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SparkFun Summer Semester
Got an idea for a prototype but not sure exactly how to make it happen? SparkFun Electronics is offering five days of prototyping skills from schematic to breadboard to gerber files to soldering and stenciling. Bring your ideas, half-finished designs, enthusiasm and your own lunch! (Or visit a local eatery.)
This class will start with a discussion of the design process, sourcing parts and datasheets as well as how to create schematics, followed by an introduction to Arduino. The second day will cover soldering (PTH or SMD), a brief discussion of Lilypad (with optional take-home activity), solder stenciling and an introduction to Processing. On day three we will work with Eagle PCB layout software and cover more Arduino programming concepts. Day four is dedicated to GPS and wireless. On the final day SparkFun will provide a whole day of support for independent pursuit of projects. While we can’t promise you will finish your project, we can promise that we will make sure you get exposure to a wide variety of skills and plenty of time to discuss design details with our engineers.
Concepts covered:
- Napkin Schematics
- Datasheets
- Arduino Programming and Serial
- Soldering (PTH or SMD)
- Sewing circuits with Lilypad products or Stencil soldering
- PCB layout with Eagle
- Wireless (Activity with Xbee)
- GPS (Activity with EM406)
Materials Included in this class:
- SparkFun Electronics Prototyping Binder
- SparkFun Inventor’s Kit
- Simon soldering kit
- Lilypad TechStyles kit
- Arduino Pro 328/5V/16MHz
- 2 x Xbee Series 2 Radio
- Xbee USB Serial Adapter
- Xbee Shield
- EM-406A GPS module
- GPS shield
What to bring: Students are asked to provide their own laptop, several ideas to pursue throughout the class and food for brainpower, or the means to go to a local eatery.
**Note: **Please install the Arduino software on your computer before the class. Click here for instructions on installing the Arduino software.
Also, please install CoolTerm on your computer before the class. Click here for CoolTerm download.If you are a windows user then you will also need to install X-CTU. Click here for X-CTU download.
In adition, you will also need the FTDI chip driver for use with our XBee Explorer. Click here for FTDI chip driver download.
Finally, please install the Eagle Light software on your computer before the class.****Click here for information on installing Eagle Light.
Date: Monday August 15th through Friday August 19th
Time: 8 am – 5 pm (One hour break for lunch)
Location:SparkFun Electronics
Instructors: Aaron, Ben, Dia, Lindsay, Michelle, Mike, Pete & Rob
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Customer Reviews
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So if I sign up 100 people for this class, we'll all save $100?
I wonder whats the pricing for 1000 people...
Do you have any insight to when this class may be offered again?
This class was absolutely phenomenal. The SparkFun staff pulled together an amazingly comprehensive class that packed fun, information, and variety into one extremely dense SMD package for public consumption. Just the right fit for noobs like myself to splash down into circuits and prototyping in an environment that caters to the creative mind. We ranged from the total beginners up to professors at universities, and there was a wealth of knowledge for all of us.
All of the staff really knew their stuff and all of the speakers we had gave us a broad range of topics to think about and explore. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Keep 'em coming, SparkFun!
What ages is this class geared to?
What kind of programming or other knowledge is recomended prior to taking this class?
Yay! I was the last to sign up xD. This is going to be so much fun, it's going to be SparkFun!
Please tell me your gonna offer this again. The timing before school was perfect. I was hoping it wouldn't sell out before payday, but alas....
agreed - added to wishlist
Would love to attend, but Boulder CO, is a long way from where I live. How about taking the class on the road, say to Palm Springs this winter?
If I already own the SparkFun Inventor’s Kit, can I get a discount?
Why could you have done this class one week earlier, cuz thats my first week of school
Bummer, just signed up for some of your Sat/Sun, XBee classes. If I'd had known this was on the horizon I would have seriously considered a fun week of making stuff and learning.