Summary
My associates and I led a hands-on workshop at World Maker Faire - New York - 2017, September 23 and 24, at its regular home, the New York Hall of Science.
Title: "Free Hands-On Electronic Kit: Multi-LED Flashing Badge"
My co-workers and I handed out 1000 kits! This was our fourth year of doing a workshop. Like last year, the workshop took place within my employer's exhibit space under the big white tent.
Background
My associates and I had a great experience leading a workshop at last year's World Maker Faire New York 2016 in the exhibit space under the big white tent, outside the New York Hall of Science.
For 2017, we even increased the effort. We had a bigger space, more staff at the exhibit, and more kits to hand out!
With my employer's increased sponsorship and dedication, we had more space for kit-building — like ten participants at a time. People patiently waited their turn, and we served folks all day, both days.
| I wanted to make small improvements in the kit: Add a few more LEDs. Allow it to be easily "shut off". My employer wanted the kit to have nicer "branding". Instead of a label, we used a branded rubber band (to hold the battery). For the box, instead of a clear-top metal tin, we wanted even more of the "tech" to show through. |
Last year's project |
And so, we had this...
The 2017 Version
The 2017 Version inside an Amac 522C Box
The clear plastic top lets the LEDs shine through, while protecting the circuit from rain (a lot of the Maker Faire is outdoors, and sometime it rains). And a secure top holds in any parts that might get loose. The breadboard is magnetic (because of the spring-metal contacts inside of it) - this allows it to be held in place on someone's shirt or jacket with a magnet on the inside. But because the box's plastic is sorta thick, we had an adhesive-metal strip that got attached to the back of the box.
The New Circuit
The 2017 circuit was very similar to 2016 version, and was based on the same Transistorize.Me project: Project 04: The Multi-LED Flasher. I made these changes to the 2016 version, for 2017...
Simpler Oscillator
The oscillator part of the circuit sets the overall flash rate. Its speed is set by the resistor and the capacitor (R1 and C1). Resistor R2 was replaced with a jumper (yellow, 0.4-inch size). This change isn't strictly required. The circuit works fine either way. But I had another new purpose for that second resistor (next...).
Auto-Off Operation
I used the photocell for a new purpose in 2017. I moved the photocell to a place where it can enable or disable the IC. But this circuit change also needed a resistor, so I used R2 here — the 100 kilohm resistor that I took from the first mod. With these changes, the circuit will "go to sleep" in the dark. Usually it will stop flashing when it's laying face-down on a dark surface.
The 2017 project
Printed Instructions
We provided printed instructions. This allowed for additional experimenting. It included some mods (modifications), Mods 1 thru 4. Once the kit builder had it working, he/she could change the circuit operation in some simple ways.
Another two mods were described in the bonus kit that was available. (Anyone who read the main instructions and got to Mod 4, would have read about the bonus kit.). Mods 5 and 6 involved using a few extra parts: another resistor, a transistor, loudspeaker, and a 2xAA battery pack. This enabled the kit builder to "hear" the circuit!
Thanks
I wish to show my appreciation to the following people for their support and assistance with this event:
Alex N., Breann C., Bree F., Catherine R., Cody F., Dawn Y., Elias A., Emilio G., Eric H., Eugene C., Frank S., Gui W., Haris F., James M., Jen S., Jermaine M., Joe G., John G., José A., Kenneth S., LaCrown J., Lauren S., Li W., Maria R., Mark C., Matt F., Maxine S., Nilda A., Omar H., Rich H., Rob H., Rob L., Rocio G., Sam R., Tim L., Valerie E.
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