Mar 11, 2024 |  Translating the Electronics Night meeting notes into a planning document.

I've taken the below notes and translated them into a planning document.   Please click on the LINK HERE to be linked to the spreadsheet.   Please let me know if anyone has more comments.  Regards, Mark

AreaDescriptionActivitiesEquipmentPower / HVAC / Lighting RequirementsAdjacencies
Whole E-Lab

  • Single, small-form factors computer
  • Dual monitors with selectable inputs. Like classroom TV
  • Projector & surface
  • Whiteboard to draw upon
  • Prometheus Board (wish list)
  • Need to keep Rh within limits (?)
  • At least one (1) 20amp circuit with two (2) quad outlets separated such that we can plug in at least two (2) fused power strips for various equipment
  • Would prefer two (2) 20amp circuts
  • Classroom - Room to spread out onto tables
Fabrication & Assembly
  • Individual work on projects
  • Collaborative area that we can work face to face
  • Space to work on microcontrollers and SBC projects
  • Assembly for small projects, putting pieces together and/or putting pieces into project boxes or containers (ie., rockets, robots, etc., etc.)
  • 30"x60" work surfaces
  • Static dissipative, grounded surface.
  • Hard surface for cutting, pounding, heating, etc. (needs to be durable)
  • Handtools nearby - pegboard or clearly labeled bins or drawers (will have to decide on what tools this means)(see * below)
  • Ethernet hard drop(s)
  • Two soldering stations;
    • one higher end (rework and more) and
    • one general purpose
  • Pano-vices / Chip Holders, e.g. KOTTIO Holding Hands
  • PCB preheater - 110v 600watt, e.g. this one
  • Hot Air Rework Station
  • Reflow Oven
  • Where do we ground to?
  • Filtration or Ventilation for soldering and/or solvents
  • Ambient Air Temp - between 68 and 72degrees
  • Moveable task lighting
  • Soldering stations will need ventilation or  filtration, e.g. KOTTO Solder Smoke Absorber
  • Classroom or large table area for group events - Groups, Teams, Presentations (KidWind, Rocket Teams, Robot Teams, etc.)
  • Flexible in configuration to accomodate different sized things
Testing
  • Use of test equipment to measure performance of products
  • Testing of proto-type products
  • Ethernet hard drop(s)
  • 30"x60" work surface
  • Binocular magnifier
  • Electrical Cords
  • Testing banana cables
  • 30v 10a power supply
  • Dilip's dual power supply
  • (2 Leader tracking power supplies)
  • (HP power supply)
  • Signal Generator (Questionable to keep)
  • Spectrum Analyzer (Questionable to keep)
  • Oscilloscope (Very much needed)
  • Wall Warts - Standard set of 3.3v, 5v, 12v
  • Static dissipative, grounded surface.
  • Analog Monitor - to attach to Oscilloscope

Wholly within the Elab
Demonstration
  • Collaborative area that we can work face to face

  • Arduinos, RaspberryPi's, CPX's
  • Breadboards, hook-up wires
  • LED's, components
  • Ethernet hard drop(s)

May have to spill out to Classroom
Education
  • Space for presentation of electrical concepts, technologies and equipment
  • Collaborative learning area
  • In-person/Virtual Meeting/Classroom
  • Soldering 101 events
  • Take-a-part events
  • Build-a-circuit events
  • Conduct dual format workshops
  • see more ideas in list below
  • Kits and Equipment to support regular events.
  • Multiple soldering stations
  • Worksurfaces like the desks in classroom
  • See Kit listings below

Spread out broken stuff to DIY fix stuff

We'd suggest implementing four identical 'virtual meeting' setups to conduct in-person and virtual workshops at the following locations:

  • Leesburg upstairs
  • Leesburg downstairs
  • Purcellville Green Room
  • Purcellville lower classroom

  • cameras
  • computer(s)
  • software

 
Storage
  • Small Parts Storage (LEDs, SMT parts, resistors, capacitors, MOSFETs, etc.)
  • Large Parts Storage (Project boxes, heat sinks, cableing, wire, etc.)
  • Sorting of parts
  • Labeling of parts boxes
  • Placing boxes in order
  • Cubbies and/or Racks
    • (3 Grey Units)
    • (1 Bin Rack)
    • (6 tool boxes)
    • (drone parts)
    • (robot parts)
  • Racks, Closets, Shelves
    • (2 door cabinet)
    • (10 Black & Yellow Boxes)
    • (2 wire racks)
    • (bookcase for equipment manuals)
    • (large diameter shrink wrap and long tubes)

  • Wholly within the Elab or immediately adjacent
  • If located in Classroom,  Classes can't block access to stuff in storage

Assembly kit

  • Flush cutters
  • Wire strippers
  • Tweezers
  • Dental picks
  • Screwdrivers
  • Bench sockets
  • Small notebook
  • Pens, pencils

Soldering station kit

  • Solder wire
  • Solder station tips
  • Solder suckers
  • Braided wire
  • Shrink wrap
  • Flux dispensers
  • Jeweler's magnifier
  • Soldering station
  • Sponges (natural & brillo)
  • Tip tinner

List of potential classes or workshops

  1. Home Automation
  2. Home Networking
  3. Raspberry Pi Projects
  4. Arduino Projects
  5. LoRa Projects
  6. Self-paced electronics projects
  7. Radio Projects
  8. Solar Projects
  9. CNC Foundation 

Mar 7, 2024 | Electronics Night Meeting to discuss what Electronics Lab wants to be when relocated to Makersmiths-Leesburg downstairs

Attendees: 

Oliver, Mark, Allon & Alisha 

Notes

  • Do a needs assessment first.
    • Test Equipment - What test equipment do we want downstairs?
      •  Grounding Requirements - Avoidance of static electricity
      •  Wall warts - Standard set of 3, 5, 12 volt power supplies
      •  Set of banana cables  separated into type 
      •  Anti-static mats on each table
      • Hot Air Rework Station
      • Reflow Oven
      • Power Supply (ies) - Single Output (30v 10a), Dilips’ Dual Output ( ??),  (Two Leader Tracking power supplies and and one HP brand PSs)
      • Signal Generators?  2 of them (??) - Questionable to keep
      • Spectrum Analyzer?  1  (??) - Questionable to keep
      • Oscilloscope 1 (??) - Yes, Yes, Yes  Very much needed
      • Any other equipment?
    • Computers 
      •  Single linux-based small form factor computer, maybe?
    • Monitors
      •  Projector or Prometheus or whiteboard
    • Soldering Station(s)
      • Two soldering stations; one higher end (rework and more) and one for general purpose, solder suckers
      •  Consider filtering or exhaust nearby
    • Other Equipment?
      •  Flush cutters, wire strippers, tweezers, dental picks, screwdrivers, bench sockets,  
    • General Lighting? - LED 2x4s
    • Any Task Lighting? - Task specific lighting on at least one bench
    • Any special requirements, such as exhaust for soldering or SMT work?
    • Humidifier or Dehumidifier? - Keep it within certain Rh limits
    • How many people at a time? - Optimize for two, any more, we’ll spill over into the classroom.
    • Test Equipment - list of pieces and dimensions of them.  Also consider where electrical cords go…
    • Binocular magnifier(s)
    • Storage Requirements
      • Three Gray Units
      • Bin Rack
      • Two Door Cabinet
      • Wire Racks
      • Bookcases with equipment manuals
      • Large diameter shrink wrap and long tubes
      • Tool boxes
      • Drone Parts
      • Small Hardware Bins
      • Black and Yellow boxes
      • Parts Bins
    • Storage Shelves and/or Racks
    • Work surfaces
      • Hard surface - cutting, pounding, heat, (needs to be durable)
      • Static Dissipative, grounded surface (where do we ground to?)
    • Hand tools - pegboard or clearly labeled bins or drawers
      • Will have to decide on what tools this means
    • Breadboard(s), jumper wires in all combinations, 
    • Arduinos and RaspberryPis
    • What will be electrical requirements for
    • What are lighting requirements?
    • What are HVAC requirements?
    • How many people are we looking to work in this space?
    • Listing of Equipment
    • Hard drop(s) for ethernet connections
    • Materials


  • From Needs listing, we do a ‘space program’, listing space/area and the requirements of each
  • From Space Program, we do three preliminary layouts / designs
  • From Preliminary, we select one to refine.
  • From Preliminary, we will price things out and create a draft timeline
  • From Final Design, we will include layout, costs & timeline.
  • Then to Facility Committee and Board of Directors for $$$$


Big Picture Planning

  • Overall discussion of what the Elab wants to be:
    • Flexible in configuration to accommodate different sized things
    • Spread out broken stuff to DIY fix
    • Collaboration space - something to be able to work face to face
    • Space to demo stuff face to face
    • Space to work on micro-controllers
    • Space to work on project boxes; assembly for small projects
    • Three Main Sections:  Fabrication & Assembly, Testing and finally Demonstration
    • Support for group activities (for example KidWind) and/or classes - robot teams, rocket teams, home automation teams
    • Support for proto-typing entrepreneurs
    • Will be important to know what we have and where it is located.
    • Support for education:  IE. a Classroom kit - multi soldering kits and accessories - Will likely need three to six stations for Classroom function



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