Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast

Trying to find the best way to incorporate community feedback can be tough, especially when that feedback is criticism. You have to be the director of your project's path, know where it has to go, and be opinionated. You have to assume they mean well in their criticism and you need to really show off the work that was done when a community member adds something to the project. To find out more abo...

When do you decide to sign a commercial real estate lease? Do you truly need one? These are challenging questions, but in this episode, we're here to help. Stephen and Lucian will walk you through what's acceptable, what's not, what factors to consider, what could be deal breakers, and all the other aspects of this decision. Getting this right is crucial, and there's a lot to consider. We hope to...

What is the process of reducing costs in your supply chain without making your product worse? This is a tricky subject and needs to be handled with care. Luckily for you, we have already gone through this many times and can help you successfully cost down your supply chain by helping you find another way to potentially save money and what to look for when picking a vendor. We also give advice on w...

Ever wonder if your product is truly worth the time and effort it takes to bring it to market? How can you ensure it resonates with your target audience? This episode delves into the significance of a PRD and discusses how it can pave the way for your product's success from the very beginning. PRD Template: https://github.com/opulo-inc/prd-template To find out more about what we do, check out Opul...

A few years ago, we chose to rebrand our company and open source project. From talking with lawyers to pitching awful name ideas, this was not an easy process. We get into the list of potential names, and how Opulo might have been named Crabapple Industries. To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page Don't...

In this episode, we sit down with Thea Flowers , a huge advocate for open source who has done many things to be a beacon of light for others who believe in open source and open hardware as well. From running her own open-hardware synthesizer company to working at Google, Thea has contributed to many big projects and has even been a paid musician. She really has done it all. Oh, and did we mention...

How do you make yourself obsolete? That question may sound odd at first, but as Opulo continues to grow, how do Stephen and Lucian handle offloading their tasks to others while maintaining the speed and precision needed to keep up with demand? This topic was a user-submitted topic from our O.H.M. Podcast Channel found on our Discord. Thank you, appaog, for the great question! To find out more abou...

What does it take to own your data, and when is it okay to hand over the reins? Should you self-host or not? Stephen and Lucian discuss topics like when it is okay to give up some control for convenience and how to walk that fine line. Plus, they talk about what would happen if Discord or Google went belly-up tomorrow and how that would affect your business (Even if it is very unlikely). This topi...

Stephen and Lucian are asked to divulge more detail about how they handle making a new hardware release and how it is much more involved than a software release. Software is changeable, but hardware is permanent. That makes a big difference when considering what goes into a hardware release, including what you should do between prototyping and releases. As always, let us know what you thought of t...

In this episode, we're excited to have guest Brad Collette! Brad is the cofounder and CTO of Ondsel, an Open-Core company working to improve FreeCAD. Ondsel is also building features on top of FreeCAD that are aimed specifically at commercial applications. We hear how Brad has been involved with FreeCAD development for over a decade, started Ondsel, and has been balancing them both! Lots of great...

How do you make sure that the things being sent out your door are to the standard of quality that you would expect? How do you try to overcome human error when considering quality control checks? What's a QC Buddy, and why is traceability important? Take a lesson from Stephen and Lucian as they dive into this beefy topic that is hard to contain in one episode. To learn more about what we do, check...

Automation tools can be a robot you bought off the internet, or it can be something you make yourself. When should you automate a task? Would automation reduce mistakes, improve quality, or improve joy? Sometimes, but not always! In this episode, Stephen and Lucian hope you learn something from some of their mistakes and some of their wins with automation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

When it comes to time management, everything can seem important, but what is the most important to tackle right away? Picking between these can be tricky, yet finding the balance between being efficient and not running into burnout is important to figure out. Stephen and Lucian dive into the issues they have run into and how they have found solutions that work for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Ryan from V1 Engineering sits down to talk to us about how the desire for a 3D printer led to the birth of V1 Engineering. From working for free to outgrowing his jobs, Ryan had no plans to start a business and even pushed back from the idea of it. With a tremendous amount of attention and desire for his CNC design on Thingiverse, he finally listened to his boss and piers by giving his business 10...

In this episode, we guide you through what is essential to prepare for when buying stock. Whether you're just starting to sell your product or managing it while your company is already in full swing, Stephen and Lucian share their personal experiences and answer some of the most challenging questions in this category. They discuss topics such as how much stock is too much or too little to buy when...

How much are you focusing on existing products vs new products for the future? Do you stick with the customer base that is reliable or do you take a risk? In this episode, Stephen and Lucian will talk about tailoring to existing customers without losing what will bring in new customers, plus learning about 'the onion of tolerance'. They will even talk about other things including why changes to a...

Communicating effectively with your community on an open source project is vital to keeping your project alive and healthy. But how do you make the right choice with so many options out there? Tune in and find out how Stephen and Lucian have made the tough calls of where to start and what they learned along the way! To learn more about what we do, feel free to visit our website at opulo.io If you...

In this episode, we have our first guest! Chris is the cofounder and CTO of Sienci Labs , which makes the open source LongMill CNC . We hear how Chris and his cofounder Andy started the company, launching two successful Kickstarters , and what they have planned for the future. Now that we've had Chris on the show, we'll have him back for other episodes to give the Sienci perspective on specific to...

When is a tool worth paying for? How do you decide when a project is good enough for your company? Finding the right tool or project for your company can be tough. Lulzbot's blog post about OHAI: https://lulzbot.com/learn/introducing-ohai-kit-your-guide-to-open-hardware-assembly Opulo's assembly docs: ohai.opulo.io If you want to learn more about what we do, check us out at Opulo.io Hosted on Acas...

In this episode, we dive into sourcing! How do you find vendors? How do you vet them, and make sure you’re getting a quality part? What about duties, shipping, and minimum order quantities? This is a summary, overarching episode about sourcing. Every topic we cover here could have a whole episode dedicated to it, so let us know what you’d like us to go more in depth on! Questions or comments about...

Ever wonder how a radically open-source company can be successful? What's the balance between running a company that makes money and supporting a community? (Turns out, they work together better than you might think!) Stephen and Lucian dive into the things they've seen be overwhelmingly beneficial about keeping the source of your hardware product open. Join the LumenPnP Discord Server and check o...

Ever wonder how a radically open-source company can be successful? What are the benefits, and what are the challenges? How do you manage version control, hiring, work instructions, and payroll? Opulo employees Stephen Hawes and Lucian Chapar cover the details of running an Open Hardware company, as well as interview anyone from hobbyists to CEOs that have experience in the field. Join the LumenPnP...