December update!
It's been a good while since there has been a post on the blog. For anyone that doesn't know, there is a mailing list with a link over on the right side of the 757labs.org page where you can sign up for a mailing list. The mailing list allows people to post as well as read, bi-directionally.
757Labs has an interim board, and investigation is being done into 501(c)3 status.
There is a high probability that 757Labs will be moving to a different space in the same building. The space is smaller, but it will allow us to focus better. It will be a good move.
Microcontroller Mondays (every Monday, 7pm) continue to amaze. From introductory simple projects to demonstrations of quad-copters, it's been amazing.
Open hack nights continue to be great social events. Meet those into technology in the area.
Some members of 757Labs are working on an event for next year that is posed to be pretty epic. More details after the paperwork is signed.
Various members are working on a number of projects. Members have a key role at MAGFest, the Music and Gaming festival in Maryland on January 5th through 8th. There is also a project to be unveiled at Shmoocon in Washington DC. There is some upcoming involvement with another project that should be at PAX East in Boston. There are some other secret projects that could be huge. Once we clear the new year we hope to start posting some videos of what is going on. So hang in there!
Circuit Board Creation – First For The Lab
Members of the lab have finally started creating custom circuit boards for projects. The first is a custom board based on the electronics done for last year's high altitude balloon launch. The purpose of the board is for this year's entry into the Hackerspaces in Space high altitude balloon contest.
It took numerous tries, but progress has come around! More information to come once the board is fully populated.
Currently we're using the technique of transferring toner to a glossy surface, then ironing it onto the copper PCB surface, then etching with cupric chloride or ferric chloride.
iRobot iCreate-Based Robot Project
Jamie is working on building a ROS-based robot that looks pretty exciting. It's an open source robot which, once assembled, offers a good starting point for software creation. It uses a Microsoft Kinect, a netbook, and a iCreate (based on the Roomba vacuum cleaner).
Angus of Hines Design Labs cut the acrylic on his laser cutter as it's larger than the lab's. More info to follow on this neat project!
Fabric Hack Recap
The first ever monthly Fabric Hack meeting was a success. Several attendees worked on getting two sewing machines up and running. Being the first and introductory, the future looks good for this group. Please feel free to attend the next one! They are open to all.
On another note, if anyone knows of a multi-needle single head commercial embroidery machine that is available cheap that needs repair (electronic repair), please drop us a line. We'd like to add this to the range of tools available at the lab.
757 Labs Fabric Hack – Wed. Nov. 9, 6pm – 10pm
The first ever fabric hacking meeting at 757 Labs happens Wednesday, November 9th. The lab has had a sewing machine since near it's beginning and it's finally going to get some use! Come join at this public get together.
When: Wednesday, November 9th, 6pm to 10pm EST.
Where: 757 Labs, 233 W. Bute Street, Norfolk, Virginia.
First 757 Labs Hackerspace Passport Stamp Granted!
Mitch Altman of the hackerspace Noisebridge in San Francisco made a large quantity of Hackerspace Passports and has been selling them at a remarkably low price. These neat little passports were created with the idea that hackerspaces could create stamps for them, and stamp the passports of visitors that come to their space.
On Saturday October the 22nd, 757 Labs had two visitors from the HacDc hackerspace in Washington, DC. ITechGeek and HaxWithAxe arrived around midnight after visiting the Fredricksburg, VA hackerspace. The good news is our members created a temporary stamp by laser etching wood and acrylic. The acrylic didn't absorb the ink well enough, but the wood version did the trick! ITechGeek is the first visitor to 757 Labs to receive a hackerspace passport stamp and 757 Labs is the first stamp in his passport. While the physical stamp is beta, it's the permanent design of our stamp.
Some great news is that Angus has cut the design on his engraver in real stamp rubber. He also improved the second layer stamp which wasn't ready yet, but is to be stamped in UV ink.
In the past, 757 Labs has welcomed visitors from Houston's TX/RX Labs, Freeside Atlanta, All Hands Active in Ann Arbor Michigan, The Cowtown Computer Congress in Kansas City, one visitor from the Netherlands, HacDC, and most likely some others. If you're coming to the area, feel free to drop us an email, jump on the public mailing list (link is over on the right), or join #hackerspace on irc.757.org to catch someone. We can easily accommodate any time/day.
In the future, for those participating with the hackerspace passports, we'll have stamps for you!
Start Norfolk, Starting November 11th.
Just a heads up that November 11th marks the beginning of the first ever Start Norfolk event. This event is being sponsored by We Are Titans, Grow Interactive, 757 Creative Space, Innovation Research Park @ODU, and the Norfolk Department of Development. Modeled after similar events in other cities, it is a 48 hour event where participants work to take an idea and turn it into a company. It is mostly focused around rapid start mobile/web applications. There is an exciting list of people who are involved in the event, and tickets are available to those interested in observing the events. In addition to all of this, are are musical guests and food involved! What more could you ask for?
Check out the event page and register at startnorfolk.com
A group of entrepreneurs brainstorm their next big thing.
757 Labs Class: Intro to CAD Design & 3D Modeling Saturday Oct. 29th, 1:00-3:00pm
- SketchUp is a free (also a paid version) application that can be used for all kinds of design (think tiny or large) and has been used on several projects at the lab already. Base product being free, the integration to Google Earth and its simple UI make it attractive but do not let that fool you, it is powerful and can be extended using Ruby scripting. This software works on Windows and Mac only at this time. Download a free copy here.
- AutoCAD is a paid application which is known as the most common CAD platform out there (closed source-wise). This is an industry standard type of application, and originally the flagship product from Autodesk. AutoCAD works on Windows and Mac only at this time. Download a 30 day trial here.
- This will be a 2 hour session that will start with one product, give you the working basics, Q&A, etc.. then move to the other design package. Stories, insight and open dialogue.
- At the conclusion of this you will be familiar with the applications to create and work with your own designs.
- This will also tie into the next 3D Printer (Makerbot) and Laser Cutter sessions, once you can design your own items you can print prototypes and usable pieces.
- Both applications are available within the lab on the graphics machine if you do not already have a copy.
- There are quite a few other software packages available, this session will be dealing with only the two mentioned above. It does not mean that these are better or worse than any that you have heard about, learned or used.
- If time permits we will share an overview of another application, Autodesk 123D, currently in free beta.
This session is free and open to members and guests.
Microcontroller Mondays – Tonight – 7pm till 11pm
Heads up that tonight is the 3rd edition of the weekly Micro-controller Mondays at 757 Labs.
7PM until 11PM.
Bring your project, idea or come to learn!
AVR, Arduino, TI MSP, HC11, PIC, Xilinx, Altera, whatever!
Location
@757Labs
- Our site is back to normal. Let's hope congress sees fit to let it stay that way.
Links
User Groups
- 757 CCC Comic & Cartoon Creators
- 757 Objective C Group Objective C and Cocoa programming group.
- 757 Python Users Group
- 757.rb Ruby Users Group
- HR Geeks Hampton Roads Geek Community