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FAB ACADEMY 2026 · Weekly Plan · Sonam Tshering · Royal Academy Bhutan
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DayTimeWeek 01
Jan 21

Principles & Practices
+ Project Management		Week 02
Jan 28

Computer-Aided
Design		Week 03
Feb 04

Computer-Controlled
Cutting		Week 04
Feb 11

Embedded
Programming		Week 05
Feb 18

3D Scanning
& Printing		Week 06
Feb 25

Electronics
Design		Week 07
Mar 04

Computer-Controlled
Machining		Week 08
Mar 11

Electronics
Production		Week 09
Mar 18

Input
Devices		Week 10
Mar 25

Output
Devices		Week 11
Apr 01

Networking &
Communications		Week 12
Apr 08

Mechanical &
Machine Design		Week 13
Apr 15

Break /
Midterm Review		Week 14
Apr 22

Molding
& Casting		Week 15
Apr 29

Interface & App
Programming		Week 16
May 06

System
Integration		Week 17
May 13

Wildcard
Week		Week 18
May 20

Applications &
Implications		Week 19
May 27

Invention, IP
& Income		Week FP
Jun 8–12

Final Project
Presentations
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Wednesday9 PMGlobal Lecture — Principles & PracticesGlobal Lecture — Computer-Aided DesignGlobal Lecture — Computer-Controlled CuttingGlobal Lecture — Embedded ProgrammingGlobal Lecture — 3D Scanning & PrintingGlobal Lecture — Electronics DesignGlobal Lecture — CNC MachiningGlobal Lecture — Electronics ProductionGlobal Lecture — Input DevicesGlobal Lecture — Output DevicesGlobal Lecture — Networking & CommunicationsGlobal Lecture — Mechanical & Machine DesignMidterm Review SessionGlobal Lecture — Molding & CastingGlobal Lecture — Interface & App ProgrammingGlobal Lecture — System IntegrationGlobal Lecture — Wildcard WeekGlobal Lecture — Applications & ImplicationsGlobal Lecture — Invention, IP & IncomeFinal Project Presentations
Jun 8–12, 2026
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Thursday10 AM• Meeting with Mr. Rico
(intro & setup)
• Set up Git repo & SSH key
• Configure MkDocs / site template		• Revisit lecture video
• Explore software options for final project design		• Session with Mr. Rico on
parametric design concepts
• Plan individual assignment design		• Read microcontroller datasheet (XIAO ESP32-C3)
• Plan what to program this week		• Watch lecture video on FDM/SLA principles
• Plan what to print & what to scan		• Watch lecture video on PCB design
• Review KiCad or Eagle basics		• Watch lecture video on CNC
• Learn CAM toolpath setup in Fusion 360		• Watch lecture video
• Revisit PCB design for milling		• Watch lecture video on sensors
• List sensors to test this week		• Watch lecture video on output devices
• Plan individual & group assignments		• Watch lecture video on protocols
• Plan ESP-NOW / WiFi / I2C experiment		• Watch lecture video on mechanism design
• Review pan-tilt camera mount design		• Review all past weeks for completeness
• List any incomplete assignments		• Watch lecture video on mold-making
• Plan what to mold for individual assignment		• Watch lecture video on UI/UX tools
• Explore Processing, Python GUI, or web UI		• Watch lecture video on integration strategies
• Map out all Vision Voice subsystems		• Watch lecture video & pick wildcard topic
• Plan what new skill/tool to explore		• Watch lecture video
• Research potential applications of Vision Voice		• Watch lecture video on IP & licensing
• Decide on license for Vision Voice project		Final Project Presentations
Jun 8–12, 2026
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Friday—• Design website layout & pick template
• Write About Me page
• Draft project management page		• Learn GIMP — raster editing basics
• Learn Inkscape — vector drawing basics
• Practice parametric sketch in Fusion 360		• Learn laser cutter settings
(speed, power, kerf)
• Do group assignment — characterize laser cutter
• Design press-fit construction kit (parametric)		• Set up Arduino IDE & board package
• Blink LED — basic hello world
• Program button input → LED output		• Do group assignment — test 3D printer
(tolerances, overhangs, bridging)
• Start individual design in Fusion 360		• Do group assignment — use multimeter
& oscilloscope
• Design schematic for individual assignment
• Add & connect components in schematic		• Do group assignment — characterize ShopBot
(speeds, feeds, tolerances)
• Design individual piece for CNC cutting
• Generate & check toolpaths		• Learn about PCB milling & Roland MDX
• Relook previous PCB design — fix traces
• Do group assignment — test trace widths		• Do group assignment — measure sensor
response times
• Test DHT11 (temp/humidity) with XIAO
• Test MPU6050 (accelerometer/gyro)		• Do group assignment — measure power
consumption of output devices
• Test servo motor control (PWM)
• Test OLED display (I2C)		• Set up ESP-NOW between two XIAO boards
• Test sending sensor data wirelessly
• Do group assignment — send message
between nodes		• Do group assignment — design & build
a machine as a group
• Work on mechanical CAD for machine
• Test stepper motor control with XIAO		• Catch up on any missing documentation
• Work on final project planning
• Update project slide & video plan		• Do group assignment — test materials
(Shore hardness, cure times)
• Design mold in Fusion 360
• Mill or 3D-print the mold		• Do group assignment — compare
UI frameworks
• Build a simple interface for Vision Voice
(display ASL output on screen)
• Connect serial/WiFi data from XIAO to UI		• Integrate flex sensors + ADC + ESP32
• Test ASL letter recognition pipeline
• Debug communication between modules		• Explore chosen wildcard
(e.g. composites, textiles, or extra sensor)
• Do group assignment
• Experiment & prototype		• Write applications & implications page
(who, what, why, safety, IP)
• Continue final project development
• Test and refine glove hardware		• Write invention & IP documentation page
• Finalize all remaining weekly docs
• Final polish on project slide		Final Project Presentations
Jun 8–12, 2026
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Saturday—• Sign student agreement
• Push first commit to GitLab
• Verify site deploys correctly		• Model a simple object in Onshape
• Render & export images for docs
• Document tools tested & comparison		• Cut & test press-fit kit on laser cutter
• Design & cut vinyl sticker
• Document all test results with photos		• Try different programming environments
(MicroPython / PlatformIO)
• Write a more complex program
(PWM, serial output)
• Document code with comments & screenshots		• Test print individual design
• Iterate if needed (fix tolerances)
• Scan an object using available scanner
or photogrammetry		• Route PCB layout
• Run DRC & fix errors
• Export Gerber files & document		• Mill individual assignment on ShopBot
• Sand, fit-test & refine the part
• Document process with photos & notes		• Generate RML / milling files
• Mill PCB on Roland MDX
• Solder components onto board		• Test additional sensors
(ultrasonic, IR, encoder)
• Plot & compare sensor outputs
• Document each sensor with code & data		• Test TFT display & LED matrix
• Combine outputs in a demo program
• Document all outputs with videos & code		• Build a small networked demo
(sensor → wireless → display)
• Debug connection & latency issues
• Document with diagrams & code		• Assemble machine components
• Test motion & calibrate
• Document machine design & BOM		• Continue final project development
• Test Vision Voice glove hardware
• Document progress so far		• Pour material & cast the part
• Demold & inspect quality
• Document process with photos		• Polish the interface design
• Test end-to-end: glove → XIAO → UI
• Document with screenshots & demo video		• Integrate audio output (DFPlayer Mini)
• Test full system: gesture → text → audio
• Document integration diagram & results		• Refine wildcard project
• Test & iterate
• Document process & findings		• Work on project development documentation
• Update BOM & sourcing info
• Record interim demo video		• Complete final project — all components working
• Record final demo video
• Push everything & check site		Final Project Presentations
Jun 8–12, 2026
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Sunday—Finish & review Week 01 documentationFinish & push Week 02 documentationFinish Week 03 documentationComplete documentation & pushDocument results, settings & reflectionsReview documentation & updateFinish documentation & pushTest board functionality & documentFinish Week 09 documentation & pushFinish Week 10 documentation & pushFinish Week 11 documentation & pushFinish Week 12 documentation & pushPush all updates & review siteFinish Week 14 documentation & pushFinish Week 15 documentation & pushFinish Week 16 documentation & pushFinish Week 17 documentation & pushPush all updates & review siteFinal review of entire documentation siteFinal Project Presentations
Jun 8–12, 2026
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Monday—Recitation: Version Control—Recitation: AI Tools—Recitation: Sustainability—Recitation: Machine BuildingRecitation: Finish Documentation—Recitation: Fab Ecosystem—Recitation: Education———Recitation: Fab All-In—Recitation: Start-ups—Final Project Presentations
Jun 8–12, 2026
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Tuesday6 PMRegional Review — submit Week 01Regional Review — submit Week 02Regional Review — submit Week 03Regional Review — submit Week 04Regional Review — submit Week 05Regional Review — submit Week 06Regional Review — submit Week 07Regional Review — submit Week 08Regional Review — submit Week 09Regional Review — submit Week 10Regional Review — submit Week 11Regional Review — submit Week 12Midterm Review check-inRegional Review — submit Week 14Regional Review — submit Week 15Regional Review — submit Week 16Regional Review — submit Week 17Regional Review — submit Week 18Final check-in before presentationsFinal Project Presentations
Jun 8–12, 2026
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🟡 Wednesday = Global Lecture | 🔵 Monday = Recitation | 🩵 Tuesday = Regional Review | 🟢 Final Project Presentations (Jun 8–12)
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