Roadside Mysteries

At the intersection of technology, science, art, and culture:

It’s an Art Hacker space

Actually it’s at 3519 N. Elston Ave. in Chicago. If you visit, most likely someone is there. If the door is locked, just knock! It’s just that easy!

Textile Hackers

But on this day the Chicago Public Library was having a grand tour, so I decided to add myself to the guest list and have a look at this wonderful maker space!

Hacker Bits

A hacker space is not a group of evil nefarious computer hackers trying to steal things. At least that’s what it says on their web site.

An older CNC milling machine

Hacker spaces are not trying to teach their  members how to break the law. I hope not, but many of the hacker spaces teach lock-picking (for fun!)

Small scale router/mill

PS:1 is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986

Food Preparation Hack

Or it might be the Food Lab. Like Workshop 88, this hacker space is sponsored by the Milwaukee based School Factory.

Fermentation Hack

Across from the food lab is the fermentation area– well, they are sponsored by a group in Milwaukee after all. Hacking beer seems to be a common thing in a number of areas around the country.

Metal Fab/welding Hack

They have nice metal working facilities here and the welding that they do is primarily inert gas arc welding. There are no fume hoods for stick welding or oxy-fuel torches.

Dust collection Hack

The woodworking area is fairly large so it is important to have a large capacity sawdust collection system.

Bar Hack

Looks like someone built a bar at the front of the space probably to dispense the home-brewed beer

Wood hacking equipment

I don’t have all these kinds of tools in my basement… which is why belonging to a maker space makes  perfect sense.

SEM Hack

PS:1 claims to be the only work space to have a working scanning electron microscope. I used to use one at Gould Electronics (back when they were a real company) and I would like to see something like this at a Colorado maker space someday.

Metal deposition Hack

There seems to be an issue with dust. The sputter coater shown here (and any other associated equipment) should be isolated from  all the other hacker activity. Even with the dust collection system, you still are going to have some dust.

Some weird Johnson thing?

Or maybe it is a horizontal band saw? It looks like an antique, but I will guess the Pumping Station got it for free.

It’s a hackerspace!

OK, not near Rout 88, but it used to be

Suburban Chicago has a hackerspace, once located in Naperville (near Route 88) but now it’s in Glen Ellyn, Illinois in an alley in back of the 400 block of Main Street.

Metal Lathe/Mill

There will be other posts on this blog about hacker spaces and you might see similar pieces of equipment here and there. While most spaces seem to concentrate on electronics and computer programming, it’s always good to see some heavy machine tools around.

Finishing table

This place is in the basement of a store front on main street. There are no divided rooms so much of the activity takes place along a corridor. Space is a premium like most hacker spaces so organization is key.

Woodworking area

The Workshop was founded in January, 2011 and has some association with the Space Federation run by the School Factory. The Federation helps maker spaces obtain non-profit status and will suggest ways to make spaces a safe environment.

Hand Tools

I haven’t been to a hackespace that didn’t have peg boards. I don’t have any in my basement– just cardboard boxes with some labels on that that say ‘Wrenches’ and ‘String’ and ‘tape’ and ‘glue’… stuff like that.

Art

Near the front entrance you can find some artwork on the wall and a nice comfy couch. To the left (not shown) is an old video arcade game and opposite this wall is a meeting area with room for up to a dozen guests.

@ The Denver Mini Maker Faire!

The Loveland CreatorSpace was there!

Along with some robots and logic gates, a bunch of 3-D printers, and other stuff of that nature.

And this dog leg brace company (thinking of Duncan Madog and his ACL)

A few other ideas

SteamPunk is big here, some 1950’s electromechanical devices, your maker faire t-shirts and any number of mad scientist clubs.

and of course, The Cardboard Challenge

I mean, if you can’t at least make a cardboard robot costume, what good are you?

After just 3 weeks in the new place, the Loveland Creator Space has a new space:

And there is lots of space in this place!

No, we’re not ready to move in just yet. There are some things to be done but this it a really good start on a collaborative effort to have a real hacker space.

Not sure what happened to the floor here

And I’m sure those body-bags will be removed soon before they start to smell up the place.  The basement is haunted but it will make a wonderful storage area.

They have a kiln?

Is that ours? I don’t know but apparently some art projects were done in this venue. There was some print making supplies along the wall as well.

The front door faces Railroad Avenue in Loveland. Not too exciting, but we can fix it up

It’s next to some artist’s workshop so it looks like it is in the right place for hackers to come together and plan for the next Tech Renaissance.

In the alley out back

Nice garage door for moving in large equipment donations. You know, big ass heavy metal lathes, milling machines and band saws… That sort of stuff.

Here’s a panorama of the first section:

And with what?

What about a PCNC?

No, it ain’t no PICNIC, it’s a Personal Computer Numerical Controlled Milling Machine. Maybe to make some kind of prototype idea made out of aluminum why not?

How about plastic parts?

OK, I made fun of these because George Carlin would think these are just crazy, but who knows? We shall see…

It’s in Loveland, Colorado:

Jamie, president of the Loveland Creator Space on opening day

A space opened up and we were there to move right in. The Loveland Creator Space is now a happening place!

Empty now, but not for long

What to do next? Some computers have been moved into the space and there’s rumors that a CNC milling machine and a 3-D printer will be arriving within minutes! Can’t wait!

It’s official!

…and we’re busy getting it all together FAST! Check out the web site here to see how it’s going. Also, join the meet-up group to learn even more about classes and open house tours. Click here for that.