AXM-E7010 - Digital Fabrication II, Lecture, 1.3.2023-20.4.2023
This course space end date is set to 20.04.2023 Search Courses: AXM-E7010
Topic outline
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Welcome to Digital Fabrication II!
This course covers 2/3 of the topics from Fab Academy.
As said on the Fab Academy website: "The Fab Academy is a fast-paced, hands-on learning experience where students learn rapid prototyping by planning and executing a new project each week, resulting in a personal portfolio of technical accomplishments."
Each week consists of the following.
- Global lecture
- Local lecture
- Assignment
Global lectures
Global lectures use Eastern Standard Time (think New York time) and are happening on Wednesdays 9:00 EST which at the beginning of the course is 16:00 Helsinki time. Use tools such as the 24 Time Zones to double-check. You can find the Zoom link at the bottom of the page.
Local lectures
Thursdays 13:15 online or hybrid mode depending on the topic. Please find the Zoom link below. Hybrid mode means that you can join the lecture physically at the Aalto Fablab and via Zoom.
Resources
Each topic has a basic set of skills that you will need to accomplish your assignment. Each week's page contains a list of resources you can use to learn the basics.
Sometimes the videos and tutorials do not explain everything. This is why you are encouraged to spend time at the lab, experiment on your own and ask instructors for guidance.
Human resources are precious. Whenever possible, try robots first. Search engines are your friends in this course. A course like this would not be possible without the internet. ChatGPT? Why not. Use it!
Attendance
Use the attendance sheet to mark your participation in the lectures. You can find the attendance sheet at the bottom of this page. You are required to participate in 80% of the lectures to be able to pass the course.
Independent work
Lectures are there to guide you, but you are responsible for allocating enough time to complete the assignments yourself. Starting from week 05 (Computer-Controlled Cutting), you are supposed to plan your work to be able to spend time at the Aalto Fablab. That means being there not only during the lectures but whenever possible to complete your assignments. Start early and add buffer time to accommodate failed attempts.
The course is a full-time effort. It is recommended not to combine it with other courses. You will fail, and you will need time to recover. Keeping up with documentation takes time. It is in your best interest to make a good-looking portfolio of accomplishments as a result.
Individual Tutoring
Time is precious for everyone. In the case you need one-to-one guidance from the teacher, please schedule a meeting using the booking system (link below). Tuesdays are open days (please schedule anyway) and best suited for personal guidance at the Fablab. Other days are possible too, but depend on other things going on. Please schedule your session as in that way we can avoid a group of people hoping for a chance to get help at once and resulting in no one really getting it.
Machine booking
Machines are pre-booked for the course participants for the specific weeks covering them. For example, vinyl cutter and laser cutter are booked for course participants during week 5 (Computer-Controlled Cutting), and the machines are expected to be used on a first-come, first-served basis, except when we are doing introductions. Introductions will happen on Thursdays and Fridays. Check the assignment pages to find links to specific booking options.
Outside the weeks covering a specific topic, you need to book the machines using the methods provided by Aalto Fablab. You can find the latest information about booking machines on the Aalto Fablab website.
Assignments
Every week you are supposed to do independent work and document it to complete an assignment. The first weeks of the course are the time when you learn the tools and the flow for documenting your assignments.
You can find the assignments in each of the weekly topic sections. Since you will be using GitLab to document your work, you must submit a link to a page on your website covering a specific topic.
Evaluation
Your work is going to be evaluated based on the documentation you produce. Invest time and energy during the first weeks of the course to master the flow of documenting on the go. Do not leave documentation to the very last minute of the course.
Grading is based on the following criteria.
1: The assignment has been submitted, and a page about the topic has been created.
2: Basic concepts of the assignment week are described, but not all of the requirements are met.
3: Minimum viable requirements of the assignment are met.
4: Creativity in the execution of the assignment can be seen. The topic has been explored beyond basic concepts.
5: The result is creative and technically impressive, and the documentation page itself can be used as a resource by someone else.
Refer to the official Fab Academy Assessment Guide to learn more about what is expected for each assignment. This is a documentation website you should be aiming for: Fab Academy by Nadieh Bremer.
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Zoom link for local lectures URL
Passcode: DFAB2023
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Zoom link for global lectures URLUse password 1234
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Realtime communication URLUse this link to access the class real-time communication Telegram group.
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Book Individual Tutoring URL
Tuesdays are open tutoring days. Please use this link to book a time slot with the teacher.
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File sharing URLUse this shared folder to access instruction videos and share files with your peers.
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You can find the full list of student documentation repositories and websites here.
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This week we are going to learn how to design your own PCB using KiCad or another EDA software of your choice. We will also learn to use some of the electronics test equipment at the lab as well as additional PCB production tricks.
Lectures
Wed 01 Mar, 16:00 (online, global)
Electronics Design by prof. Neil Gershenfeld.Thu 02 Mar, 13:15 (onsite, hybrid)
Introduction to Electronics Design at the Aalto Fablab.Resources
We will shoot the introduction sessions and make them available as resources here or via the shared drive. Also make use of the internet. YouTube hosts lots of useful tutorials, for example. -
This week we are going to learn how to design a bigger object using CAD and gain basic understanding how CNC milling works. Each of you is going to get a 120x120 cm of 15 mm thick sheet of plywood that you will use to CNC mill parts for your assignment.
Lectures
Wed 08 Mar, 16:00 (online, global)
Computer-Controlled Machining by prof. Neil Gershenfeld.Thu 09 Mar, 13:15 (onsite, hybrid)
Introduction to Computer-Controlled Machining at the Aalto Fablab.Resources
We will shoot the introduction sessions and make them available as resources here or via the shared drive. Also make use of the internet. YouTube hosts lots of useful tutorials, for example. -
This week you will learn how to use the Roland SRM-20 machine to mill the circuit boards you designed earlier.
Lectures
Wed 15 Mar, 15:00 (online, global)
Electronics Production by prof. Neil Gershenfeld.Thu 16 Mar, 13:00 (online, local)
Introduction to Electronics Production at the Aalto Fablab.Resources
We will shoot the introduction sessions and make them available as resources here or via the shared drive. Also make use of the internet. YouTube hosts lots of useful tutorials, for example. -
This week we will cover the basics of driving output devices. The focus will be on driving higher current loads, but controlling displays and lights is something you can explore this week too.
Lectures
Wed 22 Mar 16:00 (online, global)
Embedded Programming by prof. Neil Gershenfeld.Thu 23 Mar 13:00 (cancelled)
Designing circuits for driving higher current loads. If you have not added an output device to your board yet, try to do it. Pick one of the following options or whatever works for your final project best,- Neopixel LEDs
- DC motor(s)
- Servo motor(s)
- Stepper motor(s)
- Display
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This week you will build a machine using a kit.
Lectures
Wed 29 Mar, 16:00 (online, global)
Mechanical Design, Machine Design lecture by Prof. Neil Gershenfeld.Thu 30 Mar, 13:15 (onsite, local)
Machine building workshop. We will split in groups and build a few Prusa MINI+ 3D printers. -
This week you will design, produce and program a PCB with an input device.
Lectures
Wed 12 Apr, 16:00 (online, global)
Input Devices lecture by Prof. Neil Gershenfeld.Thu 13 Apr, 13:15 (CANCELLED)
Introduction to input devices. We will probe a few and discuss EDA specifics related to them. -
This week you will explore casting materials available at the lab as well as learn how to use 3D CNC milling to create a custom designed mold.
Lectures
Wed 19 Apr, 16:00 (online, global)
Molding and Casting by prof. Neil Gershenfeld.Thu 20 Apr, 13:15 (onsite)
Introduction to Molding and Casting at the Aalto Fablab.Resources
We will record the lectures and make them available as resources here or via the shared drive. Also make use of the internet. YouTube hosts lots of useful tutorials, for example.