[dorkbotpdx-blabber] Re: PDX hackerspace

[Wm Leler]

Speaking as the person who is organizing the electronics lab out at  
TechShop, I agree with Don -- there are lots of reasons to establish a  
hacker space outside of TechShop.  Having said that, I worry that  
there is a lot of misinformation being tossed out about TechShop and  
the electronics lab (OpenTechSpace). Let me try to clear some of this  
up (or just add to the confusion):

 > 24/7 access to the building.
My understanding from talking to Denney is that the goal is to have  
24/7 access to TechShop ASAP. This might be dependent on finding  
volunteers to staff some of the odd hours, and on demand, of course.   
They will start by being open until 9pm, but will expand as needed.

 > You get a card key if you do the full membership, FYI, unless I am  
misremembering.  I guess you probably don;t if you just use the
 > subsidized electronics lab.
If you want to use the Electronics Lab under OpenTechSpace (i.e., for  
free), you will be issued a badge just like a regular (paid) TechShop  
user, except that it will only allow you to use the electronics and  
computer labs.

 > No paying for certification classes to use tools.
The TechShop certification classes are only for dangerous or easily  
broken expensive tools. We don't have any of those in the electronics  
lab (soldering irons don't count!  Although as soon as we get some  
really fancy stuff, like a flow soldering machine or something like  
that, we might need a safety class). But for the most part I don't  
think it will be an issue with the electronics or computer labs.

 From what little I know about hackerspace, as far as I can tell the  
biggest difference between the hackerspace and TechShop is the   
location. The price the same (for a TechShop membership, compared to  
rent/utilities for hackerspace), and you can use the electronics or  
computer lab through OpenTechSpace for free (what a great deal!).   
TechShop probably has a (big) advantage in size and number of tools.  
The hackerspace might have the advantage of giving the members more  
control over it, but that can be a two-edged sword.

OpenTechSpace is not tied to TechShop -- we definitely want to open up  
facilities in other locations.  We have already had discussions with  
CubeSpace and (to a lesser extent) Souk about creating other labs. So  
maybe OpenTechSpace can help with the hacker space. If you guys are  
interested in working with OpenTechSpace, I'm interested in talking to  
you.

Anyway, I think it is great that you guys are setting up a  
hackerspace.  Let me know if I can help!

Wm Leler


On Apr 12, 2009, at 7:40 PM, Donald Delmar Davis wrote:

> D,
>
> There are lots of reasons to establish a hacker-space outside of  
> techshop.
> Daniel listed most of them for this particular group. (I won't bust  
> into the dk's here)
>
> Personally I like the darwinian approach of starting one of  
> everything and see which ones adapt.
>  (which explains why it takes me a million years to finish a song or  
> a painting).
>
> Devon,
>
> I appreciate you thinking of us, I know there are several people in  
> this group that have been wanting something like this.
> One other thing thing I do know about this group is that they are a  
> bit provincial and you might wanna put a couple of live bodies at  
> the meeting tomorrow.
>
> Don
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 12, 2009, at 4:34 PM, dave madden wrote:
>
>>> There is a group of us motivated nerds looking to build a  
>>> hackerspace.
>>> We are looking at a rental space today, and at this point it looks
>>> like it's going to work out.
>>
>> Um...any reason you're not taking advantage of the electronics lab  
>> out at TechShop?
>>
>> d.
>>
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