Here are some of the common questions we get.
When are you open? What are your hours?
We are not a typical business. We are a non-profit with no open hours for non-members (outside of Open Make Nights). Paid members have 24×7 access to the space to work on their projects.
We open to the public for some classes and events, scheduled on Meetup.com.
If you want to visit, we schedule Open Make Night events for visitors on almost every Tuesday evening beginning at 6pm. We also often do tours during board gaming nights and Sew Awesome Meetups. If that does not work for you, contact us to arrange another time for someone to meet you and give a tour.
How can I get something made for me? I need something 3D printed or scanned.
Our mission is primarily to educate people and provide the resources so that they can make things themselves. As an organization, we do not do work for hire, but some of our members do. We can help refer you to local companies and individuals to get your project done. Contact us for more detail.
What is a Hackerspace?
We are a shared workspace. We combine funds from membership dues, external grants, donations, and other sources to purchase tools, equipment, supplies, etc. as well as covering the expenses of the physical building.
Our space in particular is a non-profit, almost entirely volunteer-run space.
How does membership work?
After joining, members receive an electronic badge and alarm code to access the facility 24×7. Members use all of the equipment but most tools require a safety training class before use.
What is at your facility and how do I use it?
A good resource is the Tools page of our wiki. It doesn’t detail everything at the space, but it covers the major tools. Many of our tools require a bit of training before a member is “signed off” on operating the tool in a safe manner. We schedule classes on Meetup.com or sometimes by other arrangement.
We do not currently have enough scheduling conflicts to handle formal reservations for tools and equipment, but it’s suggested that anyone needing a tool for an extended period of time post in Slack or send an email about their plans.
How do I join and start using the equipment?
New members must complete a new member orientation / walkthrough before receiving access to the space. This covers opening / closing the space, some safety information, and other important topics for new members. We do most of these during Open Make Nights on Tuesdays, usually starting about 6:30pm and lasting a little over 30 minutes. We can also do this by appointment.
The next step is to complete the training classes or other sign-off requirements to use the particular equipment. This is for your safety and also to prevent damage to the equipment. We currently have classes for the 3D printers, laser cutter / engraver, wood shop, and multiple classes on the metal machine shop. If there is not one coming up soon on Meetup.com, please ask about scheduling one.