Prototyping

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

In this course you will be trained to prototypes by engaging in workshops about basic prototyping tools, such as laser cutting, 3D printing, soldering and using a microcontroller. You will then use these skills to perform a project in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team. To work on your design, you can work in the Makerspace, where you can use equipment such as 3D printers, soldering stations, electronic engineering tools etc. The goal is to develop a prototype that meets the requirements of a specific end user, who will be identified and interviewed using Design thinking methods. These insights are then used to further improve your design. At the end of the course, each team presents the evolution of their design and final prototype during a symposium.

Study materials

Syllabus

• Provided during the tutorials

Practical training material

• 3D printers, Soldering equipment, Arduino, Basic tools 

Software

• Fusion 360

Objectives

• The student is able to apply Fusion 360 software to design files suitable for 3D printers and a laser cutter .
• The student is able to operate a 3D printer and print components for a prototype.
• The student is able to apply basic soldering techniques to generate a simple electronic circuit.
• The student is able to use an Arduino to program an electronic circuit for a prototype.
• The student can create a prototype using the input of a principal investigator, the scientific literature, stakeholder interview and their peers.
• The student can improve a design of a prototype based the application of the initial prototype.
• The student can collaborate in a multidisciplinary team.

Teaching methods

• Hoorcollege
• Laptopcollege
• (Computer)practicum
• Zelfstudie
• Presentatie/symposium

Learning activities

Attendance

Additional requirements for this course:

To pass this course, the student needs to have completed the tutorials: 3D printing, Laser cutting, Soldering and Arduino

The course will be graded on the basis of the project attitude, the final report and the presentations. This will be assessed in the final three lectures. Project work counts for 50%, final presentation/demonstration for 20% and report counts for 30% 

Assessment

The course will be graded on the basis of the development of the prototype 1) research skills 2) project work 3) collaboration skills, (1,2 and 3 , 50%) 4) final report (30%),  and 5) final presentation/prototype demonstration (20%). The assessment of the grades is based on rubrics that are communicated in advance to the students. 

Inspection of assessed work

The rubrics on which the grading is based are communicated to the students following the grade upon request. 

Assignments

The students perform the workshops individually and have to have completed the workshops to finish the course. The workshops are not graded.  A tutorial teacher will give formative feedback on how to operate the novel prototyping tools.

The students perform a group project in which a robot is designed. The students will recieve both formative and summative feedback on how the project is conducted. Halfway the project the students will present their project plans, and a month before the final presentation they will present  their progress and final plans. 

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. P.R. Linnebank