FIELD NOTES
Get better at hardware test.
Guides, tutorials, and best practices to help you build better hardware tests.
- Test Station Setup
Connector Savers: A Complete Guide
Learn what a connector saver is, why test fixtures need one, and how to size, design and replace it before connector wear causes false test failures.
- Test Station Setup
Test Bench Safety: A Complete Guide
Learn how to assess and reduce test bench hazards under EU machinery rules: ISO 12100 risk assessment, safety functions, guards and a checklist.
- Test Station Setup
Add an E-Stop and Interlock to a Test Bench
Learn how to wire a hardwired e-stop and guard interlock on a motor test bench, and make the test procedure abort cleanly and record why it stopped.
- Test Station Setup
Handle Regenerative Braking on a Test Bench
Learn how to keep regenerative braking from overvolting a motor test bench bus, with ramped deceleration, brake resistors and a bus voltage limit.
- Test Station Setup
Size the Power Source for a Motor Test Bench
Learn how to size a power supply or LiPo pack for a brushless motor test bench, with current budgets, wiring, pre-charge and per-run bus logging.
- Test Station Setup
What Are Test Sockets and How to Use Them
A test socket is one fixture position plus the context that owns its unit. Learn how sockets isolate results and how to configure them as slots.
- Test Station Setup
Sequential vs Parallel vs Batch Testing
Compare the three test execution strategies, learn which one your fixture requires, and see how to configure parallel slots and shared phases.
- Test Station Setup
Why & How to Run Test Stations Without Root
Running a test station as root is a costly shortcut. Learn least-privilege setup on Linux and Windows: low-privilege account, scoped hardware access, a service.
- Test Station Setup
Operator Interface with OpenHTF
Build an operator interface for OpenHTF tests: the built-in Station Server, user input plugs, and the richer UI available through the TofuPilot CLI.
- Test Station Setup
What Is an Operator Interface
An operator interface is the screen a technician uses to run a test. What it must show, what it must prevent, and how to build one without frontend work.
- Test Station Setup
Test Sequencing and Orchestration
Learn how to build repeatable hardware test sequences using TofuPilot with OpenHTF and Python for structured, automated test orchestration.
- Test Station Setup
Test Fixture Design and Management
Learn how to track test fixture health, calibration, and lifecycle using TofuPilot's station monitoring and measurement trending.
