Geometric bird feeder workshop

Geometric Bird Feeder

It’s been cold, lets help the birds. They enjoy fruits and berries.
Come along to the Makerspace in Guildford and make a geometric structure onto which Sultanas, Raisins, berries etc can be skewered. This feeder can then be attached to a window, drainpipe or other external fixture.

We shall be working with bamboo and natural rubber bands to make a bird feeder with a low environmental impact. This process of making requires only your fingers to build a stable construction using minimal materials.

Materials will be provided.
£6 cash per person. Starts at 3.15pm on Sunday 22nd January.

All proceeds to the Makerspace.

https://www.meetup.com/makerspace-at-guildford/events/291008767/

 

Looking Out, Looking In – Introduction to New House

We are exhibiting at New House Art Space in central Guildford. Opening on February 4th at 7pm until 6th March. On display are a range of works by our Members, both artists and makers, and our group projects. Over the weekends we aim to be at New House to answer questions.

You are welcome to visit us and the many local artists exhibiting.

https://www.experienceguildford.co.uk/event/looking-out-looking-in-introduction-to-new-house-resident-artists/

 

Projects in the makerspace

I’ve jumped in the time-machine (and/or photo collections) to see the variety of project that have taken place in the makerspace over the last year. This is a list of some the most interesting and uncommon project to be found.

Laser Etched Necklace

The necklace started life that day as a tree branch. Using the bandsaw to make slices that were laser etched. Drill a hole for fixing. Then add a thin strip of recycled leather to complete the piece.

This is a great little project utilising the various tools availible in the makerspace.

Audio Mixer Modifiactions

The audio mixer and 3D printer were saved at the end of the lives. Both were solid built but electronics outdated. The 3D printer has been upgraded and nearly in full working order.

3D Printer repair
Modular Synthesiser
Leather Shoe Making

Plenty of leatherwork takes place in the makerspace. This shoe is one of the more complex and colourful pieces to be sighted.

Wizard Hat with added leather strap

 

2018 at the Makerspace

Events & Open Evenings

Over the last year we have had various donations of equipment including a Singer sewing machine and Draper band saw. We have enjoyed laser-cutting a whole range of signs, leatherwork and even Arts Council funded  sculptures. Electronics has also featured prominently our group build of dome nodes, modular synthesisers and various digital clocks have gathered a lot of enthusiastic support.

Innovate Guildford – 17th March

This is an annual large technology showcase event held at GLive in Guildford where we demonstrate the wide range of creative projects from the MakerSpace and its community workshop to the general public and ideas, new technologies and knowledge in many stimulating conversations.

Repair Cafe

Organised by Guildford Borough Council to encourage people to repair their broken items and reduce landfill the Repair Cafe has proved very popular. We have enjoyed hosting the event in the Boileroom Garden and venue and seeing the enthusiasm of the attendees as old damaged items are brought back to life. Our additional workshop facilities and expertise helping broaden the range of repairs.

EMF Camp

EMF camp 2018 had the largest SHM village yet with many members, associates and friends. We enjoyed visits from and visited many other groups and makerspaces from the UK and around the world. Our geodesic dome made its second EMF appearance, this year sporting multiple networks of microcontrolled  blinding LEDs and pacmen.

Wireless and CANBus lighting nodes for our geodesic dome and EMF camp laser cut leatherwork.

Hack The Space

In October we had our first Hack the Space. This started with an all round clean up followed by modifying storage, creating more workspace and creative space saving. We plan to follow up with electronics area improvements.

 

Surrey and Hampshire Makerspace AGM – 22/01/2018 @ 7:30pm

The space’s AGM is happening tonight! Our members will be gathering in the Boileroom venue from 7:30pm onwards to discuss the administration and status of the space.

We’ll have a few guest talk of interest, the bar will be open, and it’ll be a chance to meet up with the members of the space! You’ll also be able to pick up your new membership card for 24/7 access to the makerspace.

If you aren’t a member yet, do feel free to still come along and see what we get up to. Tours of the space are freely available and you can have a chat to current members.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

January 19, 2018 – Open Session

Open Session Tomorrow!

Don’t forget our regular open session will be on tomorrow from 6pm onwards! Come join us at the Makerspace whether you’re a member working on a project or a visitor coming to say hi.

Where to Find Us

First time visiting the Space? See our page here on location, parking and public transport for more details.

Our Equipment

We have lots of tools and machines available at the space, from hand tools to computers and soldering irons to laser cutters.
After something specific or want to check? Feel free to drop a note on the Forum post by clicking on the ‘start discussion’ link below.

 

Do let us know if you have any more questions on the Forum post – we usually announce who’s coming and what time on the post on the day of the session, too. If you’re bringing a project along, tell us – we have a wide variety of interests and someone might be able to help or chat about it.

Hope to see you there!

 

 

Upcoming Events

The Surrey & Hampshire Makerspace are involved in a number of interesting events this week, here’s what’s going on:

Repair Cafe / Open Day – Saturday 14th October.
SHM hosts the Repair Cafe at the Boileroom in Guildford. Come along between 10:00 and 12:00 for another chance to bring your household items which are in need of repair and get expert help to fix them!

The Surrey & Hampshire Makerspace will also be having an Open Day between 10am and 3pm for people to come along and visit the space and see what’s going on. So why not pop on down?

16th Egham Jam – Sunday 15th October.
Learn more about the Raspberry Pi computer and see some of the cool things you can do with them, this time with a Halloween twist! The 16th Egham Jam is free but you do need to register on the Eventbrite page.

Let’s Get Making (Basingstoke) – Wednesday 18th October.
Some of our members will also be down in this Wednesday for Let’s Get Making. It’s a chance to learn more about making, meet fellow makers and see some cool projects. It’s hosted by Basingstoke Makerspace, it’s FREE and starts at 7pm.

Open Evenings
Plus we’ll still be hosting our regular open evenings this Tuesday and Friday at our space above the Boileroom from 6pm!

 

Planning, Polycarbonate, and Programming

A broken dress strap adjustment slider and the replacement cut from polycarbonate

Tuesday evening was another busy evening at the makerspace with a lot going on and a couple of people visiting the space. It’s even possible that a theme emerged for the evening, which seems to have been the letter ‘P’.

Plans were hatched (including some for the Always The Sun festival in September), Phones were prodded, Polycarbonate was lasered, Prototype development boards were Programmed, and Pudding (okay technically a huge slab of brownie from Smokey Joe’s) was purchased.

The image at the top of today’s post shows a dress repair project (which is where the polycarbonate comes in). A new plastic strap slider thingumy was needed and they’re not something you can easily buy in small numbers.

As you can see the end result worked, but does look a little charred. Polycarbonate seems very smokey to cut, even having refined the setting to use two passes (85% power, 80mm/s). Dropping the power lower may help a bit for future attempts.

Anyway you can find out more about some of the plans (including raft building and non-planar video projection) on our Forum, or by dropping by. If you’d like to find out more about the brownie then I’d suggest coming to one of our Tuesday or Friday Open Sessions and stopping at Smokey Joe’s in the garden downstairs first.