MEP EP#382: The Danger Pool

The CHIPS act is in full swing with Texas Instruments, TSMC, Intel and other chip manufacturers scaling up and building new facilities in the United States. There is just one problem however, the engineering manpower required to run these high tech facilities. TSMC is struggling to fill hiring quotas and articles are citing TSMC working conditions as the reason. Stephen and Parker decide to explore the possibility of more reasons for this on this week’s episode of the MacroFab Engineering Podcast.

Chipmaker TSMC needs to hire 4,500 Americans at its new Arizona plants.

• We touched on this in the past with the chip act. 668,000 domestic manufacturing jobs for the chips act on Episode #345 - The Hot List of Tasty Chip Fabs
• TSMC says it will hire 4,500 new workers to support its two Arizona fabs, a sizable chunk of the total new jobs created. So far TSMC has hired ~2000 but say it is tough to hire.
• Compensation and hiring
  • TSMC pays up to $160,000 annually for Ph.D.s with some good experience where that same Ph.D. can earn some $30,000 more at Intel
  • Intel is giving raises of $10K - $20K over TSMC offers to stay. 
• More students in STEM in Taiwan vs US : 31% compared to 17.5%

Apple launches Vision Pro AR headset to ship next year

• $3500 When the VR industry is getting less expensive and in a hardware purchasing decline?
• Pro price but no pro applications?

The Danger Pool

• What would it take to make a “solder pot”
  • Assembling Transistor Radios 1955
• Simple calculations
  • 60/40 specific heat = 0.173 J/g-C
  • 60/40 melting temp = 190c
  • Energy to raise temp -> specific heat equation
  • Energy to raise 5kg temp by 165C = 142.7 kJ
  • Enthalpy of fusion = 37J/g
  • Energy needed to “melt” = 185kJ
  • Total Energy = 327 kJ
• Joule is W.s
• If we wanted to deliver this much power in 30 minutes
• 182 Watts
• Kitchen stove burner
  • Small ~1200W
  • Medium ~1500 to 1800W
  • Large ~2500W
• 500mm x 175mm size