FIELD NOTES
Get better at hardware test.
Guides, tutorials, and best practices to help you build better hardware tests.
- Test Types & Methods
PCBA Functional Testing: A Complete Guide
A complete guide to PCBA functional testing (FCT) with Python, OpenHTF, and TofuPilot, covering power rails, communication, current draw, and traceability.
- Test Types & Methods
Track Repair and Rework Data
Learn how to structure OpenHTF tests so repair loops, rework actions, and retests all link to the same serial number in TofuPilot.
- Test Types & Methods
Design for Testability: PCB Best Practices
PCB design for testability (DFT) guidelines covering test point placement, JTAG boundary scan, programming headers, and how DFT enables automated testing.
- Test Types & Methods
Motor and Actuator Testing
Learn how to automate motor and actuator production tests, capture torque, speed, and vibration data, and track results with TofuPilot.
- Test Types & Methods
Write a Functional Test Spec for PCBA
Learn how to build a functional test specification for PCBA production, map schematic nets to measurements with datasheet-derived limits, and translate to.
- Test Types & Methods
Track PCBA Results Across Lines
Learn how to tag OpenHTF test runs with station, line, factory, and shift metadata, then compare first pass yield across production lines using TofuPilot.
- Test Types & Methods
HIL vs SIL vs MIL Testing: When to Use Each
Compare MIL, SIL, and HIL testing approaches with cost, speed, and fidelity tradeoffs, plus Python examples for hardware-in-the-loop validation with TofuPilot.
- Test Types & Methods
Design an End-of-Line Operator Screen
An EOL operator screen must be fast, clear, and error-proof. Learn how to design the interface for end-of-line test stations.
- Test Types & Methods
HIL Testing for Embedded Systems
Set up hardware-in-the-loop testing for embedded systems using Python, GPIO control, and TofuPilot logging for automated regression analysis.
- Test Types & Methods
Log HIL Results for Regression Analysis
Structure HIL test results with firmware versions and environmental data for regression tracking in TofuPilot.
- Test Types & Methods
Burn-In Testing for Electronics
Learn how to set up burn-in tests for electronic assemblies, log results to TofuPilot, and use burn-in data to catch infant mortality defects.
- Test Types & Methods
What Is Hardware Reliability Testing
Hardware reliability testing predicts product lifespan under stress. Learn what it covers, common methods, and how to track results with TofuPilot.
