Noisebridge Hackerspace

## Session 3: Breadboarding the Op-Amp

If the transistor is the building block of analog electronics, the op-amp is the Swiss Army knife. Op-amps show up everywhere in guitar pedals — as clean boosts, buffers, tone stacks, and the gain stages at the heart of overdrive circuits. The Tube Screamer, the RAT, the LM308-based fuzz variants — all built around op-amps.
In this session we'll get hands-on with the op-amp on a breadboard and learn how to put it to work.
We'll cover:

• What an op-amp is — and how it differs from a transistor amplifier
• Biasing — setting up the op-amp to work with a single-supply voltage, like a 9V battery
• Setting the gain — using feedback resistors to dial in exactly how much amplification you want
• Building a boost or buffer circuit — and hearing the difference it makes

No prior experience with op-amps needed. If you've been following the series, you already have all the foundation you need — but newcomers are welcome too.
Already working on a pedal project? Bring it! Whether you have questions, need a second pair of eyes, or just want to solder alongside others, you're welcome to work on your own build.

$5 is charged to hold a spot for this class. You can pay the remaining $15 in person with PayPal, credit cards, or cash. All instructors at Noisebridge are volunteers. 100% of your donation is tax-deductible and supports Noisebridge directly.

This class is meant to get you from 0 to your first 3D print.

In this class the full workflow from design to printed object will be demonstrated.

Topics covered:

• Where and how to design or download objects (TinkerCAD/Printables/MakerWorld)
• Filament types, when to use which, and how to handle them
• How to convert your design into a file that's able to be printed
• How to print with supports, make objects stronger, and adjust quality
• How to load and unload filament and general print prep
• How to send your design to the printer and watch it go!

If you are interested you can use one of our 3D printers after the class to apply what you have learned. It's recommended to bring a laptop if you plan to do your own prints. There are no guarantees that a printer will be available. They are first-come-first-serve and are used for many different Noisebridge projects.

Learn how to be safe while using the laser cutter! We have a 150W, CO2 laser cutter with a 3 x 4 ft bed. This training is required to use the laser cutter because we don't want people setting our most expensive equipment donation on fire. You have to do this training even if you were trained at the old space, as we have different safety features now.

Training covers

• Dangers of the laser cutter
• How to be safe
• How to put out a fire

Each participant will cut a piece of cardboard on the laser cutter while following all the safety steps.

This is also a good place to ask questions about specific materials or projects. There is a 5$ fee to register, and we suggest a 20-30$ donation for this class: https://donate.noisebridge.net. If the registration fee is a barrier to your participation, please reach out to the event organisers.

-please read the whole updated description!-

Come to work on your own projects and get some feedback from your fellow woodchucks. We have a planer, drill presses, hand tools, a table saw, and much more!
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starting June 8 we will be taking a break from the intensive power tool trainings provided in previous sessions. For the next few weeks we want to use wood night as a time for actively working on projects and designing ideas for your projects. Happy to help with some guided use of the tools, but for now no full training will be offered. If you are new to the woodshop you are still welcome to join, just know that we will not provide a full training on the tools. If you have significant experience using a Tablesaw, mitre saw, planer etc then this should not be an issue.

We do have some scrap wood available, but bringing some wood for your project, especially if it is larger or more crafty, is highly encouraged. We recommend getting your wood at Lowe’s (cheaper) Discount builders supply (closer to NB) or Beronio (higher quality and carry lots of hardwoods). Please feel free to ask questions on the discord if you are unsure about what to get for your project.