how to prototype hardware - tips and resources

Prototyping HardwareZak Homuth

Hardware Lifecycle

Manufacturing

Design & Test

Agenda

Conceptualization

Hardware Lifecycle

Idea Specification BoM Optimization

Design Supplier Negotiation !Test

Mass Manufacturing Marketing Retail Enterprise Sales Customer

Prototyping

CONCEPTUALIZATION DESIGN & TEST MANUFACTURING

MANUFACTURING

INPUTS OUTPUTSMANUFACTURING

Gerbers Bill of Materials Centroid file Assembly doc Acceptance spec !

Quoting Part ordering Test jig setup Programming setup Line setup Test builds Real build

Finished product Packaging Shipping labels !

Tools

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“I don't spend my time pontificating about high-concept things; I spend my time solving engineering and manufacturing problems.”

!Elon Musk

// Design & Test //

DESIGN & TEST

INPUTS OUTPUTSDESIGN & TEST

HW product canvas Sketches Block diagram Research Spec

Gerbers Bill of Materials Centroid file Assembly doc Acceptance spec

Part selection Schematic Simulation Layout Verification Prototype Test Fix design Repeat BOM optimization

Tools

• Goal: Non-obsolete, good fit, in-stock !

• Warning: It takes time! (Estimate 1-2 weeks) !

• Google! !

• PDF datasheets !

• NDAs

Part Selection

• Goal: To convert design intent into CAD files !

• Re-create parts in CAD !

• Block diagram —> schematic !

• More part selection !

• Floorplan estimate !

• Schematic —> layout

Design

• Goal: Don’t prototype a dud !

• Design rule checking !

• Simulation !

• Design review !

• Spot checking

Verification

• Goal: Confirm CAD file before MFG !• Goal: Give software a prototype to dev against

!• Bundling CAD files

!• Ordering quick turn - low volume

!• Waiting

!• Turn-on testing & bring up

Prototyping

• Are all the parts placed? !

• Shipping damage? !

• Measure power & ground impedance !

• Plug in !

• Turn-on !

• Let the smoke out

Test

// Test //

It’s NOT gonna work the first time…

Rinse & Repeat

// Turn-on Checklist //

// Conceptualization //

CONCEPTUALIZATION

INPUTS OUTPUTSCONCEPTUALIZATION

Idea

HW Product Canvas Sketches Block diagram Research Spec

Research Part selection Sketching Diagraming Brainstorming

// Tools //Tools

Thank you