How open hardware works?

[Lii]

Hi in the past I've read about it, but frankly I didn't get a thing (especially, on how can they manage to open hardware something, if they don't have a database about it), also to be frank I got discouraged on the mole of text that I needed to read before licensening something.. So anyone has a quick tutorial link or any suggestions about it (besides reading all of cern wiki or whatever)?

[mr moose]

It's basically just products that have all the code, PCB layouts and schematics, etc free (like the source code of FOSS).  You can buy a product that is OSH and most of the time you'll get all the relevant data you need to be able to recreate or modify the unit.   Or you can obtain the relevant schematics and layouts without buying the hardware and make it yourself.

[Lii]

1 hour ago, mr moose said:

It's basically just products that have all the code, PCB layouts and schematics, etc free (like the source code of FOSS).  You can buy a product that is OSH and most of the time you'll get all the relevant data you need to be able to recreate or modify the unit.   Or you can obtain the relevant schematics and layouts without buying the hardware and make it yourself.

Just for double confirmation, it's not a thing that is exclusive on PCB design? I could put under open hw even other designs?

[mr moose]

5 minutes ago, Xvaster said:

Just for double confirmation, it's not a thing that is exclusive on PCB design? I could put under open hw even other designs?

It is not restricted to PCB layouts.  You can get schematics, supporting software code, PCB layouts, BOM materials all under OSH.  

[mr moose]

It's pretty much exactly like software on github/source forge.  The overall design is whats open and free and how many supporting documents/data you can get depends on how much the designer/s release.  Some come with schematics and code,  some only come with code only, some come with compiled software and others only come as a purchasable device.  But you can reverse engineer any or all of it and make more or modify as required.  So long as you don't work outside of the OSH license which usually means you aren't allowed to patent parts of the device or make it into a proprietary commercial device. 

[Lii]

19 hours ago, mr moose said:

It's pretty much exactly like software on github/source forge.  The overall design is whats open and free and how many supporting documents/data you can get depends on how much the designer/s release.  Some come with schematics and code,  some only come with code only, some come with compiled software and others only come as a purchasable device.  But you can reverse engineer any or all of it and make more or modify as required.  So long as you don't work outside of the OSH license which usually means you aren't allowed to patent parts of the device or make it into a proprietary commercial device. 

Oh also, can I put under the license, something that I'm not sure that will work?

[mr moose]

3 hours ago, Xvaster said:

Oh also, can I put under the license, something that I'm not sure that will work?

You don't need to, you can just post it as a work in progress or device idea. 

 

Just a question though,  what are you trying to do?  do you have a product or product idea and want to share it?

[Lii]

37 minutes ago, mr moose said:

You don't need to, you can just post it as a work in progress or device idea. 

 

Just a question though,  what are you trying to do?  do you have a product or product idea and want to share it?

I think that is the Covid19 that scares me too much,

 

and also because I'm poor, I don't think that I would be able to get a patent, by so, I think that I will put things under openhardware license 

Though there are many things that I didnt tryed, so I have no idea if they will work or not