The second month of Fab Academy 2025 has been packed with hands-on projects, advanced techniques, and inspiring discussions. From building furniture-sized projects with CNC machines to diving into cutting-edge quantum optics and electronics production, our students continue to push the boundaries of digital fabrication. Let's take a look at the highlights from this exciting month!

🪚 Recap of the Month

The month began with an in-depth exploration of CNC machining, an essential skill for fabricating large, functional structures. Under Neil’s guidance, students worked with full sheets of plywood, creating furniture-sized prototypes while mastering different aspects of the machining process. They were introduced to various types of CNC machines, ranging from small handheld routers to large industrial systems, and learned the importance of tool selection—distinguishing between drill bits and end mills to ensure precise cuts. Advanced machining techniques, such as trochoidal milling and chip load management, were discussed to optimize efficiency, while a strong emphasis was placed on safety, proper fixturing, and precision.

The focus then shifted to electronics, with students diving into printed circuit board (PCB) production—an essential component of functional prototyping. Neil introduced various PCB production methods, including milling, etching, and vinyl cutting, and showcased advanced machines like the xTool F1 Ultra for PCB engraving. The module also covered material choices, comparing FR1 and FR4 boards, with a strong emphasis on safe chemical disposal practices. Students refined their precision techniques, using stencils for reflow soldering and mastering intricate hand-soldering methods.

Building on these skills, Neil guided students through an exploration of input devices and sensors, demonstrating how they can be interfaced with microcontrollers to create interactive projects. Students experimented with capacitive sensing for detecting touch and material composition, magnetic field sensing through vector magnetometers for spatial awareness, and gesture recognition using Doppler radar and RGB sensors. Additionally, they explored advanced sensor interfaces by integrating accelerometers, gyroscopes, and light sensors, expanding their capabilities for dynamic and responsive projects.

Student Highlights:

• Shintaro Ito (Kannai) (opens new window) – Extendable Table

• Evelyn Cuadrado (Lima) (opens new window) – Cupboard

• Mkhitar Evoyan (Armenia) (opens new window) – Foosball Table

• Carl Mcateer (Creative Spark) (opens new window) – Awesome Chair

• Jhasmin Ayala (ESAN) (opens new window) – Boards Shaped Like Organs

• Johannes Andresson (Isafjordur) (opens new window) – 2-Axis Force Sensor

• Akash Edamana (Kochi) (opens new window) – Neopixel + Accelerometer

• Namita Aravind (Kerala) (opens new window) – Rotary Encoder and Capacitive Sensor

Featured Projects:

• Ana Camila Luna (Cuenca) (opens new window) – PCB Laser Engraving

• Namita Aravind (Kerala) (opens new window) – Space Invaders Board

• Abin Mathew (Kochi) (opens new window) – Vinyl Copper Board

• Ofelia Sevilla (Ulima) (opens new window) – Nice Board

🎙️ Recitations: New Skills and Perspectives

Fab Academy hosted multiple insightful recitations this month:

• Fab 2.0 Portal: Exploring open designs of Fab Lab machines that can be built within a Fab Lab

• Quantum and Optics Discussion: How Fab Labs can make optical experiments more accessible

• Machine Building and Inputs: Hands-on approaches to integrating sensors with microcontrollers

Catch the recordings here: www.youtube.com/playlist (opens new window)

🚀 Looking Ahead: Pushing Innovation Further

As we move into the next phase of Fab Academy 2025, students will focus on output devices, networking, and application programming. The journey thus far has been transformative, and we can't wait to see what comes next!

#FabAcademy #DigitalFabrication #MakerMovement #CNC #QuantumMechanics #Electronics #Innovation #InputDevices

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