What 'Complete' Means in an Electronics Handoff
IP ownership only matters if the handoff package actually lets you use it. A checklist for what that requires.
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Using a VNA: Practical Measurements That Actually Matter
How to calibrate a vector network analyzer and use it to check impedance matching, filter response, and cable loss.
The Respin Trap
Two different reasons a hardware project stalls, and why treating one as the other wastes a redesign budget.
What Your External Engineering Team Needs From Your QMS
Where design-control responsibility splits between your team and an outside hardware/firmware partner, and what records actually cross that line.
Firmware Development Costs
Cost drivers and estimation methods for embedded firmware projects.
Technical Debt in Hardware
How shortcuts compound in physical products and strategies for managing them.
Reading Datasheets Effectively
What to look for, what to ignore, and how to interpret component specifications.
Scaling from Prototype to Production
What changes at 100, 1000, and 10000 units: costs, suppliers, and process shifts.
AI Tools in Engineering: Use Without Dependence
When AI helps and when it gets in the way.
The Project Manager Tax
Large engineering firms add 15-25% in PM overhead. What that costs and when it's worth paying.
The Hidden Costs of Outsourced Engineering
Many firms outsource to cut costs. What that actually means for quality and communication.
Fixed, Hourly, or T&M: Choosing a Billing Model
When each pricing model works, when it doesn't, and why we use fixed-price.
USB-C Power Delivery Implementation
Hardware and firmware considerations for adding USB PD to embedded products.
RTOS vs Bare Metal: A Decision Framework
When an operating system helps and when it just adds complexity.
Why Requirements Documents Fail
Common patterns that make specs useless and approaches that work better.
Design for Manufacturing: Avoiding Production Problems
Component selection, layout decisions, and documentation that prevent assembly issues.
Why We Don't Take Equity
The math behind equity-for-engineering offers and why cash works better for everyone.
The Case Against Over-Engineering
When 'good enough' is the right call and gold-plating hurts more than it helps.
Finding and Evaluating Engineering Firms
A systematic approach to selecting hardware and embedded systems consultants.
Red Flags When Hiring Engineering Firms
Warning signs, contract terms, and due diligence to protect your project and budget.
When Certification Costs More Than Development
Regulatory compliance can exceed engineering costs. How to budget for it and avoid surprises.
Hardware Design and Manufacturing Costs
PCB design, fabrication, and assembly cost breakdown with worked examples.
Why I Started Crab Labs
The reasoning behind starting another engineering firm, and what we do differently.
PCB Design Review Checklist
47-point checklist covering power, signal integrity, layout, and manufacturing readiness.
Medical Device Compliance Costs
Breakdown of FDA 510(k), IEC 60601, and ISO 13485 compliance budgets.
Importing External Libraries into KiCad
How to find, download, and add third-party component libraries to KiCad.
Creating KiCad Libraries
How to build custom symbols and footprints in KiCad.
NFC PCB Business Card Design
Complete guide to designing and manufacturing NFC business cards in KiCad.
Working with GaN FETs
Practical guidance for designing with gallium nitride transistors: gate drive, protection, and layout.