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The PCB Design Podcast features conversations on all facets of PCB Design and Hardware Development
Episodes
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
The Hacksmith proves that everything is possible through science, one project at a time.
In this episode, Ian Hillier, the COO, and Co-founder of Hacksmith Industry, will share with us what it is like to create a fully working prototype of the coolest and most fascinating objects we see in the movies, comics, video games. He will also talk about how he transitioned from a full-time mechanical engineer to a full-time youtube content creator. Watch or listen through the end! You will hear everything, from the fun, failures, and the success of recreating futuristic, fictional objects.
Altium 365: Where the World Designs Electronics
Show Highlights:
- Ian talks about his mechanical engineering background and how he and his friend James Hobson founded Hacksmith Entertainment Ltd
- James has been publishing his engineering projects on his blog and videos on Youtube for 16 years and decided to do it full-time in 2015 when he reached about 70k subscribers
- Ian quit his job and joined James just six months before getting married
- The duo focused on getting more views by posting viral videos, one of which was the Captain America Shield project
- Hacksmith’s growing team
- From 70k subscribers, they immediately grew to 100k in 2016 and now 12.4 million and still growing
- Their team now consists of 24 full-time members, which includes mechatronics and electrical engineers, videographers, and the merchandise team
- From creating simple, fun projects to upscale mind-blowing lasers, Hacksmith’s bread and butter are turning fictional objects in movies and games, portrayed through special effects, into a working prototype. Some of their coolest projects are:
- Hacksmith's goal as an organization is to encourage future generations of engineers.
- How does Hacksmith operate as a team?
- Each project is assigned to a team, and they can bring additional resources as needed.
- They create and customize everything in-house; their shop is equipped with all the machines and toys they need
- Ian talks about their most extreme and powerful project, the Hoverboard
- Ian’s favorite projects include high current electronics. His personal favorite is the Rebar Crossbow–it pumps 2000 amps through the rebar until it glows red hot, and then you shoot it
- A retractable Lightsaber created with a modified oxy-propane torch
- Ian explains how designing their PCBs contributes to the success of their projects
Links and Resources:
Visit Hacksmith Youtube Channel to watch more of their mind-blowing engineering projects.
Connect with Ian Hillier on LinkedIn
Connect with Zack on LinkedIn
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Altium 365: Where the World Designs Electronics
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Let’s talk about the future of printed circuit board prototyping. Sean Patterson, the President of Nano Dimension USA is here to introduce the technology behind DragonFly IV®, the multi-material 3D printer for electronics fabrication. He will walk us through its current capabilities, what it can do and what we may expect from it in the future.
Sit back, relax and enjoy this episode. Make sure to listen through the end and check the show notes with the additional resources below.
Altium 365: Where the World Designs Electronics
Show Highlights:
- Sean talks about the growing company.
- They have 39 members in the US, and 500 globally. There are still plenty of roles available, visit Nano Dimension’s website here
- Started as an additive manufacturing company, specifically for circuit boards to now multi-material, and multi-layer 3D printing option for electronics through
- Sean excitedly shares all the exciting things that the DragonFly IV can do.
- Faster electronic prototyping and proof of concept
- Environmental and sustainability advantages
- A manufacturing plant in the office
- An electromechanical structure that's functionally, mechanically, and electrically, to solve a problem
- The evolution of electronic manufacturing offers a solution that works–there are many better ways, weight reduction, and size reduction
- Nano Dimensions is helping the electronics industry ecosystems systems get prepped now, to support the adoption of this technology
- DragonFly IV uses FR4-like, and the conductive ink is a silver nanoparticle
- What’s the future look like for Nano Dimensions?
- What materials will be available in the future?
- What will be the ultimate capability of the DragonFly?
Links and Resources:
Connect with Sean Patterson on LinkedIn
Visit Nando Dimension’s website here
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Altium Website
Download your Altium Designer Free Trial
Learn More about Altium Nexus