- If you are using a laser cutter as your major manufacturing method, LaserCAMM in Bldg 610 is used less than the ones in Room 36. Don't forget to wear leather shoes to the PRL!
- Start your design process early and make sure to have clear goals and timelines.
- Keep a file in your team folder with all the data sheets. That way, team members can quickly and conveniently check for pinouts and specs.
- Bring your own tape, solder wire, glue, scissors, and more, instead of wasting time looking for these items in the lab. These items tend to get lost so make sure you label them!
- Design the electrical system so that components grouped together physical on the chassis (i.e a light and its switch) are also grouped together on the TIVA pins. This makes the distribution of wiring easier and reduces amount of criss-crossing.
- Think about the integration of all systems early on so you can design the layout. This will help with putting everything together down the line.
- Do not make the scope of the project too large. Scope it down while leaving room for additional features.
- Document all changes as they occur and keep updated schematics / code block diagrams at your disposal.