Category:Electronics

Committees are voluntary groups, formed by members in order to achieve certain goals.
To join this committee, contact the committee chairperson. See Rules and Policies#Committees for more information.

Purpose

The Electronics and Robotics Committee's responsibilities are to:

Maintain the order, organization, safety, cleanliness, and utility of the Electronics Lab (ELab), and any additional facilities designated for electronics and robotics purposes.
Establish, subject to Board of Directors approval, oversight rules for use of the Electronics and Robotics resources at the Dallas Makerspace.
Create necessary training materials that allow makers to effectively and safely use the Electronics and Robotics facilities.

Governance Model

Benevolent dictatorship, per Dallas Makerspace Rules.

Policies

Parts
- General policy is:
- For personal/prototype projects, there’s no charge.
- Do a production run / use “many” parts we ask you either replace the parts or make a donation.
- All of the parts in the ELab have been donated.
- Committee funds are used for equipment, consumables, and teacher supplies.
  - Due to various "creative" interpretations and "scam artist" types, some clarifications are apparently needed.
  - Parts - as in components. Resistors, caps, ICs, etc. Does not include assembled boards, equipment, etc.
  - When in doubt ask the Chair of Electronics - not another member, not another Chair, not a BoD member, ask the Chair of Electronics.
  - If something goes missing and you're seen on the video leaving the committee area with it, there will be consequences.

Borrowing Equipment From ELab
- On DMS campus only
- The person who removes equipment from the ELab is responsible for its well being and return.
- Return gear covered in grime/dust, person/committee will clean.
- Damaged/stolen, person/committee will replace.
- Don’t want to cooperate/follow guidelines, problem escalates to BoD.

Using ELab as a classroom
- Classes on electronics have priority in the ELab.
- The teachers of these classes have the authority to request the ELab be vacated for the class.
- It is the responsibility of members to check the Events Calendar and schedule accordingly.
- If a member is asked to leave the ELab for these classes and refuses to do so, a complaint may be filed by the teacher w/ the Chair and/or BoD. This may result in said member losing their privileges in the ELab - i.e. being banned from the ELab.

- Teachers/event holders of non-electronic classes/events do NOT have the authority to vacate the ELab. For Example: If there are 5 members working on their projects at the benches/table, you can politely ask them to leave. You don’t have the authority to force them to leave. You also do not have the authority to prevent someone from entering the ELab to work on a project. If you want the ELab vacated for your non-electronics class/event, you need to PM the Chair in advance - as in before you post your class/event to the Events Calendar. You will also need to **state that ELab will be vacated for your class/event in your description. Any committee honorariums will go to the Electronics Committee. When in doubt, please PM the Chair

- Check Event Calendar Before Coming to DMS To Ensure Room and/or Equipment is NOT Reserved For Class Instruction.

Hacking / Modifying ELab Gear
- Generally hacking the hrdwr at DMS is discouraged. Consistent maintenance and possible bricking of the device are good reasons. And there are potential legal issues. You are attempting to gain/turn on a feature that is normally charged for - vendors/manufacturers see that as theft.

- Brick an expensive piece of gear, you might be given the option to replace what you damaged at your expense and/or be banned. Especially if you did not have permission to do the hack.

- And here’s a perspective that most won’t consider/realize. Any organization that has reputation for hacking its gear to gain features for free runs the risk of being dropped/turned down by vendors/manufacturers for donations/sponsorship.

Contact

Anyone can send an e-mail to [email protected] and it will be forwarded to all members of the committee. Also we are most active on DMS talk

Members

Will Alderman
David Barkley
Brennen Bliss
Jon Burroughs
Rusty Cain
Todd Caldwell
Shawn Christian
Jay Cox
David Fenyes
Art Givens (Chairman)
Evan Lott (V-Chair)
Raymond Jett
Bill Gee
Bernard Gray
James Harper
John Haskins
Rashon Hogan
Daniel Jackson
Katie Luper
Richard Meyer, PE
Haley Moore
Chris Morgan
Doug Paradis
Ken Purcell
Dan Ribaido
Nick Sainz
Kelly N. Baggett
David Smart
Rich Thompson
Carl Ott
Russel Ward
Kevin Grantham
Brady Pamplin
Dan Ludden
Zach Metzinger
Alex Thomas
Adam Overman
David Steele
Paul Adamson
Fred Miller
Malcolm Galland
Justin Pawula
Vanity Singleton
Dale Wheat
Jeff Ray

How To Join

Be a member of the Dallas Makerspace.
Add your name to the "Members" section of this wiki page.
Look at the forum on DMS talk. If you are primarily interested in discussing electronics and projects, then you may get all you want by participating in that group. Any member may participate without joining the Electronics and Robotics committee.
If your interest is in the improvement and maintenance of the Electronics and Robotics room, then send a PM to the chairperson (@artg_dms) of the committee, stating your interest in the committee. It would be helpful to indicate the nature of your interest, how you would like to be involved, and what you hope to contribute.

Special Interest Groups

About SIGS under Electronics Committee -
A SIG is a fully autonomous group The SIG chooses its own leadership and how its structured. SIG members decide what projects, classes, mtngs, etc. they want to do. SIG leaders need to keep the Chair updated on activities, etc. While not mandatory, a rep from the SIG should attend the Electronics Committee mtngs and give a short report on the SIG’s mtngs and activities. SIG leaders need to contact the Chair when resources/monies/proposals are needed. Policy is in the works and will be changed as needed.
Amateur Radio
Spaceship Bridge Simulator SIG (Inactive)
Embedded Workshop SIG

Available Tools

The list of tools available in all committee areas is on a single wiki page to facilitate maintenance. If you see mistakes on the page, please update it so that it is as current as possible. It is up to the members to keep this list maintained and relevant.