The Hack Factory is what’s known as a “maker space.” Operated by Twin Cities (TC) Maker, the Hack Factory is a community-shared workspace that offers a cornucopia of tools and machinery for members like Harrison to take their do-it-yourself urges to the extreme.
TC Maker is one of two such operations in the metro area. The Mill, in northeast Minneapolis, opened early this year.
The two organizations are part of a larger maker movement, a broad term that refers to individuals from varied creative and technological interests who are united by their insatiable desire to create — anything.
“There is this drive among makers to always be kind of creating something,” said Brian Boyle, president of the Mill, “making something better, tweaking it for their use. Whether it’s a bit of computer code. Whether it’s a footstool.”
I happen to spend a lot of time at the newly opened MN Mill, and it is such an amazing space. There is some great equipment, such as laser cutters, 3D CNC machines, and plasma cutters, that I would never had access to. Even with all that great equipment, the best aspect of a maker space is the community. There are tons of these maker spaces popping up all over the country. If you don’t already belong to one, do a quick Google search, and it is likely you have one close by.
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Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
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Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Open Hardware is In, New CircuitPython and Pi 5 16GB, and much more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
I just had a question in general about the liability/insurance/legal issues regarding maker spaces? Forgive me if this is not the proper forum. Back in the early 70’s, when I was training to be an Industrial Arts (shop) teacher, the state that I lived in would not let students use any of the equipment or tools.
I just had a question in general about the liability/insurance/legal issues regarding maker spaces? Forgive me if this is not the proper forum. Back in the early 70’s, when I was training to be an Industrial Arts (shop) teacher, the state that I lived in would not let students use any of the equipment or tools.