Remixing

Are you interested in further inspecting or remixing a design? Go for it! Below are some tips for getting set up with the source files.

CAD files

The raw CAD files (.FCStd) contain assembly information as well as the designs for each custom (usually 3D printed) part. Typically, all the custom part designs are stored in a single CAD file. The only stuff you won’t always find available as a design are common hardware bits such as screws, nuts, bearings, etc. that would take too much time to redesign from scratch. In this case, a generic STEP file is usually substituted in the design.

After opening a CAD file, you should be able to instantly view and edit all parts.

You can find the source CAD files for a given design in this directory: [DESIGN_NAME]/freecad/freecad-link-branch/

As the name suggests, all CAD files are designed using FreeCAD Link branch. I highly recommend using this specific branch for inspecting and editing files, because they likely will not load correctly in mainline FreeCAD.

There are a few reasons for choosing the Link branch, but the primary reason is the great support for the “master sketch” workflow - meaning, all dimensioning can be stored in a single sketch, and multiple features can be made from this sketch. This keeps things simple and well organized and can be very powerful if used correctly.

If you prefer to use a different CAD package, that’s okay! STEP files are available for all designs. You can find them here: [DESIGN_NAME]/3d-print-files/step

EDA files (Schematics and PCBs)

Not all OpenInhaler designs contain electronics. For the ones that do, all schematic and PCB files are designed using KiCAD. They can be found here: [DESIGN_NAME]/kicad/[VERSION]

There are a lot of files which may seem daunting, but they are organized in a consistent structure.

As an example of that structure, here is how the KiCAD files are arranged for the PULSE Core subassembly:

• pulse-core.kicad_pro - Root KiCAD project file
  • 🗁 boards - Contains each board in a multi-board design
    • 🗁 main-board
      • main-board.kicad_pcb
      • main-board.kicad_pro
      • main-board.kicad_sch
    • 🗁 motor-board
      • motor-board.kicad_pcb
      • motor-board.kicad_pro
      • motor-board.kicad_sch
    • 🗁 sensor-board
      • sensor-board.kicad_pcb
      • sensor-board.kicad_pro
      • sensor-board.kicad_sch
  • 🗁 lib - Contains custom libraries shared by all boards
    • 🗁 OpenInhaler_Pulse_Core - Library containing custom symbols and footprints
      • … - A bunch of library files

Licensing

More specific, in-depth licensing info is available under each design, but to keep things simple:

In the spirit of open-source, you can pretty much do whatever you want with these designs. This includes remixing, use in other designs, and even selling hardware built using the designs, as long as you follow these requirements:

• Give credit when sharing or publishing remixes
• Keep the license the same (similar to “copyleft” for software licenses)
• Don’t be a dick

If you do decide to sell hardware, please keep in mind that your local laws may prohibit selling devices intended for medical use. Make sure you research this on your own and understand that you are solely responsible for these actions.

If you have any specific questions about licensing or collaboration, feel free to open an issue in the repository.

~ Thanks for reading, and happy hacking!