hallucination Visor - soldering & mind hacking workshop

Modify welding goggles to project diffuse flickering colors. Hit resonant frequencies of visual cortex and observe complex unstable spatiotemporal patterns. Hack your brain.

• Custom printed circuit board
• Preprogrammed micro-controller : 100+ color light patterns, shuffle, browse, or play in sequence
• Passive components, batteries, switches and LEDs
• Laser cut light diffuser panels with custom quasi-crystal artwork
• Everything you need ( additional materials such a as soldering and glue will be provided )

• Flicker induced geometric visual hallucinations
• Ganzfeld hallucinations
• Other neurological illusions and demonstrations

The hallucination visor displays immersive flickering lights. While completely safe for most people, individuals that suffer from photosensitive epilepsy or flicker induced vertigo should not use this device. The visor is not designed for individuals with a lazy eye or other ophthalmological conditions that interfere with convergence and depth perception.

Ready to hack your mind?

Laser Cut Textiles

Learn how to lasercut textiles! This machine enables entirely new possibilities from easily cutting pattern pieces (within 1' x 2' dimensions) to creating new textures, functional decorations, dimensional objects, and even etching images or text onto fabric! This class will also include sewing tutorials for lasercut textile applications. Different techniques will be demonstrated and experimenting will be encouraged!

We first ran "Laser Cut Textiles" back in October right before halloween, and it was a huge hit. We are very excited to be offering again and part of our regular programming.

Part 1 of 2 - January 21st, 12-6PM
Part 2 of 2 - January 22nd, 12-6PM
Instructor - Jenine Bressner

Sign up Online - Laser Cut Textiles

This Wednesday, December 14th from 7- 10 PM at the AS220 Labs (on Lucie Way next to the AS220 Printshop), Labs Keymember, Jenine Bressner will be hosting a screening of Handmade Nation, Faythe Levine's documentary about contemporary DIY craft in the U.S. Locals also featured in this film are The Dirt Palace, and Deb Dormody of general awesomeness (If'n Books and Marks and Craftland.)

The movie is one hour long and will be preceded by a slideshow about FAB7, the fascinating international digital fabrication conference that took place this past August in Peru. The screening will be followed by a conversation about the importance of DIY, and how Fab Labs are facilitating that all over the world!

Last night marked the first workshop of "Build Your Own Audio Amplifier" at the AS220 Labs, an introductory soldering and construction class based around Elliot Clapp's Dirtbomb Amp Design. The workshop provides students with a kit, complete with a circuit board, components, and an enclosure - all of which are assembled by the students.

The kit was entirely design and developed by Labs Keymember, Elliot Clapp. Using both the Milling Machine to prototype the electronics and the Laser Cutter to design the acrylic enclosure. The kit will be developed more and available for sale soon on our online store, and of course there will be more workshop offerings based around the kit, so stay tuned

What can you do with it?

• Use it as a mini-amplifier (2 Watts) for practicing at home or on the go
• Use it as a pre-amplifier and plug it into a speaker cabinet
• Use it in-between your instrument and amplifier, it's also an overdrive pedal!

Check out more photos from the workshop...

We teach anyone how to make almost anything

The Providence Fab Academy will return for its third year on January 2, 2012 through June 30, 2012. Classes will be held in Providence, RI at AS220 Labs (a personal digital fabrication lab or "Fab Lab").

The Fab Academy is a Digital Fabrication Program directed by Neil Gershenfeld of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms and based on MIT's rapid prototyping course, MAS 863: How to Make (Almost) Anything. The Fab Academy began as an outreach project from the CBA, and has since spread to Fab Labs around the world. The program provides advanced digital fabrication instruction for students through an unique, hands-on curriculum and access to technological tools and resources.

For the past two years AS220 Labs has collaborated with MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms in offering the Providence Fab Academy. Our lab in Providence is part of a global Fab Lab / Fab Academy network. The Providence branch of the Fab Academy works with other participating Fab Labs and experts from around the wold via a distributed educational model where we pool our knowledge to provide a unique educational experience.

Learn to turn codes into things

At the Fab Academy, you will learn how to envision, prototype and document your ideas through many hours of hands-on experience with digital fabrication tools. We take a variety of code formats and turn them into physical objects.

Students will learn to use the following tools: Epilog Mini Laser Cutter, Roland MDX-20 Milling Machine, and the Roland CAMM-1 Servo GX-24 Desktop Vinyl Cutter, MakerBot 3D printer and a ShopBot CNC router.

The topics covered in this course include: digital fabrication principles and practices, computer-controlled cutting, electronics design and production, embedded programming, 3D scanning and printing, mold making and casting.

Now Accepting Applications for 2012

The Providence, RI branch of the Fab Academy is now accepting applications for the 2012 session taking place from January 2, 2010 - June 30, 2012. The deadline for applications is December 10th. However, applications will be processed as they are submitted and class size is limited. For more information, visit our site here.

If you have any additional questions, contact the Providence Fab Academy Coordinator / Instructor, Anna Kaziunas France at anna@as220.org.

Listen up fellow makers, fabricators, and those who like to work with their hands! We got some exciting new hands-on courses at the labs coming up, check them out below.

Laser Cut Textiles

Learn how to lasercut textiles and make your own Halloween costume while you're at it! This machine enables entirely new possibilities from easily cutting pattern pieces (within 1' x 2' dimensions) to creating new textures, functional decorations, dimensional objects, and even etching images or text onto fabric! This class will also include sewing tutorials for lasercut textile applications. Different techniques will be demonstrated and experimenting will be encouraged!

Part I - October 29th, 1-6PM
Part II - October 30th, 1-6PM
Instructor - Jenine Bressner

Sign up at our online store

Soft Circuits

Soft Circuits I - This workshop is an introduction to soft circuits, including tips on working with conductive thread and guidance on sewing connections between a light and a battery. You will experiment with conductive everyday objects, like metal beads, to make a flickering felt brooch.

Soft Circuits II - This workshop builds upon the skills learned in the Soft Circuits I workshop, but can be taken without any previous experience. In this workshop you will learn how to add multiple lights to a circuit while creating an illuminated bracelet (or cuff) that shines only when worn.

Soft Circuits I - November 5th, 1-4PM
Soft Circuits II - November 12th, 1-4PM
Instructor - Anna Kaziunas France

Sign up at our online store

For questions regarding class schedules and enrollment, contact james@as220.org

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011, 5:30 - 8pm
AS220 Labs, Mercantile Block, 2nd Floor
131 Washington Street, Providence, RI
FREE (buy your own food and drink - it's cheap)
RSVP at Facebook

This month, Providence Geeks is doing something a little different, and coming over to the AS220 Labs to showcase the makers of Rhode Island! A select group of makers from the RI Mini Maker Faire will be giving live, hands-on demonstrations of everything from 3d-printing to robotics building.

Food and drink will be available next door at the latest addition to the Downcity food scene - Mexico!

Get more details at the Providence Geeks Blog

Fellow makers of all things noisy, lend me your ears!

This month, we got a special workshop going on at the labs. Traveling circuit bending rock band, CMKT 4 will be stopping by the labs to host a "Build a Contact Microphone" workshop on Thursday, September 22nd. Contact microphones are awesome for noise making and experimenting. Just check out some cool projects here - Get LoFi. You can record sound traveling through any material (metal, wood, your body...starting to get awesome ideas?).

What can you do with a contact mic? Put it into a glass of water in the freezer and record the sound of water freezing or unfreezing. it sounds really cool! Slap it on a banjo or any acoustic instrument and electrify it!

Build a Contact Microphone Workshop

Join the members of the circuit-bent rock band CMKT4 for a workshop on building your very own EconoMIC Bottle Cap Contact Microphone (from Creme DeMentia).  CMKT4 will show you how to solder up a piezo-electric pickup and house it sturdily in a recycled bottle-cap housing of their own design! Stick around for a set from the band as the tool-handle dip on your freshly built contact microphone dries. Additional take-home kits and other surprises will be available, come build a mic and see and hear some of the circuit-bent instruments you've read about on www.GetLofi.com  up close.  Bring your own instruments and objects to amplify!

The workshop is going to be held on Thursday, September 22nd from 7-10PM at the AS220 Labs. Students pay $20 to partake in the class, this includes materials to build 1 contact mic, and additional kits are available for $10 each. Pre assembled kits will also be on sale for students to purchase.

*To enroll in the course, go here - online store. *

Ready to make some noise? You're neighbors will love you.

The labs is offering a course next month that features the artist-friendly programming language, Processing. The language was designed to teach computer programming visually rather than cryptically, making it easier for the programmer to understand the building blocks of their program. It is used by a community of electronic artists and graphic/visual designers to make all types of interesting projects (like the picture above).

Here is an example of something you can build using processing:
a processing program that allows you to generate your own typography.

Here at the labs, we think that computer programming doesn't have to be complicated and is accessible to people that aren't computer scientists. Let's face it, computers are awesome and they can do magical things. There is probably an idea brewing up in your head that can be translated into a program and do something awesome - you just need to understand the basic building blocks, and the rest is up to your imagination. The creative programming course will take students through computer programming in a fun and simple way - using the Processing programming language. Students will learn the basics, create a program, and use their program to actually make something!

Evelyn Eastmond, currently a RISD graduate student in the Digital Media program and a graduate of MIT's Media Lab, will be instructing the class. She strives to make learning easy, fun, and interactive. She has worked on the Scratch project, a programming language designed for kids. Check more of her work out here.

The workshop is going to be held over the course of this upcoming weekend, Saturday and Sunday - August 6th/7th from 12-4PM. Enroll Here!

Last week I went up to Haystack Mountain School of Craft to train and work in their Fab Lab. Haystack is an international craft school located in Deer Isle, Maine - a beautiful area of Maine. They offer workshops in traditional crafts - blacksmiting, woodworking, pottery, metalsmithing, jewelry making, painting, and other very cool crafts! They also happen to have a brand new fab lab (see the photo below). And as AS220 is part of the Fab Lab network, Haystack reached out to our lab and asked for support this summer.

I went up to Haystack on a mission to learn how to use the ShopBot - a 4'x8' CNC Router (seen in the photo below) that can cut wood, plastic, and aluminum materials very precisely and automatically. It is the missing ingredient in our AS220 Fab Lab, and we are anxious to get our hands on it as the months go by without having one. Going up to Haystack was my opportunity to use and learn the machine in a similar environment to AS220, and I took full advantage of it.

I was partnered up with ShopBot Guru & MIT Brainiac, Nadya Peek - check her work out here. She showed me everything I needed to know to safely and successfully operate the machine. Together we consulted with Haystack Artists and Staff on their projects and helped them make things - a whole week of making things for artists! It was an amazing learning experience.The photo below is of Nadya and Stuart Kestenbaum, the Director of Haystack.

During my time there in the fab lab, I made a wide range of things for both artists and myself. The best way to learn a machine is just to use it as much as possible, so I just kept making stuff. I started out with simple furniture designs and then got into some sign making. Although I am no furniture designer, I was able to make a pretty functional stool and chair. Once you have the basic operating procedures down, it is a fairly simple machine to use, because it does all the work for you!

As for the artists, the fab lab was an absolute hit. Most people accepted the modern digital fabrication tools as just another tool in their shop. It allowed them to experiment and learn more about their own craft too. Once we put them behind the wheel of the machine, it was all over for them. We helped artists make bats for throwing clay, dies for jewelry making, stencils for decorating, precision cut finger joints, laser-cut felt shapes, and woodblocks for printing. We even had an artist mold and cast a dinosaur army!

Besides training on the shop bot, I was also learning how a different fab lab operates and interacts with an artist community. There was a lot of similarities to AS220, which allowed me to take away a lot from the experience and bring some new ideas back to labs. Two other key members from the labs, Anna Kaziunas France and Elliot Clapp, will be heading up there to train on the ShopBot later this summer. Aside from that, the lab is still looking and working hard to acquire one of these machines. So if you know of someone with an extra ShopBot lying around, send them our way!

Stayed tuned! I am going to be making video tutorials on the ShopBot and posting them online. Also, check out the slideshow below for the full Haystack experience.

Looking to be crafty and creative this summer? We have some brand new classes ( like sound synthesis and creative programming! ) at the labs. Come on and down, take a course and get trained to use our equipment or learn how to make something cool! Click on the classes below for a full description and sign up info.

June

Graphic Design Tools: Inkscape $50
Tuesday, June 14th 7-10PM

Make a Pinhole Camera with the Laser Cutter $75
Wednesday, June 8th 7-10PM and Saturday, June 11th, 12-4PM

Sign and Sticker Making with Vinyl Cutter $50
Saturday, June 4th 12-4PM

Introduction to Laser Cutting $70
Wednesday, June 15th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

July

Introduction to Audio Engineering: Two Weeks $75
Saturdays, July 23rd and 30th 12-4PM

Sound Synthesis with Pure Data $40
Tuesday, July 19th and Thursday, July 21st 7-10PM

Laser Cut Press Fit Design $50
Wednesday, July 20th 7-10PM

Sign and Sticker Making with the Vinyl Cutter $50
Tuesday, July 12th 7-10PM

Introduction to Laser Cutting $70
Wednesday, July 27th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

August

Creative Electronics with Arduino: 3 Weeks $125
Thursdays, August 4th, 11th, 18th 7-10PM

Creative Programming Weekend $50
Saturday, August 6th and Sunday, August 7th 12-4PM

Electronics for Artists: 3 Weeks $125
Wednesdays, August 10th, 17th, 24th 7-10PM

Laser Cutter Intensive: 2 Weeks $90
Tuesday, August 23rd and Thursday, August 25th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

AS220 Labs is bringing back Make and Breaks this month. This one in particular we will be featuring the Doomsday Device!

So what is a "Make and Break"?

Well...it's basically an excuse to nerd out for the night. It is totally open to anyone that wants to come down to the labs and check out what's going on. They will occur every month, and each event will feature a new type of project that you can make and/or hack.

So what is the "Doomsday Device"?

The doomsday device is a noise making maniac electronic gadget thingy. It is basically an old alarm system circuit that has been gutted for its original purpose, and will now be used to make our device...the doomsday device. You can circuit bend it, hack it, make fun of it, whatever you want. The point of this is to have fun and maybe learn something about electronics along the way. Sound groovy?

What's the deal?

While the event itself is free, if you want to take a fancy doomsday device home with you, its going to cost you. Here is the breakdown of things:

• Spectators - Free
• Circuit benders (Not Taking Home Device!!!) - Free
• Bare Bones Kit (Not the Fancy Deluxe Kit) - $5
• Doomsday Device Kit (Fancy!!!) - $20

This is what you get with the Doomsday Device Kit:

• Doomsday Circuit
• Wires
• Thumb Tacks
• 2 Potentiometers (Control Knobs)
• 2 Control Switch
• 1 Power Switch
• 1/4" Instrument Jack (plug it into an amp!)
• Laser Cut Enclosure

See, it is cool! You could make your very own noise making machine and use it with your noise making band! Still don't believe me? Go to this facebook page and check out the video posted there.

Want to come?

It's Thursday, March 24th at 6:00PM - 9:00PM

It's at the new lab space at the mercantile building, around the back of the building on Martha Street is where the main entrance is. The address is 131 Washington Street, but that will take you to front of the building, just go around back!

See you there!

Ever partied with a laser before? Well get ready Providence! This very evening at 7pm join us for the first ever Fab Social at the NEW AS220 Labs at the Mercantile!


WHAT: AS220 Labs Grand Opening Parrrrrtttyyyyyy featuring Math the Band!
WHERE: AS220 Labs at the Mercantile-off Mathewson Street, around the corner from the AS220 Project Space Gallery.
WHEN: Friday, January 7th, 7-10pm (TONIGHT)


See live demos of our awesome rapid prototyping and fabrication tools, meet our keymembers and swap sweet hacks with local nerds and makers! Enjoy tasty treats from AS220 Foo(d), plus Narragansett beer and cupcakes!


Can't wait to see you all here! It's party time FabLab style!

'Tis the season to be crafty and this December the labs is offering two fresh new courses that are fun, exciting, and a great opportunity to craft a gift for a loved one. These classes are also special because they will be the first classes held in the mercantile building. That's right! We have a brand new space, and we are very excited to get things going there.

Introduction to Laser Cut Press Fit Design

In this class, students will learn about the basics of press fit design using the Lab's Epilog Mini Laser Cutter. Students will fabricate and build a wine rack, decorative box, or birdhouse! Additionally, the students will have the opportunity to customize either project is unique etched graphics. This class will introduce the student to the concepts of press fit design and assembly. Students can chose to make either project and all materials will be provided. The class is comprised of one 3 hour session and you will take your project home at the end.

Check out Elliot Clapp's Birdhouse Design over to the right (you can make this!!!)

Sign up here.

Vinyl Cut Sign and Sticker Making

Learn the basics of using the vinyl cutter to make stickers and signs. Class includes the software tools and mounting techniques used to produce professional looking stickers and signs. This is a hands-on workshop and will certify Labs members to use the cutter on their own.

Sign up here.

And of course, and old favorite and staple to the labs is being offered this December. Get certified and trained to use AS220's house laser cutter! Hint: It might be a good class to take after taking the laser cut press cut class.

Intro to the Laser Cutter - Sign up here.

For more information on classes in the labs, contact james@as220.org

Our very own labs member, Jenine Bressner appeared on the Martha Stewart Show last week, showcasing her glass work skills. The episode also includes a feature on the Maker Fair and digital fabrication.

Check out the video clip here!

For more info on Jenine, check out her website.

Attention fellow geeks, there are two brand new classes being offered at the Labs! Arduino for All and Audio Engineering 101. See below for more details...

Arduino for All - Sign up here.
November 9th, 11th, and 16th from 7pm-10pm
This is a workshop ( with an Arduino Kit for you to keep ) that will get you going on the basics of the Arduino. It will have 3 meetings, 2 with instruction and one for free play with asistance available. You will set up on your own Arduino and go through all the basic skills of writing and running minimal programs. A basis for other classes to follow. Will also discuss in a general way extending the Arduino to more complicated situations. All materials including a PC will be available in the workshop. The Arduino itself will be part of a Goody Bag for the students to take home.

Audio Engineering 101 - Sign up here.
Wednesday, November 10th and 17th from 7-10PM
This course will provide a primer for those interested in digital audio production. Students will learn fundamental concepts and gain practical experience producing their own music. The first class would be an introduction to the concepts in digital music production. This includes analog vs. digital audio, multitrack recording, sampling rates, bit depth, digital effects (compression, reverb, EQ), MIDI, DAW workstations, software plug-ins, hardware, and the start to finish production process. The second class would be a "hands-on" or lab to the first class. Students will take the concepts learned in the first class and apply them to create their own music. The music creation process will involve selecting and manipulating samples and loops, creating and synthesizing new sounds and interesting effects, recording original material, arranging and mixing together a multitrack recording, and finally producing a compressed mp3 file of the song.

Also being offered:

Advanced Laser Cuttering - Sign up here.
Saturday, November 6th 1-4PM & Wednesday, November 10th 7-10PM
Take your laser knowledge to the next level! Over two class sessions, learn everything from file preparation and set up to proper cutting techniques for the Epilog Laser Cutter. Basic cleanup and safety procedures will be covered in this class and will help students become expert users of one of our most popular and versatile machines in the FabLab.

For more info on all our classes, go here.

If you have any questions about our courses and enrollment, contact james@as220.org.

Next thursday night, the labs will be hosting a "salvage night". This is a night when anyone from the community can come and go through our junk pile and pick out anything they want. It's completely free, and snacks and refreshments will be provided too. You can come hang out and reminisce over old hardware, or just take things apart for no apparent reason. We will provide some tools for salvaging - screwdrivers, pliers, soldering irons, etc. Come on down and check out what we got!

Here is just a couple of the things you'll find lying in the junk pile:
- old computer parts
- computer chassis
- printers
- scanners
- wire and cables
- and other weird things

When: Thursday, October 21st 7:00-10:00PM
Where: AS220 Labs (2nd Floor, 115 Empire Street)
Why: Because we're moving and we have lots of junk!

For additional information, contact james@as220.org

Fab Academy is back this year at AS220 after successfully completing its pilot year. As the new labs coordinator at AS220, I will be helping Fab Academy Instructor, Shawn Wallace, through the 9-month digital fabrication program as both a student and an instructing assistant. The program is directed to those interested in personal fabrication, and as a student, I will be able to make (almost) anything!

So what exactly is Fab Academy?

Directly from the website, "The Fab Academy provides instruction and supervises investigation of mechanisms, applications, and implications of digital fabrication. It provides familiarity with technical options and capabilities, hands-on experience, and direction for further study." The certification program requires students to develop their own projects and document them.

Fab Academy stems from a Fab Lab, which consists of open hardware and software digital fabrication tools. Getting the Diploma is analogous to completing MIT's rapid-prototyping couse, "How To Make (almost) Anything", taught by Professor Neil Gershenfeld. The curriculum includes digital fabrication principles and practices, computer-controlled cutting, electronic design, embedded programming, 3D modeling, scanning, printing, and many more high tech topics. Students will be able to take principles and theoretical knowledge and put it into action by creating their very owns designs.

The main tools that students will become familiar with are the Epilog Mini Laser Cutter, Roland MDX-20 Milling Machine, and the Roland CAMM-1 Servo GX-24 Desktop Vinyl Cutter. With this equipment, you can make press fit construction kits, design and fabricate your own printed circuit board (PCB), make 3D casts and molds, and (almost) anything else.

Last year's Fab Academy at AS220 was incredibly successful. In fact, it was so successful that 5 out of the 15 overall graduates came from the AS220 Fab Lab! The 5 students all contributed to a blog, and documented their projects as the curriculum progressed. To check out all the cool projects of last year students, go here.

Open For Application

We are now accepting applications. The Fab Academy program will start October 6th with the participation of the Fab Lab Network around the world. As an alternative to enrolling in the 9-month long program, we are also offering two week intensives on every subject in the program at a more affordable cost. To apply please download the application form - here, and send it full filled to: coordination@fabacademy.org.

For more information about applying to the program visit our website - here.

If you have any further questions, feel free to email me at james@as220.org or Shawn Wallace at shawn@as220.org.

The labs is offering a series of introductory courses this October. To sign up, just click on the name of the class below.

Introduction to the Laser Cutter
Saturday, October 9th, 1-4pm
Learn how to use this tool to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles! From 1pm to 4pm we will cover the basics of using the laser cutter safely, techniques for working with different materials, and the software tools for preparing work for the cutter. This is a hands-on workshop; bring a project if you like!

Electronics for Artists 101: Two Weeks
Wednesdays, October 13th and 20th, 7pm-10pm
Have you ever wanted to learned some basic electronics to add to your art? Do you want blinky things? Monster switches? Retro red digital numbers? This is the first of a series of classes designed to teach the basics of electronics to those interested mostly in the practical with just a little bit of the theoretical. EA101 will introduce students to basic electronic components, how to design and prototype simple circuits, and where to go from there.

Open Kit Build Night
Tuesday, October 26th, 7pm-10pm
Buy a cool kit and come build it in our labs! We'll provide the tools and the space. Choose from a dazzling variety of the following kits! TV-b-Gone Minty Boost bring your own container & 9v battery That's right! For the mere cost of parts, you'll walk out of our lab with a blinking, singing, tv-annihilating toy you made yourself!

Maker Faire came to Rhode Island this saturday, and filled downtown providence with all sorts of creative makers and hackers. Maker Faire is a family friendly festival to celebrate makers, creators, engineers, artists, science, technology, and all things related. The festival featured hands on building workshops, beer brewing, creative innovations, robots, and lots of maker bots.

I was there on behalf of the AS220 labs, accompanied by AS220 Cottage Industries Coordinator, Krystal Grow, and celebrity hacker, Jimmie Rodgers. Our station featured soldering workshops, where people came to assemble various electronics kits. TV-B-Gone, Mintyboost, Open Heart, Atari Punk Console, and Drawdio were among some of the kits available to the public.

There were quite a few makerbots hanging out on saturday. The one below is a makerbot that maker, Forest Crossman, assembled.

John Sarik displayed his Nixie Sudoku, which used 81 retro Nixie Tubes to create a electronic sudoku game that people can use and solve. Really cool!

Check out a complete list of all the makers that attended - here.

A huge thanks to Kipp Bradford and Brain Jepson, and all the Maker Faire crew that helped put of the festivities. It was a very exciting and interesting day.

Puppet Master final project page with links to all my Fab Academy work:
http://as220.org/~anna)

I designed a very simple set of modular cube-type shelves that can be stacked side by side or on top of each other to form a larger shelf or bookcase. Inner shelves will be attached with metal hardware, as will the back and sides of the shelf

At this point I have completed all of the Fab Academy assignments to the best of my ability and time constraints.

Note: The shopbot project file that I will be posting shortly was not actually cut due to AS220 not having a shopbot and scheduling issues at the other shopbots in the area.

• See all my fab academy blog posts
• I am still frantically working on updating the final project page

Page 1 of 4 depicted below.

I wish that I could relate tips for troubleshooting the Modela milling machine in this post - but I have hit a brick wall. (However, I recommend you try the steps below if you are troubleshooting your own milling machine.) My boards have been milling extremely hairy for weeks - punctuated by a workable board or two out of 50 or so milled.

I have tried:

• changing the bit
• changing / tightening the set screws
• moving the position of the spindle (from high to low - low to high)
• scraping the bed with razorblades to ensure that the boards are level (we accumulate tape and glue on the bed sometimes).
• moving the position of the copper to be milled on the bed (sometimes this helps and but I can not replicate the same results in the same place twice.)
• I have tried using different batches of whatever copper stock we have left in the lab.
• I read the manual - no real help there - mostly Modela specific software tips.
• I tried booting into Windows (we usually run the machine using Ubuntu) to see if there was a “recalibration” or “troubleshooting” program or setting in the Modela software - I couldn’t find anything to run that was machine based.

When I first began using the Modela back in January - I often had these types of problems, but as I became better acquainted with the machine, the boards came out better overall, with an occasional hairy board. However, in the last few weeks I mill almost exclusively mangled boards with the occasional usable board being produced.

As I am completely out of time - I thought I would try to cut my remaining infrared prototype boards for my final project / networking on the vinyl cutter out of flexible copper sheets. The boards are very tiny - I am not sure I can get them off off the sticky background without destroying them. I cut many multiples to use as spare parts for when parts get torn. Hopefully this will work and I can finish my projects.

First - If you have not already compiled your program

See the Very Basic Beginner Assembly Tutorial: How to Use Gavrasm to compile an .asm flie

If you have compiled your program (created a .hex file)

Note: If you do not yet have avrdude installed or if you are a windows user and need avr studio - see Lady Ada’s tutorials for detailed information on how to download, setup, configure and use these programs. Lady Ada’s AVR software installation tutorial:

Once your AVR software tools are installed:

Again - Lady Ada has excellent detailed tutorials on how to use avrdude check the out for details on what the all the commands are and what they do - I will just give the very basics here to help you program a chip.

1. Open your command line interface and navigate to the directory that contains the file you want to flash to the microcontroller.

2. Connect your AVR programmer to your computer - I prefer the usbtiny (also created by Lady Ada and available at a reasonable price from adafruit studios).

3. If your board has an resonator / external clock you will need to set the fuses first before attempting to program the microcontroller. You must do this first. However, once the fuses are set - you do not have to do it again. The fuses are set only once. You can reprogram the microcontroller as many times as you want after the fuses are set.

example to set fuses:

parts used in this example:

• 20 MHz clock
• bsd cable programmer
• microcontroller - attiny44

avrdude -p t44 -c bsd -U lfuse:w:0x7E:m

You need to change the parts in the code above to match the parts you are using in order for it to work. Ask you instructor if you are confused.

example to set fuses: parts used in this example:

• 10 MHz clock
• usbtiny programmer
• microcontroller - attiny45

avrdude -p t45 -c usbtiny -U lfuse:w:0x7E:m

4. If you have set the fuses already or if your board does not have an external clock - here is how to flash / program the microcontroller.

generic example to flash microcontroller:

avrdude -p microcontroller -c programmer -U flash:w:program.hex

example with actual data:

parts used in this example:

• usbtiny programmer
• microcontroller - attiny44

avrdude -p t44 -c usbtiny -U flash:w:freqrx3.hex

This tutorial instructs you on how to compile an assembly language file (.asm) into a .hex flie using Gavrasm (Gerd’s AVR Assembler). the .hex file can then be uploaded to a AVR microntroller using Avrdude (or another program.)

1. Check to see if you have Gavrasm installed.

Open your command line interface and type:

gavrasm

If Gavrasm is installed you will see (your version number may vary):

+------------------------------------------------------------+
| gavrasm gerd's AVR assembler Version 2.5 (C)2010 by DG4FAC |
+------------------------------------------------------------+

2. If Gavrasm is not installed you will get an error.

You can download and install Gavrasm from here: http://www.avr-asm-tutorial.net/gavrasm/index_en.html.

*Note: if you are running a Mac OS (especially a pre-intel / PPC - Power PC Mac see my tutorial on where to get the compiled Gavrasm for PPC Macs or how to compile it yourself. *

3. If Gavrasm is installed — or once you get it installed:

A. navigate to the directory where the file that you want to compile is located.

- if you are unfamilar with unix commands: s To list the files in your current directory type:

ls

To change directory / navigate into a specific listed directory type (where directory name is the name of the directory you want to move to):

cd directoryname

To move upwards in the directory tree structure type”

cd ..

If you know the pathname of the directory that you want - type in the pathname of the directory preceded by “cd”

ex:

cd  /Desktop/mydirectory/mydirectory2

you can find more about general unix commands b doing a general internet search.

B. After navigating the correct directory - type:

gavrasm filename.asm

where “filename.asm” is the name of the assembly file you want to compile.

4. Gavrasm will compile the file for you and produce a .hex file of the same name as the .asm file.

Warnings:

Gavrasm will inform you if there are warnings. For the most part you can ignore the warnings. Ask your Fab Academy instructor if they are something you should be concerned about.

Errors:

If there are errors in compiling your file - Gavrasm will refuse to create a .hex file and will throw a bunch of error messages at you. Use these error messages to fix the problem.

If you don’t understand them - google the error or look at the datasheet for the microcontroller that you are using. See my tutorial on “Datasheet Tips”. Ask your instructor if you are confused - odds are they have encountered this many times. You must fix the errors in the program before it will compile.

5. You can now use your AVR programmer and Avrdude to flash your microcontroller with the .hex file you just created.

Having problems compiling Gavrasm on your Mac? Here is where to get Gavrasm (Gerd’s AVR Assembler) pre-compiled binaries for the Mac OS.

OS X 10.4.11 - Tiger (Power PC)

Download Anna Kaziunas France’s compiled version

OS X 10.5.x - Leopard

Download Kelly Snook’s compiled version

OS X 10.6.x - Snow Leopard

Download David Mellis’ compiled version

Windows & Linux

Pre-compiled binaries for Windows and Linux are available from the Gavrasm homepage. http://www.avr-asm-tutorial.net/gavrasm/index_en.html

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    dystopian still life 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   an auto-assembling
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    cyborg zombie? 

Image credit Shane Willis. Dystopian senryu by Anna Kaziunas France.

Fab Academy Embedded Programming Assignment:

1. add (at least) a button to the serial echo hello-world board
2. modify the serial echo assembly program to respond to the button

I modified the hello serial echo board (my modified echo board version2 - see previous posts) to respond to a button and added an FTDI header so I could use it as a substitute for the internet 0 serial board. (I have a Mac and therefore no serial port).

The behavior is that the LED is always on - but when the button is pressed, it turns off.

Shawn and I modified Elliot’s reprogramming the echo board code.

Here is the code:

; Modified.Hello.Echo.Blink LED.44.asm
;
; blink LED when button is pressed
;
; Code Created At FAB ACADEMY AS220 
; by Shawn Wallace & Elliot Clapp
; Last Modified 08/05/2010  - Anna Kaziunas France
;
; Permission granted for experimental and personal use;

.device attiny44
.org 0
cbi DDRA, 1
sbi DDRB, 2
loop:
    sbic PINA,1
    sbi PORTB, 2
    sbis PINA,1
    cbi PORTB, 2
rjmp loop

Here is How to Get the Board Running:

I use an usbtiny programmer.

Copy the above code into a text file and save it with YourFileName and .asm extension. Compile it using gavrasm:

gavrasm YourFileName.asm

Compiling the file will create a .hex file.

First - set the fuses on your board:

avrdude -p t44 -c usbtiny -U lfuse:w:0x7E:m

Second - flash the attiny44 with the program code you just compiled:

avrdude -p t44 -c usbtiny -U flash:w:YourFileName.hex

I milled out the Internet Zero boards on the Modela. More information on Internet 0 can be found here, and the files for the boards can be found here, under Internet 0.

When I tried to cut the boards out on the Modela, the bit consistently threatened to drag itself through the milled traces, so I used the drill press to perforate the boards and then break them apart. (I didn't have a jewelry saw and the wood saw blade was too wide.) When separating the perforated boards, it is important to carefully apply even pressure to each side of the break. I find the easiest way to do this is to lay the board on a table, with the perforation parallel to the edge of the table (directly over it.) Push down on the piece of the board that hangs off the table, while simultaneously holding the other half down against the table. It should snap easily along your line.

I started to stuff the boards and I hope to get stuff closer to working!

Modified Echo Version 2 - In Production

I am having some issues with the Modela this week. I milled this board last night, but it came out hairy / torn up. I will give it another go tonight.

Eagle Files

Download Eagle file for the Board:

helloechobutton07.26.2010.brd

Download the Eagle File for the Schematic: helloechobutton07.26.2010.sch

Modified Echo Version 1 - Complete But Broken

This version milled out a bit hairy. Some of the traces were broken, so I used jumpers to re-connect them.

Back to Eagle!!! See version 2 for a (hopefully) improved and working board).

After we put the spindle together - Shawn and I tested the Mantis to see if it would respond to commands. It looks like Fab Academy AS220 (with a huge effort on Noah’s part) put machine together properly.

The Mantis responded to the following commands (see screenshots) and responded well. The next step is to figure out how to feed an .rml file into the software. (in progress). After that we need to mill a board on the Mantis and see how it turns out.

“Laughing” Die 3D Scan Data

Shell 3D Scan Data

The Fab Academy Assignment The assignment was to scan an object. I used the scanning attachment for the Modela milling machine and the Dr. Picza 3 software that comes with the Modela. The Dr. Picza software works well enough, but unfortunately, it only runs on Windows.

The yellow Modela attachment (see pictures below) taps around the surface of an object using a touch sensor in order to scan a representation of it into the computer.

The objects I scanned were one of Shawn Wallace’s “laughing” dice and a shell we had laying around the lab. The output was saved as screenshots and as an .stl file that can be imported into meshlab and then cleaned up and (hopefully) printed with the Makerbot Cupcake CNC printer.

Laughing Die Scanning Process

Laughing Die Scan Output

Shell Scanning Process

Shell Scan Output

The Fab Academy Assignment

Print an object

This was my first 3D printing attempt.

The Project: 3D Printing Linked Rings

Printing the interlocked rings with the MakerBot.

Printed Object

Cleaning Up the Printed Object

Final Printed Linked Rings

Skills Learned

Learned how to use the MakerBot

Tools Used

Makerbot Cupcake CNC

Putting together the MakerBot Plastruder spindle piece for the MakerBot 3D printer. I would describe the full process, but the MakerBot staff has already provided an excellent tutorial. http://wiki.makerbot.com/plastruder-mk4-assembly

Puppetmaster Project Overview

My final project for Fab Academy is a universal remote I am calling PuppetMaster, due to its ability to control out of reach objects / devices using the fingers. This post details the PuppetMaster boards v.1 - v.2 that use capacitive sensing.

Capacitive Sensing Board Versions

The first working version of the prototype uses capacitive sensing built on the Hello World Step response example, but converted for use with a attiny 44.

I fabbed the board(s) myself, using the standard fab inventory parts.

PuppetMaster Board Version 1 —> pitfalls / issues

I designed my own board based on the hello step response with 3 additional inputs for each of the four fingers. (The hello step response has only one input). As the hello step response example uses the attiny 45 (and does not have enough input / charging pins for 4 inputs), I modified Shawn’s version of the hello step response to work with the attiny 44. This initial version of the PuppetMaster board has a FTDI header and 4 inputs / charge pins. PuppetMaster v.1 However, there was a issue with this initial board and I could not get the modified code for the attiny 44 to work with the Hello.Step.45.py code. I attempted triage, but the board remained flaky. There seemed to be an issue between the ground pin on the chip and power. In addition, I realized that I routed the Tx to Rx wrong on the FTDI header pins. I was using jumpers to work around it initially, but after the version 1 board’s persistent flakiness, I decided to make a version 2 board. I am not including the schematics & Eagle files for version 1 because of these issues.

Code Modification:Â From attiny 45 to attiny 44

I modified the hello step response assembly language code to work with the attiny 44 microcontroller. Both sets of .asm files are listed below. Attiny 45 FTDI Hello Step Response Code Attiny 44 FTDI Hello Step Response Code

Puppetmaster Board Version 2

Here is the version 2 board with the correctly mapped FTDI header and some slightly shifted components to allow for more space between some problematic components. This board version has been flashed with the attiny 44 code (above) and works with Hello.Step.45.py code.

Eagle Files

Download - PuppetMaster v.2.0 Board Download - PuppetMaster v.2.0 Schematic

CAD Image Files Used to Mill board v.2

Putting the Version 2 Board Together

I ran out of time in the lab and did not get a chance to mill out the board. Instead, I scored the perimeter with a utility knife and broke off the excess edge. Then I used a rasp to file the edges down.

Capacitive Sensing in Action

Using Neil’s term.py program to visualize the initial charging graph and sensor input.

Puppetmaster Overview

My final project for Fab Academy is a universal remote I am calling PuppetMaster, due to its ability to control out of reach objects / devices using the fingers. This is the revised final project proposal - the first proposal was overly ambitious and encompassed too many sensor types in too short of a time period.

First Working Prototype: The first working prototype (illustrated in the PuppetMaster v.1-v.2 [capacitive sensing] post) uses thin copper sheets to create a capacitive sensor between the index finger and the thumb.

For Fab 6: By Fab Academy graduation I propose that PuppetMaster will consist of a fabbed board that reads gestural input from accelerometers.

Overall Project Goals / Design Considerations:

• Create a remote control that takes input from finger movements / gestures
• Remote is small and wearable (will likely look like a bracelet or a watch) with connections to the fingertips.
• Remote is comfortable enough for long-term wear, will help to relieve hand / joint fatigue

Project Plan

Short Term Project Stages (Completed by Fab 6)

All board(s) will be fabbed, using the standard fab inventory parts with a few exceptions, (the sensors used in the later stages).

The First Stage [capacitive sensing]

• Completed June 2nd - consists of using capacitive sensing as input data.

The Second Stage [ accelerometer input]

• Completion before Fab 6 in August, will include the addition of accelerometer on each finger to record control gestures.
• Simple gestures will be used for input controls.

Long Term Project Stages (Work in Progress - NOT for Fab 6)

• Additional stages (to follow in the in the Fall) will include one mode of control (IR) but other modes (radio, bluetooth) will be added as the project progresses. (See stages outlined in the table below.)
• Eventually, a dial or switching mechanism will be added to switch between the modes. Although the other modes of control mentioned above will be explored, the gestural input will be the primary focus.
• In the final version of this prototype, the user of PuppetMaster will be able to input information via gestures and remote control objects by using sensors embedded in the fingertips.
• These additional modes (combined with the necessary code) will allow the user to control almost any device with hand gestures. I also want to develop a complete gestural language (possibly based on sign language)in tandem with the addition of 6-axis sensors (3 axis gyro, 3 axis accelerometer) to the device.

The Fab Academy Assignment

• Build lab and personal pages in the class archive with your Fall work
• Create “make anything’ home page / project page. See other posts in this blog and http://as220.org/anna
• Contribute to tutorials in the class archive (see tutorials category and posts)
• Prepare a schedule for your final project (See PuppetMaster posts under 13 IP and Business Models and Year Long Projects Categories ).

Fab Academy Module - 06 Embedded Programming

The Assignment

1. read an AVR data sheet (ATTtiny 44) - COMPLETE
2. make serial and programming cables - COMPLETE
3. add (at least) a button to the serial echo hello-world board
4. modify the serial echo assembly program to respond to the button
5. modify the serial echo C program to respond to the button
6. For more on items 3-5 —> See Modified Hello Echo - Part I: Hello Echo + Button + FTDI

The Project: Hello Serial Echo

This hello world board uses a python program (term.py) to send keyboard input over a serial connection from the board to the computer. It is called “serial echo” because when the computer is able to communicate with the board via serial, the python program will allow the keyboard input to be sent to the board and then “echo” it back to the computer. The keyboard input / text will then appear in the python window.

Type the following into the terminal at the prompt:

python term.py /dev/ttyS0 115200

Where “/dev/ttyS0” is the name of the serial port connection to your computer.

When It Is Working - You Should See..

Skills Learned

• I learned how to send data back and forth via a serial connection using Neil’s python program term.py.
• Cable making

Tools Used

• Modela milling machine
• python - term.py
• a computer with a serial connection