Open Hardware Licensing
Licensing is different than warranties and terms of use. Currently, the only legal license for Open Source Hardware is through TAPR. There is a version 1.0 Open Hardware definition available. This definition was created in hopes that it will be rolled into a license. If you agree with this definition, apply the Open Hardware logo to your board designs: 
There is also a Trademark you can use at OHANDA. But keep in mind this is a trademark, not a license. In addition to a license for hardware, your code can also be open source with a GPL license
More Open Language
In addition to using an open license and open trademark, here’s some example language that we use at Bug Labs for our design files. Please remix and reuse for your files.
The contents of this document are open source meaning you are free to remix, reuse, and redistribute as well as release your improvements to benefit the greater community within the terms of our creative commons license. Reference designs are provided “as is”. Once altered, Bug Labs disclaims all other warranties. Bug Labs may make changes to these specifications and documents at any time, without notice.
Distributed under creative-commons-attribution Bug Labs 2011
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Producing Open Hardware
There are various ways of producing hardware. You can create DIY hardware by acid-bathing the circuit boards and hand soldering components. You can also get some circuit boards made for you in small amounts at companies like BatchPCB, Seeed Studio , or Advanced Circuits to name a few. Eventually, you’ll probably need to start talking to contract manufacturers (CMs) when you are ready to produce large numbers of your product for commercialization. We hope our advice below helps you get started with your endeavor for creating open source hardware!
Why Open Source?
Opening up the designs and intellectual property for your hardware usually means that it’s available for others to copy, change, remake, and redistribute. Open Sourcing your hardware is beneficial if you want your design to grow and be morphed into other designs and other uses.
Manufacturing Questions to Ask
Bug Labs, Inc. has been through many trials in trying to produce our product. Many of the pitfalls are common for any product, while there are others quite distinct in the Open Hardware setting.
Partner with the right Contract Manufacturer (CM)
Here is a list of questions to ask any CM you are looking to work with. This is perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle. Finding the right partner is difficult, they must have all of the following attributes:
- Availability – space and time on their lines.
- How many lines do they have?
- Which ones are constantly busy?
- What is their current schedule for each line?
- Do they have time to fit you in when you are ready?
- How far in advance do you need to plan a run on their lines?
- Are any of their lines specifically designated for a specific customer?
- Which technology are the machines?
- How many parts can be assembled on a PCB per minute/hour?
- What is the average for a similar technology they have built to yours?
- How many technicians do they employ for pick and place?
- How many parts can be assembled by hand?
- How long does it take to set up?
- Is a setup fee is charged every time you start a run?
- How much is it?
- How long does it take to get stencils in?
- How much are they?
- How long do they last?
- How many do they need for a run (typically 2)?
Technology experience
- Have they built a similar technology in the past?
- Fine pitch BGAs?
- POP packages?
- Your specific processor?
- How do they refine their process?
- Examples with similar technologies?
- Who is in charge of your build and the refinement?
- Do they have the chops to make your product work (ie what is their background)?
- Ask to see an example, as well as the yield data from start through full production.
NOTE: Yield is generally lower in pre-production and into initial production. It can take a CM a few hundred PCBs to finalize the solder mask to the right point and temperature.
Testing
Much of this applies to production more so than prototyping, but should be considered in either case. The goal here is to make sure that the product coming off a line is assembled correctly, and if not, that the CM has the right tools in place to catch any mistakes and fix them. This is done by the technicians on the floor, not the sales guy telling you about the CM, nor is it done by the President or VP. The real work is done on the floor. Get to know who they are, what their qualifications are, what the process is, and how rigorously they stick to it.
- Who is in charge of testing your product?
- Who is supplying the test fixtures and test plan?
BUG advises that the technology owner also owns the testing process. A CM must be responsible for verifying the assembly, through technologies available, but the hiring company owns the functionality of the product. - What are the various levels of inspection an assembled PCB goes through?
- Visual inspection by trained technicians
- Who are the technicians who will be working on your product?
- What is the turnover for the technicians?
- How good are they?
- What training or certifications do they have?
- Does your CM constantly train the technicians?
- AOI – Automated Optical Inspection
- Who is programming the test machines?
- Who is looking at the data?
- Who makes sure the machine is working as expected?
- When was the last time the AOI machine was serviced?
- What machines do they have?
- How many stations?
- Can they see under a POP BGA?
- How many layers can the machines see through?
- Where in the facility will your test stations be set up?
- Will you be moved or stationary?
- Will you have dedicated techs?
- What volume does the CM require to hire dedicated techs?
- What is the priority of non-dedicated techs?
- What is the future production schedule they have to meet (will they have time for your product, or will it be sitting around)?
- Will you have space for longer burn in times? This does not require a tech, but does require space and time, be sure if you are using a processor and memory package, that you give plenty of time to burn in so that you can be sure your product works as expected over a duration. At first, plan on a longer burn in period for pre-production and first production boards.
Work with your CM and testing lead to develop a plan to reduce burn in time if your product is behaving normally
This is the period that you will find any critical failures or major issues with your design/build. Do not gloss over this important piece.
Procurement
- Will you be supplying the parts, or will you ask your CM to supply for you? Either way, expect to pay for full reels of parts you may not need all of.
- What are the capabilities of the CM?
- Do they have turnkey solutions (meaning they take care of entire supply chain, at a cost)?
- How much do they charge for procurement?
- How much do they charge for kitting?
Kitting means to put any tape and real parts onto dedicated assembly reals for production.
This process can take time, depending on the amount of parts you have in your assembly. For BUG, the base has over 150 different parts, which can take a few days to initially set up, but if kitted properly, will take 4 hours each subsequent time.
Negotiate lower setup fees if you have dedicated production reels that only need to be kitted once. - Does your CM have any of your parts already in stock?
This is valuable if you have part delays, bad lots of parts, or you are facing long lead times that can not be expedited.
Do the Math. - Do you have time to spend on chasing down parts yourself?
- Does the CM work with only a few distributors?
- How will you procure the “hard to find” parts?
- What will be the most cost effective way to build your product?