder-less breadboards as well built in. See Figure 2 for the prototype. This week Stephen and Parker have not been able to work on the Super Simple Power Supply (SSPS) but will be getting back to that project next week. Getting a solid cooling solution down is the next step. Selling 3D objects that you did not design? Ethically or Morally wrong? Depends on the license. Mouser's website verse Digi-key's website. Stephen really likes how clean Mouser's website and attribute searching works. Parker likes Digi-key's pictures as they make it easier for shopping for connectors and switches. Parker suggests reading the errata datasheets first before picking a microcontroller.  Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro theme!

<ul> <li>Audio quality of the podcast leveled up! Stephen and Parker went over to The Pharmacy Recording Studio which is run by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joshthemoore" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Josh Moore</a>. He hooked them up with 2 (!) microphones and a nice an acoustically pleasing room. Big thanks to Josh!</li> <li>Parker has been working on the X-Y Platform which has been code named the SAIM which stands for Semi-Automatic Inspection Machine. Half of Parker's job is coming up with "cool" acronyms.</li> <li>The SAIM will be a PCB inspection machine for low volume runs at MacroFab. See Figure 1.</li> <li>Parker gets <a href="http://www.openbeamusa.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Open Beam</a> and <a href="http://openbuildspartstore.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Open Builds</a> confused again. Similar names and similar products! Parker is using Open Builds V-Slot Linear Rails for the SAIM.</li> <li>Controlling the SAIM is the <a href="https://github.com/MacroFab/Macro_PLC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Macro PLC</a>. It is a in house designed CNC controller based off the <a href="https://www.parallax.com/sites/default/files/downloads/P8X32A-Propeller-Datasheet-v1.4.0_0.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Parallax Propeller</a>.</li> <li>Stephen has been working on the <a href="https://github.com/MacroFab/Guitar-FX-Development-Board" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FX Development board</a>. This board has all the power supplies and trimmings you need to develop guitar pedals, analog effects, and synthesizer circuits. The board has two solder-less breadboards as well built in. See Figure 2 for the prototype.</li> <li>This week Stephen and Parker have not been able to work on the <a href="https://github.com/MacroFab/SSPS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Super Simple Power Supply (SSPS)</a> but will be getting back to that project next week. Getting a solid cooling solution down is the next step.</li> <li>Selling <a href="http://hackaday.com/2016/02/22/ask-hackaday-selling-cad-prints-that-are-not-yours/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3D objects</a> that you did not design? Ethically or Morally wrong? Depends on the license.</li> <li>Mouser's website verse Digi-key's website. Stephen really likes how clean Mouser's website and attribute searching works. Parker likes Digi-key's pictures as they make it easier for shopping for connectors and switches.</li> <li>Parker suggests reading the errata datasheets first before picking a microcontroller.</li> </ul> Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs</a> for the intro and outro theme!

MEP EP#4

Arduino, The Gateway Drug To #BadgeLifeAND!XOR  Check out the previous MEP EP#69 Incognito Mode for the last time the AND!XOR group was on the podcast   Bitstr3m  Did the Android mobile application for the DEFCON 25 badge   Zapp  Does the hardware design.   HyR0n  Embedded software, puzzles, ect   DEFCON 25 RECAP  Last years badge details  Hunter S Thompson as Bender, bender on a bender Botnet Changing voltage regulators mid manufacturing run QFN design on PCB Iterative prototyping   HotFix to patch BLE exploit Hacking IoT Vodka Badge Sales   DEFCON 26 new Badge details  Hardware or Software secrets?  Double down on botnet   Lessons learned to apply to the new badge?  WS2812Bs do not reflow well QFN design on PCB is critical Implement OTA updates Iterative prototyping I2C     Looking forward to this year?  Not flashing badges three times Going to hacker jeopardy Want to see more people hacking badges    Visit our Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags:  electronics podcast, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, Podcast

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep109-arduino-gateway-drug-badgelife/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Arduino, The Gateway Drug To #BadgeLife</a> <ul><li>AND!XOR <ul> <li>Check out the previous <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep69-incognito-mode/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#69 Incognito Mode</a> for the last time the AND!XOR group was on the podcast</li> </ul> </li> <li>Bitstr3m <ul> <li>Did the Android mobile application for the DEFCON 25 badge</li> </ul> </li> <li>Zapp <ul> <li>Does the hardware design.</li> </ul> </li> <li>HyR0n <ul> <li>Embedded software, puzzles, ect</li> </ul> </li> <li>DEFCON 25 RECAP <ul> <li>Last years badge details <ul> <li>Hunter S Thompson as Bender,</li> <li>bender on a bender</li> <li>Botnet</li> <li>Changing voltage regulators mid manufacturing run</li> <li>QFN design on PCB</li> <li>Iterative prototyping</li> </ul> </li> <li>HotFix to patch BLE exploit</li> <li>Hacking IoT Vodka</li> <li>Badge Sales</li> </ul> </li> <li>DEFCON 26 new Badge details <ul> <li>Hardware or Software secrets? <ul> <li>Double down on botnet</li> </ul> </li> <li>Lessons learned to apply to the new badge? <ul> <li>WS2812Bs do not reflow well</li> <li>QFN design on PCB is critical</li> <li>Implement OTA updates</li> <li>Iterative prototyping</li> <li>I2C</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Looking forward to this year? <ul> <li>Not flashing badges three times</li> <li>Going to hacker jeopardy</li> <li>Want to see more people hacking badges</li> </ul> </li> </ul> Visit our <a href="https://join.slack.com/t/macrofab/shared_invite/enQtMjgzMzcwMjE4NDE4LTlmODY2ZDU0MjhiYjY0N2U4Mjc0MjdlMjBkMWFkODJmMjJmMzI3YTZmZTkyNWY3N2JiMWQ1ZDE1MjFmYzAwZGI" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: electronics podcast, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, Podcast

MEP EP#109

Space EngineeringParker  MAX6682 breakout board finished and ordered  This is for the thermistors GitHub repo for the board files   New Jeep, The Grande Wagoneer  A/C doesn’t work as expected Found the FSM and Schematic  Schematic for the A/C controls  Page 31 Page 32     Schematic has four parts that control the A/C Compressor  Evaporator thermistor  Turns out this is a standard 5K NTC thermistor   A/C temperature sensor Compressor Low Pressure Switch  Standard part #4773763   Climate Control Box       Stephen  uTracer update  Enclosure will be a Hammond Manufacturing 1441-16CWW uTracer PCB will be a daughter board attached to the relay control board Built in USB -&gt; RS-232     RFO  Spider silk microphone also senses slightest waft of air  “most waft-able air movement sensor ever” 400V field, ~0.5V/Pa Research paper is behind a pay wall :/   Voltage Regulator heatsinks - when are they required?  Maximum power dissipation is determined by the maximum junction temperature rating, the ambient temperature, and the junction-to-ambient thermal resistance. PDmax=( TJmax-  TA) / RθJA Junction-to-ambient thermal resistance measured in C/W  Maximum Power Enhancement Techniques for SOT-223 Power MOSFETs - AN-1028  Constructing Your Power Supply —Layout Considerations - SLUP230   Jarrett from slack asks "WTF do you do with 2 million free LEDs?"    Visit our Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags:  1441-16CWW, electronics podcast, Grand Wagoneer, ITS OVER 9000 LEDS?!,  Jeep, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MAX6682, MEP, Podcast,  Spider Silk microphone, uTracer, Voltage Regualtor Heatsinks, waft-able

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep126-space-engineering/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Space Engineering</a> <ul><li>Parker <ul> <li><a href="http://longhornengineer.com/2018/06/21/max6682-breakout-board-and-reading-thermistors/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MAX6682 breakout board</a> finished and ordered <ul> <li>This is for the thermistors</li> <li><a href="https://github.com/LonghornEngineer/MAX6682-Breakout-Board" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">GitHub repo</a> for the board files</li> </ul> </li> <li>New Jeep, The Grande Wagoneer <ul> <li>A/C doesn’t work as expected</li> <li>Found the FSM and Schematic <ul> <li>Schematic for the A/C controls <ul> <li><a href="http://oljeep.com/gw/elec/90_numeric/90-AC-HeaterSystem-8W_Page-31.jpg" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Page 31</a></li> <li><a href="http://oljeep.com/gw/elec/90_numeric/90-AC-HeaterSystem-8W_Page-32.jpg" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Page 32</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Schematic has four parts that control the A/C Compressor <ul> <li>Evaporator thermistor <ul> <li>Turns out this is a standard 5K NTC thermistor</li> </ul> </li> <li>A/C temperature sensor</li> <li>Compressor Low Pressure Switch <ul> <li>Standard part #4773763</li> </ul> </li> <li>Climate Control Box</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Stephen <ul> <li>uTracer update <ul> <li>Enclosure will be a Hammond Manufacturing <a href="http://www.hammondmfg.com/pdf/1441-16BK3CWW.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1441-16CWW</a></li> <li>uTracer PCB will be a daughter board attached to the relay control board</li> <li>Built in USB -&gt; RS-232</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>RFO <ul> <li><a href="https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/spider-silk-microphone-also-senses-slightest-waft-air-2018-06/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Spider silk microphone also senses slightest waft of air</a> <ul> <li>“most waft-able air movement sensor ever”</li> <li>400V field, ~0.5V/Pa</li> <li>Research paper is behind a pay wall :/</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/8tz8vj/voltage_regulator_heatsinks_when_are_they_required/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Voltage Regulator heatsinks - when are they required?</a> <ul> <li>Maximum power dissipation is determined by the maximum junction temperature rating, the ambient temperature, and the junction-to-ambient thermal resistance.</li> <li>PDmax=( TJmax-  TA) / RθJA</li> <li>Junction-to-ambient thermal resistance measured in C/W</li> <li> Maximum Power Enhancement Techniques for SOT-223 Power MOSFETs - <a href="https://www.fairchildsemi.com/application-notes/AN/AN-1028.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">AN-1028</a> </li> <li>Constructing Your Power Supply —Layout Considerations - <a href="https://www.ti.com/seclit/ml/slup230/slup230.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">SLUP230</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Jarrett from slack asks "WTF do you do with 2 million free LEDs?"</li> </ul> </li> </ul> Visit our <a href="https://join.slack.com/t/macrofab/shared_invite/enQtMjgzMzcwMjE4NDE4LTlmODY2ZDU0MjhiYjY0N2U4Mjc0MjdlMjBkMWFkODJmMjJmMzI3YTZmZTkyNWY3N2JiMWQ1ZDE1MjFmYzAwZGI" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: 1441-16CWW, electronics podcast, Grand Wagoneer, ITS OVER 9000 LEDS?!, Jeep, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MAX6682, MEP, Podcast, Spider Silk microphone, uTracer, Voltage Regualtor Heatsinks, waft-able

MEP EP#126

Podcast Notes  Last week Stephen and Parker asked listeners for names for the two conference rooms so far these are the suggestions.  Tony the DIYer - MacMinor and MacMajor. Some platforms the c struct that holds the mac address specifies it as a pair of major (32 bit) and minor (16 bit) values. Justin Knight - pagoda for the smaller room since it doesnt have chairs. Hertz and Mega Hertz Vcc and Vdd Power and Ground SDA and SCL TX and RX Conferance McConferance Face   Look for an online poll soon for the name! Parker was testing a customers LED board earlier this week. Fed up with blinding himself with the bright LEDs he decided to wear a welding mask. See Figure 1. The helmet can be found on amazon. Parker took a welding class at TXRX Hackerspace. Stephen has been working more on "The Greatest Resistor....in the world.". Stats below! See Figure 2.  Power:  0.0625w 40,000 resistors = 2.5kW V = SQRT(P*R) = 5000V @ 0.5A   Voltage:  each resistor is 50v so 200 in series = 10kV Temp Coef: 100ppm   Eagle File Size: 3.888 Mb which is 40,485 lines   Space Echo just needs calibration. Anyone know how to generate these specs?  Feed sin wave of -50 dBm into input (See Pg 16-18 of service manual). Space Echo RE-201 Service Manual   Possible Thermal Camera to look at the heat up during powering? What kind of resolution would that camera need to be?  Razer's Project Valerie is a radical three-screen laptop that unfolds with robot arms.  Tri screen laptop Mechanical Keyboard   Tesla turns on the  Gigafactory. More than 2,900 people are already working at the 4.9 million square-foot facility, and more than 4,000 jobs. No info about the batteries yet. The Other Kind of Bypass capacitors.  Article not about normal bypass / decoupling caps but about feedback caps in circuits. Other words bypass caps for feedback circuits. Opamps have these internal feedback capacitors to reduce the high-frequency gain of the op-amp, in order to allow the amplifier to have a predictable transfer function that is stable at unity-gain.    Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro!

Podcast Notes <ul> <li>Last week Stephen and Parker asked listeners for names for the two conference rooms so far these are the suggestions. <ul> <li>Tony the DIYer - MacMinor and MacMajor. Some platforms the c struct that holds the mac address specifies it as a pair of major (32 bit) and minor (16 bit) values.</li> <li>Justin Knight - pagoda for the smaller room since it doesnt have chairs.</li> <li>Hertz and Mega Hertz</li> <li>Vcc and Vdd</li> <li>Power and Ground</li> <li>SDA and SCL</li> <li>TX and RX</li> <li>Conferance McConferance Face</li> </ul> </li> <li>Look for an online poll soon for the name!</li> <li>Parker was testing a customers LED board earlier this week. Fed up with blinding himself with the bright LEDs he decided to wear a welding mask. See Figure 1. The helmet can be found on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R2DUWOM/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon</a>.</li> <li>Parker took a welding class at <a href="https://txrxlabs.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TXRX Hackerspace</a>.</li> <li>Stephen has been working more on "The Greatest Resistor....in the world.". Stats below! See Figure 2. <ul> <li>Power: <ul> <li>0.0625w</li> <li>40,000 resistors = 2.5kW</li> <li>V = SQRT(P*R) = 5000V @ 0.5A</li> </ul> </li> <li>Voltage: <ul> <li>each resistor is 50v so 200 in series = 10kV</li> <li>Temp Coef: 100ppm</li> </ul> </li> <li>Eagle File Size: 3.888 Mb which is 40,485 lines</li> </ul> </li> <li>Space Echo just needs calibration. Anyone know how to generate these specs? <ul> <li>Feed sin wave of -50 dBm into input (See Pg 16-18 of service manual).</li> <li>Space Echo RE-201 <a href="http://www.echofix.com/files/101_201_service_manual.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Service Manual</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Possible Thermal Camera to look at the heat up during powering? What kind of resolution would that camera need to be?</li> <li><a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/3154785/laptop-computers/razers-project-valerie-is-a-radical-three-screen-laptop-that-unfolds-with-robot-arms.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Razer's Project Valerie</a> is a radical three-screen laptop that unfolds with robot arms. <ul> <li>Tri screen laptop</li> <li>Mechanical Keyboard</li> </ul> </li> <li>Tesla turns on the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-04/tesla-flips-the-switch-on-the-gigafactory" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Gigafactory</a>. More than 2,900 people are already working at the 4.9 million square-foot facility, and more than 4,000 jobs. No info about the batteries yet.</li> <li>The <a href="https://www.embeddedrelated.com/showarticle/1021.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Other Kind</a> of Bypass capacitors. <ul> <li>Article not about normal bypass / decoupling caps but about feedback caps in circuits.</li> <li>Other words bypass caps for feedback circuits.</li> <li>Opamps have these internal feedback capacitors to reduce the high-frequency gain of the op-amp, in order to allow the amplifier to have a predictable transfer function that is stable at unity-gain.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs for the intro and outro!</a>

MEP EP#49

Injection Molded Enclosure Design with John TeelJohn Teel  Founder of Predictable Designs, a company which helps startups, makers, and small companies develop new electronic products Previously, John was on Episode 106 of the MacroFab Engineering Podcast where John spoke about making the product development process as predictable as possible   Injection Molding Enclosure Design  What is the general process of injection molding? Challenges of Injection Molding: Why does it have this “mystic” aura around it? Designing enclosures for injection molding?  Difference between designing for 3D printing and Injection molding What should you look for if you need to get a design done correctly What files will I need to have created? Do I design the mold or does someone else?   Design is done. Who do I look for to get my design built?  What questions should I have answered before contacting someone? Who do I talk to to get it done? How do I find a manufacturer locally or overseas? Who owns the mold? Should I go with a more expensive/larger mold or cheaper/smaller? How much should I be prepared to spend?   Prototyping  TL;DR for prototyping an injection molded enclosure  Protolabs online DFM   What if I want a sample? How do I pick the right material?      Visit our Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: electronics podcast, injection molding, John Teel, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, Predictable Designs

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-134-injection-molded-enclosure-design-john-teel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Injection Molded Enclosure Design with John Teel</a> <ul><li>John Teel <ul> <li>Founder of <a href="https://predictabledesigns.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Predictable Designs</a>, a company which helps startups, makers, and small companies develop new electronic products</li> <li>Previously, John was on <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep106-john-teel-predictable-designs/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 106 of the MacroFab Engineering Podcast</a> where John spoke about making the product development process as predictable as possible</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://predictabledesigns.com/introduction-to-injection-molding/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Injection Molding Enclosure Design</a> <ul> <li>What is the general process of injection molding?</li> <li>Challenges of Injection Molding: Why does it have this “mystic” aura around it?</li> <li>Designing enclosures for injection molding? <ul> <li>Difference between designing for 3D printing and Injection molding</li> <li>What should you look for if you need to get a design done correctly</li> <li>What files will I need to have created?</li> <li>Do I design the mold or does someone else?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Design is done. Who do I look for to get my design built? <ul> <li>What questions should I have answered before contacting someone?</li> <li>Who do I talk to to get it done?</li> <li>How do I find a manufacturer locally or overseas?</li> <li>Who owns the mold?</li> <li>Should I go with a more expensive/larger mold or cheaper/smaller?</li> <li>How much should I be prepared to spend?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Prototyping <ul> <li>TL;DR for prototyping an injection molded enclosure <ul> <li><a href="https://www.protolabs.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Protolabs</a> online DFM</li> </ul> </li> <li>What if I want a sample?</li> <li>How do I pick the right material?</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Visit our <a href="https://join.slack.com/t/macrofab/shared_invite/enQtMjgzMzcwMjE4NDE4LTlmODY2ZDU0MjhiYjY0N2U4Mjc0MjdlMjBkMWFkODJmMjJmMzI3YTZmZTkyNWY3N2JiMWQ1ZDE1MjFmYzAwZGI" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: electronics podcast, injection molding, John Teel, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, Predictable Designs

MEP EP#134

Trebuchet VS OpampsParker  Connectors for the Jeep PCM where a perfect match!  P/Ns  Black Connector: 4-1437290-5 White Connector: 4-1437290-6 Grey Connector: 4-1437290-7     Still waiting on the MAX6682 breakout board  GitHub Repo   Ordered some MEP Shitty Add-Ons  Zapp and Hyron ordered a set  MEP EP#69: Incognito Mode MEP EP#109: Arduino, The Gateway Drug To #BadgeLife   Brandon Satrom ordered one  MEP EP#122: Brandon Satrom and the LANoT     A/C control module repair for the Wagon  A/C compressor was bypassed 2N4403 was all exploded Reverse engineered the layout of the module  Thanks to Tom Anderson who rewrote the schematic!           Stephen  Mesa-Boogie Mark IV schematic   R.F.O.  KiCad 5 has been released Molex Connector 1719821142  Nano-Pitch I/O 42 pins 0.5A per pin Only 50 mating cycles   Decimis from Slack Channel  How would you make a device that could shoot flies out of the air? When I hear a fly buzzing around, I find it highly annoying and they keep getting stuck in one room at work. Then they spend all day flying up and down the room.   D&amp;D Starwars 5e    Visit our Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us. Tags: 1719821142, 4-1437290-5, 4-1437290-6, 4-1437290-7, A/C control module repair, D&amp;D SWD20, electronics podcast, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MAX6682, MEP, MEP Shitty Add-On, Mesa-Boogie, Molex, Podcast, sN4403, Trebuchet

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-129-trebuchet-vs-opamps/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trebuchet VS Opamps</a> <ul><li>Parker <ul> <li>Connectors for the Jeep PCM where a perfect match! <ul> <li>P/Ns <ul> <li>Black Connector: 4-1437290-5</li> <li>White Connector: 4-1437290-6</li> <li>Grey Connector: 4-1437290-7</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Still waiting on the <a href="http://longhornengineer.com/2018/06/21/max6682-breakout-board-and-reading-thermistors/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MAX6682 breakout board</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://github.com/LonghornEngineer/MAX6682-Breakout-Board" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">GitHub Repo</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Ordered some <a href="https://github.com/MacroFab/Macro_Articles/tree/master/MEP_SAO_DC26" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MEP Shitty Add-Ons</a> <ul> <li>Zapp and Hyron ordered a set <ul> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep69-incognito-mode/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#69: Incognito Mode</a></li> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep109-arduino-gateway-drug-badgelife/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#109: Arduino, The Gateway Drug To #BadgeLife</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Brandon Satrom ordered one <ul> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep122-brandon-satrom-lanot/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#122: Brandon Satrom and the LANoT</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>A/C control module repair for the Wagon <ul> <li>A/C compressor was bypassed</li> <li>2N4403 was all exploded</li> <li>Reverse engineered the layout of the module <ul> <li>Thanks to Tom Anderson who rewrote the schematic!</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Stephen <ul> <li>Mesa-Boogie Mark IV schematic</li> </ul> </li> <li>R.F.O. <ul> <li><a href="https://launchpad.net/kicad/+announcement/15026" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">KiCad 5 has been released</a></li> <li>Molex Connector <a href="https://www.molex.com/molex/products/datasheet.jsp?part=active/1719821142_IO_CONNECTORS.xml&amp;channel=Products&amp;Lang=en-US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">1719821142</a> <ul> <li>Nano-Pitch I/O</li> <li>42 pins</li> <li>0.5A per pin</li> <li>Only 50 mating cycles</li> </ul> </li> <li>Decimis from Slack Channel <ul> <li>How would you make a device that could shoot flies out of the air? When I hear a fly buzzing around, I find it highly annoying and they keep getting stuck in one room at work. Then they spend all day flying up and down the room.</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/dndnext/comments/8zkfhk/star_wars_5e_players_handbook_v120/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">D&amp;D Starwars 5e</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> Visit our <a href="https://join.slack.com/t/macrofab/shared_invite/enQtMjgzMzcwMjE4NDE4LTlmODY2ZDU0MjhiYjY0N2U4Mjc0MjdlMjBkMWFkODJmMjJmMzI3YTZmZTkyNWY3N2JiMWQ1ZDE1MjFmYzAwZGI" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us. Tags: 1719821142, 4-1437290-5, 4-1437290-6, 4-1437290-7, A/C control module repair, D&amp;D SWD20, electronics podcast, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MAX6682, MEP, MEP Shitty Add-On, Mesa-Boogie, Molex, Podcast, sN4403, Trebuchet

MEP EP#129

Podcast Notes  Continuing from last weeks discussion of the two conference room names at MacroFab HQ.  Emmett Naughton on twitter says: Conference Room A: The Hertz Locker and Confernece Room B: The Thunder Ohm. Parker is making plaques for the conference room doors now out of PCBs.   Space Echo Update! Last week Parker and Stephen asked for some clarification on some old school audio measurements so they could calibrate the Space Echo.  Steve Kuehn a self proclaimed gray beard from Austin says the following. 0 dBm in the audio business refers to voltage level that will produce 1milliWatt into a 600 ohm load. But over the years, it refers to a voltage level even if you are not aren't using a 600 ohm load so it is a little of a misnomer. If you do the math, 0 dBm is the same as 775mVrms sine wave signal source. -50dBm would be 2.45mVrms.   FX DEV BOARD IS LIVE!! Check out the Crowdsupply page and get one! See Figure 1!  Dual solderless breadboards 2.1 mm dc input jack for use with AC-to-AC wall wart +/- 15 volt @ 200 mA power supplies with over-current protection +1.25 to 9 V @ 150 mA adjustable power supply Split voltage rail (1/2*9 Volt Rail) @ 15 mA for use as a virtual ground User selectable power supply or 9 V battery User selectable power supply connections to breadboard ¼” input and output jacks directly connected to breadboard “True bypass” switching to automatically switch circuit on and off Multiple integrated potentiometers Useful diagrams and tables written directly on silkscreen   Amazon Echo Kill Switch by Sparkfun  ALEXA KILLSWITCH Build a power switch for the Amazon Echo that can be activated from a voice command The idea is simple: you say a particular phrase, such as “Alexa, trigger kill switch,” which activates an IFTTT applet that calls a function on the Particle Photon. The Photon controls a transistor that cuts power to the Echo. To turn it back on, you’ll need to press the button on the breadboard or create another IFTTT applet that causes the Photon to reconnect the power.    Arduino powered Honeypot  A honeypot is a device meant to attract/pre-occupy hackers, by providing something like a red herring to them; in this case, a system which looks and feels like an ancient bank credit card processing gateway from the 1980's... complete with slow-speed 1200 baud, and uppercase-only text. To see it for yourself, just use PuTTY (or actual telnet) to m80.ddns.net, port 23.   Peeqo - Robot that responds with gifs Best IoT “companion” robot of all time. Screen on the front with eyes. Has a complex animatronics inside for movement.   Ask it to do tasks and it will respond with a relevant gif and act accordingly if it feels like it.  Build Log!    Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro!

Podcast Notes <ul> <li>Continuing from last weeks discussion of the two conference room names at MacroFab HQ. <ul> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/xedgebreakx/status/817227702860185600" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emmett Naughton</a> on twitter says: Conference Room A: The Hertz Locker and Confernece Room B: The Thunder Ohm.</li> <li>Parker is making plaques for the conference room doors now out of PCBs.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Space Echo Update! Last week Parker and Stephen asked for some clarification on some old school audio measurements so they could calibrate the Space Echo. <ul> <li>Steve Kuehn a self proclaimed gray beard from Austin says the following. 0 dBm in the audio business refers to voltage level that will produce 1milliWatt into a 600 ohm load. But over the years, it refers to a voltage level even if you are not aren't using a 600 ohm load so it is a little of a misnomer. If you do the math, 0 dBm is the same as 775mVrms sine wave signal source. -50dBm would be 2.45mVrms.</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.fxdevboard.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FX DEV BOARD</a> IS LIVE!! Check out the <a href="https://www.crowdsupply.com/macrofab-inc/fx-development-board" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crowdsupply page</a> and get one! See Figure 1! <ul> <li>Dual solderless breadboards</li> <li>2.1 mm dc input jack for use with AC-to-AC wall wart</li> <li>+/- 15 volt @ 200 mA power supplies with over-current protection</li> <li>+1.25 to 9 V @ 150 mA adjustable power supply</li> <li>Split voltage rail (1/2*9 Volt Rail) @ 15 mA for use as a virtual ground</li> <li>User selectable power supply or 9 V battery</li> <li>User selectable power supply connections to breadboard</li> <li>¼” input and output jacks directly connected to breadboard</li> <li>“True bypass” switching to automatically switch circuit on and off</li> <li>Multiple integrated potentiometers</li> <li>Useful diagrams and tables written directly on silkscreen</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.sparkfun.com/news/2273" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon Echo Kill Switch by Sparkfun</a> <ul> <li>ALEXA KILLSWITCH</li> <li>Build a power switch for the Amazon Echo that can be activated from a voice command</li> <li>The idea is simple: you say a particular phrase, such as “Alexa, trigger kill switch,” which activates an <a href="https://ifttt.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IFTTT</a> applet that calls a function on the Particle Photon. The Photon controls a transistor that cuts power to the Echo.</li> <li>To turn it back on, you’ll need to press the button on the breadboard or create another IFTTT applet that causes the Photon to reconnect the power.</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/arduino/comments/5ngt87/this_is_my_arduinopowered_honeypot_if_you_want_to/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Arduino powered Honeypot</a> <ul> <li>A honeypot is a device meant to attract/pre-occupy hackers, by providing something like a red herring to them; in this case, a system which looks and feels like an ancient bank credit card processing gateway from the 1980's... complete with slow-speed 1200 baud, and uppercase-only text.</li> <li>To see it for yourself, just use PuTTY (or actual telnet) to <a href="http://m80.ddns.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">m80.ddns.net</a>, port 23.</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApAzIJ3jQtw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peeqo - Robot that responds with gifs</a><ul> <li>Best IoT “companion” robot of all time.</li> <li>Screen on the front with eyes. Has a complex animatronics inside for movement.  </li> <li>Ask it to do tasks and it will respond with a relevant gif and act accordingly if it feels like it.</li> <li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/5h15f4/i_built_a_desktop_robot_that_responds_entirely_in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Build Log!</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs for the intro and outro!</a>

MEP EP#50

From A Current PerspectiveStephen  LM13700  Dual Operational Transconductance Amplifiers With Linearizing Diodes and Buffers built by Ti?   All passive filter  Not just a zero ohm resistor ;) Shift the phase   Fixing a Kegerator  Kegerator was out of gas R-134A     Parker  USB Type C article? Updating old USB 2.0 from MicroUSB to Type C? Going to finish my Gameboy VGA adapter  Move to HDMI afterwards? BenHeck Show Giant Game boy runs an early version of the code     RFO  Amazon’s in-home delivery service now supports eight smart locks  Help avoid porch pirates   FTC says “Warranty void if sticker removed” is not valid  Companies can't put repair restrictions on their products unless they provide the parts or services for free or receive a waiver from the FTC. regulation for right to repair, is more about the posibility for getting the spareparts, and maybe cutting down on electronics waste.   Avoiding side entry to SMT pads?   Announcements  Twitter Chat Info  April 13th Friday at 1PM CST   Meetup Info  Parker will discuss Key Parts of an Arduino Trey German will talk about taking off-shelf enclosures and customizing them. Shout out to @yertnamreg  MEP EP#10 and MEP EP#38     Houston Hardware Happy Hour  First Thursday of each month May 3rd at Slowpokes Bring hacks and hang out      Visit our Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: All-Pass Filter, Amazon in home delivery, electronics podcast, FTC, Gameboy VGA Adapter, Knowledge Base, LM13700, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, Podcast, R-134A, SMT Pads, Thermal twisting, USB Type-C, warranty void stickers

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep115-from-a-current-perspective/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">From A Current Perspective</a> <ul><li>Stephen <ul> <li><a href="http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm13700.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">LM13700</a> <ul> <li>Dual <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_transconductance_amplifier" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Operational Transconductance Amplifiers</a> With Linearizing Diodes and Buffers built by Ti?</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-pass_filter" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">All passive filter</a> <ul> <li>Not just a zero ohm resistor ;)</li> <li>Shift the phase</li> </ul> </li> <li>Fixing a Kegerator <ul> <li>Kegerator was out of gas</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">R-134A</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Parker <ul> <li>USB Type C article? Updating old USB 2.0 from MicroUSB to Type C?</li> <li>Going to finish my Gameboy VGA adapter <ul> <li>Move to HDMI afterwards?</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IimFxG-n8O8" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">BenHeck Show Giant Game boy</a> runs an early version of the code</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>RFO <ul> <li>Amazon’s <a href="https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/4/5/17200336/amazon-key-kwikset-yale-new-smart-locks" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">in-home delivery</a> service now supports eight smart locks <ul> <li>Help avoid <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/technology/packages-holiday-season-porch-pirates-strike.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">porch pirates</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>FTC says “Warranty void if sticker removed” is <a href="https://www.engadget.com/amp/2018/04/11/ftc-warranty-warning/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">not valid</a> <ul> <li>Companies can't put repair restrictions on their products unless they provide the parts or services for free or receive a waiver from the FTC.</li> <li>regulation for right to repair, is more about the posibility for getting the spareparts, and maybe cutting down on electronics waste.</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/PrintedCircuitBoard/comments/8bj361/avoid_side_entry_to_smt_pads/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Avoiding side entry to SMT pads?</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Announcements <ul> <li>Twitter Chat Info <ul> <li>April 13th Friday at 1PM CST</li> </ul> </li> <li>Meetup Info <ul> <li>Parker will discuss Key Parts of an Arduino</li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/yertnamreg?lang=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Trey German</a> will talk about taking off-shelf enclosures and customizing them. Shout out to @yertnamreg <ul> <li><a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep10-iots-cloudy-future/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#10</a> and <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep38-trey-german-returns-automatic-game-overs/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MEP EP#38</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Houston Hardware Happy Hour <ul> <li>First Thursday of each month</li> <li>May 3rd at <a href="http://www.slowpokeshtx.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slowpokes</a></li> <li>Bring hacks and hang out</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Visit our <a href="https://join.slack.com/t/macrofab/shared_invite/enQtMjgzMzcwMjE4NDE4LTlmODY2ZDU0MjhiYjY0N2U4Mjc0MjdlMjBkMWFkODJmMjJmMzI3YTZmZTkyNWY3N2JiMWQ1ZDE1MjFmYzAwZGI" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: All-Pass Filter, Amazon in home delivery, electronics podcast, FTC, Gameboy VGA Adapter, Knowledge Base, LM13700, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, Podcast, R-134A, SMT Pads, Thermal twisting, USB Type-C, warranty void stickers

MEP EP#115

**Podcast Notes*** Parker and Stephen continue work on the [Super Simple Power Supply](https://github.com/MacroFab/SSPS). There is a full on simulation of the analog section on MultiSim.* Stephen found a better way to control the analog end with two separate 16bit DACs. One controls the negative end and the other one controls the positive end of the ompamp. 16 x 2 Blast Bit Processing! * Parker is working on a ESP8266 development board for the Parallax Propeller called the [Bit Flicker](https://github.com/LonghornEngineer/Propeller_Development_Bit_Flicker). Will use the [blynk.cc]( http://www.blynk.cc/). This will enable the SSPS to be IoT enabled!* SAIM Servos arrived. Chassis should be finished by Monday. They past the built in servo "test" routine. See Figure 1.* Transistor Wars: The Vacuum Tube Strikes Back. [Vacuum channel transistor](http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/introducing-the-vacuum-transistor-a-device-made-of-nothing) that switches as fast as 460GHz. No substrate for the gate and has a helium vacuum. * [What is truly a robot?](http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/03/what-is-a-human/473166/) Article states that people talk about robots in a broad fashion. Where “robot” is just used as a metaphor to describe the vast array of automation in the material world. Possible accepted definition of "robot" in academic circles has been: "Sense, think, act." Who is in control of the action? Is a pick and place a robot? See Figure 2. * [Gallium Oxide substrate for Power Devices.](http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/materials/gallium-oxide-power-electronics-cool-new-flavor) Has a huge electron-volt band gap of 5eV compared to gallium nitrite which is 3.4eV. Gallium nitrite was what the transistors in the [LittleBox challenge](https://www.littleboxchallenge.com/) where made of. Higher eV allows for a thinner substrate. For more info and pictures go to our blog!

**Podcast Notes** * Parker and Stephen continue work on the [Super Simple Power Supply](<a href="https://github.com/MacroFab/SSPS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://github.com/MacroFab/SSPS</a>). There is a full on simulation of the analog section on MultiSim. * Stephen found a better way to control the analog end with two separate 16bit DACs. One controls the negative end and the other one controls the positive end of the ompamp. 16 x 2 Blast Bit Processing! * Parker is working on a ESP8266 development board for the Parallax Propeller called the [Bit Flicker](<a href="https://github.com/LonghornEngineer/Propeller_Development_Bit_Flicker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://github.com/LonghornEngineer/Propeller_Development_Bit_Flicker</a>). Will use the [<a href="http://blynk.cc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blynk.cc</a>]( <a href="http://www.blynk.cc/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.blynk.cc/</a>). This will enable the SSPS to be IoT enabled! * SAIM Servos arrived. Chassis should be finished by Monday. They past the built in servo "test" routine. See Figure 1. * Transistor Wars: The Vacuum Tube Strikes Back. [Vacuum channel transistor](<a href="http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/introducing-the-vacuum-transistor-a-device-made-of-nothing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/introducing-the-vacuum-transistor-a-device-made-of-nothing</a>) that switches as fast as 460GHz. No substrate for the gate and has a helium vacuum. * [What is truly a robot?](<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/03/what-is-a-human/473166/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/03/what-is-a-human/473166/</a>) Article states that people talk about robots in a broad fashion. Where “robot” is just used as a metaphor to describe the vast array of automation in the material world. Possible accepted definition of "robot" in academic circles has been: "Sense, think, act." Who is in control of the action? Is a pick and place a robot? See Figure 2. * [Gallium Oxide substrate for Power Devices.](<a href="http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/materials/gallium-oxide-power-electronics-cool-new-flavor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/materials/gallium-oxide-power-electronics-cool-new-flavor</a>) Has a huge electron-volt band gap of 5eV compared to gallium nitrite which is 3.4eV. Gallium nitrite was what the transistors in the [LittleBox challenge](<a href="https://www.littleboxchallenge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.littleboxchallenge.com/</a>) where made of. Higher eV allows for a thinner substrate. For more info and pictures go to our <a href="macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-8-bits-that-dont-quit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blog</a>!

MEP EP#9

Eddie Samuels and Comma.ai  August Hardware &amp; Electronics Engineering Meetup by MacroFab &amp; Mouser Electronics event is live! Come grab some food, beer, and socializing if you’re in the Houston area. Eddie Samuels  Been soldering and dremeling since the 7th grad The first thing he built was a simple 7805 mp3 battery charger, guided by one of the original hackaday.com projects Went on to get his EE degree at the University of Rochester and work for a year in the defense industry before moving to San Francisco to work at comma.ai Underwater Rover Project  Project while in college Sealing the unit was the hardest part Moisture sensor built with strips of aluminum tape   EV Jetta  Built while in high school Need a custom coupler between engine and transmission Who Killed the Electric Car? Revenge of the Electric Car     Comma.ai  Open source self driving cars Panda  The nicest universal car interface ever ARM M4 - STM32F413 ESP8266 WiFi Transceivers for CAN BUS, LIN BUS, and GM LAN Can listen without the car modules knowing Can interface with OpenPilot to develop a self driving car Github Link   Car bounties  Earn $5 to $10k by porting the code to other vehicles   Cabana - Demo Order a panda  here! Use it with cabana  here!   Stephens Game - How would you get a ball out of a tube? Leave your answer in the comments below!  Eddie - use a laser cutter Stephen - potato cannon, making his own gun powder Parker - squeezes the tube like toothpaste    Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro!Tags: 3d printing enclosures, autonomous vehicles, CAD, Comma.ai, Eddie  Samuels, ESP8266, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, PCB  Design, Podcast, Self Driving Cars, STM32F413, Transceivers

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep81-eddie-samuels-comma-ai/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eddie Samuels and Comma.ai</a> <ul> <li>August <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hardware-electronics-engineering-meetup-by-macrofab-mouser-electronics-tickets-36587183250?aff=podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Hardware &amp; Electronics Engineering Meetup by MacroFab &amp; Mouser Electronics</a> event is live! Come grab some food, beer, and socializing if you’re in the Houston area.</li> <li>Eddie Samuels <ul> <li>Been soldering and dremeling since the 7th grad</li> <li>The first thing he built was a simple 7805 mp3 battery charger, guided by one of the original <a href="http://hackaday.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hackaday.com</a> projects</li> <li>Went on to get his EE degree at the University of Rochester and work for a year in the defense industry before moving to San Francisco to work at <a href="http://comma.ai" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">comma.ai</a></li> <li>Underwater Rover Project <ul> <li>Project while in college</li> <li>Sealing the unit was the hardest part</li> <li>Moisture sensor built with strips of aluminum tape</li> </ul> </li> <li>EV Jetta <ul> <li>Built while in high school</li> <li>Need a custom coupler between engine and transmission</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car%3F" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Who Killed the Electric Car?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.revengeoftheelectriccar.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Revenge of the Electric Car</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://comma.ai" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Comma.ai</a> <ul> <li>Open source self driving cars</li> <li>Panda <ul> <li>The nicest universal car interface ever</li> <li>ARM M4 - <a href="http://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers/stm32f413-423.html?querycriteria=productId=LN2004" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">STM32F413</a></li> <li>ESP8266 WiFi</li> <li>Transceivers for CAN BUS, LIN BUS, and GM LAN</li> <li>Can listen without the car modules knowing</li> <li>Can interface with <a href="https://github.com/commaai/openpilot" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">OpenPilot</a> to develop a self driving car</li> <li><a href="https://github.com/commaai/panda" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Github Link</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://comma.ai/bounties.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Car bounties</a> <ul> <li>Earn $5 to $10k by porting the code to other vehicles</li> </ul> </li> <li>Cabana - <a href="https://community.comma.ai/cabana/?demo=1" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Demo</a></li> <li>Order a panda <a href="http://panda.comma.ai" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>! Use it with cabana <a href="https://community.comma.ai/cabana/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>!</li> </ul> </li> <li>Stephens Game - How would you get a ball out of a tube? Leave your answer in the comments below! <ul> <li>Eddie - use a laser cutter</li> <li>Stephen - potato cannon, making his own gun powder</li> <li>Parker - squeezes the tube like toothpaste</li> </ul> </li> </ul> Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs for the intro and outro!</a>Tags: 3d printing enclosures, autonomous vehicles, CAD, <a href="http://Comma.ai" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Comma.ai</a>, Eddie Samuels, ESP8266, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, PCB Design, Podcast, Self Driving Cars, STM32F413, Transceivers

MEP EP#81

Connector ConfusionCongratulations 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 thisVisit our Public Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes!Tags: 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

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-150-connector-confusion/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Connector Confusion</a> Congratulations to our Slack member Mobius Striptease! Mobius’ pulse generator won first place at their Senior Design Expo!Article written about MacroFab: <a href="https://houston.innovationmap.com/houston-manufacturing-company-gears-up-for-growth-2623086051.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Houston electronics manufacturing company gears up for growth</a>. Talks about the growth of MacroFab over the past 2 years.<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/LnghrnEngineer" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Parker</a><ul><li>RPI3 Compute Module<ul><li><a href="http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pcm5121.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">PCM5122</a> Routed</li><li><a href="http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/devicedoc/00002306a.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">LAN9514</a> Routed<ul><li>single upstream USB port on BCM2835</li><li>Pin 44 Ethernet 25MHz output</li><li>Pin 31 LAN RESET</li><li>Information found on the <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=93744" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Raspberry pi forum</a></li></ul></li><li>Need to add USB current limiting</li><li><a href="https://www.acmesystems.it/CM3-HOME_schematic" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">CM3 HOME</a><ul><li>Guido Ottaviani made his own carrier board I have been looking at for inspiration to solve some of the final problems</li></ul></li><li><a href="https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/TE-Connectivity-AMP/1473149-4?qs=iaprbs8w3G8rIdgoS7LsSQ%3D%3D" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">1473149-4</a><ul><li>Connector being used to socket the RPI3 Compute Module</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/analogeng" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Stephen</a><ul><li>Crazy EQ amplifier design continuation<ul><li>Opted to go with a card edge solution for each EQ band</li><li>Each band connects via a 36 pin PCI-Express connector<ul><li>+12V</li><li>-12V</li><li>+5v Reference</li><li>-5V reference</li><li>Gnd</li><li>4 In Signals</li><li>Cut</li><li>Boost</li><li>Potentiometer pin 2</li></ul></li><li>21 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.</li><li>Need to rethink things - Feedback loops are crappy.. Need to go with a 64 pin solution<ul><li>20 ins and 20 outs</li></ul></li></ul></li><li>Beveled edges and Hard Gold plating discussion in a future episode</li></ul></li><li>R.F.O.<ul><li><a href="https://blog.hackster.io/debugging-i%C2%B2c-with-hardware-f14bfe711435" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Debugging I²C with Hardware</a><ul><li>I²CDriver is a crowdfunded effort by James Bowman</li><li>Open Source tool used to easily drive I2C devices</li><li>Controls with a GUI, command-line, C and C++ using a single source file, or Python 2 and 3, using a module</li></ul></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ0WXQWND-I" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Low Cost Reverse Polarity and Over Current Protection</a><ul><li>Jeri Ellsworth's new video on reverse bias protection</li><li>Has a Robbie Robot on her desk!</li><li>Methods<ul><li>“One of the options is to do nothing”</li><li>Diode input</li><li>Exploding Diode</li><li>PMOS FET<ul><li>Low rds on - “almost not there”</li><li>Body Diode - Watch out for this</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul>Visit our Public <a href="http://macrofab.com/slack" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes!Tags: 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

MEP EP#150

Breaking Bad TapsParker  Diagnosing power drops in the Wagon RTL SDR update?  RTL-SDR for the Raspberry Pi Maybe a Live twitch session with some seasoned Python / SDR Peeps?   Wrote about PCB Stackups for the MacroFab knowledge base   Stephen  Vox in a Box  Power supply and Power amp have schematics Test Box   Design for the power supply and power amp   R.F.O.        SQFMI Leaks new project  #Watchy E-ink, ESP32 based, Accelerometer, 25 day battery life, Arduino support, and Open Source   Productivity, Unfinished Projects, and Letting Go  Steven Dufresne wrote this article for Hack A Day Doing Only The Interesting Parts Getting Lost on a Tangent   Broken Taps Suck…  Have you ever broken a tap? What is your method for removal?   Raspberry pi development  Pi-top?      Visit our Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: #Watchy, Breaking Bad Taps, Breaking Taps, development, electronics  podcast, Lost and Forgotten Projects, MacroFab, macrofab engineering  podcast, MEP, PCB Stackups, Power Drops, Raspberry Pi, RTL SDR, SQFMI,  Vox in a Box

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-139-breaking-bad-taps/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Breaking Bad Taps</a> <ul><li>Parker <ul> <li>Diagnosing power drops in the Wagon</li> <li>RTL SDR update? <ul> <li><a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=154980" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">RTL-SDR for the Raspberry Pi</a></li> <li>Maybe a Live twitch session with some seasoned Python / SDR Peeps?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Wrote about <a href="https://macrofab.com/help/additional-pcb-specifications-techniques/pcb-layer-stack-ups/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">PCB Stackups for the MacroFab knowledge base</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Stephen <ul> <li>Vox in a Box <ul> <li>Power supply and Power amp have schematics</li> <li>Test Box</li> </ul> </li> <li>Design for the power supply and power amp</li> </ul> </li> <li>R.F.O. <ul> <li> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li>S<a href="https://twitter.com/sqfmi/status/1042245367897751552" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">QFMI Leaks new project</a> <ul> <li>#Watchy</li> <li>E-ink, ESP32 based, Accelerometer, 25 day battery life, Arduino support, and Open Source</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2018/09/25/productivity-unfinished-projects-and-letting-go/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Productivity, Unfinished Projects, and Letting Go</a> <ul> <li>Steven Dufresne wrote this article for Hack A Day</li> <li>Doing Only The Interesting Parts</li> <li>Getting Lost on a Tangent</li> </ul> </li> <li>Broken Taps Suck… <ul> <li>Have you ever broken a tap?</li> <li>What is your method for removal?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Raspberry pi development <ul> <li><a href="https://pi-top.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Pi-top</a>?</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Visit our <a href="https://join.slack.com/t/macrofab/shared_invite/enQtMjgzMzcwMjE4NDE4LTlmODY2ZDU0MjhiYjY0N2U4Mjc0MjdlMjBkMWFkODJmMjJmMzI3YTZmZTkyNWY3N2JiMWQ1ZDE1MjFmYzAwZGI" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes and please review us, wherever you listen (PodcastAddict, iTunes). It helps this show stay visible and helps new listeners find us.Tags: #Watchy, Breaking Bad Taps, Breaking Taps, development, electronics podcast, Lost and Forgotten Projects, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, PCB Stackups, Power Drops, Raspberry Pi, RTL SDR, SQFMI, Vox in a Box

MEP EP#139

Ken and Chip Gracey of Parallax IncKen GraceyLeader and CEO of ParallaxUC Davis alumni who lives and breathes Parallax products and has done so around the worldAll about family, working smart, having fun, mountaineering, and riding his unicycleChip Gracey Parallax founder. He had his first major introduction to programming and electronics when he was 13 years old with the Timex Sinclair computerAfter graduating high school, he and his techy friend from the 7th grade started Parallax at their homes in 1987Chip designed the first low-cost tools for the PIC microcontrollersLed to the development of the first BASIC Stamp module released in 1993The Parallax StoryStarting ProductsApple IIgs memory cardsEEPROM emulators for microcontroller developmentPIC ToolsBasic StampSX chipPropellerParallax Prop 2What makes it special compared to other microcontrollers?P2 VS P1?Feature SetProgramming Languages?What does it take to design semiconductors?Software packagesSimulationWhat document package do you send to the fabricator?Process Size?What is automated and what is done by hand?Testing and validationESD?FCC/CEWhen can people get there hands on one?Community around the companyParallax ForumBeta Testing?Best story of the Parallax Adventure so far?Announcements!KiCon 2019 is a user conference for the popular open source CAD program KiCad. Happening April 26th and 27th 2019 in Chicago IL, this is the first and largest gathering of hardware developers using KiCad. Talks at the conference will span hardware design, revision control, scripting, manufacturing considerations, proper library management and getting  started developing the underlying tools. All announced talks have been listed on the conference site.Visit our Public Slack Channel and join the conversation in between episodes!

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-166-ken-and-chip-gracey-of-parallax-inc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ken and Chip Gracey of Parallax Inc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ParallaxKen" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ken Gracey</a><ul><li>Leader and CEO of Parallax</li><li>UC Davis alumni who lives and breathes Parallax products and has done so around the world</li><li>All about family, working smart, having fun, mountaineering, and riding his unicycle</li></ul><a href="https://twitter.com/parallaxchip" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Chip Gracey </a><ul><li>Parallax founder. He had his first major introduction to programming and electronics when he was 13 years old with the Timex Sinclair computer</li><li>After graduating high school, he and his techy friend from the 7th grade started Parallax at their homes in 1987</li><li>Chip designed the first low-cost tools for the PIC microcontrollers</li><li>Led to the development of the first BASIC Stamp module released in 1993</li></ul><a href="https://www.parallax.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Parallax Story</a><ul><li>Starting Products<ul><li>Apple IIgs memory cards</li><li>EEPROM emulators for microcontroller development</li><li>PIC Tools</li><li>Basic Stamp</li><li>SX chip</li><li>Propeller</li></ul></li><li>Parallax Prop 2<ul><li>What makes it special compared to other microcontrollers?</li><li>P2 VS P1?</li><li>Feature Set</li><li>Programming Languages?</li></ul></li><li>What does it take to design semiconductors?<ul><li>Software packages</li><li>Simulation</li><li>What document package do you send to the fabricator?</li><li>Process Size?</li><li>What is automated and what is done by hand?</li></ul></li><li>Testing and validation<ul><li>ESD?</li><li>FCC/CE</li></ul></li><li>When can people get there hands on one?<ul><li>Community around the company</li><li><a href="https://forums.parallax.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Parallax Forum</a></li><li>Beta Testing?</li></ul></li><li>Best story of the Parallax Adventure so far?</li></ul>Announcements!<a href="https://kicad-kicon.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">KiCon 2019</a> is a user conference for the popular open source CAD program KiCad. Happening April 26th and 27th 2019 in Chicago IL, this is the first and largest gathering of hardware developers using KiCad. Talks at the conference will span hardware design, revision control, scripting, manufacturing considerations, proper library management and getting  started developing the underlying tools. All announced talks have been listed on the <a href="https://kicad-kicon.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">conference site</a>.Visit our Public <a href="http://macrofab.com/slack" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Slack Channel</a> and join the conversation in between episodes!

MEP EP #166: Ken and Chip Gracey of Parallax Inc

Incognito Mode HyR0n  Mathematician, Computer Scientist, &amp; Systems Engineer making the world a better place with homebrew booze and electronic bling.   Zapp  Has been writing software since age 8. Eventually making a career in developing for Java systems. He has since been promoted away from they keyboard and his life is now MS Office and meetings. Didn’t know how to solder before DC23 . Arduino was his gateway drug - all 15 projects of the starter kit in a few days.   Defcon Badges  Official badge has a deep puzzle - other badges filled with goo and mechanical. Becomes part of the culture. And!xor - is unique - most people are hacking badges. Way more to their badges. Ways to hack between badges.    Taco Town Defcon Event  Hack everything from cryptography, cars, voting machines, bluetooth, lock picking villages, people will teach you if you’re willing to learn. Social engineering is a big village Villages - way bigger than booths 2k sf each, have their own badges, demos, hands on events, IoT village 20K - 30K Defcon for newbies - don’t bring a phone, no wireless, bluetooth, no photos. Just go, have fun and learn. Cash only.   New Defcon Badge  HackADay.io Page KickStarter Page Specs  Rigado BMD-300 SoC  Based on the Nordic NRF52 BLE SoC ARM Cortex M4F 512kb flash 64kb rom   15 x WS2812B LEDs 5 buttons Tilt switch LED used for ambient light sensing Standard SWD 10-pin mini header Exposed GPIO MicroSD w/ 2GB card included 128x128 16-bit color display (ST7735)   SECRET COMPONENT Has a Chip-8 emulator Can run Tclish scripting code Has built in games like Ski Free where Man Bear Pig chases you BOM and Gerbers might be open after Defcon.   Bender has a 6502 as a brain/cpu Hack defcon with beer - bring your own bottled corona, so you don’t have to spend $9 / bottle  Hacking aka counterfeiting?   Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro!Tags: 6502, AND!XOR, Bender, BMD-300, Defcon 25, HyR0n, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, NRF52, Podcast, Rigado, Taco Town, WS2812B, Zapp 

<a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep69-incognito-mode/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Incognito Mode</a><ul> <li>HyR0n <ul> <li>Mathematician, Computer Scientist, &amp; Systems Engineer making the world a better place with homebrew booze and electronic bling.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Zapp <ul> <li>Has been writing software since age 8. Eventually making a career in developing for Java systems. He has since been promoted away from they keyboard and his life is now MS Office and meetings.</li> <li>Didn’t know how to solder before DC23 .</li> <li>Arduino was his gateway drug - all 15 projects of the starter kit in a few days.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Defcon Badges <ul> <li>Official badge has a deep puzzle - other badges filled with goo and mechanical.</li> <li>Becomes part of the culture.</li> <li><a href="http://andnxor.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">And!xor</a> - is unique - most people are hacking badges. Way more to their badges. Ways to hack between badges. </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://vimeo.com/90127834" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taco Town</a></li> <li>Defcon Event <ul> <li>Hack everything from cryptography, cars, voting machines, bluetooth, lock picking villages, people will teach you if you’re willing to learn. Social engineering is a big village</li> <li>Villages - way bigger than booths 2k sf each, have their own badges, demos, hands on events, IoT village</li> <li>20K - 30K</li> <li>Defcon for newbies - don’t bring a phone, no wireless, bluetooth, no photos. Just go, have fun and learn. Cash only.</li> </ul> </li> <li>New Defcon Badge <ul> <li><a href="https://hackaday.io/project/19121-andxor-dc25-badge" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HackADay.io Page</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyr0n/andxor-defcon-25-indie-badge" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KickStarter Page</a></li> <li>Specs <ul> <li><a href="https://www.rigado.com/products/modules/bmd-300/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rigado BMD-300 SoC</a> <ul> <li>Based on the <a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52-Series-SoC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nordic NRF52</a> BLE SoC</li> <li>ARM Cortex M4F</li> <li>512kb flash</li> <li>64kb rom</li> </ul> </li> <li>15 x WS2812B LEDs</li> <li>5 buttons</li> <li>Tilt switch</li> <li>LED used for ambient light sensing</li> <li>Standard SWD 10-pin mini header</li> <li>Exposed GPIO</li> <li>MicroSD w/ 2GB card included</li> <li>128x128 16-bit color display (<a href="http://www.displayfuture.com/Display/datasheet/controller/ST7735.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ST7735</a>)</li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc2u6AFImn8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SECRET COMPONENT</a></li> <li>Has a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHIP-8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chip-8</a> emulator</li> <li>Can run Tclish scripting code</li> <li>Has built in games like Ski Free where Man Bear Pig chases you</li> <li>BOM and Gerbers might be open after Defcon.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Bender has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCXqw67pX5c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">6502</a> as a brain/cpu</li> <li>Hack defcon with beer - bring your own bottled corona, so you don’t have to spend $9 / bottle <ul> <li>Hacking aka counterfeiting?</li> </ul> </li> </ul>Special thanks to whixr over at <a href="http://tymkrs.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Tymkrs for the intro and outro!</a>Tags: 6502, AND!XOR, Bender, BMD-300, Defcon 25, HyR0n, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, NRF52, Podcast, Rigado, Taco Town, WS2812B, Zapp

MEP EP#69

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