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The more I read about this kind of thing, the more I wonder what it would be like to up and move to a bustling tech center in China like Shenzhen or similar. W

The more I read about this kind of thing, the more I wonder what it would be like to up and move to a bustling tech center in China like Shenzhen or similar. Where there are stores in walking distance selling electronics parts. Where you can walk into a shop and get PCBs made. Where you can meet and talk shop with fellow makers who are not just LARPing arts and crafts but actually doing cutting edge manufacturing. Has anyone done something like this?

bcrl 1y ago
There are a bunch of interesting accounts which basically boil down to the following: you can do in Shenzhen in a few days that which would take weeks to months in the US or EU (well, most of western civilization). Take "Ten Days in Shenzhen" at https://www.karimyaghmour.com/blog/2018/01/ten-days-in-shenzhen.html https://www.karimyaghmour.com/blog/2018/01/ten-days-in-shenz... or Bunnie Huang's blog at https://www.bunniestudios.com/ https://www.bunniestudios.com/ . It stems from the fact that everything is local. You don't have to wait for product to get shipped across the country for each individual step in manufacturing when you can just walk / taxi / bus it between the manufacturers in a day or two. Iterating is fast. TSMC has a similar work ethic. They have process engineers running experiments 24/7 that each build on the results of the previous shift. When's the last time Intel could hire folks with that kind of dedication in Oregon? Netflix has a documentary called The Factory which touches on the kind of cultural differences between workers in the US vs China that is rather enlightening.
rebelliouswhiz 1y ago
I work for an electronic device ODM/OEM maker in Shenzhen. In the business sector, but was once heavily involved in R&D. It is true that you can walk into a shop and get electronic parts. It is also true that you can get PCBs in a shop, but probably pre-made ones. For serious business, you probably want to ask for samples from serious suppliers. But usually, you will get the parts you asked for on the second day, or within a week or two for a simpler PCB. It used to be "walking distance" for all electronic components, maybe 10-20 years ago, but since the cost of living has increased in Shenzhen, factories are moving away from the center of the city. But still, if you really want something today, within a 1-hour drive, you can get what you need.
deadfoxygrandpa 1y ago
well i mean, if nobody had done that then all that stuff you mentioned would not exist

bcrl 1y ago

There are a bunch of interesting accounts which basically boil down to the following: you can do in Shenzhen in a few days that which would take weeks to months in the US or EU (well, most of western civilization). Take "Ten Days in Shenzhen" at https://www.karimyaghmour.com/blog/2018/01/ten-days-in-shenzhen.html https://www.karimyaghmour.com/blog/2018/01/ten-days-in-shenz... or Bunnie Huang's blog at https://www.bunniestudios.com/ https://www.bunniestudios.com/ . It stems from the fact that everything is local. You don't have to wait for product to get shipped across the country for each individual step in manufacturing when you can just walk / taxi / bus it between the manufacturers in a day or two. Iterating is fast. TSMC has a similar work ethic. They have process engineers running experiments 24/7 that each build on the results of the previous shift. When's the last time Intel could hire folks with that kind of dedication in Oregon? Netflix has a documentary called The Factory which touches on the kind of cultural differences between workers in the US vs China that is rather enlightening.

rebelliouswhiz 1y ago

I work for an electronic device ODM/OEM maker in Shenzhen. In the business sector, but was once heavily involved in R&D. It is true that you can walk into a shop and get electronic parts. It is also true that you can get PCBs in a shop, but probably pre-made ones. For serious business, you probably want to ask for samples from serious suppliers. But usually, you will get the parts you asked for on the second day, or within a week or two for a simpler PCB. It used to be "walking distance" for all electronic components, maybe 10-20 years ago, but since the cost of living has increased in Shenzhen, factories are moving away from the center of the city. But still, if you really want something today, within a 1-hour drive, you can get what you need.

deadfoxygrandpa 1y ago

well i mean, if nobody had done that then all that stuff you mentioned would not exist