Too Many Choices!

I have been testing the water and have decided that I just need to jump in with both feet.  I did the wood shop and rapid prototyping certifications so I could start making, and have managed to get mired in the swamp of possibilities!  This or that or maybe this other thing...  alas, I have little to show for my musings other than some sketches and a little bit of hope.

I did make some ornaments similar to my IaM fellow, Ellen, which was super fun!  I played around with different materials, using balsa wood, basswood, and acrylic.  I did learn that Lexan is not ok to laser.  It gives off toxic fumes.  The other thing to pay attention to is adhesives.  Anything with chlorine will give off toxic gas.

One of the things I am going to explore is the properties of different materials when cut and etched with different settings.  I have been talking with my forestry and building trades colleagues about the properties of different woods.  It is a fascinating science all on its own! They are going to keep slices from trees they cut down so I can etch them with a silhouette of that species and the name and maybe a leaf.  It could be a cool display.  

First "solo" project (with help)

I made my first item: laser cut ornaments out of 1/4" wood. I spent roughly 4 hours at Generator Wed night using Adobe Illustrator to create the ornaments. Even though I only used simple shapes & text, I had to learn how to:

• navigate in the program (e.g. zooming in & out, moving items on & off the workspace)
• make symmetrical shapes (circles & squares)
• change text into a path, so it becomes an object
• subtract and add shapes from one another
• create a .001 hairline for vector cutting

I confess I did a little air fistpump at one point when I figured out how to merge text into the ornament shape so it became just positive & negative spaces for cutting.

Yesterday evening I arranged with a kind member to use a small window of his scheduled 5 hour laser cutter time (thank you!) to print my ornaments. Luckily, Annika was at the desk and helped me with the questions (& jitters) I had to start printing...and she shared her ideal 1/4" wood settings (4-94-20)! I was so pleased it all worked out yesterday...big smile!

Laser Cut Lanterns!

I signed up for the Laser Cut Lanterns workshop with Pete Talbot at Generator, just to help get me started. The workshop was this past Sunday, and Pete was *so generous* with his time. What an awesome guy! It was a very good workshop, with a nice balance of structure and flexibility. Pete had a star template ready for us to customize cut out openings for the light to shine through. It was my first time using Adobe Illustrator. I still need to spray paint, score, fold & assemble my light. Learning to use the laser cutter is really learning to use Adobe Illustrator or another piece of software to create EPS files. My boyfriend used InkScape, and there were lots of problems with his file. Hoping InkScape will still be a viable option for this....

SLOW start

December is here and the clock is ticking! I am acutely aware how short 2 months are.

I went to a Generator orientation last week. Fortunately, I met with Caty, my fellow-Igniter, the day before, so I knew this orientation was NOT going to prepare me to use any equipment at Generator. I've been to the space and a few events there before, so I knew where everything was located. I think I could have given that tour.

I am signed up for the protoyping certification this week. Also, the laser cut lantern class I'd signed up for weeks ago that was postponed is going to happen this Sunday. My hope is, after this week, I will be able to use the laser cutter.

I wonder if, in the future, people with this wonderful opportunity could complete the orientation and any needed certifications  before the 2 months' membership started. That way, one would really have the full 2 months to make. 

Here's what I'm thinking about making:

• laser cut ornaments
• laser cut lamps and a re-do of a 3d printed light I made
• laser cut altered books (tunnel books) and laser-cut altered books with light

Here's what I'm worrying about:

• I won't be here over the Christmas break, so I lose all that nonschool time to make stuff
• How long it will take me to be proficient enough in the software I'll need
• When I will find time to be at Generator, given that I'm usually away on weekends

...essentially, all variations on the same theme: how to get 2 months' of making done with life, work, and the needed certifications and learning to even get started.

As a favorite principal of mine used to say, "Ready, fire, aim!"

Welcome our first two IGNITE A MAKER educator/makers this year

From Zero to Maker   ~ Professional Development
sponsored by Vita-Learn

Announcing our Nov - Jan Maker/Educators

Watch us learn (Read our learning journal through this blog)  Application (Apply for Feb/Mar or Apr/May) A professional development opportunity to fuel innovation in Vermont Schools.  Learn more by following the experience of our maker/educators or apply for the next round of  IGNITE a MAKER.

Exploring the Arduino Bean

Tonight black hat project journey lead to more exploring and testing with the Arduino micro processor I'd like to add to my Black Hat project ~ The  Light Blue Bean.

I had previously installed the software on my Mac and was successful in using bluetooth to communicate with the Bean from my Mac.  I used the simple Blink code and was able to change the blinking patterns of the onboard LED.   The only trouble I rant into was that my Arduino version was a bit outdated, but after an update, all worked fine. 

But I ran into erratic behavior when trying to control the BEAN using Bean Loader for  IOS.  

After a little digging on line, I found I was not the only one with erratic issues.  

Decided not to worry so much about that for now and to keep exploring.

I was  successful in using the TickleApp on my iPad to communicate with the Bean.  Loved the idea of being able to use this interface for coding and introducing the power or Arduino using Tickle.  

My next step was to discover how many LED's I'd be able to include in my black hat  eTextile project.  The Bean labels its pins A0, A1, 0,1,2,3,4,5.

Since soldering LED's to those pins was not going to be conducive to the prototyping I needed to do, and the holes were too tiny and close together to use alligator clip,  my husband suggested soldering on a breakaway header male pins to the Beans first row so I could easily use male/female jumper cables to prototype.

What a great idea that was.   It also gave me some much needed soldering practice. 

With my modified Bean in place I started to prototype.

I begin by skimming through the sample projects on the Bean's LEARN page and found that the Death Star project was the most accessible for me.  It very closely resembled the Santa Hat project I created last year (blinking lights and a Piezo speaker playing Jingle Bells music  with a tilt sensor).

I followed the instruction and wired up a Piezo speaker and one LED to the Bean,  copied the sample Code into my Arduino IDE, uploaded it using Bean Loader and crossed my fingers.  As soon as I moved the Bean around I got LIGHTS and SOUND!  SUCCESS!

Next question -- How many LED will the BEAN support as is. I added another LED to PIN 4, modified the code.  NOTHING!  

After a bit more exploring I decided to remove all variables,  simplify the code by going back to the EXAMPLE BLINK CODE provided with the BEAN.  Note -  not the Arduino standard BLINK CODE, but the specific BEAN BLINK example. 

A bit more, troubleshooting revealed that the culprit was a bad solder joint on Pin 4.  Time to Step back and test all my other pins  A0, A1, 0,1,2,3,4,5 and they all worked (EXCEPT 4).   I'll resolder tomorrow. 

But I am pleased to report that the BEAN  successfully powered 7 LEDs hooked up to each of the first row of pins, and I suspect that a little solder repair will bump that up to 8 no problem. 

Not bad for one little coin celled battery.  Note:  as recommended in the Death Star instruction I used a 10 Ohm resistor on each LED.  Here's a tour of  the BEAN lighting 7 LEDs using a coin cell battery.

Lucie's new black hat project

As we gear up for another IGNITE a Maker session,  I'm feeling inspired to make.

The other day my grandson, Simon, and I went shopping for hats.  He found the perfect hat for Simon  and I found the perfect hat for my next maker project.    

It started as a simple black felt hat.  I started to imagine all sorts of possibilities.  

I wanted it to take my learning to a new level. As several ideas swirled in my head,  I became more and more inspired to learn more about the Arduino Light Blue Bean.     

I played with the Bean and started to become more familiar with how it worked.   I really wanted to include it as part of my Make With Code session at VermontFest 2015 and what better way than to include it in my new black hat project.  Finally inspiration struck and I ran to my studio at the Generator to grab some white embroidery thread.   I have NOT embroidered before, so I wasn't sure how this was going to play out. 

And by the end of the evening,  I was quite proud of my design.  Snowflakes seemed like the perfect thing for our  upcoming edtech conference at the Killington Ski Resort ~ VermontFest 2015.

Stay tuned for the journey of the black hat!