What every hardware engineer needs to know before ordering 1,000 boards Introduction Your prototype works. You‘ve tested it. You‘re ready to scale to 1,000 units. But here‘s the reality: The board that works as a prototype isn‘t automatically ready for production. Things that don‘t matter at 10 boards become critical at 1,000. This guide covers 5 key areas where production differs from prototyping – and how to prepare for them. 1. Panelization – From Single Boards to Arrays Prototype : You order individual boards. The manufacturer panels them however they want. You don‘t think about it. Production : You need to design for panelization. Efficient panel use directly impacts your per-board cost. What changes : What to do : Design your board array before sending to production. Specify tooling holes, fiducials, and separation method (V-score or tab routing). Ask your manufacturer what panel size they use and design to fit efficiently. 2.…