Each student will need:
Please download the equipment list and refer to details on individual items in the table below.
You can get most of the equipment required for ME 120 at the Electronics Prototyping Lab, which is a makerspace and store maintained by PSU's Electrical Engineering Department. The EPL is located in PSU's Fourth Avenue Building (FAB) at 1900 SW 4th Avenue in room FAB 84-20. Use the calendar widget to see when the EPL is open.
Each students will need their own laptop for work during class and for taking exams. Windows PC or Macintosh (but see caveat below) laptops will work. If you have a functioning laptop, there is no need to buy a new one.
Students will be expected to demonstrate proficiency with solid-modeling (SolidWorks), analysis (Excel), basic office productivity (Microsoft Office or equivalent), and microcontroller programming (Arduino IDE). Students will need to use their laptops during exams because part of the exam grades involve demonstration of computer skills.
Laptops will also be necessary for the majority of class sessions. Students will be writing code to download to their Arduino microcontrollers. They will be performing analysis, e.g. curve fitting and other data reduction.
The Solidworks solid modeling software is provided in a computer lab in the Engineering Building. You should be able to download and install Solidworks on your Windows PC following the directions on the CAT web site.
Please note that currently Solidworks does not run natively on MacOS. Dassault Systèmes (the publisher of Solidworks) has stated that they have no intention of releasing a MacOS version of Solidworks in the foreseeable future.
The Electronics Prototyping Lab (EPL) has ordered the Custom Sparkfun Tinker Kit. The custom kits should be available by the end of the first week of class.
If you have a standard SparkFun Tinker kit, you can add the missing pieces with this Booster Kit.
The Electronics Prototyping Lab (EPL) is in the basement of the Engineering Building, Bring a credit card or debit card
Each student will be required to assemble a set of hand tools that will be used for homework and for work in class. Details are provided below.
The following table includes rough estimates for the cost for tools, and in particular gives the lowest cost versions of tools that are suitable for the course. For comparison, higher cost estimates are also provided. We recommend that you do not buy the high cost versions of these tools. Start simple and upgrade later as you develop an appreciation for the utility of individual tools. A fine tool does not bestow magical powers on the wielder of the tool. It's better to know how to use a tool, no matter how humble, than to be an unskilled owner of fine (and expensive) tools.
Note that these tools will be used for ME 120, 121, and 122, and will be useful throughout your engineering career.
Item | Low cost | High cost |
---|---|---|
Canvas Tool bag | $5 | $50 |
Small snap-lid plastic tubs (2) | $1 | $5 |
Seven function multimeter | $15 | $300 |
Mini test clip adapters | $4 | $8 |
ANSI Approved Safety glasses | $2 | $20 |
Needle nose pliers | $5 | $15 |
Wire stripper | $5 | $15 |
Alligator clip extension wires | $2 | $10 |
Stainless steel ruler | $3 | $12 |
Dial caliper | $20 | $250 |
Fine point permanent marker | $1 | $2 |
Black electrical tape | $0.50 | $3 |
Teflon tape | $0.60 | $3 |
Utility knife or pocket knife | $3 | $15 |
9 Volt Battery | $2 | $5 |
Total | $88.10 | $778 |
There are other hobby stores in Portland. Those on the following list are more likely to have electronics, servos, and other gadgets that you might need in this class.