Foundations of Fabrication

Learning Goals by Assignment

Many changes pending for 2021-2022 Foundations Class

Introduction

Students in the Foundations of Fabrication course are encouraged to exercise some flexibility in the completion of their assignments. Oftentimes, slight modifications to the weekly assignments can make these experiences far more relevant to a particular student’s development, line of work, or alignment to their final project. The advice that is given before a student elects to change the planned weekly assignment is to “make sure it stays with the spirit of the problem” and this can lead to some ambiguity. For that reason, the most goal-oriented students may not feel comfortable taking this latitude, even if it is well intended. In response, this document exists to outline the “spirit of the problem” for each assignment with specific learning goals. These could be copy/pasted onto student portfolio pages and serve as a sort-of table of contents to showcase how their interpretation of the assignment meets the learning goals. This strategy is recommended, and there are several examples to reference.

Usage Guide

Each assignment will be given a heading and bookmark in this document, so that it can be linked from the class website, at each respective assignment.

Students can then copy/paste the text into their profile pages (if desired) and then use this as a springboard for showcasing how their work met the intended learning objectives. The “Learning Objectives” for each assignment are intended to be met by every student. The items identified as “More Evidence of Learning” are optional, but may help to enrich and deepen learning when time allows.

While the class is in rolling development, the content of this document may change over time. However, these stated learning objectives will not change once the assignment has started for any given year the Foundations of Fabrication course is running.

Named versions of this document will be stored every year in Google Drive, to track changes in course objectives over the years. The versions will be named for the calendar year that the course starts within. For example, a named version may be “2021 (1st year FOF)” with at least enough information to identify the cohort year.

Complete List of Units

https://sites.google.com/makehaven.org/foundations-of-fabrication/units

Bonus: SMD parts & PCB making

Unit # - Assignment # - Week # [Date] TEMPLATE

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Written description of the assignment as described on the website….

Learning Objectives

Learning objective 1
Learning objective 2
Learning objective 3

More Evidence of Learning

More evidence 1
More evidence 2
More evidence 3
More evidence 4

Announcements for First Class & Topics to Discuss

Physical things you may want to have:

Notebook
Pencil
Pen and/or sharpie
Spare phone charger
Pocket knife
Small tool set (BASYG)

Install this software on your computer:

Inkscape (open source) vector design software
Fusion360 (Autodesk - free hobbyist or education license) all-around maker software

^ Fusion360 just (9/2020) changed their licensing so wait a bit…
Alternate 3D parametric design: OnShape, Blender, FreeCAD, SketchUp

VSCode (Microsoft - free) - alternatives such as Notepad++, Atom, Sublime
Arduino IDE

Student support systems:

A tricky thing about learning is that it is largely independent. Each student needs to struggle with the ideas to learn how they work. We don’t want to emulate that PowerPoint class you took in 1998, with step-by-step instructions that actually undercut your learning. Tinkering with things - tools, code, electronics and software - is how you deepen your understanding. San Francisco’s Exploratorium and Hamden, CT’s own Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop know this so well; they have each had it as their central focus for decades. When tinkering, you build understanding.

Getting badges: MakeHaven’s Facilitators - Corey isn’t one of these…
Getting machine specific support:

Machine Facilitators [Slack: #facilitator-hours]
Corey, Lior and J.R.

Design help: Corey (and YouTube has a wide range of oddly specific supports as well)
Generally getting unstuck: Corey can help troubleshoot most problems
Making course changes/ accommodations - Corey and JR (if you need a week off, etc.)

Communication Channels:

Gold standard: Slack #foundations

Asking and answering each other’s questions is essential
Always feel free to @Corey in the #foundations channel
Supporting each other will build skill + community faster than expected

@Corey: texting is always fine - will respond ASAP (but try Slack first)
Urgently @Corey: phone call is totally fine [number given in class - not recorded]

U1 - A1 - Week 1 [Sept. 20, 2021]

Documentation + Inkscape

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Try at least 2-3 different documentation platforms. Trying these out is important in pursuit of finding one that works for you, so you can carefully document everything about your weekly projects. Take screenshots as you explore and start to settle in on a single platform that will hold your digital portfolio. A good way to find out if you like a specific platform is to build 1) landing/homepages, 2) ‘About me’ pages and a 3) ‘Unit 1’ pages on each platform. Building these duplicates just gives you a sense of how well you work with each of these platforms. at this point, you're trying to find a system you can use efficiently, but keep in mind:

Your documentation will need to be able to manage: Photos, video, writing, code snippets, GIFs, linked files, and site navigation
It will help in all future weeks if you build a template for more quickly documenting your work

Learning Objectives

Evaluate several website platforms to find one you like (at least 2-3)
Figure out how to include images, videos, external links, file links (for downloadables) and site navigation on each platform
Build the following three pages for each of the platforms being tested:

Homepage/ Landing page
‘About me’ page
Unit 1 page

Find an image compression solution that will work for faster page loading/ file sizes

More Evidence of Learning

Identify a repository of website assets to back up for next week’s assignment
Create and save an empty template page, so future assignments will be faster to document
Create some sort of style guide, to inform the appearance of your pages
Use relative links to connect files that will be downloadable from your portfolio

U2.1 - A2 - Week 2 [Sept. 27, 2021]

Introduction to Woodworking [Part 1]

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Finish your MakeHaven badges, since there are quite a few in this area. You'll want to bring a piece of scrap wood, take pictures, and schedule time with a facilitator early in the week.

Learning Objectives

Basic operation of the drill press
Basic operation of the sliding compound miter saw
Basic operation of the band saw
Understand the process for ‘squaring’ wood from raw or warped lumber and be able to use at least some of the required machines

More Evidence of Learning

Completion of badging for the ‘squaring wood’ processes

Jointer
Planar
Bandsaw
Tablesaw

Introductory wood lathe use

U2.2 - A3 - Week 3 [Oct. 4, 2021]

Introduction to Woodworking [Part 2]

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Complete a wine bottle holder, cutting board, or other small woodworking project of your choosing.

Learning Objectives

Integrate woodworking processes into a cohesive starter project (or something more advanced, if appropriate)
Demonstrate understanding of the role each tool plays in working toward a finished product
Demonstrate understanding of how the grain and structure or the wood relates to the project

More Evidence of Learning

Hand-cut joinery is a skill it can take a lifetime to master
Understanding wood expansion and the value of hardwood, plywood and when to connect pieces in ways that allow for seasonal movement

U3.1 - A4 - Week 4 [Oct. 11, 2021]

Introduction to Metalworking [Part 1]

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Complete a wine bottle holder, cutting board, or other small woodworking project of your choosing.

Learning Objectives

Integrate woodworking processes into a cohesive starter project (or something more advanced, if appropriate)
Demonstrate understanding of the role each tool plays in working toward a finished product
Demonstrate understanding of how the grain and structure or the wood relates to the project

More Evidence of Learning

Hand-cut joinery is a skill it can take a lifetime to master
Understanding wood expansion and the value of hardwood, plywood and when to connect pieces in ways that allow for seasonal movement

U3.2 - A5 - Week 5 [Oct. 18, 2021]

Introduction to Metalworking [Part 2]

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Take one of the forms made on the water-jet cutter (during the lesson) and use the metal brake and rollers to bend it into shape. [The water-jet cutter and sheet metal are pretty amazing, and approachable to learn; but we'll circle back to designing for them when we get to the 2D design unit.] For now, we are focused on working with the metal itself, and the basic metal tools.

Learning Objectives

Can safely use a drill press with metal
Can use a break and shear with sheet metals

More Evidence of Learning

Can tap a thread in metal
Can use a belt sander to smooth sharp edges
Can identify when a horizontal band saw or cutoff saw is useful

U4 - A6 - Week 6 [Oct. 26, 2021]

Introduction to Textiles

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Follow a tutorial to make a simple wearable electronics project with one of these starter options:

an Adafruit Gemma M0
a Sparkfun LilyPad LilyMini
A Sparkfun LilyPad Protosnap
a CR2032 battery pack and led 'sequins'

Learning Objectives

A basic introduction to instructions-led electronics
Integration of nontraditional materials into textiles projects
Optional Alternative: Using complex combinations of textiles or non-fabric materials to make structural elements of garments or other textile-based objects (ex: structural pieces in a man’s suit, a structured dress, or a pop-up laundry basket)

More Evidence of Learning

Regular garment fasteners as electronics inputs: rivets, zippers, buttons
Sensors embedded in the wearable electronics
Designing electronics for durability/ flexibility

U5.1 - A7 - Week 7 [Nov. 1, 2021]

Introduction to Electronics [LED Week]

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Learning Objectives

Can safely use a drill press with metal
Can use a break and shear with sheet metals

More Evidence of Learning

Can tap a thread in metal
Can use a belt sander to smooth sharp edges
Can identify when a horizontal band saw or cutoff saw is useful

U5.2 - A8 - Week 8 [Nov. 8, 2021]

Introduction to Electronics [Boards]

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Weld something! It could be your first-ever weld, or a piece of metal art. Either way, this week you should join two pieces of metal.

Learning Objectives

Has welded two metals together using at least one welding process

More Evidence of Learning

Has used more than one welding process

U6 - A9 - Week 9 [Nov. 15, 2021]

Printmaking, Ideas & Projects

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Go through the process of brainstorming for your final project. Yes, it is far away, but spending some time now to think about what you really want it to be/ do will help guide your work for the rest of the course. It is possible that a well laid-out project at this point can help inform the things you work on in future assignments, so you can pre-produce parts of your final project.

Learning Objectives

Can describe all designed objects as an iteration, with possible future improvements
Can describe and use Spiral Design as a process focused on deliverable iterations
Can describe and use supply-side time management

More Evidence of Learning

Processes described above applied to start thinking about possible final projects
In-depth description of how these process ideas relate to possible prior experiences in industry-specific applications

Break Week for Thanksgiving

U7.1 - A10 - Week 10 [Nov. 29, 2021]

2D Vector Design for the Vinyl Cutter

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Design & make 3 vinyl stickers that show you understand and can differentiate the skills needed for all kinds of stickers. This means you should make a sticker from each of these categories:

Single piece sticker
Multiple piece stickers (that need masking)
Multiple color stickers with registration dots

Coplanar colors
Stacked colors

Learning Objectives

Can identify the difference between raster and vector images and convert raster to vector paths when and if desired
Can design a simple sticker in Inkscape and cut it out on the vinyl cutter
Can use registration marks to make aligned, multi-part stickers
Weeding and masking stickers for flawless application

More Evidence of Learning

Effective use of positive and negative space in stickers
Thoughtful consideration of sticker substrate as part of the sticker’s appearance
Masterful control of vector shapes and design, with a special focus on cut vinyl sticker production (ex: avoid dotted lines, overlapping cuts, minimize nodes)

U7.2 - A11 - Week 12 [Dec. 7, 2020]

Advanced 2D Design for the Laser Cutter

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Cut cardboard to measure the laser kerf (a series of slots). Make a press-fit thing of your own design! This press-fit thing can include any or all of the styles of Digital Joinery linked above.

https://www.scopesdf.org/scopesdf_lesson/alejibres-with-df/
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=slot+together+toy+thingiverse&atb=v228-1&iax=images&ia=images
Alternate: if you're already proficient with kerf + press-fit design, make some flexures 😄

Learning Objectives

Can focus the laser and set an origin position
Can evaluate laser cutting kerf, in a new materials through testing process
Can design and laser cut simple shapes
Can laser engrave raster images and use vectors with reduced setting to etch images

More Evidence of Learning

Can design and cut press-fit shapes for assembled projects
Can use color coded vectors to run multiple vector settings in the same process
Can describe the role and relationship of speed, power and frequency settings for the laser and change them as appropriate for desired outcomes

U8.A - A12&13 - Week 13 & 14 [Dec. 7/14, 2020]

This particular unit is very likely to need differentiation: Some students may have never written code. Others might be professional developers. For that reason, there will be two sets of learning objectives. The items on this page are for students who need to be introduced to code.

Introduction to Embedded Programming [ new to code ]

Link to assignment 1 heading (on FOF class website)

Link to assignment 2 heading (on FOF class website)

For all students who are new to code or need some basic review, follow the lessons set out on the scopesdf.org website linked here, written by Corey.

Learning Objectives

Completion of coding lessons for Arduino
Can read and write code based around simple boolean logic
Some understanding of how logic on arduino pins relates to LED outputs
Can explain the example ‘blink without delay’ sketch, why it is valuable, and possibly code-their-own

More Evidence of Learning

Can use arrays and for loops for iterative control
Can use 2D arrays when appropriate
Can read and write simple object oriented code
Can use Arduino libraries successfully
Can find new Arduino libraries and implement them as needed

U8.B - A12&13 - Week 13 & 14 [Dec. 7/14, 2020]

Advanced Embedded Programming [ can already code ]

Link to assignment 1 heading (on FOF class website)

Link to assignment 2 heading (on FOF class website)

These skills will allow you to move beyond using Arduino/ MicroBits and build projects using bare integrated circuits. This drastically reduces the price and size of projects and pushes forward towards commercially viable products.

Learning Objectives

Bootloader on Bare AVR Chip [week 13]

Can describe the role of an ISP programmer and use it at a basic level
Can describe the role of the Arduino bootloader
Can program a bare AVR chip with a simple sketch, removing the need for an Arduino

Moving past the Bootloader [week 14]

Easy-ish: Write and use an Arduino sketch that uses the interrupt pins successfully
Easy-ish: Program any kind of board using CircuitPython
Not-Easy: Build and test your own ISP programmer
Not-Easy: Program an AVR chip with pure C

More Evidence of Learning

These weeks are probably hard enough without need for any secondary objectives...

U9.1 - A14 - Week 15 [Dec. 21, 2020]

3D Design Software

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Choose a software (after possibly exploring several options) Recommended [in 2020]: Fusion360. If you install and try several of these for the assignment, include screenshots/ screen recordings in your portfolio for this assignment. 3D design something **Bonus for a parametric design.

Learning Objectives

Gain some surface-level experience with a few different types of 3D design software
Be able to use the essential ‘sketch, then extrude’ nature of most 3D modeling software
Be able to use dimensioning tools to design parts at intended dimensions

More Evidence of Learning

Mastery of some advanced design strategies
Mastery of ‘construction planes’ as a tool used for complex design elements
Mastery of sketch geometry constraints
Mastery of parametric dimensioning of designs within sketches and extrusions

U9.2 - A15 - Week 17 [Jan. 4, 2021]

3D Printing and Scanning

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

3D print something small (20 grams of filament or less) and 3D scan something

*bonus if you can turn your own head into a small container for plants...

Learning Objectives

Can describe the process of going from 3D model to STL file to G-code
Learning objective 2
Learning objective 3

More Evidence of Learning

More evidence 1
More evidence 2
More evidence 3
More evidence 4

U10.1 - A16 - Week 18 [Jan. 11, 2021]

LED Week!!!

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Get an LED (in a breadboard) to blink and (separately) fade using an Arduino or Micro Bit.

Learning Objectives

Learning objective 1
Learning objective 2
Learning objective 3

More Evidence of Learning

More evidence 1
More evidence 2
More evidence 3
More evidence 4

U10.2 - A17 - Week 19 [Jan. 18, 2021]

Electronics Platforms: Arduino, MicroBits, etc.

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Solder together an Arduino Shield with THT components

*Bonus: get a Raspberry Pi to blink an LED with a breadboard and some wires

Learning Objectives

Learning objective 1
Learning objective 2
Learning objective 3

More Evidence of Learning

More evidence 1
More evidence 2
More evidence 3
More evidence 4

U11.1 - A18 - Week 20 [Jan. 25, 2021]

Milling: 3D Toolpaths & 2.5D design

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Make something that is 3D machined: include rough pass and finish pass

Learning Objectives

Learning objective 1
Learning objective 2
Learning objective 3

More Evidence of Learning

More evidence 1
More evidence 2
More evidence 3
More evidence 4

U11.2 - A19 - Week 21 [Feb. 1, 2021]

Make Something Big!

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Continue previous week’s work or *bonus: make something big!

Learning Objectives

Learning objective 1
Learning objective 2
Learning objective 3

More Evidence of Learning

More evidence 1
More evidence 2
More evidence 3
More evidence 4

U12.1 - A20 - Week 22 [Feb. 8, 2021]

Making Surface Mount Circuit Boards

Link to assignment heading (on FOF class website)

Possible notes: [still under development]

**https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Custom-PCB-Using-a-Low-Power-Laser-E/
**https://youtu.be/ewVbIG6CvlM
**https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWnfnt2rNO0
**https://youtu.be/nY86B2t_Y9g << probably this one…
THIS>> https://www.baldengineer.com/kicad-to-x-carve-pcb-workflow.html