This workshop will introduce you to the basics of the Arduino microcontroller system. The goal is to introduce you to its open source development platform and get you started with the creation of your own interactive object(s). No previous programming or electronics experience necessary.

4 weeks, Tuesdays in May, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
May 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
Instructor: Lutz Hamel
Workshop cost: $100 + $100 materials fee = $200
Materials fee includes an Arduino and all components needed for the class. In the AS220 Labs space, 2nd floor, 115 Empire Street, Providence

Sign up here!

When: Wednesday March 25th, 5:30pm to 7pm
Where: AS220 Performance Space

The real fun in electronics is when you can use a circuit to make things go. Come learn some basics of electric motors, including DC motors, AC motors, servos, and steppers with Tom Sgouros (www.sgouros.com). Guest appearance by Judy the robot.

This session is free if you want to come and listen. You'll have to pay for materials if you want to complete the kit and take things home with you. Some sample motors will be available, which can also be purchased cheaply.

April is International Laser Month at AS220 Labs!

Announcing Laser cutter workshops: Learn how to use this tool to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles! Every Tuesday 5:30pm to 9pm, beginning April 7th.

Each workshop is limited to 5 people. Register now at the online shop.

Please note that an earlier version of this article (and...ahem...some of the posters) said every Thursday beginning April 7th. Well, April 7th (2009) is a Tuesday! So...the dates in the shop signup are correct; they're on Tuesdays! Sorry for the confusion; I'm an idiot.

This is kit version of the drawbot that is installed in AS220 Labs. This limited edition comes in a fancy laser cut wooden box. Put all the pieces together, mount it on a wall, put the Sharpie in the clip and you have a working drawbot!

The kit come fully soldered and tested. Right out of the box it will draw the shape that is on the box (a nice circular mandala shape).

No programming is necessary, although the drawbot is 100% Arduino-compatible and comes with a library that makes it easy to draw Bezier curves, circles, and move from one point to another. The board is based on the Sanguino board (www.sanguino.cc), so you have plenty of memory to work with (64k program space and 4K RAM). This is a limited edition with laser cut parts and custom circuit board; order yours in advance today! Kits will ship in early April.

Visit the AS220 Shop to reserve your own.

Debugging problems in an electronics project can be frustrating. When things don't work, they often just sit there and do nothing. Or sometimes, they will billow smoke. When writing firmware, you can sometimes find yourself creating elaborate debugging scaffolding to track down buggy code. Sometimes blinking LEDs and a serial connection are not the best tools for debugging.

Okay, I know that good debuggers exist for microcontrollers. But wouldn't it sometimes be easier to write your code in a familiar environment, debug on screen, then cut and paste into your Arduino code? That's where Processing -- a close relative of Arduino -- comes to the rescue!

The Arduino Integrated Development Environment and language forked from the Wiring project, which was the hardware-oriented twin of the Processing language and IDE. The similarities and compatabilities of the two projects are a Big Win for sketch developers.

Has your craps gambling habit got you down? Looking for the perfect gift for your Fluxus-obsessed brother-in-law or grandmother? Well, you may be satisfied with a pair of laughing dice: a laugh is guaranteed with every roll! Now available in the AS220 Shop.

When: Tuesday, March 10, 4 - 6 pm
Where: Cranston Public Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road

Teens! Do you like to tinker? Come join us at the Cranston Public Library for Make and Break: Build a 555 Noisekit! - a workshop designed to inspire you to further investigate electronics technology and technology-based scientific inquiry. An instructor from AS220 Labs will show you how to use an old reliable integrated circuit - the 555 timer - to produce electrifying noisemusik. You will leave with a completed project that that can be plugged into any amplifier, computer speaker, or home stereo. All soldering tools and materials will be provided free of charge.

This program is funded by a YALSA Teen Tech Week Mini Grant!

To register, call 943-9080 x 5

Here's a quick update on what is happening in and around AS220 Labs at the beginning of March, 2009:

New Equipment

Back in mid-November we held a fundraising event to raise money for the "Fab Lab" fabrication equipment. In January we purchased the first large piece of equipment, an Epilog laser cutter. We also did some minor electrical improvements and combined two of the studios on the second floor of Empire Street to accommodate the Fab Lab equipment.