The Electronics Workshop at FCW on April 28, 2012 can be considered a success. Rich Goldner conducted the 4 hour workshop for four participants, covering various electrical topics including:
Parameters – Current, Voltage, Resistance, Power
Measurements – using a DMM
Use of a solderless breadboard
Component identification
Basic series and parallel circuits
A transistor as a switch
The 555 timer
Thanks to the Granite Falls Radio Shack, who provided materials for this workshop.
This is the first of numerous workshops which will include electronics, soldering, machining, ham radio, programming, and other topics.
A Basic Electronics Workshop will be conducted at FCW from 10AM -2PM on Saturday, April 28, 2012. This workshop is intended to introduce simple electronics concepts to those with no electronics background.
Topics include:
Voltage, Current, Resistance and Power
Measurements
Component Identification and purposes
Simple Circuit Configurations
Lab exercises will be included to:
Use a multimeter to make measurements
Connect simple electric and electronic circuits
Rich Goldner will be the instructor. He has extensive experience with electronic and microprocessor circuits. There are 6 slots available. Leave a message for Rich or the general FCW contact to reserve a place.
The FCW Amateur Radio (HAM) station is now official with the callsign K4FCW. We hope to have antennas up soon. We have HF, VHF and digital capabilities with others to be added in the future. There are plans to offer Ham Radio license classes in the near future.
The construction for the classroom and railroad/model shop room has started. Joe, Warren and Gene are starting the construction stage of FCW’s phase 2.
The classroom will allow FCW to provide instruction in numerous topics for up to 24 persons at a time. The model shop will contain a large model railroad – provided by Gene – and a model shop for railroad and RC models.
The electronics shop is now in operation. We have a 350Mhz scope, several meters, function generator, power supply and several trainers. Over the next few weeks we’ll be adding additional parts, tools and equipment. We will be using arduino, PIC, and propeller microcontrollers; FPGAs; and discrete digital for a while.
An introduction to electronics is planned for a limited group in two weeks, then that workshop, soldering and arduinos will be scheduled in the near future.
Michelle is the the coordinator of the electronics area. She brings 40 years experience in analog, digital and embedded systems to FCW.
The machine shop is now operational. We have a CNC mill, lathe, bandsaw and grinders. Pictured are Warren, a retired machining instructor, and Rich, who converted the mill to CNC and furnished the equipment.
The shop has already been used to assist a local high school in fabricating parts for a robot. Regular training in Basic Safety and Usage is offered.
Our open house went great! We could not have asked for a better time. I want to thank the Hackerspace Charlotte Group for coming down and also the soon to be open Asheville group. Sadly to say with all the people and fun during the open house I forgot to take more pictures. So my picture count of the event is down to two picture.
Our friends from HSC
The only picture I thought about taking while people was talking
We are coming close to being finished with Phased 1 of the space.
With the end of Phase 1, we are planning to have an open house on Dec 17. Come see our space and meet our people.