FABRICATION MACHINES
We use the Modela
MDX-20 (pictured on the left above) for 3D scanning
and machining as well as for making printed circuit boards
(PCB) in the field.
We have inlcuded the Modela
CAMM1 CX-24 (pictured on the right above) sign-cutter
for making copper antennas (para.py
for a parabolic antenna), sensors and interconnects. We
have also used this machine for making cardboard constructions
as the structural part of antennas or instruments. One
fun educational application of the CX-24 is making Jewlery
out of the variaty of materials that can be found locally
and cut on this machine.
top
DESIGN TOOLS
 
We primarly use the computer in each Fab Lab for running
our computer aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM).
Our main 3D tool is BLENDER
(pictured on the left above) which we are extending in
Python (for example,
see
cad.blend) for use with our specific audiances. We
also use SDRAW
and PSTOEDIT
for 2D design.
In order to interface these applications with the fabrication
machines in Fab Labs, we are creating our own translation
tools from standard file formats (DXF, VRML, 3D STL) to
the different specific formats that our machines accept.
For example, our cad.blend
Blender extension can be used to convert designs from
VRML to DXF;
gerber2modela.py is a simple utility for converting
designs from Gerber to Modela Toolpath; img2dxf.py
is for converting bitmap images to 3D DXF surfaces; and,
dxf2camm.py
is a little application for converting from 2D DXF to
CAMM toolpath.
We also use many different open-source tools for electronic
design and testing, including Eagle
(pictured on the right above), BLENDER,
and Ngspice.
For programming microcontrollers we support a wide variety
of programming languages, including Logo,
GNUPIC, GNU
GCC, MSP430
GCC , AVR
Tools for Linux, and Free
tools for CPLD/FPGA from Xilinx.
top
ELECTRONICS
 
The CBA Internet 0 ("Zero") or I0 toolkit is
designed for making distributed sensing networks. The
capacitive sensing board can be used for making buttons,
positional sensors and tag readers. The I0 toolkit is
also being used to design a 3D scanner using a network
camera for imaging and the capacitice sensing boarss for
precise positioning.
The Tower
System is used for rapidly prototyping embedded hardware
applications. It is comprised of a number of distinct
hardware modules, which when interconnected in various
configurations, provides users with the ability to buid
complex projects quickly and easily. See the following
documents for a more detailed overview and technical specification
of the system:
A: Getting Started with the Tower
B: PIC Logo Language Reference
C: Rabbit Logo Language Reference
D: PIC Assembly Language Reference
E: PIC Foundation Documentation
F: Rabbit Foundation Documentation
G: Sensor Layer Documentation
H: DC Motor Layer Documentation
I: Servo Motor Layer Documentation
J: EEPROM Layer Documentation
K: CompactFlash Layer Documentation
L: IR Layer Documentation
M: Clock Layer Documentation
N: Display Layer Documentation
O: Cricket Bus Layer Documentation
P: I2C Layer Documentation
Q: Tricolor Layer Documentation
R: Proto Layer Documentation
S: PICProto Layer Documentation
T: RS-232 Module Documentation
As an example of Tower foundation application code, see
the code for the engine meter
discussed in the field applications
section of this site.
These documents are the technical appendices of an MIT
Master of Engineering thesis
in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science by Christopher
Lyon on the design and applications of the Tower System.
top
INSTRUMENTATION TOOLS
The Elphel NC313L
Network Camera is a very versatile high-end hig
resolution imaging device that can be used for 2D and
3D data input, UV-VIS Spectroscopy, Microscopy, knowledge
capture/documentation, and teleconferencing.
We also use the I0 and Tower System toolkits for building
custom instrumentation devices. Applications include:
environmental monitoring, milk quality monitoring, and
Diesel engine meter.
Our applications for data analysis are written in python.
We also take advantage of python's open source packages
for numerical analysis (numpy)
and 2D and 3D plotting (DISLIN).
top
TEST EQUIPMENT
Each Fab Lab also has some test equipments for work on
electronics. The following are the tools in the current
Fab Lab sites:
 
Pictures above, from left to right, correspond to:
Tektronix TDS2002: A 2 Channel, 60 Hz, 1Gs/sec scope
A signal generator with a 0.1MHz to 10 MHz range
Wavetek Digital Multimeter with Capacitance and Inductance
measurements
top
GENERAL
Computer: Optiplex
SX260 from Dell
Computer
Operating System: We have chosen the Knoppix/Debian
distribution of Linux. We like this distribution of Linux
because of it is ease of installation
and updates using apt-get. Over time, we would
like to determine a suitable Linux distribution for the
CBA Fab Labs.
Inventory: Some of the most common items we need
at all Fab Labs include: copper sheets for making PCBs,
copper rolls for the sign-cutter, a collection of drill
bits for the milling machine, and electronic components.
top
|
