Field notes
What we've learned getting hardware out the door.
Short, specific notes for founders between prototype and production.
Oct 20, 2026 · powerdraft
Why your battery-life estimate is wrong (hint: it's the sleep current)
Battery life estimates for low-power devices: why sleep current, not active current, usually sets runtime, with the average-current math and datasheet traps.
ReadOct 20, 2026 · costdraft
Your BOM is not your unit cost: the landed-cost math founders skip
Landed cost for hardware founders: every layer between your BOM and true unit cost, from yield and labor to freight, duties, customs fees and amortized NRE.
ReadOct 20, 2026 · electronicsdraft
From dev kit to custom board: five decisions that set your schedule
Dev kit to custom PCB: the five early electronics decisions (radio module, parts, power, enclosure fit and testability) that decide your hardware schedule.
ReadOct 20, 2026 · readinessdraft
EVT, DVT, PVT: what each build has to prove (and what to have ready)
EVT, DVT and PVT explained for hardware founders: the question each build answers, how you know it's done, and what to have ready before you start.
ReadOct 20, 2026 · certificationdraft
FCC, CE and UL testing: what it really involves, and how not to pay for it twice
FCC, CE and UL certification for hardware founders: what each mark covers, who signs off, and the design choices that stop you paying for testing twice.
ReadOct 20, 2026 · controlsdraft
Tuning motor control for torque: what FOC and MTPA bought us on a core drill
Motor control tuning for torque: how field-oriented control (FOC), MTPA and thermal design raised a core-sampling drill's torque 50% over stock.
ReadOct 20, 2026 · controlsdraft
Instrument before you optimize: what a 100-sensor test house teaches about control
Control system design for hardware founders: why we instrument the test environment with far more sensors than the product ships with, before tuning anything.
ReadOct 20, 2026 · architecturedraft
Design it so you can scale by adding boxes: modular process systems
Modular process system design: split gas, water and thermal equipment into supply, process, exhaust and control units so capacity grows by adding modules.
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