The Summer Semester is coming up! If you have an idea for a project, but you're not sure how to go about taking it from a dream to reality, this is the class for you. This five-day electronics-palooza will guide you from schematic to breadboard to gerber files to soldering and stenciling. Bring your ideas, half-finished designs, enthusiasm and your own lunch (or visit a local eatery). This series of classes runs from Monday August 15th through Friday August 19th, and will go from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Here's how the classes will work. We will start with a discussion of the design process, sourcing parts and datasheets as well as how to create schematics, followed by an introduction to Arduino. The second day will cover soldering (PTH or SMD), a brief discussion of Lilypad (with optional take-home activity), solder stenciling and an introduction to Processing. On day three we will work with Eagle PCB layout software and cover more Arduino programming concepts. Day four is dedicated to GPS and wireless. On the final day SparkFun will provide a whole day of support for independent pursuit of projects. While we can’t promise you will finish your project, we can promise that we will make sure you get exposure to a wide variety of skills and plenty of time to discuss design details with our engineers.
Concepts covered:
- Napkin Schematics
- Datasheets
- Arduino Programming and Serial
- Soldering (PTH or SMD)
- Sewing circuits with Lilypad products or Stencil soldering
- PCB layout with Eagle
- Wireless (Activity with Xbee)
- GPS (Activity with EM406)
Materials Included in this class:
- SparkFun Electronics Prototyping Binder
- SparkFun Inventor’s Kit
- Simon Kit
- LilyPad TechStyles Kit
- Arduino Pro 328/5V
- 2 x XBee Series 2 Radio
- XBee USB Serial Adapter
- XBee Shield
- EM-406A GPS Module
- GPS Shield
For more information on the Summer Semester and to register, go to the product page! We hope to see a lot of you out here for a great week of learning, creating, and innovating!
Haha, without even reading the post, I can tell that is the circuit for the cat blender counter defender.
I can never look at a circuit or circuit diagram without trying to figure out what it does! Luckily this one was easy or I'd have been nerd-sniped!
Did the words "Blender Control" give that away? ;)
OMG I really need that!!
What books are underneath those fake covers?
Does this give you an Arduino Pro, or an Arduino Pro Mini? It doesn't say mini, but it links it to the mini.
Hi all,
We are working on getting a video solution for our classes. Due to the hands on nature of these classes we're not sure how effective just a video would be, but we are starting an endeavor to post educational materials that hackerspaces and educators can use for free to teach these concepts. We do have a Department of Education now, it's technically two people, but we do have an awesome intern! So we will be offering more classes more frequently. Thanks for your interest, it keeps us working hard. I'm not sure what books are underneath the brown covers (it's an old picture) and yes, it is the Cat Blender Counter Defender in the schematic!
-Linz
That's an interesting NPN bipolar transistor schematic symbol.
I would love to see these courses video recorded and posted on the site. Some of us simply can't make it to the classes but would love to learn the material.
Anyway to offer this class more frequently?
If it was the week after, my son and I would sign up. Unfortunately, I can't get out of work the week of the 15th...
sadly, i work nights at walmart, no way i can attend this year :( would love to watch some of it online when i can though
You know that's actually a really good idea. Do a webex or use skype or something so that you can teach this to people all around the globe. My company does webex classes all the time and it works pretty good.
please can you stream them online again for us international folk :)
me too i live in the uk and i really want to go :(
please stream online we would pay cash for it
and us national folk too. the US is decent sized.
I second that. My parents only let me travel to Sparkfun once a year (for the AVC) cuz Pittsburgh is a long way away from Boulder.
:) for offering a Summer Semester!
:( that it's another SFE event I can't take part in.
edit: I hope that Colorado and neighbours know how lucky they are to get to attend something like this.