From the Blog

Resources for Hardware Teams

Guides, analysis, and technical content for electronics engineering and procurement.

Getting started with Tag-Connect on an AVR MCU
AVR MCUtag connectpcb designtagconnect

Getting started with Tag-Connect on an AVR MCU

Previously we introduced Tag-Connect pogo pin connectors for programming. This time we will be designing an AVR board based on the ATmega328P, which…

October 4, 2016
Designing for Pogo Pin Programming Cables
pogo pincablestag connectorpogo pin connector

Designing for Pogo Pin Programming Cables

In our previous series, Programming for PCB Production, we provided an overview of different methods to program PCB products. So far, we’ve covered…

September 20, 2016
New MacroFab House Parts – Pin Headers (Sept. 2016)
house partspin headersgithub

New MacroFab House Parts – Pin Headers (Sept. 2016)

We’ve expanded our House Parts to include single row pin headers. Finding the right part number for your pin header connections can be a pain, but…

September 7, 2016
Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers Are Changing the Game
circuit boardpcb manufacturerpcb assembly

Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers Are Changing the Game

When most people think of manufacturing, they imagine a big factory with smokestacks spewing out gray haze, or maybe an auto plant with half-formed…

September 6, 2016
What Books, Music and Prototyping Manufacturing Share
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What Books, Music and Prototyping Manufacturing Share

Updated Nov 2024 Once, creating something new in the world of hardware meant going through a handful of gatekeepers. Only a few big companies…

September 1, 2016
Adding External Libraries, DRCs or CAM Files to Eagle
drc filescam fileseagle

Adding External Libraries, DRCs or CAM Files to Eagle

This article will walk through how to add extra part libraries, DRC files, and CAM files to Eagle. This method will make it easier to navigate to…

August 29, 2016
From Garage to Global: The Startup Guide to PCBA Manufacturing
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From Garage to Global: The Startup Guide to PCBA Manufacturing

In the vast expanse of the digital age, the birth of remarkable advancements often stems from individuals navigating their path without the…

August 29, 2016
Lessons to Learn from Lean Manufacturing
lean manufacturingvalueflow

Lessons to Learn from Lean Manufacturing

If you think of the business process methodology of Lean manufacturing as something that is relevant only to huge factories, we can’t blame you. It…

August 24, 2016
Adding External Part Libraries, DRCs, and CAM files to Diptrace
diptracedrccamlibraries

Adding External Part Libraries, DRCs, and CAM files to Diptrace

This article will discuss the process of adding part libraries and DRC rule files to Diptrace. The repository for all of the MacroFab-specific…

August 22, 2016
How Crowdfunding Has Changed the Manufacturing Industry
crowdfundinglow volume manufacturingkickstarter

How Crowdfunding Has Changed the Manufacturing Industry

The old model for entrepreneurs to bring products to market went a little bit something like this. You have an idea for a product. You raise enough…

August 22, 2016
Escaping BGAs - Methods of Routing Traces from BGA Footprints
BGApadsroutingBGA assembly

Escaping BGAs - Methods of Routing Traces from BGA Footprints

In our previous article, BGA Pad Creation, we spoke about two different styles of pads used for creating BGA (Ball Grid Array) footprints and the…

August 17, 2016
Unlocking Your Startup Success: PCBA Prototyping Made in America
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Unlocking Your Startup Success: PCBA Prototyping Made in America

A startup's journey can be both exhilarating and daunting, particularly when dealing with manufacturing intricacies like Printed Circuit Board…

August 12, 2016