Abstract

The goal of the independent study is to develop a workshop that educates users on how to solder a basic electronic system to develop their own light-up wands and work on a mechanical lamp project. The workshop developed in this independent study includes various functional prototyping aspects to consider, such as tolerances, material to material interactions, and design for manufacturability. The background involved conducting online research focused on battery configurations and wand designs. This research identified that the most effective method for illuminating the LED wand was to arrange the AAA batteries in series, and the design used for the final wand was made as a single body with a cover to better access the electronics while keeping the circuitry in place. In addition to the workshop development, a mechanical lamp prototype was developed. Ultimately, the independent study culminated in the delivery of the workshop itself, aimed at assessing the effectiveness of conveying soldering instructions in an engaging and educational format. The workshop itself details various information regarding soldering, electronic components, and component interactions. Participants are then provided with the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained to fabricate their own custom wand from scratch. In addition to the wand workshop, the beginnings of a mechanical lamp were developed as a starting point for the long-term project.

Document Type

Final Report

Author's School

McKelvey School of Engineering

Author's Department

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Class Name

Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences Independent Study

Language

English (en)

Date of Submission

5-12-2025

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