Circuit Break - A MacroFab Podcast
Dive into the electrifying world of electrical engineering with Circuit Break, a MacroFab podcast hosted by Parker Dillmann and Stephen Kraig. This dynamic duo, armed with practical experience and a palpable passion for tech, explores the latest innovations, industry news, and practical challenges in the field. From DIY project hurdles to deep dives with industry experts, Parker and Stephen's real-world insights provide an engaging learning experience that bridges theory and practice for engineers at any stage of their career.
Whether you're a student eager to grasp what the job market seeks, or an engineer keen to stay ahead in the fast-paced tech world, Circuit Break is your go-to. The hosts, alongside a vibrant community of engineers, makers, and leaders, dissect product evolutions, demystify the journey of tech from lab to market, and reverse engineer the processes behind groundbreaking advancements. Their candid discussions not only enlighten but also inspire listeners to explore the limitless possibilities within electrical engineering.
Presented by MacroFab, a leader in electronics manufacturing services, Circuit Break connects listeners directly to the forefront of PCB design, assembly, and innovation. MacroFab's platform exemplifies the seamless integration of design and manufacturing, catering to a broad audience from hobbyists to professionals.
About the hosts: Parker, an expert in Embedded System Design and DSP, and Stephen, an aficionado of audio electronics and brewing tech, bring a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the show. Their backgrounds in engineering and hands-on projects make each episode a blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and practical advice.
Join the conversation and community at our online engineering forum, where we delve deeper into each episode's content, gather your feedback, and explore the topics you're curious about. Subscribe to Circuit Break on your favorite podcast platform and become part of our journey through the fascinating world of electrical engineering.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 55 minutes
- Episodes
- 448
- Years Active
- 2016 - 2024
MEP EP#304: Cow Field
This week Stephen and Parker where supposed to discuss bench equipment for development and testing but got distracted by talking about homebrewing beer and Maxwell's equations...
MEP EP#303: Tip Resurrection Cream
MEP EP#303: Tip Resurrection Cream
Bench Soldering Supplies/Consumables
- Solder
- What kind of Solder Alloy?
- Preferred Brands
- Get a datasheet!
- Flux core
- Diameter of the solder
- Flux
- Ens…
MEP EP#302: A 1 Dollar Chips Matter
MEP EP#302: A 1 Dollar Chips Matter
Announcements
Thanks for everyone that donated and stopped by the live stream! We where able to raise over $5000 for the Texas Children Hospital Network!
Molex 2171…
MEP EP#301: Crispy Currents
Announcements
If you are currently enrolled in college we would love to chat with you. We have some ideas for future podcast content that you could perhaps help us with. Al…
MEP EP#300: Tradition is Peer Pressure From the Dead
MEP EP#300: Tradition is Peer Pressure From the Dead
Announcements
If you are currently enrolled in college we would love to chat with you. We have some ideas for future podcast content that you could…
MEP EP#299: Operation Scope Creep
MEP EP#299: Operation Scope Creep
8 Layer Design
-
- Stephen is working on a 12 pcb design
- 11 pcbs done 1 left
- 6 nets left to go out of 963
- How to attack an 8 layer design?
- Part placement
- …
- Stephen is working on a 12 pcb design
MEP EP#298: Has Open Source Hardware Run Its Course?
MEP EP#298: Has Open Source Hardware Run Its Course?
- Benjamin Heckendorn
- An electronics hacking entertainment guru
- Former host of Element 14’s “ The Ben Heck Show”
- Chris Kraft
- A tinkerer cur…
MEP EP#297: Modern College Education with Derek Fronek
MEP EP#297: Modern College Education with Derek Fronek
Before we begin this episode I have a quick announcement. If you are currently enrolled in college we would love to chat with you. We have some i…
MEP EP#296: IdeaFab - Does This Podcast Change The World?
MEP EP#296: IdeaFab - Does This Podcast Change The World?
Scott Hansen and Eric Benzenhoefer are idea men who, not humbly, seek to change the world through sharing their million d…
MEP EP#295: Design For Everything
MEP EP#295: Design For Everything
The DFs
- DFA - Design for Assembly
- DFC - Design for Conservation
- DFD - Design for Documentation
- DFM - Design for Manufacturing
- DFP - Design for Production
- DFR …
MEP EP#294: Twisted Pairs
USB vs Ethernet for Test Equipment?
- Ethernet comes with free isolation
- No drivers required to get Ethernet working
- USB is faster to get working depending on your network…
MEP EP#293: Tom Anderson, the Gold Ear Sympathetic
MEP EP#293: Tom Anderson, the Gold Ear Sympathetic
- An old-timer engineer working from HP/Agilent/Keysight
- Currently still employed at Keysight
- Volunteering at Alembic, where he design…
MEP EP#292: Scott Hinson of Pecan Street Inc.
MEP EP#292: Scott Hinson of Pecan Street Inc.
- The Chief Technology Officer at Pecan Street
- Leads the Pecan Street Lab
- Directs research efforts to study the grid and climate impacts fo…
MEP EP#291: Vaporized Copper Stiction
MEP EP#291: Vaporized Copper Stiction
Bias Test system update
- Happy with the two A/D Converters. Got *all* channels running
- Made a simple breakout board to be able to access all the pins easier
- 16…
MEP EP#290: Avoiding Bean Counters
MEP EP#290: Avoiding Bean Counters
BGA vs. QFP - PCBA cost comparison
- Inspired by Tim Jager on the slack channel
- 48 pin QFP vs 56 pin BGA
- Escaping the package
- Layer count
- Increase in PCB tole…
MEP EP#289: Snicker Bar Integrated Components
MEP EP#289: Snicker Bar Integrated Components
Minor correction from last week. IEC 60950-1 was withdrawn in December of 2020, and has been replaced by IEC 62368-1 (Product Safety testing standard for …
MEP EP#288: We have clearance, Clarence
MEP EP#288: We have clearance, Clarence
PCB design rules for clearances
- Stephen's favorite calculator
- Clearance and creepage
- According to the IEC (international electrotechnical commission) a glob…
MEP EP#287: Biased For Arduino
MEP EP#287: Biased For Arduino
Bias Test System
- Got the first board built and installed on an arduino
- First tests were a success
- Arduino library - works “first” time
- 2.5V refere…
MEP EP#286: FTC “Nixing The Fix” Report
MEP EP#286: FTC “Nixing The Fix” Report
The debate around repair restrictions illustrates the limitations of MMWA’s anti-tying provision in repair markets. While the anti-t…
MEP EP#285: Let The Robots Do It
MEP EP#285: Let The Robots Do It
- Finally real engineering… follow up
- What is the most computational intensive work you have had to do on the job?
- Mixed Integer Non Linear Optimization problem
-
…
- Mixed Integer Non Linear Optimization problem
- What is the most computational intensive work you have had to do on the job?