Some hacklabbers and I had discussions about having regular workshops at hacklab.  Rob’s recent call for a makerbot night really got the ball rolling.  I came from noisebridge, where one of the most cool events is Circuit Hacking Mondays, every Monday a half a dozen or more people come to noisebridge to learn how to solder.  It’s one of the big ways that noisebridge gets new members and keeps things interesting and focused on hacking.  Monday nights are a great time for such events because very few people make plans for Monday night and so lots of people are available.

In that spirit, I hereby announce the beginning of a series of workshops at hacklab.  We will not be narrowly focusing on soldering or circuits, but instead covering a wide variety of topics.  The first four such workshops are as follows:

January 10th: RepRap & MakerBot
January 17th: Arduino
January 24th: Circuit Hacking
January 31st: Wearables / Cyborg

Each event is suitable for both total beginners (come learn the basics!) and more knowledgeable people seeking a good hacking session.  Events start at 7pm, come for as little or as long as you like.  Rob will be leading the RepRap session, and I’ll be leading the other three.  We will send out more specific details about each event as the dates draw closer.

If you know anyone who you think would like to attend one of these sessions, please let them know!

Also, if you’re interested in helping with any of these, or in having other workshops, please contact me (mrericboyd at yahoo dot com).  I would especially love it if someone stepped forward to lead a “how to use the laser cutter” workshop.  If the workshops are popular we will be repeating them as opportunity allows.

I’ve been talking with Rob, and Rob, Frysteev, Leigh and others have been preparing for a while now to build one of these tools for Hacklab: http://builders.reprap.org/2010/06/selective-laser-sintering-part-6.html

A Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3d printer.

Due to this coolness, we are having a hackathon challenge on Sept 11th at Hacklab.to  starting at around 11am until we get this built (or hit a critical roadblock). Everyone who wants to help out can come in, and we’ll find work for them to get this done. Some can solder, some can help with the laser cutting, and some people just keep things moving and build one of these babies (hopefully) for Hacklab.to

Note, even if we don’t get the full laser working, we’ll be building a few of these. One to control the SLS, and perhaps a few more for other hacklab fun.

If you are a developer, hacker, or just want to have fun, come out and we’ll find something for you to do to help out.

KJR

We had a great turnout at Andrew’s LED workshop. It was attended by regular Hacklab members and some new faces who were visiting the lab for the first time.

Andrew discussed the basics of how semiconductors and diodes behave, and how to calculate the related currents and voltages in the circuit. He showed to drive low-power LEDs simply with a current-limiting resistor, and the limitations of that design. He went on to show a circuit for an active constant-current method of driving high power LEDs, and demonstrated various models in LTSpice.

Thanks to everyone who attended the workshop, and thanks to Andrew for presenting it! Watch this blog (and our @hacklabto Twitter) for notices of future electronics and craft workshops at the Hacklab.

Unfortunately Andrew has to reschedule the LED workshop, so it will NOT be held tomorrow! It will be held on Sunday, August 8 at 14:00 instead. Update your calendars!

Tim Pritlove, founder of the Blinkenlights Project, long term Chaos Computer Club member and Chaos Communication Congress organizer, stopped by Toronto for a visit this week. He gave a presentation at Hacklab Toronto about the Liquid Feedback Project, which is a software package and philosophy being used by the Pirate Party in Germany to facilitate decision making.

Tim presented to a full house of interested Hacklabbers, fielded lots of questions, and sparked some interesting discussion on the nature of democracy. Thanks, Tim!

Tim’s Liquid Feedback Slides.

Many hackers use LEDs in their circuits. On Sunday July 25, 2010 at 2 p.m., Andrew Kilpatrick will be leading a workshop on how to use LEDs! You will learn both the theory and practice to correctly:

• Read an LED datasheet
• Calculate parameters for your circuit
• Drive high-power, super-bright LEDs
• Boost efficiency and brightness without blowing up your LED

Non-members are welcome, but a cash donation to the lab would be appreciated.

Hacklab Toronto is two years old!

It’s been a great two years — lots of projects, memories and friendships. The result of our efforts is a fun, well-equipped and sustainable hackerspace in Toronto!

Come celebrate with us, show off the lab to your friends, or check it out for the first time.

Show up after 7pm, and bring along some drinks or snacks, if you intend to be hungry or thirsty. Check out the sidebar of the blog for information on how to get to the lab.

Thursday May 6th, 7 to 9PM at the HackLab. Bring snacks, a machine to install / upgrade, or just your smiling self.

Pi Day is nearly upon us, and no celebration plans have yet been made.  I hereby propose that we meet at the hacklab on Sunday, March 14, from 5pm onward, for a celebration of pi(e).  Create your best pie, bring whatever beverages you desire, and let’s have a good time!

We’ve joined together with think|haus from Hamilton, diyode from Guelph, and Kwartzlab from Kitchener-Waterloo to put on a mini hackerspace conference!

Where: think|haus, 152 Niagara St, Hamilton ON

When: October 2-3, 2009

Who: Makers from all over southern Ontario and beyond. You should come too!

Cost: $25 for the first set of tickets. Use the EventBrite system at http://minisooncon.eventbrite.com or contact Seth (shardy@aculei.net) to buy a ticket.

On Friday October 2nd, the conference will host a BBQ and party. Bring cool projects to show off. Awesome badges will be handed out.

On Saturday October 3rd, think|haus will host talks, how to sessions, and a projects gallery at which anyone who is interested can give a 20 minute talk on something related to creating projects, show people how to build/take apart/modify something, or show off their cool projects.

Some confirmed talks so far are:
• You Let Your Kid Do What? A brief story about children and taking advantage of applied engineering skills in a positive way.
• Intro to Kite Aerial Photography Come learn about the kinds of kites you can use to fly your camera, what you need to build your own kite, and how to modify your camera to take pictures automatically.

Check out the website at http://minisooncon.ca and add your own talks or projects.

Thanks to Adina from think|haus for the original post I’ve semi-stolen. :D