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Following the previous episode, SOE takes a walk down the LIFX production line, investigating how a modern, reimagined light globe is manufactured at scale. If you haven’t seen the previous episode, it is highly recommended viewing in discovering just how LIFX got started as a company, overcame design/engineering issues and set about finding a suitable factory in China: https://youtu.be/pxSIeIfHF58 In this episode, the HardworX tour participants are introduced to the factory by John Bosua from LIFX. He then takes us into the clean rooms where the SMT work is done. At each stage of the production, the surprising thing to most on the tour was the level of testing performed on the assembly, to eliminate “dead on arrival products”!

The tour then wandered into the “Through Hole” assembly area where we witnessed quite manual manufacturing processes of modules, wave soldering, yet more testing and then final assembly of the product into the shell of a light globe. As many on the tour commented, you wouldn’t believe what it takes to make a modern light globe these days until you see it for yourself! For more about LIFX visit

For more about LIFX visit https://www.lifx.com
For more about HardworX visit www.hardworx.io
For more about this series visit www.stateofelectronics.com
For more about Jon Oxer visit www.superhouse.tv
For more about Tom Partridge visit www.tectonica.net

The story of how LIFX began is this weeks episode of State of Electronics. Three guys (Phil Bosua, Andy Gelme and John Bosua) got together at Hack Melbourne (CCHS) http://www.hackmelbourne.org and prototyped what would become a wifi controlled light bulb. At that time, it hadn’t been done before. A timely confluence of things allowed this to happen – smart phones, apps, cheap & efficient LED’s, wifi modules and an idea. They ran a very successful kickstarter campaign in 2012 and raised over 1.3 million dollars in the process. That allowed them to overcome many engineering hurdles and set course for China to find a suitable factory. In this video, we speak with John Bosua, Andy Gelme and Marc Alexander.

Marc was the first hardware engineer and former CEO of LIFX (now chief product & technology officer at LIFX) who, together with the team, overcame heat issues, wifi chip selection, factory selection and more. This episode looks into the founding years of a bright startup company, who created a category in lighting and a dream in the process. From humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia to becoming a global player in the world of domestic lighting, LIFX is a great beacon for those who want to follow in their path. In a followup episode, SOE will tour the LIFX production line and learn how an idea can be manufactured at scale. For more about LIFX visit

For more about LIFX visit https://www.lifx.com

 

This week, SOE tours HLH Prototypes, which is based in Shenzhen China. HLH will make one single part for you or thousands, if thats what you need. They utilize a range of production techniques, including 3D printing in SLA, SLS, DMLS or SLM. They do CNC Machining of plastics and metals, in a huge range of sizes (really large parts are possible) and a vast range of materials. HLH can do rapid tooling, sheet metal forming work, vacuum casting from silicon moulds, all the way up to EDM/Spark erosion tooling for plastic injection moulding. They do plastic injection moulding as well! Cofounder James Murphy takes us on a tour of the newly built factory and explains many of the processes to help the participants understand the benefits of each.

For many in the group, Silicon Vacuum Moulding opens up a whole world of possibilities. For more about HLH Prototypes, visit www.hlhprototypes.com

Jiafuh Metal and Plastics is a manufacturer who designs and produces moulds for plastic components out of a range of materials including Aluminum, Mild Steel and hardened “tool” Steel. They also manufacture plastic enclosures for electronic products, amongst other things, via plastic injection moulding. In this tour, SOE explores the Shenzhen based factory of Jiafuh, led by General Manager Jimmy Hsu. The tour members are surprised by the many different tool making processes, including a processes known as Spark Erosion or EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining), Surface Grinding, Wire-Cut EDM, CNC Milling and more. The group also appreciated that a great deal of hand skills were still employed to measure (metrology), surface finishing and polishing the moulds known as “tools”, in readiness for injection moulding manufacturing.

The group then witnessed the tools in use, and watched on as hundreds of plastic enclosures, for brand name clients, were being produced in the injection moulding part of the factory. Jiafuh has many injection moulding machines and can cater for high volume production. They also offer a range of electroplating and vapor deposition surfacing options, to reproduce metallic finishes on plastic components. For our group, it was really valuable to see why injection moulding tools are so expensive and understand how they can be extremely economical when it comes to manufacturing at scale. Every designer should understand these processes.

In this weeks episode, the tour group visits the electronics markets of Shenzhen China. Many of the group have never been to the markets before and what they discover is the worlds largest electronic component market! The sheer scale and size of the markets, spread across kilometers of cityscape is impressive. There is almost nothing you cannot find in these markets. The markets contain millions of stalls, who often represent manufacturing firms in Shenzhen, and are an excellent resource for components, modules, finished goods and more. Many also have an online presence and make a personal visit to Shenzhen unnecessary, however anyone who has been to Shenzhen and the markets will tell you, that it is well worth the visit, to establish relationships with vendors, understand the eco system and grasp the magnitude of the supply chain. It is truly breathtaking and inspirational. A special thanks to Jon Oxer for photographing extra material for this episode. Note, some images were recorded from my trip in 2011, 2015 and the most recent trip in 2017.

 

Defond started out as a switch manufacturer in Hong Kong, but moved to China to provide a large array of manufacturing services including SMT, Wave soldering, PCB assembly, Plastic injection, Metal stamping, Electro-plating, Winding, Laser cutting and printing. They employ the concept of LEAN manufacturing (to minimize waste), Process automation, Process qualification and control, Supply chain management and have a complete testing solution to certify products for: UL61058 / STP1054 MFI license (wireless communications) RF equipment (functional tester) UL / IEC certification expertise The tour group experienced a fantastic range of manufacturing processes and learned a great deal about Defond’s ethics, accessibility and business practices. Some of our group had never been inside a factory before so this first factory tour was a huge “eye opener” and a taste of things to come. For more information about Defond visit http://www.grpdfond.com For more information about the tour organizer, HardworX visit https://www.hardworx.io Commercial transparency note: This video has not been paid, sponsored or otherwise commercialized by the Defond Group. The views in this video are expressed freely by all of the tour group participants and the filmmaker. The Defond Group was/is aware of the filmmakers intention to make this video and has provided authorization to do so by providing signed release forms and their corporate video for inclusion. However no attempt was made by the Defond Group to limit or control the opinions and views expressed here.

 

In this episode, SOE investigates the reason why humans make things. We look at the importance of making things both from a practical need and a creative standpoint. Making teaches us about the real world … About materials … About mechanical and electronic things … About how to learn. Humans have made things like tools from a very long time ago but also made terrible things like weapons and bombs! So making involves a great sense of responsibility, not only for human existence but also towards our environment. Nearly all cultures make things and yet in recent times the modern age is rediscovering making things again and how that can unlock personal freedom, fulfillment and happiness. Interviews with Zack Shelby (Microbit), Andrew “bunnie” Huang, Shannon Hoover (Makefashion), Sherry Huss (Maker Media), Angus Gratton, Simon Holmes a Court, Michael Borthwick, Vela Georgiev, Neil Brennan and more discuss the philosophical and practical need for making. This is a special episode of State of Electronics that looks at the very fundamental force driving us all. Please help this channel to grow by subscribing, sharing and liking! your support is crucial to the ongoing success of the channel. Thank you.

This is the second part of a series about electronics and manufacturing in Shenzhen China. In this weeks episode, SOE continues on a journey of exploration with a group of Electronic Engineers, Makers, Entrepreneurs and Startups on an innovation tour to Shenzhen China. The group lands in China and quickly becomes accustomed to the heat, humidity, sights and smells of Guangzhou and then later Shenzhen. The first days adventure ends with a fantastic meal before checking into the hotel. Day two kicks off with Maker Faire Shenzhen. The group wonders around the Shenzhen polytechnic, where Maker Faire is held in 2017, and delights in the creativity, cleverness in design and social aspects of the maker movement. With many local Chinese makers showing off their ideas and builds, our group gets an appreciation for the enthusiasm of the local community. SOE also chats with some of the international makers such as Shannon Hoover from Makefashion http://www.makefashion.ca, Zack Shelby from micro:bit http://microbit.org, Sherry Huss from Maker Media as well as locals like Eric Pan from SEEED Studios https://www.seeedstudio.com and Kevin Lau from Makernet. Maker Faire Shenzhen is put on by Maker Media Inc. and is part of Make Magazine https://makermedia.com In China, Maker Media has partnered with SEEED Studios, who invited Maker Faire to come to Shenzhen. Maker Faire Shenzhen is now the second largest Maker Faire event in the world behind San Francisco’s Bay Area faire. Our group consists of tour leader Vela Georgiev, participants Andy Gelme, Brian Gilbert, Jon Oxer, Kemal Ajay, Liam Brennan, Noor Magesh, Sarah Last, Tom Partridge, Simon Holmes a Court, Hans Chang and yours truly.