Category: Events and meetups

Not So Mini Minne-Faire @ Hack Factory, Saturday, April 14, 2012

Posted on by oldpostholder in Events and meetups, general

10,000V

 

Our third annual Minne-Faire is on the calendar for Saturday, April 14.

To reflect our explosive growth, this year’s fair will be bigger and better then ever!

Old favorites are returning and new friends coming.

 

 

 

We will have music, food, exhibits, and demonstrations.

 

Schedule for Saturday, April 14IMG_0573

12:00-5:00 PM: Open maker displays and demos

7:00PM: Music performances and socializing

We can use your help building this event.

 

Calling all makers!

It is not to late  if you would like to show at this year’s Minne-Faire. Contact us by sending email to faire@tcmaker.org

 

Meet the Maker and Learn to Solder

Posted on by oldpostholder in Classes, Events and meetups, general, Posts

Adam Wolf of Wayne and Layne, and Twin Cities Maker Member will be hosting a class on how to solder one of his popular kits the blinky POV.

If you’ve never soldered before, this is the class for you! This course teaches through-hole (90% of electronic kits) soldering and is recommended for the beginner. This is a hands-on class where the students learn techniques to help them solder through-hole components. Soldering can be daunting for the first solder joint, then the 2nd solder joint is not so bad, and by the time you’ve assembled the blinky grid, you will be quite confident and proficient in basic soldering skills.

Classes take place at The Hack Factory. We provide all the tools, irons, solder, parts, and seats for up to 8 students.

There is a minimum age requirement of 8 years old, but other than that, anyone is encouraged to sign up. We teach people all the time with no previous soldering experience! You do not need to be a member of Twin Cities Maker to attend.

The class is expected to take around 1.5 hour to complete, there is a buffer built in in case we go a bit longer.

Prerequisites: None! Just bring yourself. The class price includes the cost of the blinky POV kit.

What to bring: TC Maker will provide all the tools, irons and solder.

Proceeds above will go to help keep TC Maker, support the space.

Time and Place: Tuesday Feb 7th 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Hack Factory

Cost: $16 (This is a great deal, the retail price is also $16, but with out the hack factory to solder at, and no Adam to be taught by.)

Sign up on Event Brite

1/25/12 Open Hack Night and Handmade Music Minneapolis Pictures

Posted on by oldpostholder in Events and meetups, Wednesday Night Roundup


A collection of some of the happenings of the Open Hack at 1/25/12 @ the Hack Factory in Minneapolis. Every Wednesday is open to the public, 7 – ~11pm. Bring project to show, work on your projects, talk about robots or moon shovels…

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615

And pictures from the latest Handmade Music: Minneapolis Introduction to Pure Data

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615

Live @ The Hack Factory: Luke Armstrong

Posted on by oldpostholder in Events and meetups, Uncategorized

RABBLE ROUSE THE WORLD TOUR

HACK FACTORY STOP

SATURDAY 12.10.11

7:00 – 8:30

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | FREE

After college Luke Maguire Armstrong joyfully committed financial suicide by taking out a last minute student loan so he could hitchhike from Chile to Alaska. Fodder from these shenanigans, which include narrowly escaping muggers in Peru and visiting a FARC run cocaine factory in Colombia, are part of the inspiration inspirations for his award winning fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

For the last four years he has been hiding from the Student Loan Debt Monsters in Guatemala where he directs the humanitarian development organization Nuestros Ahijados. Through schools, clinics, a homeless shelter, a malnourished infant center, and other sustainable programs, this project works to “break the bitter chains of
poverty.” These efforts have been featured in The Huffington Post and ABC News 20/20 amongst others.

December 2011 is Luke’s multi-city Rabble Rousing Tour to recite poetry from his book iPoems for the Dolphins to Click Home About, sing songs (some about potatoes and chicken patties), promote social justice and spread awareness about issues ranging from human trafficking, infant malnutrition, illiteracy and the troubling lack of education opportunities for parrots and dogs.

Rabble Rousing Tour 2011 Flyer 

Open Hack Night 11/16/11

Posted on by oldpostholder in Classes, electronics, Events and meetups, Posts, Wednesday Night Roundup

Pictures from the open Hack Night!

Welcome to the 4 new members that signed up on Wednesday! Our total right now is at 91, we update the bar which is currently at 81 at the start of each month so, there is a really good chance next month we will exceed our goal which will be really great. Thanks to all of our new and continuing members, you are TC Maker!

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615

Also our starving hacker fund has been depleted so if you are so inclined to donate some money to help out fellow members that have fallen on tough times you can do so by talking with Brandon our treasurer@tcmaker.org.

We have a spark…

Posted on by oldpostholder in Classes, Events and meetups, general, Uncategorized

http://firsttigclass.eventbrite.com

Date: Sunday, Dec 4th
Time: 12pm – 4pm

The big Mill-er TIG is up and running. And talk about power, this thing has juice to spare. That being said, we are having an orientation class to familiarize members with this machine. The class is mandatory for anyone using the machine. We need to be SURE everyone has been given the proper startup and shutdown procedures to keep from damaging the machine. Also for simplicity sake, we want everyone to use the same collet/tungsten electrode kit rated for this welder, so you will be getting your own kit as part of the orientation materials (dont worry we get a good discount on bulk orders so its cheaper than getting it yourself). Also this unit uses quite a bit of argon. We want to make sure we can keep this thing in gas, so we trying to get a shop sized tank. The rest of the orientation cost goes right back into feeding this beast a steady diet of argon.

This will not be an introduction to welding class. You will need to have had a mig or gas welding class before signing up and be a member in good standing of the Hack Factory. You can also test out of the prerequisite classes by finding either Dave or I and showing off your wicked welding skills.

Videoman testing the big TIG

You can also register in person with Karin (class/events coordinator) up til nov 25th (we need a week to order kits)

550 101 Fun with Paracord

Posted on by oldpostholder in Classes, Events and meetups, general

550 cord (aka paracord) is strong, relatively inexpensive and versatile. Our “101” course will teach you to make useful, decorative and interesting things using this material. No prior experience necessary. We’ll use a few basic (and surprisingly simple) knots to tie a variety of bracelets, belts, tool lanyards, handle wraps, key fobs and holsters.

The course will cover the basics of working with cord, design and measurement considerations and pro tips of executing and finishing your projects.  Practical “lifehacker” applications for rope and cord and a few extra knots that everyone should know will also be shared. Don’t worry if you can’t even tie your shoes (we’ll teach you a superior knot for that too).

This course is very hands-on. All materials and tools will be provided. We’ll complete several projects in class and students will go home with extra cord and a basic tool kit to continue their exploration of cordcraft.

Jeff “Rigger” Berg will be the instructor. Jeff’s been fooling around with rope for over a decade. His resumé includes a stint as a yacht rigger.

Class Sign up!

Posted on by oldpostholder in Classes, Events and meetups, general

Make sure to check out our upcoming classes for the month of November!  We have some exciting topics that will be covered this month. Sign up today!

 

Oxyacetylene this Saturday Nov 5 http://introtooxynov.eventbrite.com

Arduino for English Majors Nov 10 and Nov 17 http://arduino4em.eventbrite.com

Intro to Stick Welding Nov 12 http://introtosmaw.eventbrite.com

550 101 Fun with Paracord Nov 19 http://550101.eventbrite.com