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

As of a matter of fact a lot of hackerspaces operate in this matter,
both for running the space and for getting equipment.

Raymond

On Sun, Jan 30, 2011 at 4:56 PM, Brock Hinzmann <bhinzmann@sric-bi.com> wrote:
> Thanks to Raymond for the link and thanks Ed for the other links and advice.
> Very useful.
> Another aspect I am curious about is whether any of these hacker spaces have
> been funded by some sort of micro finance, such as pooling donations online
> to open a space and/or buy a 3D printer or other piece of equipment. Anyone
> know of such a thing or participated in one?
> Brock Hinzmann
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 29, 2011, at 11:14 AM, EdGrenda@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 1/28/2011 7:44:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> bhinzmann@sbi-i.com writes:
>
> 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
>
>
> Hello Brock and All:
>
> As of about 6 months back, some published sources claimed there were about
> 125 hacker spaces in the US and about 400 worldwide.  Based on the number of
> names I see mentioned it's not hard to believe there could be something like
> that.  I would guess this is still very much in the growth state.
>
> The only "formal" listing I've come across (but I haven't been very
> diligent) is the HackerSpace Wiki mentioned by Raymond.  Last time I looked
> into that, a month or so ago, it was such a mess and had so many dead links
> I decided not to list it for now.  Maybe it's cleaned up and is more useful
> these days.
>
> The informal nature and fluid state of these groups, as well as their
> somewhat anarchist nature, says to me that a wiki is the preferred way of
> providing listings rather than a more formal edited site.
>
> There are as yet only a handful of sales places like Shapeways, Thingiverse,
> etc.  But any and every organization selling additively made stuff is listed
> starting in this section of the WWGRP web-site:
>
> http://www.additive3d.com/odd1_lks.htm
>
> As categories expand, groups will be broken out.
>
>
> Incidentally, everything available below $20K, as well as additional sources
> of info and hardware are listed starting here:
>
> http://www.additive3d.com/comp_lks.htm
>
>
> There are several thousand pages on the site and I would urge folks to
> burrow through them.  If it's additive -  it's there someplace!
>
> Regards,
> Ed
>
> Ed Grenda
> Castle Island Co.
> EdGrenda@aol.com (email)
>
> The Worldwide Guide to Rapid Prototyping
> www.additive3d.com
Received on Mon Jan 31 04:39:15 2011