At the Fort Collins Creator Hub
Makers making glass objects
OK, I held a class at the HUB on making stained glass decorations and it was much fun. Not too many people showed up (just 6) but I’m sure I can get more to join in next time!
Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
Glass Class
Tuesday, November 24th, 2015The Big Head Does it again
Saturday, October 31st, 2015Well, it is Halloween so this is the thing…
Some papier-mâché thing with golden eyes
Last year the heads were made from a large ball and were fairly spherical in shape. This year I tried to make a more natural looking face. The first take on the face was that it looked like a Hindu god statue head of some sort. That wasn’t the look I wanted so I had to think of something else. At first I thought that I might make a Donald Trump head (you know, a life sized replica) but where would I get the hair?
But the head is more egg-shaped instead of round
The back of the head is just one large sphere cut in half. While the paper is still moist I pulled a string through the bottom third and squeezed the form into a head shape, i.e., not spherical.
With a baseball helmet as the base
Hey, it worked last year. This method keeps the mask squarely on your head. The brace struts are made from heavy cardboard and are bolted to the baseball helmet.
Back of the big head with a little head attached
This gives you an idea how ridiculously large this head is going to be. This is the fitting check to make sure the head hole is large enough so that the finished product can be worn without discomfort.
Now with arms
First it was going to be Donald Trump, then maybe a Hindu god. I thought that putting large ears on it would make it more Donald-like, but when I chose a dark paint at first for the skin color it started to look more Obama-like. So, changing the mouth a bit and adding some arms and hands, I now had The Scream ! Yippee! I think I’m done.
Then off to the show
Jeanne dressed as Edvard Munch and we made the rounds including the midnight organ concert at CSU. We were a big hit, The students at the Center for the Arts really liked the art based theme and the fact that it was a hand made costume.
Mini Makers! Unite!
Monday, October 12th, 2015The HUB was there!
FCCH was at this year’s Mini Maker Faire
It was in the ‘dark room’ because we were running a snake game projection on he wall that kept getting interrupted by the booth next to us that was demonstrating a Tesla Coil! Damn you, Nikola !
…but I put a large bowl of candy out and the kids found their way to our booth. This year’s event was not as exciting as last year, but it was still fun.
The Hub Bub
Wednesday, October 7th, 2015With a special guest at the Creator HUB:
Brian Dickman from Deep Space
OK, Brian’s not from the DEEP SPACE that astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson comes from. This Deep Space is an educational environment that likes things like autonomous vehicles (robots) and the computer game MineCraft. FYI, it’s in Parker, Colorado. Look HERE for details.
Elk Grove Village?
Tuesday, September 29th, 2015Hell no!
Line of cars near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park
We saw this and thought that maybe someone from Texas was taking a selfie next to one of the famous elks of Estes Park. We had to stop and see some idiot getting bucked by an 8 point Monarch Bull Elk.
Nope, only 6-point royals this time
But that’s OK. We got to see this and were suitably impressed.
See a short video HERE.
There’s a new zoo in town!
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015It’s at CSU:
Located in the Plant Sciences Building
This is the New Bug Zoo that we visit often to see what new bug is being hatched in the name of science. It’s got room for coolers and a mini refrigerator and storage drawers. The old zoo had none of this.
Replacing the cramped quarters near Matt C’s office
There’s room to grow in this small lab that perhaps could have been used by a grad student. OK, giant roaches and spiders vs. grad student? Who would win?
Don’t touch this!
And the stuff on the bottom shelf too!
There’s a Lab Sink as well
This is sweet! The bugs just moved in so we will have to take another look in a month or two. Applications for assistant zoo keeper are being processed now so get your paperwork in ASAP.
STEMfest
Saturday, September 19th, 2015It was a STEM fest… Lot of that going around lately
And the Creator Hub was there
We were helping kids make paper rockets for this air pressure rocket launcher I built last week out of PVC pipe and a lawn sprinkler valve. (Purchased cheap from the Habitat resale store)
Pumping up at the launch pad
We used a standard bicycle pump to get the right amount of compressed air (about 20 psi)
The Guard Dog
Not Duncan Madog as he won’t go anywhere near the rocket launcher, this dog just wanted some shade on this sunny day in the parking lot at the Promenade Shops, Centerra, Loveland, Colorado, USA.
It was called the Day for Kids STEMfest
And it was a great time for kids. Organized by the Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County, there was plenty to do and I think the kids may have learned some things as well.
Wow, that lab coat still fits!
HUB Additions
Thursday, September 3rd, 2015Or just an update..
An O’scope and a function generator
Maybe antiques by now, these two units were on my basement shelf for >20 years.Still, they might become useful to someone?
Hanging of heads
The heads from last halloween are now stored at the HUB in the “Art” section of the space.People notice them, so that’s a good thing.
Laser cuter
Steve W. loaned his new laser cutter to the space so now we can cut plastic and wood into various shapes!
The Drone Club
Wednesday, July 8th, 2015Or Northern Colorado Drone Enthusiasts
Kids love drones!
… and quad copters and anything that flies under your control. Here these kids are watching the camera feed from a flying drone quad copter. Lots of fun, and a cheap dizzying thrill too!
Older kids love drones
The drone enthusiasts or NCDE meet in the back of Lincoln Middle School on Monday evenings for fun. Apparently anyone can come and watch them fly their RC planes and drone copters.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Sunday, June 21st, 2015The HUB had a booth set up in the museum:
Good Spot for us!
Our table was right by the queue for the “Nerdy Derby” which is a no-rules miniature car building/racing competition. The name is a registered trademark so I’m sure it was all legit. See here for more details.
Steve and Jim at the fair
We were manning the tables for the first day representing both Loveland and Fort Collins in Denver this weekend.
Beyond the 3-D printer
The lucky ones in line were the kids who got freshly printed objects to use for their race cars. I think some kids slipped back to the end of the line hoping to get another chance for a warm piece of plastic.