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STEM Project Kits with how to build video tutorials. Ideal for high school students who gain skills in electronics / mechatronics, microcontroller coding, 3D modelling & 3D printing, digital graphic/sonic artwork design. Our first project kit is a
Build-Your-Own Tabletop Pinball Machine.

  Making - Learning - Fun  

  Learning  is  Fun  when  you're  Making  Something  

SERVICES

KITS, Course, Makerspace, Tutors

Pinball Machine

Kit Building Project 

Build a Pinball Machine Project

  • 16 subassembly Kits + 1 plywood cabinet

  • Precision laser-cut plywood and acrylic parts

  • Australian designed and manufactured

  • 5 Making Activities Types-

    1. Wood gluing, 3D Modelling & 3D printing

    2. Electronics - PCB soldering​

    3. Electro-Mech - wiring and mechanics 

    4. Coding - Arduino UNO (move, sense, sound)

    5. Artwork - Graphic Art & Sound FX Design

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  • Pinball Machines can be sold to reimburse the full kit purchase cost â€‹

  • Lesson Plans & build videos included with kits

  • Can be run as an In-School and Out-Of-School course

  • Has been piloted at 2 NSW high schools with excellent STEM teacher and student feedback

EPK has Partnered with a STEM Education Provider​

Outsourced 3-Day Hackathon and

2-Term Construction Courses

Mobile Makerspace

  • Provider comes to your local venue

  • Venues include schools and libraries 

  • Equipment includes: 3D printer, laptops, software, soldering irons, multimeters, electronics hand tools, safety gear, etc.

  • All consumable materials

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STEM Tutors​

  • 2 to 5 Tutors on-site during course 

  • Tutors are highly trained and experienced

OUR WORK

OUR WORK

Our project kits, courseware, makerspace equipment and tutoring service fast-track beginner makers' skills and knowledge, enabling them to construct pinball machine subassemblies within collaborative teams of makers. The project can be built over two 10-week school terms.

ABOUT US

ABOUT US

Engineering Project Kits (EPK) designs and manufactures (in Australia) engineering and technology focused STEM projects for high school aged learners. EPK projects champion the engineering discipline to be a more collaborative, social, creative, fun and inclusive learning environment for both boys and girls. Our aim is to serve the public, private, home and special needs school student communities. To make learning engineering more engaging, students build something very cool, a table-top version of a physical retro game - the pinball machine.

 

Why a pinball machine? Firstly, there will be excitement and fun generated by creating with their own hands and minds an actual, physical, real-world game technology that can be played and later used on an ongoing basis to raise funds with a pay to play feature. Secondly, students can contribute and show-off their individual work by making one of the 16 subassembly kits each, and collectively when deciding on creative aspects such as the artwork (sound and vision). Collaboration is also essential when interconnecting all built kits and fitting them into the cabinet. This approach will develop students understanding of system design and principles.

 

EPK's project kits enables learn-by-doing with hands-on practical skills in soldering electronics components onto PCBs, wiring, microcontroller (Arduino) coding, 3D modelling and 3D printing, graphic and sonic artwork, assembling wood, plastic and mechanical assemblies. All kits come with free online access to detailed construction video tutorials.

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In addition to the kits and online video tutorials, EPK has partnered with a STEM education provider who runs two Course configurations. Course 1 is a 120 student (up to six schools), three-day hackathon style course with five tutors; Course 2 is a 60 student, 2hr per group of 20 students (over two 10-week terms) pinball machine construction course with two tutors present for the three 2hr sessions each day. They bring STEM Tutors and all the gear needed to build our kits at a range of schools and other local venues.

 

For high schools that don't have the budget to pay for an outsourced STEM education provider, their own STEM trained or interested teachers can utilise and adapt the Lesson Plans and detailed construction videos supplied free with each kit. EPK will work with schools/STEM teachers to help coordinate this process. Alternatively, students' parents and/or community groups can organise their own weekend courses for free and run these at their local schools, libraries and makerspaces.

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For high schools that don't have the budget to pay for the pinball machine hardware kits upfront, the EPK website has its own Crowdfunding system. Parents of school, home-school and special needs student groups wanting to enroll them in a construction course can organise and run their own Crowdfunding Campaigns through the EPK website. Crowdfunding backers might be students' parents, anyone wanting to buy the completed pinball machine, or corporate, government or charity sponsors. As the completed pinball machine is a commercial grade and desirable product the full cost of the 16 kits will readily be recouped by the sale of the machine. This means the hardware kits could essentially be free after the sale. As such, crowdfunding backers could be providing short-term kit loans.

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FIND US

Send us a message here. We'll get back to you within 24 hours.

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