Makerspace in Penang Heritage Building Opens

Come all Penang "lang" (people in Hokkien dialect) to our new makerspace at Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, opposite the ferry terminal at Georgetown. Penang Science Cluster now opens a new center that equipped with cafeteria, training rooms, makers exhibition area and makerspace in the heart of Georgetown. Just officially launched on the 5th Dec 2015 by our Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng. We have yet to announced the membership process for public to use the makerspace but do come and check it out first. 

Here are some of the facilities available at the makerspace and more to come soon...

-Laser cutting machine

-T-Shirt & badge printing

-3D printing

-Woodworking machine & tools

-Metalworking machine & tools

-MMA/TIG/MIG welding machine

-PCB making tools (coming soon)

-Soldering equipments

-Bench multimeter, power supply, scope, etc

-Electronic kits & modules (Intel, NI, Arduino, Cytron..etc)

-Personal workspace

-Sewing machine (coming soon)

-CNC milling machine (coming soon)

and more to come... 

Personal electronic workbench equipped with instruments

Electronic measurement instruments from Keysight Technologies

Learn to Solder - Maker Fest 2015

The makers were here again in Penang at sPICE arena on 14-15th Nov 2015 for the Penang Maker Fest after we had the Penang Mini Maker Faire last year.  More stuffs, more things, more excitement and more crowds. How can I run away from organizing the Learn to Solder workshop after we had good response last year. However this year, I made it simpler while making it more fun and exciting for everyone to solder. Luckily this year I had more volunteers also to help me out in coaching the enthusiastic visitors to solder. The volunteers were great and tirelessly helping from 10am to 7pm on both days until we ran out of boards. Thanks to Motorola Solutions Penang and Penang Science Cluster for sponsoring the parts and PCB. I will let the picture below speaks to you.

Learn to Solder Workshop commence on the first day

One of the volunteer trying to pin the blinky LED on our
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng

Teardown: Malaysia SmartTAG

The "Touch 'n Go" card was first introduced in Malaysia in 1997 is an electronic payment system using Philips MIFARE system. The card is not only used in toll payment but also widely used in parking and public transportation system. Soon enough an on board vehicle device toll collection SmartTAG - acronym in Malay Sistem Membayar Automatik Rangkaian Tol  or "Toll Network Automatic Payment System" was introduced to complement with Touch 'n Go card. SmartTAG was designed, developed and manufactured by Teras Teknologi Sdn Bhd, a local company and with the intellectual property rights by an Austrian company known as EFKON Gmbh. The main function of the SmartTag is to relay data between the card and toll system using infrared technology. 

Taking the SmartTAG device apart is pretty straightforward. Just removing the battery cap and one Philip screw head will separate the casing. Basically there are three main electronics parts: main board, pick-up coil and the liquid crystal display. In order to to have a better view of the main board, I will need to desolder the 6-pin header connector from the pick-up coil board.

Top casing removed reveals the mainboard. This side consist of the main controller and Infrared LEDs

Certificate of Appreciation as PMMF14 Committee

Certificate of appreciation from Penang Science Cluster as part of the organizing committee for Penang Mini Maker Faire 2014 (conjunction with Penang International Science Fair). First certificate received with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng signature. Looking forward for 2015!