How Hardware Startups Use Optical Inspection to Catch Defects

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into automated optical inspection (AOI) — the machine-vision systems that hardware startups use to catch PCB defects before they become field failures. They break down how AOI works, what it costs, and why a $5,000 desktop AOI machine can save a startup from a $100,000 recall. Using a real example of a 2025 smart-lamp startup that caught a tombstoned resistor during first-article inspection, they explain the trade-offs between 2D and 3D AOI, the role of lighting and algorithms, and when it makes sense to skip inspection altogether. If you're building hardware and shipping boards, this episode gives you a practical framework for deciding whether AOI belongs on your line. #AutomatedOpticalInspection #AOI #PCBAssembly #HardwareStartups #Manufacturing #DefectDetection #QualityControl #Electronics #SMT #MachineVision #Prototyping #FirstArticleInspection #Tombstoning #BusinessAndTechnology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #HardwareStartupPodcast #Fexingo Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo