648: System76's Britain Heaphy

Michael talks with Britain Heaphy, mechanical engineer at System76, about designing the new Thelio Mira—from prototyping and thermal testing to airflow, acoustics, upgradeability, and the practical tools that shape a modern desktop chassis. Britain shares how the new Mira chassis came together, why improved thermals matter for both performance and noise, and how System76 designed the case to support future upgrades—including the clever option of adding a second power supply for high-end configurations. They also get into the line between powerful consumer desktops and workstations, the role of 3D printing in fast iteration, and why sometimes the most valuable prototyping tool is just a roll of masking tape.