Dynamic auto-updating open hardware assembly documentation

If someone makes a simple change to a CAD file it can be a burden to update the documentation which might include an assembly guide, Bill of Materials (BOM), and other types of graphics and manuals. This makes it much harder to maintain, replicate, and/or localize OSH projects.  Documentation is often left to stagnate, and "who cares" about documentation!?

We do!

In this workshop we will review and test emerging approaches to automating the generation of Open Source Hardware documentation. In a "choose your own adventure" format, participants will select networking hardware components based on a fictional community's connectivity needs. Based on this selection, a configuration summary will be automatically generated, along with CAD models, graphics, and an assembly guide. Participants will then follow the generated guide to assemble a functional network rack.

We will end the session with a discussion about the potential to apply these approaches to other OSH projects.

Designers, makers, repairers, hackers, tinkerers, upcyclers, open software/firmware/science/data/education/anything folks, and observers welcome.