Advanced Fabrication and Systems Integration
This capstone credential challenges students to design and build advanced, networked, and mechanical systems that showcase the integration of multiple digital fabrication competencies. It emphasizes teamwork, iterative design, and full-system integration.
Anticipated Time to Credential: 60 hours | Cost Estimate: $875
Course Overview
Networking & Communications
Demonstrate workflows used in network design
Implement and interpret networking protocols and/or communication protocols
Mechanical Machine Design
Work and communicate effectively as a team
Design, plan and build a machine
Analyse and solve technical problems
Recognise opportunities for improvements in the design
Fabrication Application
Create unique integrated design (Different digital fabrication processes are integrated to a product)
Demonstrate 2D & 3D modelling competencies applied to unique designs
Select and apply appropriate additive and subtractive fabrication processes
Demonstrate competence in design, fabrication and programming of unique fabricated microcontroller PCB, including an input & output
What You'll Explore
Key Competencies
Advanced Molding & Casting
Mechanical Machine Design
Networking & Communication Protocols
System Integration (Digital + Physical + Code)
Capstone Project Execution & Team Collaboration
Industry Portfolio Development
Performance Indicators
Build, program, and network fabricated components and systems
Design and produce a working mechanical machine as part of a team
Apply digital fabrication workflows to create integrated, smart systems
Lead project management and maintain digital project documentation
Demonstrate system integration and end-user functionality through a final capstone
Skills You'll Learn
Mechanical and Electrical CAD
Microcontroller PCB Design: Participants design, fabricate, and program custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) with microcontrollers, integrating both input (sensors) and output (actuators, displays) devices.
Electronics Integration: Skills in soldering, circuit design, and embedded programming are developed as students build and program their own devices.
Electrical Design Automation (EDA) Concepts
Selection and Use of EDA Software: Students learn to choose appropriate EDA tools (like KiCad) for circuit and PCB design, understanding their features for schematic capture, layout, and simulation.
Schematic Capture: They gain experience in creating electronic circuit schematics, placing components, and defining electrical connections within EDA software.
Workflow Management: Students demonstrate the ability to plan and execute the full workflow of circuit board design, from schematic to board layout, including managing project files and versioning.
PCB Layout and Design: They learn to translate schematics into PCB layouts, arranging components, routing traces, and preparing designs for fabrication.
Design Rule Checking (DRC): Students use built-in tools to verify that their designs meet manufacturing and electrical standards, ensuring reliability and manufacturability.
Simulation and Verification: Basic simulation skills are developed to test circuit behavior before fabrication, identifying and correcting errors early in the process.
Preparation for Manufacturing: Skills include generating Gerber files and other outputs required for PCB manufacturing, as well as understanding the requirements for different fabrication processes.
Documentation: Students document their entire design process, including design choices, challenges, and solutions, supporting reproducibility and knowledge sharing
Networking and communication protocols
Network Design Workflows: Students learn to plan and implement workflows for connecting electronic devices, including both wired and wireless networks.
Protocol Implementation and Interpretation: They gain practical experience in implementing, testing, and interpreting various networking and communication protocols, such as I2C, SPI, UART, or custom protocols, to enable devices to exchange data.
Node Design and Addressing: Students design, build, and connect nodes (devices) that can communicate over a network, assigning addresses and ensuring proper data flow.
Troubleshooting and Documentation: They document their processes and troubleshoot issues, learning to analyze data transmission and resolve communication errors
Molding and casting workflows
Mechanical machine design (structure, movement, function
Teamwork and Communication: Students work collaboratively on group projects, learning to communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team and manage project tasks.
Machine Design and Planning: They design, plan, and build mechanical systems, integrating mechanisms, actuation (motors, servos), and automation (control systems).
Technical Problem-Solving: Through iterative prototyping and testing, students analyze technical challenges and develop solutions, refining designs based on test results and feedback.
Continuous Improvement: They learn to recognize and implement design improvements, optimizing for functionality, manufacturability, and user experience.
Project Management: Skills in task division, time estimation, and project tracking are developed during group assignments
System integration and prototyping
Custom tool/path creation for specialized production
Digital Fabrication
Integrated Product Design: Students create unique products that combine multiple digital fabrication processes, such as 2D and 3D modeling, laser cutting, CNC milling, and 3D printing.
2D & 3D Modeling: Competency in computer-aided design (CAD) tools for both 2D and 3D modeling is developed, with these skills directly applied to project work.
Process Selection and Application: Students learn to select and apply the most appropriate additive (e.g., 3D printing) and subtractive (e.g., CNC milling, laser cutting) fabrication processes for their designs.
Comprehensive Documentation: A crucial skill is documenting every step of the design and fabrication process, including successes, failures, and solutions. This not only demonstrates competency but also supports reproducibility and knowledge sharing
Data analysis
Innovation and iteration in physical and digital systems
Technical leadership and decision-making
Design-for-manufacturing mindset
Waste reduction
Process improvement skills
Entrepreneurship
Small business management