Five Days of Prototyping

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Got an idea for a prototype but not sure exactly how to make it happen? SparkFun Electronics is offering five days of prototyping skills 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 class 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. After all, Summer Semester is all about giving you the skills you need to execute your ideas. Bring a project and pick our brains. 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
  • Programming in Processing
  • 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 Soldering Kit
  • Lilypad TechStyles Kit
  • FTDI Basic Breakout - 5V
  • Arduino Pro 328/5V/16MHz
  • 2 x Xbee Series 2 Radio
  • Xbee Explorer USB
  • Xbee Shield
  • EM-406A GPS module
  • GPS shield

Materials by SparkFun Electronics Education and Rob Faludi