January 2020 STEAM Camp Learning Objectives
Learning Goals and Outcomes
As a result of the 9 day STEAM Camp, we expect that participants gain:
- Solid proficiency in designing parts and assemblies in FreeCAD, the leading open source 3D computer-aided design (CAD) modeling application
- Fluency in a collaborative design process in which large projects are broken down into small parts, and many people collaborate on parts of the project by uploading design files and rapid prototyping using a 3D printer
- Fluency in a process of designing, 3D printing, prototyping, iterating, and documenting as a coordinated team towards designing practical products
- Ability to convert 3D designs into successful 3D prints by understanding printing parameters to genearate working printing files
- Ability to build a 3D printer and 3D printer extruder from scratch, and the ability to design different versions by using modular components
- Significant practice in working collaboratively as a team to solve relevant problems while teaching and learning from one another
- Understanding of the Universal Axis and Universal Controller system and how to apply it to building different CNC machines
- Basic proficiency in how to divide a project into small parts and how to allocate tasks to different team members in order to solve a design problem
- Understanding how to document a product design using public repositories or part libraries so that others can build upon the project effectively
- Understanding of of how to start and update part libraries with correct versioning for a large collaborative effort
- Ability to coordinate collaborative design work by using a work log, wikis, cloud editable documents, and FreeCAD for 3D design
- A basic understanding of how to approach a design problem starting with a concept, formulating requirements, doing technical design, and evaluating the result
- Basic understanding of how a microcontroller circuit works, and ability to design and build a basic microcontroller from a processor chip and discrete components
- Basic understanding of how a CNC circuit mill works, and the ability to build a circuit mill spindle starting from a motor
- Understanding how to generate toolpath files for plotting drawings and circuits, and for milling and drilling materials
- Ability to generate toolpath files manually by using basic g-code commands
- Basic understanding of a microcontroller-based switch mode power supply, with the ability to design and build a basic welder, charge controller, and AC or DC power supply circuit.
- Ability to design and build stackable battery packs that can be scaled in parallel or in series
- Basic proficiency in prototyping circuits using strip board, copper-clad boards, CNC hole drilling, cnc milling, and etching of copper clad boards
- Basic practice of soldering components to make circuits and basic practice of 3D printing boards to hold circuit components
- Basic understanding of how to design and build a computer tablet from a small microcomputer board, touch-sensitive LCD screen, including its battery pack and camera module.
- An improved appreciation of the potential of collaborative design to transform the economy from proprietary to collaborative
- Understanding how to upgrade and scale small Unviersal Axis-based CNC machines such as those built in this STEAM Camp to production-grade machines for the distributed economy
- Access to a community of individuals committed to open source product design and development
- Relationships and friendships with others who are interested in a livelihood based on open source microfactories fueled by open source design
- Ongoing collaboration with other STEAM Camp participants on projects dedicated to the common good
