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
PCBA functional test with Python: what to measure, how to structure the procedure, fixture and instrument plugs, and tracking yield per measurement.
- 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
Design for testability on PCBs: test points, boundary scan, debug access and firmware hooks that make a board cheap to test in production.
- 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 on cost, speed and fidelity, with Python examples where only the plug changes between the three levels.
- 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 a HIL bench for embedded systems with Python: fixture plugs, firmware version tracking, CI integration and unattended runs.
- 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.
