What is Microchip Makes?

Microchip Makes is an initiative aimed at supporting makers, hobbyists, DIY creators, students and engineers to support embedded applications and projects using our products. It serves as a collaborative hub for learning and innovation offering tutorials, webinars and resources designed specifically for the global maker community.

What are the benefits of the Microchip Makes Community?

Microchip Makes connects creators with the tools, knowledge and inspiration from a vibrant global network to turn ideas into working projects. Key benefits include:

• Structured learning: Beginners to professionals gain access to structured, interactive tutorials and learning modules. Explore ourMakerZone Webinar Series and free courses available throughMicrochip University.
• Global collaboration: Connect and collaborate with aglobal network of like-minded innovators and makers.
• Partner ecosystem:Learn through resources fromtrusted partners such as Arduino^®, Adafruit^®, SparkFun^® and MikroElektronika.
• Stay informed: Keep up with industry trends and technologies through oursocial media andblog posts
• Hands-on projects: Explore hardwarereference designs anddevelopment kits that support your hands-on projects.
• Simplified development: Use our freesoftware tools to code, test and debug efficiently.
• Events for enthusiasts: Participate in workshops, competitions and interactive sessions to showcase and enhance your skills. For more information, see ourEvents page.
• Technical support from engineers: Get help directly fromour engineers and community members onour forums.

Microchip Makes empowers creators at all levels to foster innovation, education and skill growth.

Is Microchip Makes free to use?

Yes, access to tutorials, webinars, blogs, forums and other resources is completely free. Creating a freemyMicrochip account unlocks additional benefits and core features remain open to everyone.

Does Microchip Makes support STEM education and student projects?

Yes, Microchip actively supports STEM education and student projects through:

• Access to free Microchip University courses, empowering beginners and experienced makers with knowledge, tools and resources
• Partnerships with Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and MikroElektronika to support learning and student-focused initiatives
• Sponsoringstudent competitions and hackathons
• Design projects which highlight innovative creations developed by makers and academics from around the world

What kind of projects can I build with Microchip Makes?

You can build everything from simple electronics like the featured LED Probe (a portable LED tester using ATtiny85 or ATtiny202 microcontrollers (MCUs) that detects polarity and conserves power) to advanced embedded systems like arcade joysticks, Internet of Things (IoT), password-protected electronic locks and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) access control systems.

Are there specific Microchip products recommended for hobbyists?

We offer a wide range of products for the maker community. The following options are frequently selected by makers:

• AVR^® family MCUs:
  • ATtiny (tinyAVR^®): Ideal for compact, low-power projects like LED testers
  • ATmega (megaAVR^®): Commonly used in Arduino boards
  • ATxmega (XMEGA™): Suited for more advanced maker applications
• PIC^® MCUs:
  • PIC16F / PIC18F: Great for beginner-friendly, low-cost embedded projects
  • PIC24 /dsPIC^®: Designed for robotics, motor control and real-time systems
• SAM MCUs: ARM^® Cortex^®-based MCUs that power many Arduino boards
• Curiosity and Curiosity Nano boards: Plug-and-play platforms perfect for prototyping and learning
• MPLAB^® PICkit™ Basic In-Circuit Debugger: A low-cost, professional-grade tool for debugging a wide range of our devices

To explore all available options, visit ourProducts andEvaluation kits pages.

What Development Boards available for makers and hobbyists?

Microchip Makes ecosystem offers versatile development kits and partner boards, including:

• Microchip Boards:
  • Curiosity Development Boards: Feature-rich platforms designed to accelerate prototyping and application testing across a range of PIC^® and AVR^® MCUs.
  • Curiosity Nano Boards: Compact, USB-powered boards ideal for quick experimentation and integration with MPLAB^® X IDE for rapid development.
  • Xplained Pro Boards: Professional-grade evaluation kits offering extensive debug support, expansion headers and compatibility with a variety of peripherals.View all Boards.
• MPLAB PICkit Basic Debugger Kit: A low-cost, professional-grade tool for programming and debugging a wide range of our devices with seamless integration into the MPLAB ecosystem.

Where can I buy Microchip boards for hobby projects?

You can purchase boards for hobby or maker projects through:

• Our officialDevelopment Boards Listing page
• Microchip Direct (our online store)

Visit theMicrochip Makes page to explore and purchase products from our trusted partners.

Where can I find Microchip Makes tutorials and resources?

You can explore an extensive library of maker-focused learning materials and tutorials by visiting the officialMicrochip Makes page, which featuresMicrochip University courses (dedicated courses and training programs for hands-on learning), theMakerZone Webinar Series (covering evaluation boards and MCU ecosystems with Q&A), theLab Series (product demonstrations) andMaker blogs (curated content on projects and innovations). You can also access extensive tutorials and videos on ourMicrochip YouTube Channel.

Where can I find Microchip Makes project ideas?

You can find innovative project ideas from makers around the world by visiting theFeatured Project Archives page and by joining oursocial media channels.

What if makers need help from other makers?

Join the conversation in theMicrochip Forum or theAVR Freaks^® Forum, two thriving communities where engineers and hobbyists collaborate, exchange ideas and solve technical challenges together.

Can Arduino be used with Microchip products?

Yes, our long-standing partnership with Arduino brings SAM and AVR MCUs into Arduino boards, expanding functionality and versatility for makers. Many of our MCUs are fully compatible with the Arduino IDE, making it easy to prototype and program.

For more information and product details, visit our officialArduino Maker and DIY Solutions page.