Makerspace Workshops in the fields of computer science and electrical engineering
The Makerspace is a project of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at FH Aachen. As an open, interdisciplinary laboratory, it offers students and staff the opportunity to realise their own ideas with 3D printers, laser cutters and other tools - supported by expert advice.
In addition, the Makerspace organises practical workshops for school students (up to a maximum of 16 people after registration). The programmes provide insights into topics such as robotics, artificial intelligence, smart homes, manufacturing processes, soldering technology and microcontroller programming and combine theory directly with practical implementation.
The Makerspace is also involved in the joint project with exciting workshops IT4Teens.
IT4Teens joint project
IT4Teens is a joint project of FH Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Städteregion Aachen and IT4Kids to establish an educational chain for computer science education from the 5th to the 10th grade. Further information on the joint project and the workshops offered by the partners can be found on the Aachen city region website.
- IT4Kids offers workshops on Cubi educational software for pupils in grades 5/6, where participants learn about the concepts of block-based programming in a fun way: IT4Kids offer
- For pupils in grades 7/8, the School Lab Infosphere at RWTH Aachen University offers workshops in the areas of robotics, microcontrollers and laser cutters: Infosphere offer
Offer in the Makerspace
We build a weather stone
In this workshop, you will build your own weather station and can take it home with you afterwards. The weather station connects to the WLAN and you can call up the data live with your smartphone.
Duration: 2 days of approx. 3 hours each or 1 day of approx. 6 hours each (plus break)
Target group: Pupils in years 9 and 10
The workshop in detail
Day 1: Hardware
Today you will gain an insight into hardware development by assembling a circuit board with electronic components such as an RGB LED, resistor and capacitor. This will then be built into a 3D printed housing with the sensor for temperature and air pressure, the microcontroller and an OLED display.
Day 2: Programming
Today the microcontroller is programmed. The individual components are explained and controlled step-by-step and finally added to the overall programme. This gives the weather brick its functions, such as displaying the sensor data, the current weather and also the weather forecast using the weather API call. You can set the RGB LED so that it adapts its colour to the different weather conditions.
Contents of the workshop
- Assembling a circuit board and THT soldering technology
- Programming a microcontroller (ESP)
- Controlling an RGB LED with a microcontroller
- Processing sensor data and visualisation with a web server
- Insights into 3D printing
Dates and registration
The workshop will take place on the following dates:
- 18 June 2026 and 19 June 2026, from 4 pm
- 9 July 2026 and 10 July 2026, from 4 pm
- 28 July 2026 and 30 July 2026, from 4 pm
- 8 September 2026 and 10 September 2026, from 4 pm
- 22 September 2026 and 24 September 2026, from 4 pm
- 6 October 2026 and 8 October 2026, from 4 pm
- 20 October 2026 and 22 October 2026, from 4 pm
Registration is via Eventbrite.
Current events
In the Makerspace at FH Aachen, Girls' Day is all about the world of electronics and programming. With the help of various components, you will create your own Smart Lightboard, which you can then customise with the laser engraver. You can take the Smart Lightboard home with you after Girls' Day and control it with your smartphone.
You can find more information about the day's programme and how to register in the Girls' Day Radar.
Practical offers in the Makerspace
The offers can be booked for pupils of the appropriate age and group size. Please send your enquiry to makerspacefh-aachen.de, stating the desired workshop, preferred dates and information about the class/group.
Interdisciplinary solutions - problems from the perspective of computer science and electrical engineering
Many problems can be solved in different ways, depending on the skillset and perspective. This is also the case in the fields of electrical engineering and computer science, which are often closely related in terms of content. While computer scientists favour microcontrollers and software, electrical engineers make use of the physical properties of components to achieve their goals.
This workshop shows how a slowly brightening LED lamp can be manufactured from the perspective of computer science and electrical engineering and uses this example to provide insights into both degree programmes at FH Aachen.
Possible workshop contents
- Basics of the RC element
- THT soldering technology
- Microcontroller software development
Workshop duration
- approx. 3-4 hours
Target group
- Prospective students and high school students
Smart home applications - the technology behind the trend
Smart home devices are becoming increasingly affordable and popular. In most cases, however, the "smart" home is limited to switching lights and sockets on and off.
But a networked home can do so much more! With the help of smart brokers, all the information in a smart home can be collected centrally and used for intelligent decision-making.
Possible workshop content
- Basics of the smart home
- 3D simulation of smart environments (Webots)
- Smart home broker (ioBroker)
- Scenario development in Javascript
- Smart Home hardware (Zigbee / ESPHome)
- Graphical web interface for controlling the smart home
Workshop duration
- Depending on the scope 2-30 hours
Target group
- Basic course from 5th grade
- Advanced course from 8th grade
WLED - Smart lighting control
The WS2812B LED is a colourful RGB LED that can be controlled individually. The WLED project offers software that makes it possible to control RGB LEDs via WLAN and a web interface. In this workshop, a WLED controller is built using a circuit diagram and soldered onto a breadboard.
Possible workshop contents
- THT soldering technology
- Controlling LEDs with a microcontroller
- Flashing WLED software
- Software configuration
- Connection to smart home broker
Workshop duration
- Depending on the scope 3-6 hours
Target group
- Basics from 5th grade
- Extended course from 8th grade
The fascination of robotics - autonomous driving in 3D video games
Mobile robotics is one of the trend topics of the future, requiring a whole range of skills from different disciplines. The Robot Operating System (ROS2) is a middleware that provides tools for the development of robots.
In this workshop, you will learn the basics of ROS2 software development using the video game SuperTuxKart. The aim is for a kart to drive "autonomously" around a race track using a camera.
Possible workshop content
- Linux basics
- ROS2 framework
- Connection to SuperTuxKart
- Image processing with OpenCV
- Driving control via ROS2 actions
Workshop duration
- Depending on the scope 4-8 hours
Target group
- Recommended from 8th grade
Rapid prototyping - from the idea to the finished product
In the modern factory of the future, new products can be manufactured at breakneck speed thanks to additive manufacturing technology. To do this, a product is developed in a cycle, printed, tested and then improved until the desired result is achieved. In the workshop Rapid Prototyping - From the idea to the finished product , we looked at this type of product development using 3D printing.
Possible workshop content
- Introduction to additive manufacturing
- CAD design and basics in onShape
- Design optimisation for FDM 3D printing
- FDM 3D printing software pipeline
- Postprocessing
Workshop duration
- Depending on the scope 3-8 hours
Target group
- Basics from 5th grade
Halloween themed workshop | We make a flickering pumpkin lamp
In keeping with the basic idea of the makerspace, we will work together to produce a decorative technology pumpkin that can react to its surroundings. You will learn all the steps required to turn an initial idea into a finished product.
From CAD design, 3D printing and soldering technology to software development, we will go through the entire rapid prototyping pipeline to produce a technically sophisticated and decorative pumpkin.
Possible contents of the workshop
- CAD design
- Additive manufacturing using the FDM process
- THT soldering technology
- Sensor processing with ESP microcontroller
- Control of a servo motor
Workshop duration
- Depending on the scope 3-5 hours
Target group
- Pupils from 7th grade onwards
Christmas themed workshop | We make a technical Christmas tree
The Christmas workshop involves going through various stations. The technology Christmas tree is first sawn into shape. It is then decorated with LEDs, a star from the 3D printer and a small personalised engraving. Finally, the LEDs can be programmed to light up and flicker in different colours. The technology Christmas tree can be taken home by the children and young people free of charge. Perhaps it will also be given as a Christmas present to the family?
Possible workshop contents
- 3D printing
- Soldering technology
- Laser engraving technology
- Microcontroller programming
Workshop duration
- Depending on the scope 3-6 hours
Target group
- Pupils in grades 7 to 10
Termine
IT4Teens – Wir bauen einen Wetterstein
In diesem Workshop wirst du deinen eigenen Wetterstein bauen und kannst diese im Anschluss mit nach Hause nehmen. Die Wetterstation verbindet sich mit dem WLAN und du kannst die Daten live mit deinem Smartphone abrufen.
read moreIT4Teens – Wir bauen einen Wetterstein
In diesem Workshop wirst du deinen eigenen Wetterstein bauen und kannst diese im Anschluss mit nach Hause nehmen. Die Wetterstation verbindet sich mit dem WLAN und du kannst die Daten live mit deinem Smartphone abrufen.
read moreTechnik-Sommer: Praxis Projekt für Schülerinnen und Schüler der 9. Klasse
Rüste ein Holzhaus zum nachhaltigen Energie-Wunder auf
read moreThe offers can be booked for pupils of the appropriate age and group size. Please send your enquiry to [email protected], stating the desired workshop, preferred dates and information about the class/group.
