FABLAB PERU

Group Assignment:

Use the test equipment in your lab to observe the operation of a microcontroller circuit board (as a minimum, you should demonstrate the use of a multimeter and oscilloscope)
Document your work on the group work page and reflect what you learned on your individual page

Individual Assignment:

Use an EDA tool to design a development board that uses parts from the inventory to interact and communicate with an embedded microcontroller.
extra credit: try another design workflow
extra credit: simulate your design
extra credit: design a case around your design

Have you answered these questions?

Linked to the group assignment page. ✅
Documented what you have learned in electronics design. ✅
Checked your board can be fabricated. ✅
Explained problems and how you fixed them. ✅
Included original design files (Eagle, KiCad, etc.) ✅
Included a ‘hero shot’ ✅

Group Assignment

Use the test equipment in your lab to observe the operation of a microcontroller circuit board (as a minimum, you should demonstrate the use of a multimeter and oscilloscope)
Document your work on the group work page and reflect what you learned on your individual page

Group assignment

teamwork

For this task, I used my personal oscilloscope, since the UNCP Fab Lab where I work doesn't currently have this testing instrument. So, I made the most of this instrument, as it's a PC oscilloscope with a good bandwidth (20 MHz). The software is intuitive.

In addition, it allowed me to better understand the concepts of measuring different signals. This measuring instrument is very similar to a bench oscilloscope.

Reflections

While performing the measurements, I understood several fundamental concepts, since measurements with an oscilloscope and multimeter are essential in electronics, electricity, and engineering because they allow us to verify, diagnose, and validate the behavior of circuits and components. With the multimeter, we can measure current, voltage, resistance, among others, and with the oscilloscope, we can visualize the signals, measure frequency, amplitude, and period. In addition, we can compare two signals. These tools are essential for both electronic diagnosis and repair.

Individual Assignment

Use an EDA tool to design a development board that uses parts from the inventory to interact and communicate with an embedded microcontroller.
extra credit: try another design workflow
extra credit: simulate your design
extra credit: design a case around your design

To carry out the individual assignment consisting of the electronic design using the Xiao ESP32 C3 microcontroller, in this case the KICad EDA software was used, for which it was downloaded by performing the following steps.

On the main page, we select our operating system, in our case “Windows” and download the installer (.exe). The version we will install on our machine will be 9.0.2, the latest version.

Once the download is complete, the next step is to double-click the downloaded executable file called KiCad 9.0.2 and then click 'Next' to begin the installation process.

The installation process consists of continuing to click “Next” at each step until the installation is complete.

Electronic Design

Now we can open the program and create a new project, in my case I named it ESP 32C3, two files are generated, one is the schematic editor and the other is the board editor.

In the schematic editor, we start working on our diagram.

symbol library

We added a symbol library.

library of symbols downloaded

We added a library of symbols downloaded from Fab Xiao's repository

Xiao ESP32 C3 component

We locate the Xiao ESP32 C3 component in the symbol library

Schematic diagram of the Xiao ESP32 C3

Once the Xiao ESP32 C3 component is located, we transfer it to the schematic sheet.

Footprint Library

Next, the Fingerprint Library is added by going to the preferences window

Display of the symbol and footprint of the XIAO ESP32 C3 module

This window displays the symbol and fingerprint of the XIAO ESP32 C3 module.

Pins and labels of the XIAO ESP32 C3 module

The schematic diagram shows the pins and labels of the XIAO ESP32 C3 module.

Preview of the schematic diagram of the XIAO ESP32 C3 module

Following the steps shows the progress of the schematic diagram of the XIAO ESP32 C3 module

PCB Design

In KiCad, enter the PCB Editor

In KiCad, enter the PCB Editor displayed in the project window

PCB Editor

In the PCB Editor, you update the data by using the Tools button and selecting Update PCB from Schematic.

Design on the plate

PCB updated, you can see the layout on the board.

Circuit design on the board

Design on the plate

PCB updated, you can see the layout on the board.

3D viewer

The image is now displayed in the 3D viewer with all its components.

Plate with 3D viewer

Conclusions

After reviewing the documentation for week 12 of Fab Academy 2025, I am deeply satisfied with the progress of the "VibroBot: A Sound-Powered Kinetic Machine" project. This project successfully linked a sound signal (such as a clap, voice, or music) with the activation of movement. This also opens up the possibility of designing interactive toys, sound-response systems, or environmentally sensitive kinetic art. This project allowed me to integrate and strengthen various knowledge acquired throughout the course, from conceptualization to prototype implementation.
The virtual collaboration with my colleague Evelyn, despite the physical distance between Lima and Huancayo, was crucial. Together, we divided the tasks efficiently: she was in charge of programming, sensory system design, and electronic integration, while I was in charge of building the mechanical structure and adapting mechanical and electronic components. This collaborative experience strengthened my teamwork and communication skills, essential in collaborative technological projects.

Link to files used this week

1. kicad design.zip

Plate with 3D viewer