Maker Faire Norfolk on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Join us at the Norfolk mini-Maker Faire today (Saturday, October 20, 2012) from 10 AM to 5 PM. This is a free event (though parking is not free), showcasing local artists, entrepreneurs, hackers, makers, and other creative types. Check-out some neat projects, and network with some smart people.
See the website http://www.makerfairenorfolk.com/ for more info.
Norfolk Mini Maker Faire – Oct 20th, Norfolk Scope
Our blog has been a bit slow recently, but many things are going on at 757 Labs. The biggest thing is we're bringing a Mini Maker Faire to Norfolk!
The Norfolk Mini Maker Faire is a community-organized, family-friendly celebration featuring local DIY science and technology, robots, arts, crafts, and music.
We've reserved the expo hall of the Norfolk Scope on October 20th, 2012. We've also reserved the outside plaza for addition fun including things that involve fire (Glass blowing, bamboo bicycle building and other great things.)
Registration is free for both attendees and makers! Please help us by registering on Eventbrite. This also enters you into a contest to win some great gifts from the Makershed. Link is on the official website linked below.
If you're interested in getting space as a maker, please fill out the form linked from the Maker tab on the official website.
If you're interested in sponsoring the Norfolk Mini Maker Faire (The Norfolk Scope isn't free to use) the sponsor levels and benefits are available from the Sponsors tab on the official site.
Thanks to Make Magazine for extending the ability to host a Mini Maker Faire, and thanks to everyone who helps spread the word, attends, sponsors and participates.
Cookout / Potluck Saturday, June 9, 11am-4pm
Grillin' at 757 Labs
Have you wanted to check out the lab but haven't been able to stop by during our Open Hack Nights? Or are you wanting to join as a member, but want to get to know us first?
Then come to our cookout / potluck this Saturday at 757 Labs in downtown Norfolk! Sat. June 9, 2012 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST. This event is being jointly held with our friends at HR Geeks.
- Expect to do at least one of the following: Chip in $5 or more for food, bring or make something for a potluck, or share in the labor (set up, working the grill, and clean up).
- Don't expect any alcohol or recreational drugs, nor parking in the lot behind the lab. Instead, use free on-street or paid city garage parking.
- Bring cameras and camcorders. Maybe we can do a group picture.
- This cook out will be open to anyone who is willing to chip in or help out, including family & non-lab-member friends, so spread the word!
See you there,
- Mark G.
Our Second 3D Printer Enthusiasts Meeting, April 7th, 2012
Hello 757 Labs friends,
There has been a good influx of interest in 3D printers and related technologies in the past few months along with more members purchasing kits (RepRap variations, Makerbots, and talks of a couple PrintrBots in the area). So lets get together and share what we have and work on the ones that need some help or time to get up and running.
Date: April 07 , 2012
Time: 12:00 - 3:00 PM EST
Location: 233 W. Bute St. Norfolk, VA 23510 in the 757Labs Front Conference Area
3D Print of a Penny Bottle Opener
If you have an interest or want to see some 3D printers up close come on by. If you have a kit or a completed printer, bring it with you and let's share and contribute together!
NOTE: This event is open to the public, so come on out and join us!
Microcontroller Monday Presentation
The Microcontroller Monday presentation from the 6th has been published and is viewable below. There was a great turnout for the event and I appreciate everybody's support!
-TJ
TCP Tuesdays – Networking class – March 20th, 7:30PM
7:30 PM - TCP Tuesdays (networking class)
Tue, Mar 20, 2012, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
757Labs, 233 West Bute St, Norfok, VA 23510
Like most 757Labs events, this is open to the public to those interested in the topic.
TCP Tuesdays, starting this week at 7:30PM
Based on a few previous message threads, and conversations at the lab, a number of people have indicated they'd be interested in a 'networking' class, in the style of Microcontroller Mondays. So, starting THIS TUESDAY (March 20), 757 Labs will be running TCP Tuesdays, hosted by yours truly.
The first night will be 7:30PM-Whenever, with a focus on getting 'setup' to learn and run labs yourself.
Please bring a non-crusty laptop (needs to be able to run a MIPS simulator - Core-series w/2GB of ram or better recommended). Linux/Windows/OS X should all work (I've not actually used Windows for this, but its 'supported'). No serial cables or other gear needed, yet.
-Adam
TV Repair Presentation with Ethan 2/28/2012 @ 7:00PM
Ethan will be doing a presentation and hands on overview of how he generally goes about diagnosing and repairing the flat panel TVs that come into the lab. Pretty much a brain dump, sharing what he knows and how he does this.
When: February 28, 2012
Time: 7:00PM EST
Where: 757 Labs, 233 W. Bute Street Norfolk, VA 23510
Background on tonights project: Recently, Matt donated a 42" plasma TV that had failed, and it will be our subject for this presentation. Ethan will be reviewing this cold, meaning that he has not looked inside the TV or pre-checked anything out other than confirming the service manual can be found on the inter-web. Ethan will cover both Plasma and LCD sets. While the one we will be looking at is a plasma TV.
Note: According to Ethan: It's not a profession, it's a hobby. My score so far: 5 wins, 2 losses. But 1 win is now a loss, but it could be a win again? So it may be something simple or maybe more complex, come and join us.
We will try to record this and if its usable will distribute at a later time/date.
3D Printer Enthusiasts Meeting 2/25/2012
Hello there fellow 757 Labs friends,
There has been a good influx of interest in 3D Printers and related technologies in the past few months as well as more members purchasing kits (at least 4 reprap variations and 3 5 more Makerbots that I know of in the area). So lets get together and share what we have and work on the ones that need some help or time to get up and running.
Date: February 25, 2012
Time: 12:00 - 3:00 PM EST
Location: 233 W. Bute St. Norfolk, VA 23510 in the 757Labs Front Conference Area
3D Print of a Penny Bottle Opener
If you have an interest or want to see some 3D printers up close come on by and if you have a kit or a completed printer, bring it with you and lets share and contribute together!
NOTE: This event is open to the public, so come on out and join us!
If you are planning to come, please respond or comment so that we can be sure to order the right amount of food for those attending.
Microcontroller Monday 2/6/2012 with TJ
Quick announcement for those interested in microcontrollers:
In addition to our regularly scheduled Microcontroller Monday hack sessions at the lab we are pleased to announce that the first Monday of each month, starting in February (2/6/2012), we will be upping our game and having a more formal presentation session.
The February 2012 session will be all about the different microcontrollers that are available today, what they are and an overview on what they can do and how you (yes you) can get started using them. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran there will be something for everyone during this session presented by the lab's own TJ.
Steve, Ethan and TJ checking out a project during a recent MM event
The sessions starts at 7:00pm EST on 2/6/2012 and is open to the public. If you have been interested this is your chance to participate.
Shmoocon 2012, 757 Labs and Harbor Freight
Last weekend was quite exciting, as a few members of 757 Labs built a project for Shmoocon. It was an audience feedback moose that took feedback via an internet website and visually (then audibly) responded. The eyes were BlinkM LEDs and the audio feedback was done by means of a Harbor Freight airhorn kit powered by ham radio power supplies.
Of course, being a con project, it was a bit last minute. Planning and software started much earlier, but it's just how things go. One huge last minute issue was when a relay failed. This relay was supplied with the Harbor Freight airhorn kit, and was used to switch the high current load of the compressor by means of the the microcontroller which was triggering the relay by means of a MOSFET.
After only a few tests the relay seemed to fail. One would guess the transistor failed, given that it's a 40 amp automotive relay. This failure, however, seemed to echo some online comments about the air horn kit.
Before heading to Radio Shack, I popped the top on one of the relays and low and behold, it's a lie. The 40 amp relay is really a fake case on a 5 amp relay. It was purposely made to look like it was a heavy duty 40 amp automotive relay, when it is not! I've heard about Chinese vendors doing this with capacitors, but never have witnessed it in real life. So here you have it, the 40 amp relay included with the Harbor Freight air horn kit is a lie.
The fix was ultimately to go to Radio Shack and pick up some replacement relays. A few taxicabs and a few Radio Shacks later relays that looked pretty similar to the Harbor Freight ones were in hand, but the Radio Shack ones weighed quite a bit more. We had 3 of the air horn kits, and sourced 3 replacement relays. The air horns draw at least 20 amps, so there is no way the supplied 5 amp relay (mocked up to look like a 40 amp relay) would last very long.
Relays before removal of cover. "40A" automotive relay
Relays after removal of cover. It's really a 5A PCB mount relay!
Unfortunately this delayed the airhorns until mid-day Saturday, as the Radio Shack nearby in the city closed early.
I wonder if Harbor Freight knows their supplier is lying to them?
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- 757 CCC Comic & Cartoon Creators
- 757 Objective C Group Objective C and Cocoa programming group.
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- 757.rb Ruby Users Group
- HR Geeks Hampton Roads Geek Community