Introduction to Open Source Hardware

Introduction to Open Source HardwareTaipei Hackerspace - 2016 February 19

Gergely Imrehhttps://gergely.imreh.net

Open Sources

Only something that’s transformed before use can be “open source”. (duh)

Some NotableOpen Source

Hardware Projects

Arduino

Check Eagle for source code!

RepRap 3D printer

Olimex

BeagleBone Black

Novena (Bunnie Huang)

https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/novena

Thinking behind OSHW

Why to do open source hardware?

● User trust, mindshare● Community support● Getting good developers● Building an ecosystem● Maintainability, sustainability● ….

Why NOT to do open source hardware?

● Protecting IP● Hiding imperfections in design● Not caring or not know about the possibility● Not liking to be held to a high standard● ….

The tools and ecosystem

Open Tools (some)

Electronics:

KiCad http://kicad-pcb.org/

Mechanical:

FreeCAD http://www.freecadweb.org/

OpenSCAD http://www.openscad.org/

Project Sharing

● Hackster.io https://www.hackster.io/ ● Hackaday.io http://hackaday.io/ ● Seeed Studio Recipe http://www.

seeedstudio.com/recipe/ ● Thingiverse http://www.thingiverse.com/

PCB / Electronics Making

● OSH Park http://oshpark.com/ ● Seeed Studio FusionPCB http://www.

seeedstudio.com/service/index.php?r=pcb ● Dirt Cheap PCBs http://dirtypcbs.com/ ● Circuithub https://circuithub.com/ ● Marcofab http://macrofb.net/

Commercial

Tindie https://www.tindie.com/

Sparkfun http://sparkfun.com/

Adafruit https://www.adafruit.com/

Some practicalities

Licenses to Consider

Creative Commons (CC-BY)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/

CERN Open Hardware Licensehttp://www.ohwr.org/projects/cernohl/wiki

…

A Usual Development Process

● Put all code in version control, e.g git● Bill of Materials (BOM)● Create Plenty of Documentation

○ Hackpad, Wiki, nice PDF…● Start building a project community

Q&A

Open Source Hardware around the World

Mostly EU/US thing?

China: every hardware is “open” sourceshanzhai spirit 山寨

Spreading with the maker movement

How to contribute if not technical?

● Feedback, lots of feedback● Contribute design● Use, learn, develop● Do other creative projects to create culture

of openness