DPV Co-Requisites

Introduction

first draft - 8/22/14

A co-requisite is something you must learn while you are participating in the environment that makes use of that knowledge.

The collaborators working with Open Source Ecology use both software and hardware tools to create, maintain, and share their creative products. Having a good working knowledge of these tools can open the door to a dedicated project visit that is meaningful and productive to you and OSE. Thankfully, there is good documentation on all of these topics online and on our wiki. First, what are some of these tools?

Software

CAD

CAD stands for computer-aided design. There are 2-dimensional (2D) and 3D CAD programs and CAD programs that do both. Some CAD programs, like Autodesk Inventor, are parametrized which means that you can make changes to any specific parameter at any time and the program will adjust the rest of the design to work with that change. Other CAD programs, like SketchUp, are not as robust but have slighter learning curves.

SketchUp

Most widely used 3D design software used by OSE. Freeware. Closed Source. Try to remember to export your .skp models in SketchUp 8 mode.

• Website
• Introductory Videos

FreeCAD

FreeCAD is a package that shows promise and does have some uses such as file type conversion. Very few projects use this. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is the Hydrafabber project.

AutoDesk Inventor

This software is free for students or non-profit educators. OSE may/may not fall into that realm but if you are a student - jump at this opportunity. Velocar exists primarily in AutoDesk Inventor.

LibreCAD

LibreCAD is useful for working with 2-D.

netFabb Basic

useful for checking for errors in parts when 3d printing. has automatic fix mode.

Information Sharing

Trovebox

Trovebox is an image hosting service that lets you create albums and upload pictures to them. You can embed the images in, say, a wiki page by using html.

Google Drive

Spreadsheets

Share data

Presentations

Create written documentation

Forms

Make surveys

Drawings

Useful for making visual instructions, toolchains, event sequences, etc.

Record My Desktop / CamStudio

Both are open source desktop recorders that can do audio. Small file sizes.

YouTube

Upload videos to marcinose or link to them from your own account.

The Wiki

A vast, finite yet boundless entity in which many years worth of dead-end and un-linked-to pages float idly - waiting to be read and categorized. A personal favorite. Wiki Tools:

• Wiki_Cheatsheet
• Special:RandomPage
• Special:RecentChanges
• Wiki_Instructions

Note: You can do basic file versioning by uploading a new version of a file and writing notes to go with the upload. Upload a new version of this file is a button the file's page.

DropBox

Occasionally it is useful to link to a file on your hard drive. By saving your file to your dropbox folder and linking to that folder you can keep everyone up-to-date with your files without uploading them to the wiki.

Hardware

A brief look at the tools you should gain basic knowledge of in order to gain insight into how things are made and how you can make them.

Steel

Welders

The Millermatic 200s are from the 1980s. They are simple machines which are easy to maintain. It doesn't take much practice to be able to put a strong bead down with them. It's slightly more challenging to make it look pretty.

Grinders

Use 15A grinders for serious removal. 5A are good for finish work.

Abrasive Saws

Mgmt always buy the cheaper ones so try not to burn out the motors. Pulse your cutting. It helps to rotate tube 90 degrees before cutting the bottom side so that it's a vertical cut.

Oxy/Acetylene Torch

Use this to cut steel when you can. It will be your best/worst friend at times. Keep the tips clean. Use as little acetylene as possible as not to waste it. But don't use too little either!

Bridgeports

DO NOT USE THESE IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW Sorry, but these have been seriously mistreated by beginners.

Bandsaw

Use with aluminum, solid steel, or DOM. Not for anything that's been welded/torched. Always use cooling.

Lathe

Don't expect much.

Dremel

Useful for grinding out holes

Drill Press

Punch a hole and let the work float on the table so that the drill can pull it centered.

IronWorker

ask permission first

Punch

Always use the right size die with the right size punch.

Wood

• TableSaw
• Radial Arm Saw
• Drills
• Jig Saw
• Sander
• Miter Saw
• Reciprocal Saw

Plastic

TAZ

I've used this one to great success.

Electronics

Arduino

We use Arduino because it is fully open source and its educational/accessible values allign with OSE's. Use of the Arduino IDE is suggested but other text editors such as Sublime are more visually appealing.

Closing Remarks

Becoming sufficient with these tools before/during your trip to FeF will enable you to go beyond the basics of working for the project to the point where you become a collaborator with potential to work with the project and create meaningful machines/documentation.