Talks to Watch

Speedrunning 30yrs of lithography technology

1.9M views · Jul 31, 2024 · 46:07 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2024–2025

Breaking Taps tries to build semiconductor fabrication capability at home, working through decades of lithography history while chasing one-micrometer features. It documents the equipment, process steps and many setbacks along the way.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN points to it as an example of hobbyist, at-home integrated circuit fabrication.

“Here is BreakingTaps fabricating home made chips, he has a fair bit of equipment though”HN comment, 2025

What Hacker News said 3

Cites itzeckalphaSep 2024
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Yes, and I've seen closer even on YouTube recently. this video The isometric view camera is neat though!

in “Have you ever seen soldering this close? [video]” · view on HN
Cites itpragma_xNov 2024

“there _is_ work being done on the hobby front for IC fabrication "at home".”

Example of hobbyist at-home IC fabrication

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FWIW, there _is_ work being done on the hobby front for IC fabrication "at home". We're still far from buying a miniature chip-fab-in-a-box product, but current technology makes yesterday's tech far more affordable. We're on our way. Example: this video

Cites itaeonikJan 2025

“Here is BreakingTaps fabricating home made chips, he has a fair bit of equipment though”

Home-made chip fabrication showing DIY processors are accessible

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While it's not "easy", I was surprised to learn recently that DIY microprocessors are far more accessible than I thought. Here is BreakingTaps fabricating home made chips, he has a fair bit of equipment though this video There a a few different techniques that can be used. Most of the lithography techniques use Hydrofluoric Acid, but if you are okay with slower build times you can etch the circuits directly with Ion beams or Electron Beams. But the short story is you need an overhead projector, a microscope, and a few gnarly chemicals. Otherwise fairly straightforward.

in “Reverse-engineering a carry-lookahead adder in the Pentium” · view on HN