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Chicago Net Squared Social Change Meetup on 1/9/2012

On Monday, January 9, Pumping Station: One is hosting the Chicago Net Squared meetup:

Social change makers and web innovators have come together in cities across the nation to share ideas, network, and build community web resources and network. Now join us, so Chicago can grow more technology savvy social change organizations that benefit our local communities. Staff and volunteers of non-profits, web innovators, and any individuals pushing for change are encouraged to attend.

learn more at http://www.netsquared.org

join the meetup group here: http://www.meetup.com/net2chi/

where: Pumping Station: One Main Room 3354 N Elston Ave, Chicago, 60618

when: January 9, 2012 6pm-8pm

who: anyone may attend

cost: free, but non-members are encouraged to donate to help PS:One pay the rent

02

Jan

updated: DIY CNC Night December 14, 7pm

Sneaker Spurs

UPDATE: I can’t read a calendar – this event takes place on December 14, not december 7 as this post originally stated.

It’s almost time for December’s DIY CNC Night, a growing group of enthusiasts of automated manufacturing: 3D printers, laser cutters, automated mills and routers, plus all the software and hardware tools that enable automated manufacturing technology!

Please come if you’re interested in learning more, already have a CNC 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: December 14, 7pm

Cost: Free ($5 suggested donation for non-members to help pay the rent)

Typical Schedule:

  • 7-7:10: people show up
  • 7:10-7:25: introduction round-robin
  • 7:25-9pm or so: schmoozing, machine assembly and show off, discussion of tools and techniques

Image: Sneaker Spurs! by Thingiverse user MikeBattaglia

01

Dec

DIY CNC Night #5

Interested in automated manufacturing, laser cutters, 3D printers, or automated routers and mills?

Come join us for DIY CNC night #5 on Wednesday November 9 at 7pm!

The general schedule:

  • 7-7:20pm: introductions
  • 7:20-7:45pm: discussion: tuning and calibrating a RepRap printer (we’ll be tuning PS:One′s own 3D printer, and certifying members to use it)
  • 7:45-9pm: machine demos, schmoozing, repair work, machine assembly, discussion, what have you

Who: This event is open to everyone

When: 7-9pm

Where: Pumping Station One, 3354 N Elston Ave, Chicago

Cost: Free, but donations encouraged

DIY CNC nights are evenings for Chicago area automated manufacturing enthusiasts, hobbyists, professionals, and the merely curious to meet and discuss the state of the art in both open source and proprietary technologies.  They occur the second Wednesday of each month at Pumping Station One, and are open to the public.

Image: PS:One′s 3D printer, a RepRap Mendel Prusa, printing a calibration object.

06

Nov

DIY CNC Night #4 October 12 at 7pm

Interested in 3D printing? Lasercutting? Wish you had an automated mill to play with?

Come join us for our monthly DIY CNC Night #4 on October 12 at 7pm.

Our typical schedule:

  • 7-7:20pm: introductions
  • 7:20-7:45pm: brief talk (TBD)
  • 7:45-9pm: machine demos, schmoozing, repair work, machine assembly, discussions, etc

Who: open to the public

Where: Pumping Station: One 3354 N. Elston Ave, Chicago 60618

When: 7pm on Wednesday, October 12

Cost: Free

Gear O’Clock designed by thingiverse user PrintTo3D

07

Oct

DIY CNC Night #3: 9/14 at 7pm

taj mahal by tac feaThe third installment of DIY CNC night will be Wednesday, September 14th at 7pm!

DIY CNC night is a monthly (second Wednesday of each month) event held at Pumping Station: One, 3354 N Elston Ave, for hobbyists, enthusiasts, and professionals to celebrate and explore Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC mills, lathes, plotters, and more!  Attendees are encouraged to bring along any machines or work examples they wish to show off.

The usual schedule is as follows:

  • 7-7:15 introductions / show off stuff you brought along
  • 7:15-7:45 brief presentation
  • 7:45-9-ish mingling, discussion, tour of Pumping Station: One, general schmoozing, and machine repair/assembly/upgrade

This month Bart Dring of MakeSlide and buildlog will be talking about his projects.

Miniature Taj Mahal designed and printed by thingiverse user tc_fea.

09

Sep

DIY CNC night, volume 2

The second edition of PS:One′s DIY CNC night (Automation Station: One) is this Wednesday, August 10 at 7pm.  All 3D printing, CNC mill, laser cutting, and any other CAD/CAM tool enthusiasts are welcome (members and non-members alike).

Feel free to bring things to show off.

Image by Thingiverse user rotoscan.

08

Aug

Automation Station: One (DIY CNC night) July 20th 7pm

The desktop manufacturing revolution has been gaining traction at PS:One over the past few months.

We had the recent reprap build event, and now the hacked vinyl cutter, makerbot, PS:One′s own RepRap Mendel, and the brand new CNC tool (it’s extremely cool, but I’m not allowed to announce it on this blog yet) have taken over half of the electronics work area.

To complete the CNC takeover, PS:One will hold a monthly Automation Station: One event where people are encouraged to bring their in-progress projects for building in a communal atmosphere and completed projects to show off.

All CNC tools are welcome: additive, subtractive, mills, lasers, printers, frosters, plotters, RepRaps, and even egg-bots.  There will be an emphasis on open source hardware/software tools, but not exclusively so.

This first event will be on July 20th at 7pm at Pumping Station: One. Non-member CNC enthusiasts (and any projects they wish to share) are welcome to attend.

Image: “Colbertopus” by Thingiverse user Renosis.

14

Jul

Build Your Own 3D Printer Workshop: June 18

repRap Mendel Prusa Chris donated to PS:One

Update (2): run time clarification – this workshop runs from 10am to 6pm (or really, until the machines are complete).  These are complex machines – expect for this to take a while.

Update: just to be completely clear: this event is open to anyone who signs up via Eventbrite. PS:One membership is not required.

We’ve got a fever, and 3D printing is the cure!

On June 18, PS:One member Chris Jansen will be holding a build-your-own RepRap Mendel Prusa 3D printer workshop.  Workshop cost will be $100 (for materials).

If you don’t know what it is, a RepRap is a 3D printer that can print many of it’s own parts. A REPlicating RApid Prototyper.  If you have one RepRap, you can make more RepRaps, and even give them to your friends!

At the workshop, we will receive the parts and support to build the X-Y-Z gantry for a RepRap Prusa – all the plastics, mechanicals, belts, pulleys, MDF build platform, etc. At the end of the day you will have a fully-built XYZ body and build platform that just needs electronics installed and programmed to get up and running.

PLEASE NOTE: To complete the build, you’ll need to purchase another $200-$300 worth of electronics and stepper motors and hot ends (price varies depending on the bells and whistles you choose).  Please see the wiki page for a listing of electronics not included in this workshop. If you bring your own electronics along with you, assistance may be available to get your electronics installed (no promises).

What: Build your own RepRap Mendel Prusa X/Y/Z gantry and build platform

Where: Pumping Station: One 3354 N. Elston Ave, Chicago, IL

How much: $100 per person (Limit 20).

Register for Reprap Build-A-Thon in Chicago, United States  on Eventbrite

A great introduction to 3D printing and the RepRap Mendel Prusa we’ll be building on 6/18:

19

May

Transmissometer: measures concentration with lasers

I’m starting a company that makes campfire scented cologne, and to solve a problem in my production process, I built a transmissometer.  Here is the video Aaron Kowalski and I made with Element 14‘s support:

Transmissometer from Pumping Station: One on Vimeo.

Here are more details on the device, including photos, schematics, and source code.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the build and filming!

20

Apr

Weaving Station: One

We just received a very generous gift of a Nilus LeClerc Loom, dubbed Weaving Station: One.

Jen is working on getting it set up and learning how to use it – if anyone out there knows about setting up looms and weaving and would like to have access to ours, please contact us.

20

Feb