#hardware-engineering
224 episodes · Page 3 of 10
#4972: CPU vs GPU Inference: When to Skip the GPU
Why running AI on CPU isn't a toy — and when the GPU advantage vanishes.
#4964: How SDS Bits and Rotary Hammers Really Work
Why your hammer drill bounces off concrete while an SDS rotary hammer powers through.
#4931: Building a DIY Barcode Inventory Cart
Old laptop, USB scanner, and Linux kiosk mode for a dedicated home inventory terminal.
#4930: Build a DIY Parts Department Like an Aircraft Mechanic
Stop running to the hardware store mid-project. How to stock 64 or 300 drawers with the right fasteners.
#4905: The Hidden Grid Behind Your Parts Bins
The metal skeleton between your wall and your bins — what it's called, how it's sized, and how to install it.
#4838: The CueCat: A Dot-Com Catastrophe
The story of the free cat-shaped barcode scanner that burned $185 million and then found a second life.
#4831: The Podcast Player That Doesn't Exist
Why can't you buy a dedicated podcast player that downloads episodes for offline listening?
#4830: The Hammock Physics Problem
Why collapsible indoor hammock stands wobble, what a decent outdoor one costs, and the hardware you actually need.
#4820: How to Carry Everything Without Breaking Your Back
From duty belts that wreck spines to magnetic clip systems — the engineering of carrying stuff on your body.
#4787: The Motion Test: Which Weird Peripherals Actually Earn Their Port
Does that fancy peripheral actually remove a motion you make hundreds of times a day? We put steno keyboards, TourBox, Stream Deck, and more to the...
#4776: Wi-Fi Monitor Mode Hardware Guide
From $40 Alfa adapters to $3,000 spectrum analyzers — the hardware that listens to your network.
#4741: Hardware Tokens That Never Leave the Port
Why developers should consider keeping a hardware security token permanently plugged in — and which ones survive the abuse.
#4726: Why a 2026 Foot Pedal Uses a 1990s Connector
Why does a brand-new foot pedal ship with an 8-pin DIN connector? The surprising engineering logic behind "obsolete" design.
#4687: Bonding Cellular Connections: Why Can't You Buy It?
Why can't you buy a box that bonds two SIM cards? We explore the DIY build and the market gap.
#4664: The Trapdoor in Your CPU: How Hypervisors Actually Work
Inside the silicon trapdoor that makes virtualization possible — and why it's nothing like Docker.
#4657: From Plugboards to JIT: Who Controls the Hardware?
How the relationship between programming languages and hardware shifted from total programmer control to runtime autonomy.
#4645: The Hidden Connectors Between Belt and Gear
Why MOLLE straps, Tough-Built clips, and carabiners each solve a different carry problem — and how the connector dictates your gear.
#4639: Concrete Walls vs. Wi-Fi: Choosing a Fill-in AP
One AP used to cover Daniel's apartment. Then he moved. Concrete walls changed everything.
#4630: The EDC Belt Revolution: Nylon Webbing & Ratchet Mechanics
Why nylon webbing and ratchet buckles beat leather and holes — the material science and engineering behind the modern EDC belt.
#4613: Baby Gear That Costs More Than a Used Car
From $1,500 bassinets with firmware updates to app-connected bottle makers — a look at the most absurdly engineered baby products.
#4569: Dialing Without a Switchboard: Twilio Number Normalization
Twilio expects E.164, but Israel dials 0-3-... Here's what breaks when you become your own carrier.
#4562: Weighing Euroboxes: DIY Load Cells vs. Off-the-Shelf Sensors
Daniel wants to know if his industrial shelving is overloaded. The answer involves 24-bit ADCs, micro-deformation, and a surprising market gap.
#4552: Pegboard vs Louvre: Building a Workshop System
Choosing between pegboard and louvre panels for a compact, efficient workshop — and the standards that make accessories actually fit.
#4490: Right to Repair: History, Hype, and Hard Limits
From John Deere tractors to iPhone batteries — the real history, genuine commitments, and where repair advocates overreach.