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Prototyping Lab

The Cuyamaca College Prototyping Laboratory

The Cuyamaca College Prototyping Laboratory is a place for you to make things and to take fun classes. The lab features a variety of prototyping tools including a 3D printer, a 40W laser cutter, machine tools, and a full-featured microcontroller facility. List of lab capabilities.

First developed as a way for freshman engineering students at Cuyamaca College to gain experience with real design projects, the Prototyping Lab has grown into a resource for all residents of San Diego's East County, operating a bit like TechShop in San Jose.

We meet Saturdays between 9 am and noon in room F301 at Cuyamaca College. Feel free to drop in and grab a cup of coffee. Bring a project to work on.

Fall 2015
 This fall we are offering Robotics Laboratory only

In the past we have offered 4 free courses in microcontrollers and robotics, as described below. However starting Spring 2016 we will be offering, on a for credit basis, ENGR 175: Introduction to Microcontrollers and Robotics, which combines Introduction to Microcontrollers and Introduction to Robotics.  Because of this we are NOT offering these courses this fall.  That said, if you want to get started on them this fall, you're welcome to come to our Saturday sessions, and we'll get you started.

General Description: These are "project-based" courses, meaning that each lesson starts with a brief lecture, then the rest of the time is spent working through projects that exemplify the principles featured in that lesson. The courses are nominally 8 or 10 weeks long, including some work at home. If you haven't done this kind of work before, we strongly recommend you start with Introduction to Microcontrollers. Note: All the courses listed below require equipment. You can either use ours, for free (but you'll be limited to using it in the lab), or you can buy your own, which we recommend. Estimated costs are provided in each course description.

Introduction to Microcontrollers - An 8 week introduction to microcontrollers using the popular Arduino microcontroller. Kit is $60, or you can build your own.
Saturdays 9 to noon.
Introduction to Robotics - Study of autonomous robotics using a behavioral robotics approach. Intro to Microcontrollers or other previous experience with Arduino microcontrollers is required before taking this class. Robot is about $80, ordered from Parallax.
Saturdays 9 to noon.
Intermediate Microcontrollers A 10-week course in microcontrollers featuring PIC microcontrollers, and programming in both Assembly and C. Intro to Microcontrollers strongly recommended before taking this class. Plan on spending around $70 for the PicKit2 programmer and other supplies. Also bring a flash drive (or your own laptop).
Saturdays 9 to noon
Intermediate Robotics - Intro to Robotics strongly recommended before taking this class
We are not running the Intermediate Robotics class this fall. Instead we'll be running a Robotics Laboratory (see below).
Robotics Laboratory -This is an open laboratory. We'll be building Arduino robots, making robot bodies and parts, going deeper into behavioral robotics studies, and possibly developing neural networks. Obviously it will be very open-ended, so please come and contribute your expertise, or just play (like we're going to do). This is your opportunity to make parts with a 3D printer and/or laser cutter.
Photos and movies from previous ENGR 170 - 173 classes

Questions? Feel free to contact Duncan McGehee at duncan.mcgehee@gcccd.edu

Last Updated: 08/17/2015
  • GCCCD
  • Grossmont
  • Cuyamaca
A Member of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District