Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Define the scope of a final project.
  • Develop a project plan.
  • Implement a project plan.
  • Apply time management techniques to their project development.
  • Summarise and communicate the essence of their project development.
  • Demonstrate 2D & 3D modelling capabilities applied to their own designs.
  • Select and apply appropriate additive and subtractive techniques in digital fabrication.
  • Demonstrate competence in design, fabrication and programming of their own fabbed microcontroller PCB, including an input & output device.

Credits: 3

Schedule: 11.01.2021 - 04.06.2021

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Matti Niinimäki, Krisjanis Rijnieks

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Matti Niinimäki, Krisjanis Rijnieks

Contact information for the course (valid 08.12.2020-21.12.2112):

Krisjanis Rijnieks
Workshop Master at Aalto Fablab
krisjanis.rijnieks@aalto.fi
+358 504645185

Matti Niinimäki
Lecturer, Head of the Major, New Media Design and Production
matti.niinimaki@aalto.fi

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    This course has varying content for each study event and will be arranged the following ways.

    The main implementation of this course in 2020–2022:

    • Supporting course that runs parallel to the Digital Fabrication courses in the Department of Media.

    Other possible content for this course:

    • Topical courses or workshops in the field of digital fabrication.
    • Other independent study projects or research in the field of digital fabrication.

    More details on the course content can be found in the course syllabus for each implementation of the course.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Please remember to register for the Digital Fabrication I, II and III
    (DOM-E5155, DOM-E5156, DOM-E5157) courses as well if you plan to take the full Fab Academy
    equivalent! Note that Digital Fabrication I course continues with the
    Digital Fabrication II and III. All of them together cover the whole
    spring semester and can give you up to 27 ECTS.

    Weekly lectures are covered by the Digital Fabrication I, II and III courses, however it is recommended to join the global lectures every Wednesday and local lectures every Thursday to get the most out of the course.

    Course work must be documented in the form of a website. Check the Fab Academy final project documentation examples. It is important to master HTML basics and learn about version control using Git. We will be using GitLab as our hosting provider and GitLab CI as a tool to publish our websites. Please familiarize yourself with the following.


Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    This course has varying content, see the course syllabus for each implementation of the course for details on the working and assessment methods.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    The course will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria that of Fab Academy. Individual assignments are going to be evaluated as a part of the Digital Fabrication I, II and III courses. This course (Digital Fabrication Studio) is going to be evaluated based on your documented final project
    outcome.

    It should answer the following questions.

    • What does it do?
    • What did you design?
    • Who's done what beforehand?
    • What materials and components were used?
    • Where did they come from?
    • How much did they cost?
    • What parts and systems were made?
    • What processes were used?
    • What questions were answered?
    • What worked? What didn't?
    • How was it evaluated?
    • What are the implications?

    You should prepare a summary slide and one minute video about the project.

    Your project should incorporate 2D and 3D design, additive and subtractive fabrication processes, electronics design and production, embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming, system integration and packaging.

    Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project.

    Projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of the skills, and be independently operable.

Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    • 3–9 ECTS
    • 80–240 hours

    This is a course with varying content. Please see the course syllabus for more details.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    • 3–9 ECTS
    • 80–240 hours

    Instruction time, design, work with the machines and documentation
    effort are to be included in the workload. Your documentation is the
    best way how to show how much time and effort you have spent towards a project. Make sure it is up to date and shows what you have learned
    in great detail.

    Global and local lectures will be available as streamed media. It is not required to be at the lab to do design work. It is especially important during COVID-19 that you use your lab time carefully. Come to the lab when your design is ready and you are able to start using the machines and workspaces right away.


DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    More details on the study materials can be found in the course syllabus for each implementation of the course.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    You are welcome to explore the Fab Academy final projects and watch lecture recordings from the previous years.

    Books are available at the lab and there is going to be more specific material related to individual assignments during the local lectures.

Substitutes for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    DOM-E5128 Digital Fabrication Studio

Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Digital Fabrication Studio in the 2020–2022 should be taken simultaneously with the following courses:

    • Digital Fabrication I
    • Digital Fabrication II
    • Digital Fabrication III

Registration for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Maximum 15 students.

    The order of priority for admitting students to courses at Aalto ARTS 1.1.2018 onwards (approved by The Committee of Arts, Design and Architecture on 10.10.2017)

    The order of priority is as follows:

    1. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have scheduled it for the current academic year in their personal study plan (HOPS);
    2. exchange students for whom the course is a part of his/her officially approved learning agreement and scheduled to be taken during the current semester;
    3. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have not completed it yet;
    4. students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and has been scheduled in the student's PSP (HOPS) for the current academic year
    5. students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
    6. students for whom the course is compulsory for their minor;
    7. students, for whom the course is part of his/her minor subject s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
    8. students who have applied for the course through a student mobility scheme (internal mobility within Aalto University, flexible study right (JOO) studies etc.);
    9. other students.

    Courses that are intended to be multidisciplinary (e.g. UWAS courses) may apply an order of priority based on the learning outcomes of the course, while bearing in mind the university obligation of enabling students to complete their degrees within the normative duration of study set for the degree. The order of priority does not apply to courses organised by the Centre for General Studies or doctoral courses.

    This decision on the order of priority does not influence the right of the teacher to define prerequisites for the course.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Aalto Fablab is going to be the main location for the course. Due to the COVID-19 situation, we will be trying to do as much as possible online.

    Global lectures are online only - it is not required to be at the lab. Local lectures will be streamed online if the content does not involve machine use. It is most likely that content will be streamed on-line for the first weeks of the course.

    The main purpose of the course is to provide an academic overlay for working on the Fab Academy final project.

    As
    an alternative, this course can be used to familiarize yourself with
    the Aalto Fablab and produce a final project equivalent. It can be a
    practical part for another course, the practical part of your master's
    thesis or a personal study project.

    You
    should learn to document on the go. Do not leave it for the last minute
    as significant detail of documentation is required to pass the course.


SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    10 Reduced Inequality

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The course can be taken taken multiple times, but only up to the added maximum credits of 9 ECTS.

    All Digital Fabrication courses from the New Media study programme are committed to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

    Industry, Innovation and Infrastucture

    The Fab Academy course consists of 21 weeks that cover topics related to the state-of-the-art practices used in the digital (fabrication) industry as well as contributes to innovation and infrastructure. With the skill set acquired during the course one can catch up with jobs in the industry, invent her own job or contribute to the infrastructure with exceptionally innovative solutions and services.

    Reduced Inequalities

    The course focuses on skills and workflows that are accessible and affordable. Use of open source and free software is encouraged to reduce the proffessional dependencies on commercial proprietary tools. Fab Academy aims to foster understanding about how things work in order to be able to build things instead of being forced to buy them.

    Responsible Consumption and Production

    Digital fabrication as such is a process where most of the work happens digitally in the computer. Virtual models are being made and fabrication tools are used to test a design at the end of a development iteration. Using biodegradable and recycleable materials is encouraged as well as choosing the right materials for a design to reduce enviromental impact during and after its life cycle. Students are also encouraged to critically evaluate the environmental impact and other problems of the so-called maker culture and digital fabrication processes themselves.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Aalto Fablab is going to be the main location for the course. Due to the COVID-19 situation, we will be trying to do as much as possible online.

    Global lectures are online only - it is not required to be at the lab. Local lectures will be streamed online if the content does not involve machine use. It is most likely that content will be streamed on-line for the first weeks of the course.

    The main purpose of the course is to provide an academic overlay for working on the Fab Academy final project.

    As
    an alternative, this course can be used to familiarize yourself with
    the Aalto Fablab and produce a final project equivalent. It can be a
    practical part for another course, the practical part of your master's
    thesis or a personal study project.

    You
    should learn to document on the go. Do not leave it for the last minute
    as significant detail of documentation is required to pass the course.


Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    We will be following the course
    schedule published on the Fab Academy website.

    You are welcome to join the global and local lectures as well as use the lab for individual work.

    • Wednesdays 16:00 - 19:00 (Global lecture, online)
    • Thursdays 16:00 - 19:00 (Local lecture, depends)
    • Use the lab opening times (Mon-Fri, 9-16) to do individual work on-site

    You will be required to book machine time ahead. Working in groups is an option.