In case you missed the reminder post, we are heading to San Mateo, Cali. in just a few short days for Maker Faire - a two-day family-friendly event where like-minded people gather to create, share, and celebrate the entire DIY culture. It's pretty much awesome. We've been getting a few questions from the community about what workshops we are going to be running this year, so here ya go!
The first workshop is one that you might know - the PTH (plated through-hole) Soldering Workshop. If you've never soldered before (or just like to solder), this is the class for you! We've been teaching soldering a lot over the past few years - this workshop is a combination of everything we've learned. This course teaches through-hole soldering and is recommended for the true beginner. This will be a hands-on class where the students learn techniques to help them solder through-hole components. By the end of the workshop, you will be proficient at through-hole soldering and will have a shiny new SparkFun toy to take home and show off to your friends (we get funny looks all the time).
The kits for the PTH workshop are Simon PTH, ClockIt, Multimeter, LectroCandle , and the Terror-min.
SparkFun is also offering a LilyPad Workshop. This workshop is an easy way to add light to any project and is a great introduction to simple electrical circuits. In this workshop, you will learn fundamental circuit creation and how to get the most out of your battery. Using LilyPad technology, you will learn how to add LEDs to a fabric swatch (or your own piece of clothing). This is a great introductory class with the opportunity to learn the basics of E-Textiles.
We will stop filling seats one hour before the Faire closes, so make sure not to show up right at the end of the day. Class times are as follows (we will fill seats on a rotating basis):
The LilyPad Workshop
- Saturday from 10:00am to 12:00pm
- Sunday: 12:00pm to Faire close
The PTH Workshop
- Saturday: 12:00pm to Faire close
- Sunday: 12:00pm to Faire close
Hope to see you there!
will do you streaming the workshop?
lilypad arduino workshop
Woooohooo! Can't wait for for the Maker Fair and to see you guys there, Its like a big party of Productive fun and learning good times!!!
~GeekOn!
P.S. Some are predicting judgment day on Friday May 21st the day before Maker Fair opens... No fear, this is not NOT "The end of the world" just judgment day. So if it happens Maker Fair can continue, but you may want to bring some extra solder, snacks and anything that could help fend off zombies.
Just a follow up on that… The ‘sky is falling’ was pretty much a big yawn. I think someone was lifting their leg, one too many times, on the electric fence.
But I really like that idea, down bellow, about any type of Arduino Workshop. I think that would be fun. I think I would even try out the Lilypad Arduino Workshop too.
So are the workshops free, or is there a cost associated? What's the duration of the workshops?
We ask for a donation to participate in the workshops, all of which goes to two Bay Area non-profits (the San Francisco Food Bank and the Way Back Machine). The workshops, on average, take about 30 minutes - shorter if you are a skilled solderer or longer if you are just learning.
I did the "Simon" workshop just for giggles - most of the others doing it were under 12 (with their parents)! Was fun watching the kids faces when they flicked a switch and their project came to life! $20 well spent! Great day overall too!
Is SparkFun going to the Kansas City Makers Faire by the way?
http://www.makerfairekc.com/
We're not planning to, as of now. There are quite a few Maker Faires throughout the year and it's just not feasible for us to attend all of them.
Too bad, KS would have been a great place to show off SparkFun and show those mid-westerns they can have fun with electronics. I am out here in Seattle, hope you guys make it out here one day.
You know, it's only a jump on I-36 in Boulder, a nice drive through Kansas (…Up-Down-Up-Down-Up-Down-Up-Down … REPEAT… don’t get sick… one turn to the right, and one turn to the left… Say, who needs a roller coaster when you have Kansas and I-36?) to get to St Joseph, and just a skip to the south to find Kansas City. I know, I used to do it once a year on my way to school.
Is the Maker Faire ever someplace Central?
There is one in North Carolina June 18th http://makerfairenc.com/
There is a Maker Faire in Kansas City, June the 24th through June the 26th. At our Union Station!
http://www.makerfairekc.com/
Are you guys coming to World maker faire this fall? cause I might just be there for a soldering workshop (if SMD is avalible) or just to chat and look at inventions.
I asked in the feedback box, and Toni said "We are currently planning on attending the New York Maker Faire, but I don't believe anything is solidified yet."
The PTH soldering workshop would be a perfect place to introduce the:
Dun dun DUN!
SparkFun Soldering Iron kit!
They should actually sell that, it would be great for us el cheapo iron owners, since it could control the iron we already have. And if it came with good lead-free solder, then I wouldn't be frightened of soldering!
Don't fear the lead! It doesn't vaporize. The smoke is just rosin. Just don't eat it and do wash your hands and you will be fine. Actually... in small amounts as a one time thing you will probably be fine if you do eat it but please don't ok!
Lead free solder is for throw-away electronics. It forms little whiskers that cause shorts over time. They are thin and vaporize when current passes through but the vapor trail continues to conduct allowing them to pass high enough current to fry your creation.
I meant SFEs Special Blend Solder.