The Process of Shipping
Hardware Products
Hardware Tales for Software Engineers
Omer Kilic | @OmerK
Build Stuff 2017, 2017/11/16

http://omer.kilic.name

Agenda
• Hardware Landscape
• The 5 Stages of Hardware Development
• Formalised Process for Product Development
• Case Study: RFID Attendance Monitor
• Particular focus on Electronics Design

“Hardware is Easy”

“Hardware is Easy”

Desktop Manufacturing

Hardware Development Lifecycle
Specification Proof of Concept Engineering Prototype mkX Product
Just focusing on hardware alone

https://blog.bolt.io/the-illustrated-guide-to-product-development-part-1-ideation-ab797df1dac7
From the “Illustrated Guide to Product Development, Pt 1” by Ben Einstein of @BoltVC

Ideation

Design

Engineering

Validation

Case Study: RFID Attendance Monitor
• Objective: Replace the error-prone and admin-heavy paper copy
attendance monitoring system used in lecture halls with an automated
system, utilising the RFID enabled student ID cards.
• Volume: A couple of hundred units
• Budget: 🤔
🤔

https://blog.bolt.io/the-illustrated-guide-to-product-development-part-1-ideation-ab797df1dac7
From the “Illustrated Guide to Product Development, Pt 1” by Ben Einstein of @BoltVC

Functional Spec

https://blog.bolt.io/the-illustrated-guide-to-product-development-part-1-ideation-ab797df1dac7
From the “Illustrated Guide to Product Development, Pt 1” by Ben Einstein of @BoltVC

Component Selection Criteria
● Packaging
● MOQ
● Second Sourcing
● Part Obsolescence
● Lead Times
● Logistics (Import duties, Customs processing
delays, US Export regulations, etc)
● Supplier Reputation (Counterfeit components)

Bill of Materials

“Eurocircuits - how to make a 4-layer PCB”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIV0icM_Ujo

PCB Gotchas
● DFM footprints
● Mirrored footprints
● Spacing/Clearances
● Panelization
● Fiducials

README.txt
device.max gerbers
<date> - <revision>
Files included:
DEVICE.BOT - Copper bottom
...
thruhole.tap - NC Drill file
- Board outline is defined in top silkscreen, please route to border.
- Please enlarge soldermask pads to fit your clearances as necessary
- Please remove overlapping silkscreen segments on copper (i.e: silkscreen should not cover pads)
- Mounting holes are specified as same pad size on drill and copper layers, these should be non-PTH
For questions please contact:
<contact details>

Lots o' docs
● Spec documents
● Bill of Materials
● Schematic
● Layout
● Datasheets
● Prototype Notes
● 3D model data
● Measurements
● Mechanical Data
● Product Notes

Revision 0

https://blog.bolt.io/the-illustrated-guide-to-product-development-part-1-ideation-ab797df1dac7
From the “Illustrated Guide to Product Development, Pt 1” by Ben Einstein of @BoltVC

Design
For
Manufacturability

EEVblog #127 - PCB Design For Manufacture Tutorial - Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXE_dh38HjU
EEVblog #239 - PCB Design For Manufacture Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uemr8xaxcw0

EEVblog #552 - DFM Automated PCB Panel Testing -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zGisPMNstI

How to Make a Pogo Pin Test Jig, Adafruit
https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-make-a-pogo-pin-test-jig

EEVblog #588 - How To Do PCB Production Testing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UESc7ms4efo

Schematics
Layout Files
Bill of Materials
Assembly Drawings
Testing Procedures
Packaging Info
CEM

CEM Talk
• Volume
• Production forecast, material and component sourcing, tooling schedule
• MOQ
• Technical
• DFM Review
• Test/Automation planning
• Quality Management
• Financial
• NRE and Tooling Costs
• Cash flow, terms, purchasing…
• Open Book Pricing!

Regulatory & Compliance
• Safety
• EMC and RF
• Protocol
• <domain specific>

Thanks!
Any questions?
Ping me @OmerK