Friday, March 21, 2025

Tue, March 25th Absence

Hey y'all,

I'm absent today, attending the KidWind Regional Competition at UVA with 3 Henley Teams. I have listed my sub plans below so that you know what is expected of you.

Monday, March 10, 2025

Microcontroller Tutorials (Arduino and micro:bit)

Microcontroller Tutorials

micro:bit

micro:bit is a good basic way to start using microcontrollers. It even has block programming, so elementary students can "code," too! Because my students are in the 7th and 8th grade Mechatronics classes, we use actual code:Arduino on TinkerCad:

Lucas1 Heart (display)https://youtu.be/G2U4RgM3RKU
Eli2 Smiley Button (input)https://youtu.be/P-oR-a7jmaQ
Hudson3 Dice (If/Then/Else Loops)https://youtu.be/cNkABtoAFys
Austin4 Step Counter (Conditional Loops)https://youtu.be/kHrf1c6st8g
Leigh"hot potato"https://youtu.be/9aEHW1uhPWY
August7 seconds gamehttps://youtu.be/CMzfFrVYmmI
Charlottecoin flipperhttps://youtu.be/A2QU1dh20AU
Gregcompasshttps://youtu.be/3dgzMmC2GNA
AlexCrashy Birdhttps://youtu.be/dxx6bnbqQLc
MasonFireflieshttps://youtu.be/rGUIr7iLg-0
Aldenlevelhttps://youtu.be/Btf57-qJWUU
Kingstonlove meterhttps://youtu.be/aBXZ2B8-ow4
Gerritmicro-chat (channel) - partnerhttps://youtu.be/kwgPFr5LP9g
Seanmicro-chat (channel)- partnerhttps://youtu.be/MUUfvhPlAX8
AaronMultiple Dicehttps://youtu.be/7lGWflE79zg
Juliansnap the dothttps://youtu.be/3tN2JF6mo_A
Ryantug of LEDhttps://youtu.be/FIk8xNncE1U

Arduino on TinkerCad

When we use Arduino in the Barber Shop, we try it out on TinkerCad first. This gives a rough draft "try" without having to worry about avrdude/Serial Port errors, AND it gives the coder a good diagram to look at when they are coding In Real Life:

RickArduino Button on TinkerCadhttps://youtu.be/Dx4jnm88shg
RobertArduino Fade on TinkerCadhttps://youtu.be/NzGHEVFtR6o
EliArduino For Loop Iteration on TinkerCadhttps://youtu.be/vjjr3HWaQLc
TreanorArduino RGB LED on TinkerCadhttps://youtu.be/TFtF7ppA6bw
LandonArduino Servo Knob on TinkerCadhttps://youtu.be/o4Ujij3pdqQ
AlexArduino Servo Sweep on TinkerCadhttps://youtu.be/-P-BQGk6WjI
TomArduino Tone Melody on TinkerCadhttps://youtu.be/u3LD3fdMup0

Arduino IRL

In my opinion, this is TRUE programming and controlling with a microcontroller, using an Arduino In Real Life:

CorbinArduino Blink In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/u4NmsMVaYn4
AlessioArduino Blink In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/RgPMFSKuy-E
Ge0rgeArduino Button In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/-p-HxpWy5Vk
SiriusArduino Button In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/dKgx1ZFbWE8
BraxtonArduino Fade In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/9aEHW1uhPWY
IsaiahArduino For Loop Iteration In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/_azq_C2ZFf8
SamArduino RGB LED In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/erlnfEwPcCA
BenArduino RGB LED In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/Y1ZgwSjP6NU
AndrewArduino Tone Melody In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/PZOtDDSs8oE

Mechatronics

Noah shows us true Mechatronics in his tutorial. He uses Code to convert Electrical Energy to Mechanical Energy:

NoahArduino Servo Knob In Real Lifehttps://youtu.be/Fk6brQz79YI


Mechatronics is Programming a Computer to convert Electricity to Mechanical Energy

What are examples?

In the past, 

  • My class has built and flown airplanes, similar to UVA’s RazorDrone

  • We have built a Lego MindStorm obstacle course (from ANCIENT Lego MindStorms I found left in one of my rooms)

  • At UVA, Mechatronics built the HooPrint AND a complete working electric guitar

  • What other examples can you see or think of that are Mechatronics?





Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Lasercutting Design Project Spring 2025

Here is the official signup: Student Signup (use the signup tab, NOT the chili spoon tab).

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Laser-cutting a Cell Phone Stand (on Birch or acrylic)

  1. Cell Phone Stand Video 1- Base File Setup
    • Call it "Username Cell Stand Back"
    • 12x12” workspace size
    • Change to RGB
  2. Cell Phone Stand Video 2- Setting Up your Back Piece
    • Open "Username Cell Stand Back
    • Increase the size of the bottom hole to put in the cords
    • 7” tall, 4” wide
  3. Cell Phone Stand Video 3- Bottom Piece
    • Call it "Username Cell Stand Base
  4. You will need to add an Engraved Decoration, could be copied and pasted from your earlier work ...

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Challenge Coin (on Birch)


2 students will have to work together to engrave on the front and the back of a circular piece of birch and then lasercut and engrave approximately 150 of them!

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Earrings (on Basswood)

 
  1. We trace the teacher's choice image/logo using their link or a Google image search and words like logo, cartoon, clipart, comic, outline, or silhouette to make the hornet as easy to trace as possible. Remember that you WON'T be coloring it! (Stroke: RGB Blue, Fill: None)
  2. The outline of the shape and the small hole vary, but we can iterate after you've lasercut on cardboard. (Stroke: RGB Red, Fill: None)
  3. After you've made the first one, we will be reflecting some or all of the design so that it's a mirror image of the first one. Then we will move them as close together as possible.

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Hall Pass (on Birch)

Hall Passes need:
  1. We trace a (non-Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket) Hornet using Google image search and words like logo, cartoon, clipart, comic, outline, silhouette to make the hornet as easy to trace as possible. Remember that you WON'T be coloring it! (Stroke: RGB Blue, Fill: None)
  2. You will also be tracing the teacher's choice image/logo the same way! (Stroke: RGB Blue, Fill: None)
  3. The Teacher's Name, Room Number, and Henley Hall Pass  (Stroke: RGB Blue, Fill: None) using the text tool to make them as readable as possible, using Calibri, Courier, Verdana, Arial, or other Sans Serif Fonts. All the words should be sized the same without stretching them!
  4. The Rounded Rectangle should be 3.5" x 3.5" and the hole should be big enough circle to clip a lanyard holder through the top but not TOO close to the top so it won't break off (we don't supply lanyards ... I don't have any to give away) (Stroke: RGB Red, Fill: None)

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Hornet Faceplate (on Acrylic) for use in an aquarium with LED lights
This is specific to Mr. Nunley's needs. 
  1. We trace a (non-Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket) Hornet using Google image search and words like logo, cartoon, clipart, comic, outline, silhouette to make the hornet as easy to trace as possible. Remember that you WON'T be coloring it! (Stroke: RGB Blue, Fill: None)
  2. It SHOULD have a Rectangle that he can specify the size. (Stroke: RGB Red, Fill: None) We can probably adjust the size after you have cut your first prototype on cardboard.

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Keychains (on Birch)
  1. We trace the teacher's choice image/logo using their link or a Google image search and words like logo, cartoon, clipart, comic, outline, or silhouette to make the hornet as easy to trace as possible. Remember that you WON'T be coloring it! (Stroke: RGB Blue, Fill: None)
  2. The outline of the shape and the small hole vary, but we can iterate after you've lasercut on cardboard. (Stroke: RGB Red, Fill: None)
  3. We can probably adjust the size after you have cut your first prototype on cardboard.

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Lasercutting 3D Snowflakes or Ornaments (on Basswood)

  1. We trace the teacher's choice image/logo using their link or a Google image search and words like logo, cartoon, clipart, comic, outline, or silhouette to make the hornet as easy to trace as possible. Remember that you WON'T be coloring it! (Stroke: RGB Blue, Fill: None)
  2. The outline of the shape and the small hole vary, but we can iterate after you've lasercut on cardboard. (Stroke: RGB Red, Fill: None)



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Thursday, October 10, 2024

Lasercutting and 3D printing in the Barber Shop

3d printing 

  1. Click on Prusa Slicer


  1. Pull out the SD card, plug it into the Vanja “Thumb Drive” and plug that into the computer


  1. Click on Add.


  1. Find your .STL file in the 00001BARBERTECHNOLOGYFOLDER without typing (the list SHOULD be in ABC order … double click or click and open.


  1. Click Slice Now in the Bottom Right corner.


  1. Click Export GCODE in the Bottom Right corner.


  1. Find “USB Drive” on the left side to save it in. (Save)


  1. Click the Eject Button (NOT THE X).


  1. Remove the Vanja and SD Card and put them back where you got them (Vanja Thumb Drive goes back in the Orange Tray & SD Card goes back in the Prusa- MAKE SURE THE METAL IS FACING YOU.


  1. Turn the knob clockwise until it points > to your file and then poke it in quickly like a button. DO NOT HOLD IT IN TOO LONG.


Lasercutting

PROTOTYPES ON CARDBOARD MUST BE APPROVED BEFORE YOU CAN LASERCUT FINAL PRODUCTS ON BIRCH

  1. Open your Adobe Illustrator Project. After the previous lasercut is done, click File & Print.

  2. On the Print Window, click Print.

  3. Click on the red lasercutter icon (next to Adobe Illustrator on the taskbar).

  4. If all your lines are bright red and blue, you are ready to move your design. If it is light & gray, STOP! Click on the button with 4 arrows. Some squares will appear. Drag the squares to move your design around. Take care not to miss and accidentally ZOOM in.

  5. The “Focus View” button to the left of “arrows button” will put a red laser pointer dot on the material. Click on all the edges and corners to make sure your design will fit on your material (the top has to be open for the red dot to appear).

  6. Once you are sure it will fit, click on the magnifying glass button to change the red “Go” button to “Settings”.

  1. Cardboard

Click on the Manual Control Tab:

MAKE SURE TO CLICK “APPLY” AFTER EACH ROW

  1. BIRCH, go to Materials Database, then click on

+ next to Natural

+ next to Wood

+ next to Hard Wood

Then click on the actual words General Hard Woods

Set the thickness to ____ (Calipers???)

AFTER YOU HAVE RUN IT ONCE, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE CUT THROUGH!! You might need to run red only again!


Color

Mode

Power

Speed

PPI

Black

Skip

doesn’t matter, just click Apply

Blue

Rast/Vect

100%

40%

500

Red

Rast/Vect

100%

12%

300


7. BASSWOOD, go to Materials Database, then click on

+ next to Natural

+ next to Wood

+ next to Soft Wood

Then click on the actual words General Soft Woods

Set the thickness to ____ (Calipers???)

AFTER YOU HAVE RUN IT ONCE, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE CUT THROUGH!! You might need to run red only again!

You’re ready to lasercut!

  1. Shut the lasercutter, and DON’T LET IT SLAM!! 

  2. Turn on the fan, by flipping the light switch on the outlet behind the lasercutter. 

  3. Click the big, green play button to start it. 

  4. Monitor it closely to make sure it doesn’t catch on fire. If it DOES catch on fire … yell, scream, and freak out until Mr. B comes running over. 

  5. After the duh-duh noise from previous cuts, the next person can click File >> Print as you can cut off the fan and retrieve your lasercut!!

FIRE??? If it DOES catch on fire … yell, scream, and freak out until Mr. B comes running over. Post-fire, we open the garage door and point every fan OUT. Leave the exhaust fan on, even though we won’t lasercut for a bit!