The DIY Snowglobe Workshop gave attendees the opportunity to create and take home a custom-designed motorized snow globe.
At the heart of the globe was its electronic system housed inside. The PCB incorporated a 555 timer-based Pulse Extender Circuit, enabling a central button press to rotate an internal disk, mimicking snowfall. Participants not only honed their soldering skills but also gained insight into the synergy between mechanical engineering and electronics in bringing such a project to life. The snowglobes also showcased school spirit with several choices for a Penn State-themed 3D-printed centerpiece: the Nittany Lion, the PSU logo, and Beaver Stadium.
The instruction set, including a detailed parts list, has been attached to this repo as a PDF, as well as the workshop slides.
See the workshop's Instagram post here.
For more information about the monostable 555 timer circuit used in this project, visit: Monostable or "One Shot" or Pulse Extender Circuit
For more about 555 timers in general, visit: The 555 Timer IC