ITI60020 Digifab (Autumn 2022)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Elective course in the master programme in applied computer science full-time and part-time.

Lecture Semester

Third semester (autumn) in the full-time programme.

Third or seventh semester (autumn) in the part-time programme.

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge

The student

• Are familiar with the central principals of digital fabrication

• Are familiar with central principals surrounding the maker movement and its impact on society.

• Are intimately familiar with methods and techniques for digital fabrication in relation to prototyping and product development.

Skills

The student has the capability to

• Use digital tools to develop prototypes

• Use digital tools for digital fabrication

• Document and present advanced projects and facilitate reproduction of those projects in the future.

• Give feedback on other projects and participate in the evolution of said projects.

• Use technical machines for digital fabrication and understand their functionality, strengths and use cases.

General competence

The student can

• Plan, develop and document advanced fabrication and prototyping projects.

• Work both alone and in team to develop advanced technological prototypes with digital fabrication.

Content

The focus of the course will be on digital fabrication processes and practices in development of advanced prototypes based on ideas. The course itself will be divided into smaller modules, all which have a great importance for the development of the final project. Each module will have a mandatory assignment to ensure the learning of the topics covered. All projects are to be designed and developed by the students and produced in the faculty’s fabrication labs. Topics covered in the course will be as following:

• Design for digital fabrication and prototyping

  • 3D modelling and CAM workflows

  • 2D modeling for digital fabrication

• 3D printing

  • Materials

  • Functional 3D printed prototypes

  • Design for 3D printing

• Laser cutting and engraving

• CNC machining in different materials

  • 2D machining

  • 3D machining

• Electronics and programming

• Electronics production

  • Custom PCB designing

  • Custom PCB milling

As the field of study is an ever-developing field with quick changes and development the content of the course will slightly vary from year to year. This will be done to maintain viability of the topics teacher and stay on the cutting edge of the field.

Forms of teaching and learning

Project work, video lectures, seminar based lectures, and lab exercises. Lecture materials will be available in video form and the seminar lectures themselves will mainly be used to go through practical examples. 

The course is very hands-on and practical and its expected that the students do a lot of self-work and group work. Lectures are scheduled around the introduction of new topics and potential challenges faced by the students. Lab exercises are planned around the mandatory tasks and will be mandatory.

Workload

Approx. 280 hours.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

The student must during the semester:

• Complete between 4 and 5 mandatory projects. The number of projects will be announced at course start. One of these projects will span all topics of the course and will be the main focus of the oral exam. These projects must be handed in at predetermined dates announced at course starts. The projects will be based in the topics taught in the course. Project group size 2-3 people per group, but with few student’s single person projects will be possible.

• Hold an plenary presentation of the projects completed throughout the year. Students are expected to give feedback on other groups projects in the plenary sessions.

Coursework requirements must be accepted to qualify for the exam.

Examination

Individual oral exam

Individual oral exam based on the mandatory exercises completed as a part of the course. Special focus will be given to presenting the cross-topic project that is completed. In the oral exam each student will present their projects and talk about the prototyping process, the use case for the prototype and potential future development.

The oral exam will last for approximately 30 minutes.

All supporting materials allowed, and the prototype should be brought if it is feasible.

Assessment on the A - F grading scale.

Examiners

External and internal examiner, or to internal examiners.

Course evaluation

This course is evaluated by a

• Mid-term evaluation (compulsory)

The responsible for the course compiles a report based on the feedback from the students and his/her own experience with the course. The report is discussed by the study quality committee at  the Department of Computer Science and Communication.

Literature

Several videos, lecture notes and external resources constitute the course curriculum.  All resources are posted on the learning platform.

Other resources might be added at a later date but are not considered mandatory literature.