Transitioning firmware from Arduino environment to factory production for nRF52840

[eric.zhang]

Hi, 

I'm currently developing firmware in the Arduino environment using a dev board (Adafruit Feather nRF52840). Once I complete development, how do I transition the firmware that I have written into something that could be flashed via binary in a production / factory setting to the nRF52840 SoC module. Is it as simple as generating the binary from a standard IDE and providing that file to the manufacturer or are there more steps involved? 

I'm frankly quite out of my depth here and would appreciate any and all input on this topic! 

[ovrebekk]

Hi 

Which Arduino IDE are you using? 

The Adafruit Feather 52840 doesn't seem to be officially supported in the Arduino IDE, and the Adafruit site is not very clear on which software tools to use. 

Normally the IDE should generate a hex file somewhere during the build process, and use that to flash the board, even if the location of the hex file is not made obvious to the user since the entire process is automated. If you let me know which IDE you are using I will try to figure out where it stores these files during the build. 

Best regards
Torbjørn

[eric.zhang]

Hi Torbjørn,

I'm using Arduino 1.8.9 with the "Adafruit nRF52" boards package to flash my devices. 

Am I correct in assuming that the hex file generated from the Arduino IDE during this process could also be used to flash other devices with the nRF52840 SoC module? 

Best,

Eric

[ovrebekk]

Hi Eric

Could you try to do a file search where you installed Arduino and see if you can find any .hex or .elf files with a recent timestamp?

The hex files generated by the Arduino IDE should work on other nRF52840 modules, but it is important that you have a similar hardware configuration on the module you are using compared to the Feather board. 

The nRF52840 has some optional hardware components, such as the use of an external 32.678kHz LF crystal, and the use of the DCDC regulator, that will only work if the necessary components are in place on the module. 

If you flash code that assumes these components to be there when they are not the code will not work. 

If you find the hex file you can easily test this by flashing your other nRF52840 SoC module. 

Best regards
Torbjørn