105: Chips Ahoy

Where have all the chips gone? Scott Willsey joins John to look at how the shifting automotive use of ICs, a drought, a pandemic and poor planning amongst other things has led to an unprecedented global chip shortage with no end in sight.With Scott Willsey and John Chidgey.Links of Potential Interest: 2020–2021 Global Chip Shortage Surging Demand Cause Semiconductor Shortfall Global shortage in computer chips reaches crisis point Wafer (electronics) 22 new 200mm fabs in semiconductor capacity boom Foundry model Top five chip makers dominate global wafer capacity GlobalFoundries to take up-front payments for capacity A Computer Chip Shortage Has Hobbled the Auto Industry How Tesla pivoted to avoid the global chip shortage that could last years Apple and the 10,000 CNC milling machines Apple invests another $45 million in Gorilla Glass maker Corning Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s Water Woes Torr Etching (microfabrication) Thin film Photolithography Ion implantation Doping (semiconductor) Wafer (electronics) How COVID-19 will affect semiconductor demand in 2021 The Global Microchip Shortage: What It Means for Your Next Car Purchase Experts drill into the motor industry’s chip issues Support Pragmatic on PatreonEpisode sponsor:Many Tricks: If you’re looking for some Mac software that can do Many Tricks remember to specifically visit the URL below for more information about their amazingly useful apps. Check out their newest app Menuwhere, it’s amazing! Visit manytricks.com/pragmatic and use the Coupon Code (listen to the episode to get the code) for 25% off the total price of your order. Hurry it's only for a limited time!Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared, Bill and Joel Maher.