Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Flexing the Open Source Hardware Definition to Fit Other
Physical Objects and Products That Require Multiple Types of
Manufacturing
The open source hardware community created a definition of open source hardware that
specifies which parts of a hardware product must be documented openly to warrant its des-
ignation as “open source.” The definition can be found in
Chapter 2
of this topic or on-
line at oshw.org/definition. Many products are released as open source hardware that incor-
porate multiple types of materials, which means that the methods of production vary and
the manufacturing processes are more complicated than simply printing PCB electronic
boards from Gerber files. Documenting open source hardware designs that encompass var-
ied methods of production is a more complex endeavor because production includes mech-
anical fabrication, hardware design, schematics of the electronic boards, and the layout and
assembly of all the hardware combined.
Designers and inventors must be aware of these considerations when manufacturing
and releasing products that combine multiple platforms and materials. This section out-
lines some of the parameters that should be taken into account by the inventor and manu-
facturers for applying the Open Source Hardware Definition to a diverse range of physical
products for different fields and industries.
Parts of the following section are derived from an Adafruit presentation outlining open
A designer, inventor, or entrepreneur who releases an open source hardware product is
obligated to provide design files in an optimal format for making modifications. The cre-
ator must satisfy the following conditions:
Allow modification and redistribution of the design files
Allow manufacture, sales, distribution, and use of the product from the design files
Publish any documentation or software that is essential to use the product
Depending on the license used for the design files, the designer or manufacturer of a
derivative open source hardware product might have to do the following:
Provide attribution when distributing or manufacturing a derivative product and
when distributing design files of a derivative
Release the product and documentation (that are based on the original design files
or any derivatives thereof) as open source
