On your journey to make a project, you may need to pickup many new skills, such as:
- Soldering
- Programming
- Sewing
- Robotics
- Ceramics
- Electronics
- Ham Radio
- Website creation
- 3D modeling and printing
- DIY-style arts and crafts
- Wearables (electronics sewn into clothing)
- Video Game creation (Godot)
- Photogrammetry (Regard3d)
- Live Streaming (OBS)
Here are some resources to help you get started. If you don’t know something, come to a meeting and ask!
Companies Selling Electronic Parts/Kits
Local
- Electronics Expediters in Camarillo
- ApexSurplus in Sun Valley – industrial surplus, movie props
- See also our Maker Map
General
- Adafruit (also has some resources for learning)
- Sparkfun Electronics (also has some resources for learning)
- Element 14 also has a learning center
- Digikey – They carry every part ever (a bit expensive, but handy for getting stuff quickly)
- Futurlec – random surplus electronics
- Arduino (What is it?)
- Kiwi Crate – Get sent a monthly box of materials with instructions
- Mantis – Science stuff for kids learning
Publications
- Make Magazine
Examples
- Hackaday – Interesting things people have made
- diy.org – Online badges/activities. (Kid friendly)
- YouTube – Many different channels on all aspects of learning
Learn Programming
- CoderDojo – Links for getting started in various programming languages
- Code Combat – Learn coding while playing a game (Kid friendly)
- Exercism – For programmers who want to practice and/or pickup a new language.
- FreeCodeCamp – High quality classes and even certificates, for learning web
- OdinProject – Resources from around the web turned into a curriculum, for learning web
- Single-language sites:
- Multi-language sites:
Learn Electronics
- PIGHIXXX – Pinouts, references
- pinout.xyz – Pinouts for various boards
- See also Sparkfun and AdaFruit in the general list above
Custom PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards)
- https://oshpark.com/shared_projects
- https://www.seeedstudio.com/gallery-index.html
- https://jlcpcb.com (I hear they are cheaper than OSHPark)
- https://pcbway.com
- See also Laritech, Inc (Moorpark), but I think they are going after the high-end medical market
Misc Local
- Recycling: Staples
- Disposal of random things: Special Handling guide (T.O)
- Batteries: Places
- Adverse Events: VC Emergency
- See also our Maker Map
Etc.
Oh, and don’t forget to check for classes at the Makerspace. If one isn’t offered, ask. Someone probably knows the subject!