Our EL sign project has been featured on Instructables!

We love collaboration at MakeICT. Earlier this year, Instructables and Cool Neon sent us some supplies and asked us to make something out of it.

We needed a lit sign for our side door, so a few of our members came up with this:

Pretty cool, eh? It took us a couple of months, but we eventually completed an Instructables article with a step-by-step guide on how to build your own. The fine folks at Instructables liked the project so much, they featured it on their front page! We’re so proud of our makers!

To view the Instructable, visit http://www.instructables.com/id/Animated-EL-Wire-Sign/
For the Arduino source code, visit: https://bitbucket.org/dcanare/makeictsign/src

Special Meeting: Joining forces with Startup Wichita and devICT

Startup Wichita and devICT have been an important part of the Wichita community, and they’d like to form a partnership with MakeICT. We’re holding a special meeting to open the discussion about what this relationship will look like, examine the mutual benefits, and ask/answer any questions. A vote for approval will be held some time after this meeting.

More information is available on our wiki.
​Facebook event

New equipment: Dremels, Dremels, Dremels!

For Instructable’s July Build Night, MakeICT received a very generous gift from Dremel and Instructables.

How generous? 5 Dremel rotary tools, 3 Multi-Max oscillating tools, and 15 accessory kits. That’s over $1,100 in tools and accessories. Nice. We used these for a workshop over the weekend, and now all of the tools and accessories are available for use at the ‘space!

For those of you who have tried to do any of this type of work at MakeICT before, this should be a very welcomed addition. Prior to this, we had just one rotary tool, and… uh… well… the new ones are way better!

How do we say thanks? All they ask is that we make a couple of entries on the Instructable’s website using these tools and add links to the products we used. Any project which uses a Dremel could work!

So, dear makers, what have you been working on? Do you need a versatile tool which can cut, sand, polish, buff, grind, or etch? We have just the thing at MakeICT (several, in fact)! You can even help us say “thanks!” by putting together an Instructable!

 

Remember, open hack nights are open to the public and occur every other Monday evening at 7pm. Our next one is July 28th!

–dom

Our 501c3 Status is official, and we have received our first grant!

We have big news to share today! Here’s the press release we sent out!

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MakeICT receives 501c3 status and first grant

WICHITA, KAN. – The MakeICT Board of Directors is excited to announce that they have been formally granted 501c3 nonprofit status. In addition, MakeICT has been granted funds from the Knight Foundation Fund of the Wichita Community Foundation to help with the costs of six months’ rent/utilities, new equipment, new membership, and future planning/development.

Prior to receiving the grant, MakeICT was subleasing its space from Bluebird Arthouse and Studios in the Delano district. When Bluebird Arthouse closed recently, MakeICT had little time to find new accommodations within the organization’s small budget. In June, a new lease was signed with the property owner, and with the help of the Wichita Community Foundation and the Knight Foundation Fund, MakeICT will continue its operation at 914 W Douglas, while also growing its membership base.

“I think it’s fair to say that we’re all excited for the possibilities,” says Dominic Canare, president of the MakeICT Board of Directors. “The grant is tremendously helpful, and while it seems like we should all be able to relax a little now, the financial assistance and our new 501c3 status creates so many opportunities. We’re here to serve the community, and every bit of support is certainly appreciated!”

About MakeICT
MakeICT is Wichita’s Makerspace, part of an international movement where makers, creators, crafters, DIYers, and hobbyists assemble in a collaborative workspace to share tools, equipment, and knowledge, while socializing and connecting with others.

MakeICT members have access to a 3D printer, foam cutting machine, CNC machines, PC’s, and various other tools and equipment. The organization offers regular workshops and classes, free to the public, covering a variety of topics such as electronics, sewing, 3D printing/modelling, computer programming, and anything else Wichitans are interested in learning & sharing.  Visit their webiste at makeict.org to learn more.

About the Wichita Community Foundation
Founded in 1986, the Wichita Community Foundation’s mission is to be the catalyst that creates lasting legacies by partnering with people, families, and organizations to devote resources to causes that matter. The Foundation is a public nonprofit organization with 300 charitable funds and agency endowments, representing $68 million. For more information about WCF, visit wichitacf.org or call 316-264-4880.

Contacts
MakeICT: Dominic Canare, President, MakeICT, 316.712.4391
Wichita Community Foundation: Courtney Looney, Communications Manager, 316.264.4880, clooney@wichitacf.org

Bus Thursday: the lowdown

This week’s Bus Thursday(tm) was a big success for our electric microbus. We decided our first priority is to get it inspected so we can register and insure it. To that end, we got the horn, turn signals, and wipers all working. All on a Thursday eve. We’re that good.

We are not violent people, and we expect the same from our windshield wipers. To reduce their violent behavior we had to offer some tough love: we had to grind a bigger slot out of the metal frame between the dash and the windshield so the wiper mechanism wouldn’t slam into the from on each stroke.  Weird that this should be an issue. In any case, Jere pulled out the grinding wheel and made it all right.

Next on the docket is to fix up the taillight LEDs, which are already at MakeICT  and 1/2 done. After we reinstall those and reinstall the dash, we should be “good to go” for inspection. I can’t wait! 🙂

Next week too many of us have conflicts to do Bus Thursday. So maybe we’ll see you on Bus Thursday July 26 for re-assembly of dash and tail lights. Until then, maybe we can fix up the lights at MakeICT, perhaps at the open hack night this Monday?

Happy Trails,

-John