Costa Rica · Practical technology
A working notebook for five technologies.
Funcostarica gathers five practical chapters on the platforms and machines shaping modern work: inventory mapping with HoloMaps, Arduino boards, the Internet of Things, 3D printing, and the Metal Plus printer.
- Chapters
- 05
- Field guide
- 01
- Format
- Workshop
The syllabus
Five chapters, one continuous notebook.
The workshop moves from inventory mapping to hardware, connectivity, and additive manufacturing. Each chapter can be read on its own, or followed in order as a complete course of study.
- HoloMaps Inventory Workshop Map inventory on the HoloMaps platform and learn how the workshop runs.
- Intermediate Arduino Understand the processor, memory, and pins that separate intermediate boards from beginner boards.
- The Internet of Things See how embedded sensors and networked devices turn physical objects into connected systems.
- 3D printing Follow the additive process from digital model to layered solid object.
- Metal Plus 3D printer Walk through the Metal Plus workflow, from model preparation to post processing.
Platform workshop
HoloMaps Inventory Workshop
HoloMaps Inventory Workshop is an interactive workshop designed to introduce participants to the HoloMaps platform and how it can be used to manage inventory. It helps participants understand the value of using HoloMaps to create and manage inventory.
Participants learn to use HoloMaps to track and manage inventory, develop and maintain an inventory database, and use the platform to identify and monitor inventory trends. The workshop is divided into three distinct components.
Platform tour
Learn the features for tracking and managing inventory, creating a database, and watching trends.
Inventory database
Work with items such as products, services, and supplies, then build and maintain the inventory database.
Trend watch
Track inventory levels, spot potential shortages, and plan for future inventory needs.
The three components run in sequence: understand the platform, build the database, then read the trends. By the end, the inventory record becomes a planning tool rather than a static list.
Hardware chapter
Intermediate Arduino
An intermediate Arduino board is designed for people who already have a basic knowledge of electronics, coding, and the Arduino environment. These boards typically carry more features than a basic board, making them better suited to more complex projects.
Intermediate boards may also support additional peripherals such as shields and sensors. A typical board includes a more powerful processor, additional memory, and more ports and pins.
That extra capacity lets the board handle more calculations, store more extensive programs and data, and connect more peripherals. The result is a board that can support projects beyond the scope of a basic Arduino.
Processor
A more powerful processor handles more calculations and heavier tasks than a basic board.
Memory
Additional memory supports more extensive programs and more data storage.
Ports and pins
Extra ports and pins connect shields, sensors, and other peripherals.
Reach for an intermediate board when a project needs more computing power, more storage, or more connections than a starter board can provide.
Connectivity chapter
The Internet of Things
The Internet of Things is a network of physical objects, known as things, that communicate with each other and with people through embedded sensors, actuators, and other devices.
These devices connect to the Internet through protocols and technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi Fi, and cellular networks. That connection allows physical objects to be monitored and controlled remotely, making them more intelligent and responsive to their environment.
IoT appears in home automation, health and fitness tracking, connected cars, smart cities, and industrial automation. It also includes virtual things, such as software applications and services that run on cloud based servers.
IoT devices collect and analyze data from their environment, including temperature, humidity, motion, and light. That data can trigger automated responses, such as adjusting the temperature of a room or switching off an appliance when it is not in use.
Connected devices also meet additive manufacturing in the 3D printing chapter, where digital models become physical parts.
Additive chapter
3D printing
3D printing creates three dimensional solid objects from a digital model. It is also known as additive manufacturing because the object is built by adding layer upon layer of material until the desired shape is reached.
The process begins with a 3D model, created with software such as computer aided design or a 3D scanner. The model is loaded into a printer, which reads it and builds the object layer by layer.
Materials vary. Thermoplastics, metals, and ceramics are the most common. Thermoplastics are the most widely used because they can be melted and solidified into shape. Metals such as aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel require more complex machinery and post processing. Ceramics require specialized equipment at a high cost.
| Material | Typical use | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Thermoplastics | Prototype models, medical implants, tooling | Most widely used; melts and solidifies into shape. |
| Metals | Aerospace components, robust parts | Aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel need complex machinery and post processing. |
| Ceramics | Specialized parts | Requires specialized equipment at a high cost. |
3D printing has changed manufacturing by allowing quick prototyping and complex shapes. In aerospace, it supports lightweight, robust components for airplanes and rockets.
Metal workflow
Metal Plus 3D printer
The Metal Plus 3D printer creates metal parts and components with high accuracy and repeatability. It melts and deposits metal powder, then solidifies the material layer by layer to build the desired part. The process supports tight tolerances and intricate geometries.
The workflow below follows the original printer guide, from model preparation to the finished piece.
-
Prepare the model
Use 3D CAD software such as Autodesk Fusion 360 or SolidWorks to prepare the part you want to print.
-
Generate the slice
Upload the model to the printer software, which creates a slice, the blueprint for the print.
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Set up and print
Set the layer height, nozzle size, and nozzle speed. Load the powder, then begin the layer by layer print.
-
Post process
Remove powder residue, smooth the surface, and heat treat the part before it is ready for use.
Each step affects the final metal part. Model quality, slice settings, powder handling, and finishing all shape the tolerances and surface of the finished piece.
Field guide
The digital environment
A closer look at privileged access management with CyberArk: why privileged accounts are dangerous, what a PAM program controls, and how discovery, vaulting, session recording, and reporting fit together.
