Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes#694 – Voltage, Vibes, and VOCs
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This episode was recorded Monday the 12th, which has implications on discussions.
- Dave recently returned from Melbourne for Dave’s recent visit to Electronex.
- Dave saw past guest Scott Williams there (he has been interviewed by both Dave and Chris). Scott’s company Xentronics is also a Golioth partner
- They discussed service providers in the electronics industry at including turnkey solutions (concept to production and marketing) versus services only (firmware, PCB layout, CAD).
- The choice of show for a service provider might depend on the customer vertical (e.g., medical expo for medical device design).
- Farmers are described as rough clients due to being cost-constrained, needing durable solutions for harsh environments, and being unforgiving of downtime.
- The Australian Manufacturing Week was unexpectedly enormous, dwarfing the electronics show in scale and attendance, with lines up to 40 minutes long just to get in.
- The manufacturing show featured “Heavy Metal” manufacturing, like laser cutters, sheet metal benders, and giant machines cutting thick steel, which Dave found more exciting than the electronics demos.
- They discussed the scale of manufacturing equipment, comparing it to shows like IMTS in Chicago with multi-story machining centers and machines weighing hundreds of tons.
- Australia manufactures things like steel, large steel structures (bridges), and large custom parts like excavator scoops.
- Dave is conducting environmental air quality tests in his office, measuring formaldehyde, CO2, and other factors. He has to run his air conditioning for one of the test conditions.
- The environmental monitor measures temperature, pressure, humidity, VOCs, noise, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, PM2.5 particulate matter, and radiation. The radiation sensor uses a tube requiring 381 volts.
- XKCD graphic showing relative radiation
- Dave observes large formaldehyde spikes every time he opens his door, which go down within about 10 minutes. His CO2 levels are typically 800-900 ppm.
- The AC unit cycling is visible in the humidity measurements.
- Chris asks about the availability of affordable VOC sensors now. Dave believes his monitor uses a common sensor like the BME680.
- Chris explains that the availability of affordable VOC sensors is linked to FEMA trailers after Hurricane Katrina, wh
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago