Frequently asked questions
The questions we hear most, answered plainly.
Can you act as our R&D department?
Yes. For startups and small manufacturers without in-house hardware engineering, we take a project from feasibility through a pilot run, with a fixed quote for each phase.
Can you redesign a board when a microcontroller goes obsolete or NRND?
Yes. When a part goes end-of-life or NRND, or a shortage hits, we find and qualify an alternative, respin the layout around the new footprint, and port the firmware to a new microcontroller or framework if no drop-in replacement exists.
Do you do small-batch SMT assembly near Raleigh, North Carolina?
Yes. We run automated surface-mount assembly on our own line in Clayton, North Carolina, just outside Raleigh, sized for anything from one proof-of-concept board to several hundred units, with dual-camera vision alignment and a lead-free (RoHS) reflow profile.
What is the smallest component you can place?
Down to 0402, with QFN and BGA packages up to 18 × 18 mm, on boards up to 8.0 × 10.5 in (200 × 260 mm).
Do you assemble lead-free / RoHS?
Yes — every board is placed and reflowed with a lead-free, RoHS-compliant paste and reflow profile.
Do you offer conformal coating?
Yes, on request, for boards exposed to moisture, dust, vibration, or temperature swings — specified per board.
Can you write firmware for Nordic nRF52, Microchip, or TI parts, not just STM32?
Yes. Firmware Programming covers STM32, ESP32, Nordic nRF52, Microchip PIC/AVR/SAM, TI MSP430/CC, and Arduino-compatible boards, written in C, bare-metal or RTOS, along with connectivity such as UART, RS-232, RS-485, I²C, SPI, CAN, LIN, USB, Ethernet, BLE, Wi‑Fi, and sub-GHz/2.4 GHz radio.
Can you reverse engineer a board without a schematic?
Yes, for products you are authorized to maintain or repair. We recover the schematic from the board itself, capture and document its interfaces and protocols, and analyze the firmware where the device allows it, producing a maintainable design record.
Do you test every board?
Yes. Every board runs a fixture-specific automated test — power, current, and sleep-current limits checked, every indicator verified by camera — and results are logged against that unit’s serial number.
What file formats do you accept?
KiCad files, or Altium and Eagle designs, which we move into KiCad. We design only in KiCad.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes, NDAs are welcome. NDA first, files second is the normal order for us.
How fast do you reply?
We reply within one business day. If you'd rather talk it through, you can book a 20-minute call.
Where are you located?
Clayton, North Carolina (Johnston County), serving Raleigh and the Research Triangle.
What do I send for a quote?
What the product does, the quantity, a target cost or timeline, any existing schematic or files (KiCad files, or Altium and Eagle designs, which we move into KiCad) — and note that NDAs are welcome. The quickest way is the structured quote form, which asks exactly what we need for your kind of request.
Do you build the app that goes with the hardware?
Yes. Alongside the board and its firmware, we build the software around it: mobile companion apps for iOS and Android (BLE pairing, configuration, and firmware updates), web apps and browser-based device tools (Web Serial, WebUSB), desktop utilities for macOS, Linux, and Windows, and cloud dashboards for connected products.
Can you make the enclosure and test fixtures too?
Yes. Enclosures, panels, and fixture mechanics are made in house — laser-cut and multi-material 3D-printed — designed in CAD against the actual board and connectors, so fit is checked on a real part before any tooling is cut.
Do you do mechanical CAD and technical drawings?
Yes. We build 3D models and assemblies in SolidWorks and FreeCAD, and production drawings with tolerances for machined, sheet-metal, or molded parts — delivered as STEP or DXF alongside prototypes cut and printed in house.