
Related Topics
Starting From The Beginning
When did you start listening to the podcast? Have a favorite episode? Let Stephen and Parker know which is your favorite.
Has Open Source Hardware Run Its Course?
Ben Heckendorn and Chris Kraft rejoin the podcast to discuss if Open Source Hardware has run its course or is the dream still alive in our souls.
Real Engineering for a Real Engineer
A decade after graduating college, Stephen finally did a differential equation for his job! That is some real engineering I tell you what.
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April 10, 2019, Episode #167
- A console modder and famous computer engineer
- Better known as Ben Heck on the Internet
- Independent filmmaker and he was the star of element14’s The Ben Heck Show, a popular online series, until leaving the show in late 2018
- Previous guest on episodes
PinoTaur Pinball Platform
- Plans for PinoTaur
- EP#85: Space Engineers VS Caffeinated Chipmunks
- Reducing the cost of the PinHeck
- Enabling easier programming
- High Def Graphics
- ATSAMD21G18A
- Reducing wiring complexity
- Serial Switches
- Serial Lights
- Connectors
USB Text Adventure Game
- Scope of the project
- Story Ideas?
- Zork messes with you
Epic Game Store
- Is this bad for gamers and the industry?
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!
About the Hosts

Parker Dillmann
Parker is an Electrical Engineer with backgrounds in Embedded System Design and Digital Signal Processing. He got his start in 2005 by hacking Nintendo consoles into portable gaming units. The following year he designed and produced an Atari 2600 video mod to allow the Atari to display a crisp, RF fuzz free picture on newer TVs. Over a thousand Atari video mods where produced by Parker from 2006 to 2011 and the mod is still made by other enthusiasts in the Atari community.
In 2006, Parker enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin as a Petroleum Engineer. After realizing electronics was his passion he switched majors in 2007 to Electrical and Computer Engineering. Following his previous background in making the Atari 2600 video mod, Parker decided to take more board layout classes and circuit design classes. Other areas of study include robotics, microcontroller theory and design, FPGA development with VHDL and Verilog, and image and signal processing with DSPs. In 2010, Parker won a Ti sponsored Launchpad programming and design contest that was held by the IEEE CS chapter at the University. Parker graduated with a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Spring of 2012.
In the Summer of 2012, Parker was hired on as an Electrical Engineer at Dynamic Perception to design and prototype new electronic products. Here, Parker learned about full product development cycles and honed his board layout skills. Seeing the difficulties in managing operations and FCC/CE compliance testing, Parker thought there had to be a better way for small electronic companies to get their product out in customer's hands.
Parker also runs the blog, longhornengineer.com, where he posts his personal projects, technical guides, and appnotes about board layout design and components.

Stephen Kraig
Stephen Kraig began his electronics career by building musical oriented circuits in 2003. Stephen is an avid guitar player and, in his down time, manufactures audio electronics including guitar amplifiers, pedals, and pro audio gear. Stephen graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro!
Related Podcasts

Illuminati Moment
Is there a statue of limitations on open source hardware projects? This week, Stephen and Parker dive into what open source means for both of them.

Has Open Source Hardware Run Its Course?
Ben Heckendorn and Chris Kraft rejoin the podcast to discuss if Open Source Hardware has run its course or is the dream still alive in our souls.

Beating the Heat
The PinoTaur has reached production status but not without supply chain issues..OF COURSE! Bonus discussion about thermal management for PCBA.

Real Engineering for a Real Engineer
A decade after graduating college, Stephen finally did a differential equation for his job! That is some real engineering I tell you what.

Starting From The Beginning
When did you start listening to the podcast? Have a favorite episode? Let Stephen and Parker know which is your favorite.

Electronic Wear Items
Chip and component shortages continue! This week's episode covers Ford and GM automotive supply chain problems and EMMC wear chips for Tesla cars.