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The course is designed to act as a bridge between design elements of electronics and the final manufacture of an Electronics product. The course therefore concentrates on introducing students to software support packages that support the design then manufacturing process.
Aim
Objectives
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Construct simple circuits using crocodile clips.
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Make informed decisions over the choice of switches used in electronics circuits through practical experience of their operation.
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Incorporate logic gates as a means of controlling decisions within basic circuits.
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Discover ways of monitoring circuit action using probes, on screen messages and graphical images.
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Investigate the action of Astable and Monostable clocks using the prepared circuits in the package.
In order to repeat this course centers will need access to the following software packages.
Crocodile clips v309
http://www.crocodile-clips.com/index.htm  (this web site is not supported by Apple Macintosh Internet Explorer 5.2)
Modular Circuit Design version - 3 mph publications – by MPHorsey, PHClayton
http://www.mphpublications.co.uk/
PCB Wizard 3.5
http://www.new-wave-concepts.com/
During the 5 lessons of 45 minutes students will undertake initial learning exercises with the packages and then move on to the solving of a simple problem. This will require the full range of skills that an Electronics Engineer is expected to demonstrate in an every day design situation. In order to achieve this, the student will need a basic understanding of circuit, some number skills, the ability to handle a scientific calculator and be prepared to keep effective records in the development of the final design. By the end of the 5 lessons the student will have gathered together a portfolio of designs representing the individual stages of development of the final product.
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An introductory tutorial in the use of Crocodile clips is given to introduce the basic skills required to navigate the package and handle basic circuit construction. Students are then required to solve a number of smaller problems, which also prepare the students for later activities within the training. During these activities the students will learn the basics behind switch construction and there use in providing logic signals into AND and OR gates. This also leads to consideration of the output signals from these gates and how they can be used to run LED’s. A final exercise introduces the database of standard circuits held with the software. |
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| A software package titled ‘Modular Circuit Design’ is used to collect information for a ‘Designers Manual’. During the completion of this manual short exercises and calculations are used to help with making vital design decisions. The answers are reviewed at the end of the session and used in the later solving of a design problem. |
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| The students are presented with a problem (i.e. A Silent Alarm) and supported in producing a system block diagram. The inner workings of the blocks are then determined from the information collected in the ‘Designers Manual’, and a crocodile clip version of the possible solution prepared.
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Working in pairs student work from a printed circuit design and construct each of the 3 blocks required to create the Silent Alarm. The components, power supplies (batteries), breadboards and cut wires are provided so reducing the manufacture time. A video of the manufacture process is provided to support students in pulling the design into a working system. |
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| An introductory tutorial (tutor led / video) with a set of guide notes are provided to help the students prepare a PCB template for the prototype circuit designed in Lessons 3/4. Students start with preparing a PCB design for the astable and proceed to completing a monostable, and onto a full circuit. A video presentation is finally used to demonstrate Automatic manufacture using the Unimatic EduCAM router system. This is supported with a work pack showing each step of the process in creating the final copper board assembly. |
All materials are provided as Word documents to allow distribution and printing. |
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