Pumping Station: One

Do you like beers and peers and find that your Sundays need more structure, such as drinking and doing science? If so, this event is for you.

Beer tasting: bring a few bottles of something you like that you think others may not know. We will do a potluck beer tasting. Tiny beer steins (for tiny beers) will be provided but bring your own if you prefer. Homebrews are highly esteemed, and you will get some beer peer review from your peers in beer!

After (and during) the tasting, we’ll discuss the science of beer brewing and other scientific questions and pursuits. Peer review of projects will happen if people have something to show; 300 seconds of non-fame with frequent interruptions.

You are of course welcome to come even if you do not consume beer or other alcoholic beverages! You must be 21 to drink at beer church.

There are loads of people who want to learn how to program, and thankfully there are loads of high quality free tutorials and classes from big names like MIT (the class a small group of us are currently using), Stanford, and Google, from start-up educational resources like Khan Academy or Udacity, and other free resources like Python-course.

All of the courses listed above teach the easy-to-learn Python programming language.

Starting Thursday, May 17th, every first and third Thursday of each month PS:One will hold Python Office Hours.  This is a chance for people learning to program in Python to get together for moral support, project assistance, and homework assistance.  We’ll have an experienced python developer or two on hand to help answer questions and explain difficult concepts, plus loads of students at all skill levels to provide assistance and community (there is no better way to learn than teaching!).

This is an “office hours” event with volunteer teaching assistants. The expectation is that students watch lectures, read tutorials and attempt homework on their own, then use this as a resource to aid in learning, not as a class, workshop, seminar, private tutor session, or other primary learning tool.

• Who: everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level!
• When: First and Third Thursdays of each month, 7pm, starting May 17
• Where: Pumping Station: One 3354 N. Elston Ave, Chicago, IL
• Cost: Free ($5 recommended donation to help us keep the lights on!)

image: flickr user dougwoods

PS: in lieu of apples, our TAs prefer adult beverages as thank-you presents.

PPS: interested in becoming a TA for this series? Contact the author of this post.

This workshop is part two of a two part intro to the Arduino being held at Pumping Station: One. Part 2 is for people who have a working Arduino setup running on their laptops. The emphasis in part two of the Arduino class is on programming. We’ll assume that you know where the different types of pins are located on the board, and that you can run the blink example. Ask lots of questions!

You will need to bring a laptop. You will need an Arduino. The best choice is Sparkfun’s “Flex” kit http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10174 If you don’t already have an Arduino, Pumping Station: One will loan you a Flex kit to use during the workshop session. Ask lots of questions!

images are CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 sparkfun.com

Workshop contents:

• The Arduino language: a simplified mix of C and C++
• Programming basics and interactive demos
• Experiment time to play with programming examples
• The Arduino language – special libraries
• Experiment time to play with library examples
• Arduino shields and i/o modules (demo)

Instructor: Ed Bennett
ed at kinetics and electronics dot com
kineticsandelectronics.com

Tickets are $25 and available  through Eventbrite.

The second Wednesday of every month is Automation Night, dedicated to hobbyist and professional automated manufacturing tools like 3D printers, CNC mills, laser cutters, cake frosters, and wire benders.

Are you interested in at-home automated manufacturing? Do you like the idea of owning your own 3D printer, laser cutter, automated mill, router table, or other astounding automatons? Then this is the night for you!

Please attend if you’re interested in learning more, already have an automated tool at home, want to show off your latest build, or just want to meet locals who are into this exciting technology!

• Who: Open to the public
• Where: Pumping Station: One, 3354 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL
• When: Wednesday, May 9th, 7pm
• Cost: Free ($5 suggested donation for non-members to help us pay the rent)

Planned Schedule:

• 7-7:10: people show up
• 7:10-7:25: introductions round-robin
• 7:25-’till everyone leaves: schmoozing, machine assembly and show off, discussion of tools and techniques

Image: Printable 3D Skill Badge by Thingiverse user TheNewHobbyist

This Monday join us for a special edition of DIY music night featuring Mashup artist Adam Dzak. Adam will be showing off his work in progress, a MIDI controller based on The Maven, an Ableton Live controller custom-built for world-renowned DJ Sasha. Adam will talk about his inspiration for the project and his (ongoing) journey toward completing it. More importantly, Adam will demonstrate his own creative process, and you’re invited to use the equipment and make your own Mashup.

This class is part one of a two part intro to the Arduino.  It’s an intro for people who have no experience with programming or electronics. Ticket information is at arduinointro1.eventbrite.com

You will need to bring a laptop. You will need an Arduino. The best choice is Sparkfun’s “Flex” kit http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10174 If you don’t already have an Arduino, Pumping Station: One will loan you a Flex kit to use during the workshop session. Ask lots of questions!

images are CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 sparkfun.com

Workshop contents:

• What’s Arduino?
• Installing the Arduino editor on your laptop
• Tour of the Arduino board and the Sparkfun “Flex” kit
• How to use a breadboard – hooking up sensors
• How to play with the built-in examples
• Experiment time to play with some examples
• Things you can do with an Arduino

Instructor: Ed Bennett
ed symbol kineticsandelectronics dot com
kineticsandelectronics.com

Steve lets his hair down and puts it to use evaluating the performance of the high voltage Van de Graaf generator. Hair is a natural high voltage corona detector since the strands stand up as they become charged by the electric field. The generator was basically junk when it arrived at the space, so Steve used the opportunity to experiment with different collector electrode geometries and belt materials. The most obvious change in the machine is the belt material. Several types were tried out. In terms of producing a charge and being mechanically stable, nylon fabric with a stitched seam is so far the best. The Van de Graff will deliver approximately 1 inch sparks about 2 seconds apart. And yes, they hurt.

Can the particle accelerator be far behind?

This weekend the MakerBot team will be showing off their new Replicator printers at C2E2.  On Friday after the show, MakerBot will be hosting a meetup for 3d printing fans and anyone who wants to learn more about MakerBots.  They’ll be demonstrating their Replicator printers and refreshments and pizza will be on hand.  If you attend our automation meetups or are interested in 3d printing, or perhaps just like beer and pizza then come on out and meet the guys who popularized 3d printing in the maker community.

RSVP Here

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away …

Ok, three years ago in a coffee shop not far from here, Pumping Station: One was just a dream in the heads of a bunch of DIYers who had no idea what they were in for. Come celebrate our 3 year anniversary!

Date: April 14
Time: 7pm – Demos and Reception; 10pm – Circuit bent music
Place: Pumping Station: One, 3354 N. Elston (near Belmont and California)

Come check out the awesome hackerspace we’ve built and some of the cool projects we’ve made there, including:

• Life Size TARDIS
• Actual Time Machine*
• “Fresh Paint” Magnetic Light Board
• High Five Glove
• THUNDER SLINKY!
• Play the Didgeridoo
• LED Cube
• Brain Based Jacob’s Ladder
• DIY Quadrocopter
• Suped-up Power Wheels Racer
• “Counter-Intuitive” an electromechanical machine

Plus, make stuff with our most futuristic tools:

• ShapeOko CNC Mill
• ORD Bot 3D Printer
• Epilog Laser Cutter
• Learn to solder your own blinkie badge!
• Silkscreen your own art poster!

Later in the evening, join the party with live music from circuit benders Tomer Gal and Michael Una and enjoy a slice of midnight birthday cake.

There is a $20 door fee to fund our expansion into a larger location.

RSVP Here

The second Wednesday of the month is coming up which means that our monthly Automation Night (was DIY CNC night)  is upon us again!

Are you interested in at-home automated manufacturing? Do you like the idea of owning your own 3D printer, laser cutter, automated mill, router table, or other astounding automatons? Then this is the night for you!

Automation Night is an ever-growing group of enthusiastic amateurs and professionals in the field of do it yourself automated manufacturing (ie 3D printers, CNC mills, laser cutters, cake frosters, etc) hardware and software.

Please come if you’re interested in learning more, already have an automated tool at home, want to show off your latest build, or just want to meet locals who are into this exciting technology!

• Who: Open to the public
• Where: Pumping Station: One, 3354 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL
• When: Wednesday, April 11th, 7pm
• Cost: Free ($5 suggested donation for non-members to help us pay the rent)

Planned Schedule:

• 7-7:10: people show up
• 7:10-7:25: introductions round-robin
• 7:25-’till everyone leaves: schmoozing, machine assembly and show off, discussion of tools and techniques

Image: 120 Cell by Thingiverse user George Hart