Pick, Place, Podcast

Hosted by CircuitHub and Worthington

TechnologyInterviews guestsExplicit

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The Pick, Place, Podcast is a show where we talk about electronics manufacturing and everything related to getting a circuit board into the world. Join hosts Chris Denney from Worthington and Melissa Hough from CircuitHub as they discuss the pcb assembly process, design tips that will make your manufacturer love you, and talk to industry guests.

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60 recent

August 10, 20261 hr 15 min

Building the factory of the future with CircuitHub CEO, Andrew Seddon

In this episode we are joined by CircuitHub co-founder Andrew Seddon for a conversation about the origins of CircuitHub and the future of high-mix electronics manufacturing. Andrew shares how his experience as a design engineer—and his frustrations getting increasingly complex hardware projects manufactured—eventually led to the idea behind CircuitHub. They revisit the company’s early days, including its original shared parts library, the first CircuitHub manufacturing order, and how Andrew and Chris first connected. The conversation then turns to the challenges of high-mix manufacturing and why seemingly simple ideas, like standardizing component libraries, become much more complicated in the real world. Andrew explains how those lessons ultimately led CircuitHub to rethink the manufacturing process from first principles and develop The Grid, which he describes as a “factory-scale robot” for electronics assembly. We also discuss the role of automation, the limitations of traditional manufacturing equipment and software, and why keeping manufacturing capabilities close to hardware designers matters for innovation. In this episode: A quick recap of the Boston Hardware Meetup and live DFM reviews The current surge in manufacturing demand Andrew’s background and the origins of CircuitHub CircuitHub’s first manufacturing order The complexity of high-mix, low-volume manufacturing Why standardized component libraries only get you so far The evolution and philosophy behind The Grid Building a “factory-scale robot” from first principles Automation and the future of local manufacturing Andrew’s pet peeve: slow walkers pickplacepodcast.com

June 30, 202631 min

Flex & Rigid-Flex PCB Assembly

Flexible PCBs can solve some incredible mechanical design challenges—but they also introduce a whole new set of manufacturing considerations. In this episode, we answer a listener's question about flex and rigid-flex circuit assembly, covering what actually changes on the manufacturing floor when a board bends instead of staying rigid. Chris shares lessons learned from developing Worthington and CircuitHub's flex PCB assembly process, including the custom fixtures, dummy boards, baking requirements, and reflow considerations that make these jobs very different from traditional FR-4 assemblies. If you're designing a flex or rigid-flex PCB—or thinking about it—this episode offers practical advice that can save both time and money before your design reaches manufacturing. f you're designing flex or rigid-flex PCBs, Chris recommends these Global Electronics Association resources: IPC-2223: Sectional Design Standard for Flexible/Rigid-Flexible Printed Boards – The primary design standard for flex and rigid-flex PCBs. Covers bend regions, stackups, conductor routing, fabrication drawings, ZIF connectors, dielectric thicknesses, and many other design considerations. Used alongside IPC-2221. https://shop.electronics.org/ipc-2223/ipc-2223-standard-only IPC PCB Design for Flex & Rigid-Flex Boards Course – An in-depth instructor-led training course covering flex PCB design, manufacturing, assembly, documentation, and industry best practices. https://www.electronicsu.org/product/pcb-design-flex-rigid-flex-boards pickplacepodcast.com

June 1, 202636 min

Gloves not Mittens

In this episode Chris and Melissa dig into one of Chris’s favorite PCB design topics: pocket masking vs. gang masking on fine-pitch components. Chris explains why solder mask slivers matter, how PCB design tools can accidentally create manufacturability problems, and what designers can do to help prevent solder bridging during assembly. The discussion covers solder mask expansion, registration tolerances, stencil printing, pick-and-place placement pressure, and why “gloves, not mittens” is the mental model to remember. The episode also opens with a few updates, including Chris becoming a Certified Electronics Program Manager and CircuitHub announcing a $28 million raise from Plural Ventures. TL;DR: For fine-pitch components, especially 0.5 mm pitch and smaller, pay close attention to your solder mask expansion. Chris’s rule of thumb: Start checking at 0.5 mm pitch or smaller Aim for 10 mil spacing between copper pads , edge-to-edge Reserve 3 mil for solder mask registration on each side Preserve a 4 mil solder mask sliver between pads In metric, that means roughly: 0.25 mm copper-to-copper spacing 0.075 mm registration allowance on each side 0.1 mm solder mask sliver If space is tight, Chris recommends trimming the copper lands slightly rather than sacrificing the solder mask sliver. The sliver is what helps prevent solder from bridging between pads during printing, placement, and reflow. The short version: protect the solder mask sliver. Gloves, not mittens. pickplacepodcast.com

May 4, 202650 min

Back from the Dead and Back from APEX

In this episode, Chris and Melissa return after a long break with a recap of Chris’s trip to APEX. They discuss customer visits, EMS management meetings, the value of trade shows, and why x-ray inspection is becoming such a big topic in PCB assembly. Chris also talks about AI, reusable checklists, his new Feeder Pugs project, and the time a hotel accidentally drilled into his room. Melissa closes things out with a pet peeve about signs that block traffic visibility. pickplacepodcast.com

October 6, 20251 hr 20 min

Smarter Test Plans for Inevitable Failures w/ Blue Clover CEO & Co-founder, Pete Staples

Chris and Melissa welcome Pete Staples , CEO & co-founder of Blue Clover Devices , for a deep dive into how to plan tests, capture evidence, and debug those mysterious boards that look perfect but don’t work . Topics include: Who is Blue Clover Devices & what’s the PLT? Bed-of-nails, ICT, flying probe, and PLT What assemblers really need when a board fails Production test vs. validation Updates on the Stick It Up Your Tube movement Ben the Beaver Links & resources Blue Clover Devices — Production Line Tool (PLT) . Blue Clover Devices PLT Reference Docs (test plans, reports, hardware reference). docs.pltcloud.com+1 Blue Clover — Design-for-Test (DFT) Guide (request the PDF). Blue Clover Devices pickplacepodcast.com

August 25, 202550 min

Inevitable Failures

After a long break (and a few listener wellness checks!), Chris and Melissa return to catch up on what’s kept them busy and share some updates from around the industry. Then, they dive into this episode’s big topic: who’s responsible for the inevitable fallout when it comes to quick-turn PCB assembly? Topics include: Catching up after six months of growth, hiring, and training Andrew Seddon’s appearance on The Amp Hour — and how it ties back to the origins of this podcast IPC’s rebrand to the Global Electronics Association The ongoing saga of stuck parts in tubes (a.k.a. “Stick It Up Your Tube”) Quick-turn fallout: Why some customers expect and accept a small percentage of failures Why others demand 100% working boards How assembly shops handle each scenario (good, bad, and ugly approaches) Practical tips for managing fallout: thermal cycling, batch troubleshooting, and respectful customer–assembler relationships Pet Peeve of the Week: LinkedIn (and why it feels so weird) Links & Resources Andrew Seddon on The Amp Hour : CircuitHub 12 Years Later IPC rebrand: Global Electronics Association announcement LinkedIn post – stuck part in a tube LinkedIn post – sustainability rant pickplacepodcast.com

March 1, 20252 min

Meet up with Chris in California!

Chris will be in California and would love to meet up with anyone interested. He will be in the San Francisco Bay Area March 11 - March 14 and the Los Angeles/Anaheim area March 16 - March 20. Email us at contact@pickplacepodcast.com and we'll try to make something happen! pickplacepodcast.com

February 17, 20251 hr 10 min

IPC's Leadership on Sustainability in Electronics w/ Dr. John W. Mitchell and Dr. Kelly Scanlon

In this insightful episode, we delve deep into the pressing issues of sustainability within the electronics manufacturing industry with IPC President and CEO, Dr. John W. Mitchell, and Dr. Kelly Scanlon, IPC's lead sustainability strategist. They offer expert insights into how IPC is leading the charge toward more sustainable practices, the importance of data and harmonization in policy-making, and the challenges facing the industry today. Our discussion also highlights practical steps manufacturers can take to contribute to a greener future and how IPC's resources can guide these efforts. If you're interested in learning more about sustainability or getting involved with IPC's initiatives can visit IPC.org for further information and support. pickplacepodcast.com

January 27, 20251 hr 2 min

Innovations in Motorsport Sensor Technology with Caleb Holloway of Izze Racing

In this episode, join us as we continue our exploration into the high-speed world of motorsport sensor technology with Caleb Holloway, founder of Izze Racing. Caleb delves into the complexities of antenna design, the challenges of RF engineering in the demanding environment of racing, and the innovative solutions his team has developed to enhance data accuracy on the track. From whip antennas to the nuances of sensor integration on racing vehicles, learn how cutting-edge technology is driving performance and safety in motorsports. pickplacepodcast.com

January 13, 202543 min

The Challenges of Motorsport Sensor Design with Izze Racing Founder, Caleb Holloway

After a bit of a break we are back with a new, exciting episode! This week we are joined by Caleb Holloway, founder and owner of Izze Racing . Izze Racing provides electronics sensors, with an emphasis on tire data collection, to the motorsport industry. In the first part of this conversation, we delve into Caleb's transition from academia to running his passion company full-time, what's it like designing a product for the motor racing industry, and some unique challenges he has faced. pickplacepodcast.com