The Seventies Radio Shack “65 in 1 Electronics Mission Equipment” was Tom Thoen’s first publicity to digital circuits, sparking a profession that led from hobbyist to engineer to educator. As a DesignLab Residency venture, Thoen got down to create a contemporary model with a robust instructional focus. The result’s a invaluable useful resource for instructing electronics known as the Circuit Students 31 Enjoyable Experiments board.
Prototype on Laser Lower board (📷: Tom Thoen)
When Thoen started the venture, the intent was to make a coaching equipment with 25 circuits in 2024. The intelligent engineer named the venture 25in24. Nevertheless, now that the multi-week venture is coming to an in depth, the result’s a equipment that gives not simply 25, however 31 experiments (together with a brand new identify)!
The equipment has a number of printed circuit boards (PCBs), every containing parts like resistors, capacitors, and transistors. One other PCB homes the battery choices, LEDs, a speaker, and an analog meter. A slide change permits customers to simply select between measuring present or voltage. Elements shortly join to one another with Dupont-style connectors. To extend robustness and friendliness, Thoen selected header pins with a shroud. The shroud prevents the pins from bending (and breaking off.)
Multi-colored PCBs (📷: Tom Thoen)
Thoen paid homage to the Seventies kits in a number of methods. First, the PCBs use three totally different solder masks colours, resembling the unique equipment’s different-colored rectangles. One other callback is creating the experiments from the 65 in 1’s guidebook.
Artist Tiffany Tang illustrated a playful information exhibiting the right way to use the 31 Enjoyable Experiments. Every one-page information accommodates a venture description, directions on connecting it, wiring guides, and an evidence of how the circuit works. Along with the cartoon graphics, there may be additionally a schematic.
Instance web page from 31 Enjoyable Experiments Information (📷: Circuit Students)
Thoen continues to be contemplating making the 31 Enjoyable Experiments a purchasable equipment. Till then, you possibly can obtain the PCB information, invoice of supplies (BOM), and instruction booklet from the 25n24 venture web page. Tang’s venture information can also be out there as a print-ready PDF.