文档介绍：Creating Open Source Electronic
Hardware with Open Source
Software
Tom Anderson
Overview
● Open Source hardware (This is the smallest font)
– Business model
– Example circuit, concept -> production
● Make circuit boards with Open Source tools
– Design and prototype the hardware
– Using Open Source design software
– Enter the schematic
– Draw the layout
● Simulate circuits
– Analog simulation
– Digital simulation
Creating Open Source Hardware
● Start with an idea
● In this example the idea is:
–“High-speed photography pictures would look good
in Make magazine”
● Build crude prototype
● Get approval for Make Magazine Article
● Build a better prototype that can be made into a
kit
● Write the article
● Sell kits through
Design Constraints
Customer Usability, 80% of users
● Don't want to solder
● Don't know anything about electronics
● Don't know how to debug a circuit
● Want a project that lasts about an hour or two
● Want it to work perfectly the first time
Working within the limits
● We build and package the board
● Customer solders a few wires (or pays more to
get an already-built solution)
Contract Manufacturers
● Very expensive, or
● Want huge volumes
● Want you to redesign the product
● Won't do a much hand labor – they want to use
only the machines that they have
Commercial Open Source Hardware
● Idea -> Find sales channel -> Sell idea to sales
channel
● Schematic -> Firmware -> Prototype -> PCB
● Have bare boards built -> Buy parts
● Lead-form parts -> Load -> Solder
● Assemble product -> Test
● Package -> Ship product -> Invoice
● Promote -> Sell -> Support
Does it scale to full-time self-employment?
Don't quit your day job
The kit at the Make Magazine store