i3 Detroit V2.0

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There is always a learning curve any time you take on a new project, start a new business or experiment with something new. The same is true for our experience with getting i3 Detroit off the ground here in Metro Detroit. Originally we had 10 of us who put up the money and started i3 Detroit.  All agreed to pay dues of $100 per month while meeting at the local coffee shop so we could build up our bankroll.  This would hopefully lead us to eventually opening our community space. We were all pumped to get to the point of having a physical space sooner as opposed to later.  Therefore, we quickly began our hunt for spaces throughout the Metro Detroit area.  We had done some research on spaces that we liked. And we started to crunch the numbers to see what we could really afford.  After all, our goal was to build a sustainable community.

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Open Shop Friday 7pm

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For anyone not going on the trip to Pumping Station: One, the shop will be open this Friday night starting at 7pm. Come get a tour of the space and equipment, work on your projects, and/or see what everyone else is working on! If you’re new, ask for Ed, and I’ll show you around. There may be some board games as well.

Jam session, tonight, 7pm.

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Whether you bang it, blow it, stroke it, or just finger it, you need to bring it with you tonight. That’s right, it’s time for another hackerspace jam session! Anything that makes noise is welcome, be it a traditional instrument or homebrew.  Non-musicians are welcome to hang out too, of course.

We had a blast last time, so come join the fun. Bring musical instruments, bring snacks? Bring a friend!

As always, guests (total strangers, even!) are welcome. We’re in Royal Oak at 322 e. 4th st, at the end of a nondescript little driveway. The art gallery 323East is easier to find, then just look across the street. See you 7ish!

http://323east.com/

OMG, as they say, Build!

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1344-croppedTwo FIRST robots, one built by team 1216 Oak Park and one built by team 3302 Clawson, are undergoing final assembly in i3Detroit’s workshop. Just two weeks remain in the build season, and there’s at least three weeks’ work to do. Situation normal! At least we’re not snowed out, like many school-hosted teams.

The end of build season is marked by “ship date”, at which time the robots are sealed in giant tamper-evident bags and/or shipped off to their competition locations. Between now and then, there are drives and kickers to finish, pneumatics to perfect, control systems to integrate, and an entire autonomous-mode program to write. Drivers need practice time, too! No wonder the pitch is a bit frantic.

Tuesday electronics night: the bench?

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Anything with wires, solder, or batteries is welcome at Tuesday’s electronics gathering. This is a “birds of a feather” session, with no specific lessons planned. Non-members, just to be clear, are welcome as always!

If there’s interest, it might be fun to go along the electronics workbench and play with the various equipment: Power supplies, signal generators, oscilloscopes and meters.  We’ve got a decent setup here, and this would be a good chance to get some hands-on fiddling time.

Tuesday February 9th, 7pm, 322 e. 4th st, 48067. See you then!