News
Local plumber donates labor and expertise to help push progress
Local plumber and new MakeICT member, Kelsey Leidy of Leidy Plumbing & Heating, has generously donated his time and skills to help us install gas lines in the back warehouse area to the woodshop/ceramics furnace, the metal shop radiant heaters, and the forge. With Logan’s loaned scissor lift and a handful of volunteers, we were able to make pretty quick work of the whole process! Now that we have this work out of the way, we can continue our build out of the ceramics studio and metal shop! Interested in helping with that? Checkout the volunteer opportunities below!
Makerspace metal shop receives more donated equipment/tools
Barb Davis, one of our esteemed board members and leader of our outreach activities, has made a substantial equipment donation to help us build out our metal shop even further. We sent a handful of members and volunteers to raid her basement, and we’re very happy to provide a new life and purpose to this equipment!
Meeting space made available to members
Good news for our members! We recently passed a new policy which allows members to reserve meeting space and other resources at the makerspace for free! If you’re a member and make a reservation (>14 days prior, please), aren’t charging your guests a fee, and follow the guest policies/rules, then you can bring in a whole crowd of people into the space! You can host your meeting in our co-working space, lounge, or classroom, which is equipped with a digital projector, sound system, laptop computers, and configurable seating for up to 25 people. Of course, there’s free wifi across the entire makerspace as well.
Space can be reserved by emailing dom@makeict.org.
WSU announces name for their future makerspace
Congratulations to Wichita State on their announcement of a name for their future makerspace: “GoCreate, a Koch Collaborative”. We know first-hand what a makerspace can do for a community, and we’re sure this will be good for WSU. If anyone is eager to see what a makerspace is like and don’t want to wait another year or two to see the one on campus, please join us for one of our Maker Monday events, which are always free and open to the public. When you’re ready to join, we offer low-cost, no-commitment memberships, and all donations are tax-deductible.
Volunteer Opportunities
Our makerspace is built by members of the maker community for the maker community. DIY is at the very core of many of us, and we’re proud of what we’ve managed to create so far with the help of our volunteers and donors. There are many things that keep us busy as we continue moving forward, and here are some opportunities where you can help! In fact, anyone can volunteer with us – no membership required!
Ceramics studio build-out day
Here’s your chance to say “I helped make that” about a great community resource. We’re ready to finish the build out of our ceramics studio, which includes installing the drop ceiling, hanging lights, installing windows, building a partition, and constructing shelves. Burt Unruh and some of the other same volunteers who made quick work of the woodshop build will be leading this work. No experience is needed, just a willingness to work and a desire to be a part of something important!
- Date: Saturday, November 7th
- Time: 9am ’til whenever – come when you can!
- Location: The MakeICT Makerspace at 1500 E Douglas (come around to the back)
- Questions/more info: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/makeict/7NR2IKgTZck/UCLI2HjpEAAJ
Electronics lab clean-out day
Our electronics lab is pretty well-equipped, but maybe not super well-organized. Later this month we’re going to clear everything out and then clean up and paint. We’ll be sorting through and organizing the hackables, only keeping worthy pieces before re-organizing the room and putting things back in.
James S, our fearless BD, has put together a new floor layout for how the room should be organized, and he has a battle plan for making this process quick and painless. If you’re free, come join us when you can! You can probably even take home some treasures!
- Date: Saturday, November 14th
- Time: 10am ’til whenever – come when you can!
- Location: The MakeICT Makerspace at 1500 E Douglas (come around to the back)
- Questions/more info: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/makeict/hCHlBLJmMy0/ggBg12OeEQAJ
Outreach booth assistant at Emerald City Steampunk Expo
We’re setting up an information/demo table at the 2015 Emerald City Steampunk Expo! One of the most valuable ways for us to advertise is to be out in the community, and this type of exposure helps us attract more members and donors.
You can help! We need smiling faces at our table to hand out flyers and tell attendees about the makerspace. Let them know how awesome our makers are and what you’ve experienced through our makerspace and community. We also plan to have some demos running (like the 3D printer, foam cutter, etc), but if you don’t know how to use those we will teach you!
- Date: November 20-22
- Time: sign up for a slot!
- Location: Broadview Hotel, 400 W Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS
- Questions/more info: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/makeict/UNWdWYJsZRI/dMra76ieEQAJ
What we’ve been up to
Halloween Wreath Workshop
These deco-mesh wreaths speak for themselves. I mean just look at this thing; what else can I say? Oh! How about “thanks, Jess, for teaching a workshop!” If you’d like to teach a workshop too, let us know!
Woodshop safety courses
Our woodshop continues to draw in new members, and more and more have been certified to access it by taking one of the woodshop safety courses. Don’t miss your chance! Check our calendar below and sign up today!
Avenue Art Days and mural painting
The Douglas Design District has started “Avenue Art Days” in an effort to bring more color to our city. This project has so far resulted in several new murals so far, as well as painting light poles on Douglas between Washington and Hydraulic. Jess Bechtelheimer, our Studio Arts Benevolent Dictator organized a team of MakeICT supporters to paint a mural designed by Valerie Lillich, who has done workshops at MakeICT. For progress pics, checkout our photo gallery on Facebook, and to see the rest of the Avenue Art Days works, check out the Douglas Design District’s photos – or just go and see them in person!
Our mural celebrates this project’s effort to beautify our city as well as the city’s efforts to accommodate transportation modes for more livable communities. It’s located a quarter-mile west of the makerspace, on the side of the Canyon Granite building across from The Anchor.
Special thanks to the Douglas Design District, Janelle King at The Workroom, the City of Wichita, Jess, Val, and all of our awesome volunteers!
devICT Talk: Lightning talks!
devICT hosted another session of Lightning Talks in October. Unfortunately, it looks like the video is unavailable – so if you missed out, you missed out. Be sure to attend our new devICT event, “Level Up!”, detailed below.
What’s coming up
November 6-8: Barnes & Noble Mini Maker Faire
Haven’t had enough Maker Faire yet? Good news, everybody! Barnes & Noble is hosting Mini Maker Faires in stores across the nation – including right here in Wichita! Hooray for makers!
I’ll be speaking at 7pm on the Friday the 6th about my experience with MakeICT, embracing the maker culture, and integrating with the Wichita community.
November 7: Ceramics build-out day – volunteers needed!
Come join our wonderful volunteer crew to help build out our ceramics studio! We’ll be starting at 9am, but you can join us whenever you’re available!
More info is available on the forum.
November 8: Exploration Place free admission day
Our friends over at Exploration Place are opening their exhibits FOR FREE, including the new permanent preschool exhibit Kansas Kids Connect and the current traveling exhibit Design Zone. They’ll also have live Science Shows and demo activities throughout the museum.
November 9: devICT Level Up!
Do you want to learn to code? Or maybe you already code and want to sharpen your skills? Maybe learn a new language, framework, or tool? Level Up is the event for you, so bring your laptop and start learning!
This is a self-learning event with mentors available to help push you in the right direction, or even figure out where you want to go in the first place.
For more information or to be a mentor, visit the Meetup event page.
November 11: Laser Cutter Certification
Attendees will create designs using CAD design software. DXF files will be exported and used in LaserCut v5.3 to interface with the laser cutter. Attendees will have an opportunity to work with cardboard.
Note: This is a members-only certification class, so only active members may attend. This certification is required to use the laser cutter at MakeICT.
Space is limited. Register at http://members.makeict.org/event-2082606/
November 12: WSU Entrepreneurship Forum Series – The MakerSpace Revolution
Wichita State hosts these free forums for the public on various topics related to entrepreneurship. This one is all about makerspaces. Yours truly will be on the panel as well as Dr. Paul Adams from Fort Hays State and Nathan Towle from ESSDACK Makerspace in Hutchinson.
November 14: Electronics lab clean-out day – volunteers needed!
Come join our wonderful volunteer crew to clean out and organize our electronics lab! We’ll be starting at 10am, but you can join us whenever you’re available!
More info is available on the forum.
November 16: Maker Monday
Every other Monday is a Maker Monday! We open our doors to the public at 7pm and invite people to bring a project, bring a friend, or just bring themselves. There’s always something interesting going on!
November 17: Woodshop safety class
Learn the basics to safely operate the major woodshop tools in this safety class, including understanding the limitations of each tool, the forces created when using the tool, and how to maintain safe control for improved performance. Tools covered include: SawStop table saw, drill press, band saw, wood lathe, router table, jointer, planer, miter saw, oscillating spindle and belt / disk sanders and scroll saw.
Members who attend and successfully pass the class quiz, are authorized to use the woodshop equipment whenever you work at MakeICT!
Space is limited. Register at http://members.makeict.org/event-2085815/
November 20-22: Emerald City Steampunk Expo – volunteers needed!
Emerald City Steampunk Expo is a three-day celebration of steampunk culture. Enjoy three days of concerts, gaming, demonstrations, comedy, oddities, cosplay, LARPing, stage shows and more. (Click here to view the entire weekend schedule at a glance.) The Expo takes place November 20-22, 2015, at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview in Wichita, Kansas.
More info is available on the forum.
November 21: Laser Cutter Certification
Attendees will create designs using CAD design software. DXF files will be exported and used in LaserCut v5.3 to interface with the laser cutter. Attendees will have an opportunity to work with cardboard.
Note: This is a members-only certification class, so only active members may attend. This certification is required to use the laser cutter at MakeICT.
Space is limited. Register at http://members.makeict.org/event-2082630/
November 21: Explore Gel Printing
Learn how to make monotypes using a homemade gel plate. You’ll create lots of pages loaded with color and design. In this 1.5 hour class you’ll learn how to
- Get layers of color in just one single pull from the gel plate
- Use homemade and purchased stencils
- Make textures using found objects
- Avoid color “mud” with a little color theory savvy
- Build beautiful compositions using layers on the gel plate
These basic supplies will be provided: Acrylic paints, papers, brayers, water containers, gel plates, stencils, and paper towels. If you wish to bring additional supplies, you may. For example, consider bringing your favorite stencils, papers and your favorite colors of acrylics in any brand. Bring an apron or wear grunge clothes. Gel printing can be messy, but it’s always fun.
Space is limited. Register at http://members.makeict.org/event-2084522/
December 14: Maker Monday (+new member orientation)
Every other Monday is a Maker Monday! We open our doors to the public at 7pm and invite people to bring a project, bring a friend, or just bring themselves. There’s always something interesting going on! The first Maker Monday of each month is also new member orientation, which starts at 7:15.