As for folks making ASIC-based miners that use existing chips, just check the Hardware section. There are 2 folks doing it there.
Hey there, do you by chance know how they're called or have links to the thread(s)? Working on something similar myself atm, would be interested to see their approach and project status and chime into the discussion
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1764803.0 is Sidehacks original small USB sticks
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5053833.0 is his newer USB sticks and his Terminus pod miner
Those are all in production and available through several resellers including several on Amazon and eBay
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5355470.0 is his latest one now in final testing
Also there is https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5340015.0 which is jstefanop's Apollo combined BTC Node & miner
Thanks so much! I know some of the projects, didn't know there were bitcointalks threads on them though.. oops! Very excited to give those a read