Hardware Development Guidelines
Overview
This guide refers to practices that is followed for hardware projects. It contains 3 sections:
design
fabrication
assembly
Each of the sections refer to a different stage of hardware development.
Design
Repository
The repository of a hardware project must include:
License file for example, CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 - Strongly Reciprocal
Libre Space Foundation Contribution Guide
Git ignore files for different kind of programms, like KiCad, FreeCAD and QUCS.
In case of CAD files, e.g. FreeCAD, it is recommended to use Git LFS
For project management follow, recommended Mode of Operation for Libre Space Foundation projects
An (under test) method to keep track of issues with epics and/or milestones is followed at SIDLOC project - issue and some notes
KiCad and FreeCAD Workflow
KiCad workflow for multiple boards is under test in SIDLOC project and here is the description of method
FreeCAD workflow uses Git LFS - File Locking
Electronics Parts
An inventory with electronic parts is kept in LSF lab. For that reason it is recommended to select parts from inventory that the threshold of minimum order is above 20 (more details TBA)
Parts like MCUs, PSUs etc are preferred to re-used for all the projects
Preferred vendors
For Board to wire connectors the Molex - PicoBlade and Hirose - DF11 series are preferred
A Libre Space Foundation KiCad Library exists. It is advised to use parts from it (or KiCAD libs). In case that a part does not exist a merge request in to library is more than welcome
To export a BOM, for e.g. Mouser, use either bom_csv_grouped_by_value and from generated .csv use the second table of follow a guide: The Generation of Bill of Material Files
KiCAD Preferred settings
Schematic grid size: 1.27mm
PCB Logos: project logo, license logo and Libre Space Foundation logo.
CI for KiCad (Under development)
Add Fiducial points that help stencil alignment in stencil printer
FreeCAD Preferred settings
For fabrication drawings use Libre Space Foundation templates
Releases
The release scheme is under development and testing in SatNOGS COMMS project
Fabrication
PCB Ordering
Assembly
PCB assembly
Libre Space Foundation uses hackerspace.gr laboratory with:
Reflow oven, TBD
Pick and Place, TBD
Stencil printer, TBD
Mechanichal Parts assembly
TBD
Cables assembly
TBD