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Overview

Welcome to Variant! The ysws where you make a hardware project and give it a unique gimmick! After that get funding to make it real and get cool merch on the side!

The Gist​

In this ysws, you can take any hardware project(keyboards, 3d printers, devboards, etc) and give them a unique gimmick! Some examples include the Foldboard, Choc3DP, third example.

Your gimmick needs to be unique so you can't make things like a keyboard that is split into 2 parts(just a split keeb), but more niche ideas like detachable compartments, 3D printers that print food, or something else that your imagination comes up with.

Designing Your Project​

A working project needs the following things:

  • A PCB or wiring diagram with your circuitry
  • A full assembly/model designed in CAD(computer aided design) software
  • Mock firmware for your project - this doesnt need to 100% work, just needs to have an attempt made at writing it

These are things that show other people how you project works and how they can make it themselves.

You should try to complete these in the order given.

How do I get there?​

Your first step is to make a github repo and start journalling your ideas and your project.

I reccommend writing down what you want to make, and then researching and brainstorming ideas of how you will accomplish it in your journal.

Some things to consider while designing:

  1. What do I need to make?
  2. What are some problems that might arise?
  3. How can I fix these problems?
  4. Does this need to be solved later(some solutions require context of what currently exists)

After that, start trying to flesh out what your project will look like and make designs in CAD.

If you need help from a human, a good place to go to is online forums, places like the Hack Club slack or Reddit are good places to find help on your projects. I reccommend joining the #variant channel on slack. There you will find heaps of people making a unique project just like you and you can learn from them and ask for help there.

Otherwise there are heaps of guides available all throughout the internet on various topics and they do a great job at teaching you how to use certain software or how to do certain things. Youtube is your best friend when making hardware. There are also a lot of guides available in the Guides Tab for you to read through.

The Tier System​

The amount of funding you get is dependant on the project you make and the quality of it. Generally you can expect projects to be split across the following tiers:

Tier 1(5-15 hours): Macropads, CAD projects, Small PCBs - $50

Tier 2(15-50 hours): Keyboards, DIY Game Consoles, Dev Boards - $150

Tier 3(50+): 3D Printers, Custom Battlebots, Custom CNCs - $300

Please note that these tiers are guidelines. The hour counts and $ amounts are just recommendations and general averages. Spending more or less time on your project does not affect whether it is accepted.

For the funding, even though there are certain amounts we are willing to give, please try to find and use cheaper parts where possible. Every dollar you save is a dollar that can be spent helping more teens and collectively it makes a big difference in making these programs sustainable for everyone.