Re: [rp-ml] Huntsville Open Manufacturing meetup recap

Tech Shop is a tool gym where as a hackerspace is more about
community. There is a list of hackerspaces available at
http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces . I think the only
Tech Shop left open might be the original in California. You'll find
that different hackerspaces have different models for membership and
rarely are they as expensive as Tech Shop. Tech Shop has more and
better equipment than hackerspaces but that equipment tends to me more
commercial and less open manufacturing.

Raymond

On Fri, Jan 28, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Brock Hinzmann <bhinzmann@sbi-i.com> wrote:
> Thanks, Raymond.
>
> I've seen articles on hackspaces, but does anyone keep a comprehensive list
> of them around the country? Terry? Ed? Some of the ones I've seen mentioned
> are:
>
> A2MechShop (Ann Arbor, Mich)
> The HobbyShop (Cambridge, Mass)
> NYC Resistor (NY,NY)
> Hive76 (Philadelphia PA)
> TechShop (Menlo Park, CA)
>
> I get the impression the range of equipment varies considerably and maybe
> not all have 3D printing, let alone open source. Are the ones I mentioned
> even all still in business? TechShop had plans to expand to Durham, NC, and
> to Beaverton, Oregon. Did they? I'd like to see an occasional update on
> progress on such concepts and business models.
>
> TechShop has a membership model (like a fitness club), I believe, and gives
> lessons on equipment for a small fee or barter. How is that working out? Do
> other hackspaces do that? I would thing instruction in how to use 3D solids
> modeling someware would be a common need for newbies. What are some of the
> other common requests?
>
> I suppose it is possible for people sell things on Web sites like
> www.thingiverse.com, for instance. Would it be useful to have a list or a
> network of such sites?
>
> Just curious.
>
> Brock Hinzmann
> Technology Navigator
>
>
> strages wrote:
>>
>> About seven people showed up for the meetup, which is not bad for
>> something planned in a little over a week.  One person brought their
>> mostly functional Reprap Mendel made from a laser cut kit.  He
>> received some help with a heating problem he was having with his
>> extruder head.  Sadly I neglected to take pictures of the event.  I
>> was much do distracted by the excellent conversations happening all
>> around me.  Makers Local 256 already had a Mantis9 cnc, a large
>> homebrew cnc, a Makerbot, the beginnings of a stock Reprap Mendel, an
>> aluminum foundry/forge, and a vacuum forming table.  There was much
>> discussion about bringing the cost down on producing future RepRap
>> Mendels by going with the Prusa design, switching to SAE measurements,
>> and buying local.  I asked everyone what they would like to see at
>> future meetings,and a lot of people were interested in receiving some
>> kind of instruction for getting into some 3D modeling so I'm going to
>> work on that for next months meeting.  I'm also planning on putting
>> together a kind of open manufacturing cheat sheet designed to provide
>> information at a glance along with resources for where to find out
>> more.  Both of these mailing lists will be included as they've been a
>> huge asset to me.  There was much discussion of distributed factories,
>> sending people objects via e-mail or IM, working with different
>> materials and how they behave under different conditions, and even
>> some design improvement ideas for the machines represented at the
>> meeting.  Future projects include, powder based 3D printing, UV resin
>> based 3D printing, even larger cnc machines, and even some food based
>> 3d printing.  Everyone had a blast and everyone left looking forward
>> to the next meeting.  We'll be holding ours on the fourth Thursday of
>> every month. At least one person left the meeting with the firm goal
>> of making a large 3 axis setup in the near future.  It was unclear
>> whether he was going 3D printer or not.
>>
>>
>> Given the turn out of the enthusiasm I think running on of these type
>> of meetings in other areas of the country/world would go over pretty
>> well.  I believe it will help the move the community forward in big
>> ways and would love to hear about people attempting this in other
>> places of the world.  Feel free to drop me a line, whether it be words
>> of encouragement, questions, or constructive criticism.  Oh and be
>> sure to work with your local hackerspace(s), they're a great hot bed
>> for this kind of stuff.
>>
>> Raymond
>>
>>
>
Received on Sat Jan 29 03:12:54 2011