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. 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 all Tuesday evenings beginning at 6pm. 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.
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 can I visit?
We run a free open house most Tuesday evenings. Visit us on Meetup.com for schedule details. If that does not work, please contact us to make other arrangements, but understand that this will mean one of our members volunteering to schedule and give a tour.
How do I join and start using the equipment?
New members must complete a new member orientation class before receiving access to the space. We schedule those during every member meeting night, on the first Tuesday of the month. If there are multiple new members waiting for the orientation class, we try to schedule another one on a Tuesday evening but can make other arrangements if necessary.
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.