Open Project Space (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
(Sept. 2022 - May. 2023)
Introduction
Open Project Space (OPS) is a year-long initiative designed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers to help electrical engineering students gain more hands-on experience. The project teaches students soldering, breadboarding, PCB design, and much more over the course of the year. I participated in this project and further reinforced my engineering skills.
What I learned
Breadboarding:
Breadboards are essential tools for electrical engineers. They allow for easy setup and modification of wiring. Throughout the OPS, we were required to breadboard the circuits first before soldering them onto a perfboard.
Soldering:
Even before the project, I began practicing my soldering skills because I knew that being able to solder quickly and accurately can save a lot of time in prototyping for an electrical engineer. During the OPS projects, I soldered many boards, and since OPS is hosted by IEEE, I have been practicing using the IEEE Soldering Standards, which are really useful.
Circuit Testing:
Circuit testing is another essential skill for electrical engineers to master. During my time at OPS, I strengthened my ability to use an oscilloscope to examine delays, waveforms, and other crucial factors. Microcontrollers are also valuable tools for testing; they are easy to program and provide stable voltage outputs, making them versatile for various situations.
PCB Making:
After breadboarding, soldering, and testing, the next step is PCB design. I am proficient in using KiCad for creating PCB designs. During my time at OPS, I designed PCBs for remote-controlled cars and weather stations. This skill is essential, and I have applied it in many of my other projects. I primarily create two-layer PCBs.
Special Thanks
