Why Development Boards Should be Avoided in Commercial Products
Dev boards are essential tools for electronic prototyping and testing new ideas. They offer an accessible, cost-effective means for engineers and hobbyists to experiment with different configurations without the need for custom PCBs and hardware. However, when it comes to integrating these dev boards into commercial products, several issues arise that can hinder performance, reliability, and profitability. At Circad Design, we understand the limitations of dev boards in commercial applications and have tailored our approach to provide superior, market-ready solutions for our clients.
Understanding the Use of a Dev Board
Dev boards, like the popular Arduino board and RaspberryPi, are designed to be versatile, general-purpose platforms. They come with pre-built circuitry, including microcontrollers or microprocessors, and often feature standardized interfaces and connectors. While this makes them excellent for rapid prototyping and education, their one-size-fits-all design is rarely optimized for any specific commercial application.
The Downsides of Using a Dev Board in a Commercial Product
Size and Space Efficiency
Commercial products often have strict space constraints. Dev boards like the nodemcu and pic board are not designed with compactness in mind; instead, they prioritize accessibility of components and pins. In contrast, a custom PCB design can be tailored to fit precisely within the dimensions required by the end product, eliminating any wasted space and optimizing the form factor.
Cost Effectiveness
While individual dev boards are inexpensive, they become costly when used at scale. They include components and features unnecessary for the final product, driving up the unit cost. Designing a custom circuit board strips away these superfluities, which can significantly reduce production costs, especially when manufactured in large volumes.
Power Consumption
Dev boards are not optimized for power efficiency. For battery-operated devices using say an arduino or a teensy board, the power draw can drastically reduce operational time between charges. Custom designs allow for careful selection of components and circuit optimization that minimize power consumption, which is critical for portable and remote applications.
Availability Concerns
The lifecycle of a dev board is typically shorter than that of commercial-grade components. Manufacturers may discontinue a board after a few years, which can be a severe problem for commercial products that require long-term support and availability. Commercial components usually have a more extended lifecycle, which is crucial for maintaining and updating commercial products.
Reliability and Longevity
Dev boards are typically not built to withstand the rigors of continuous commercial use. Custom-designed electronics, however, can be engineered using industrial-grade components that are rated for higher reliability and longer life under challenging conditions.
Intellectual Property and Customization
Using a dev board like a raspberrypi or an arduino board, means relying on a third-party design that cannot be altered at a fundamental level. Custom PCBs, on the other hand, are entirely owned by the creating company, protecting intellectual property and allowing for deep customization to meet the specific needs of a commercial product.
Circad Design's Approach to Custom Development
At Circad Design, we believe in developing tailor-made solutions that match our clients' unique requirements. By avoiding off-the-shelf development boards, we deliver products that are:
Optimized for Production: We design circuits that are optimized for production, taking into account the scalability and manufacturability of each component. This results in a smoother transition from prototype to mass production, without the need for reworking or redesigning circuits that were initially based on a development board.
High-Quality and Durable: Our emphasis on quality and durability means we select components based on the product's intended use case, environmental conditions, and longevity requirements. This focus ensures that the commercial products we help bring to market are reliable and maintain functionality over time.
Fully Customizable: We work closely with our clients to understand their needs and deliver fully customized electronic designs. This bespoke approach allows us to address specific functionalities, aesthetics, and form factors, giving our clients a competitive edge in the market.
Conclusion
While dev boards serve an important role in the initial stages of electronic design, they fall short in meeting the demands of commercial products. Circad Design's approach prioritizes custom-designed solutions that align with the specific needs of our clients. By forgoing development boards in favour of custom designs, we help our clients achieve success with products that are both functional and tailored to excel in competitive commercial markets.
Tagged as: pcb design, prototype electronics
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