News/2011-11-28

< 7th – 13th July 2011

London Hackspace news 14th July – 27th November 2011

General space news

• We had the AGM in August, in which we approved the new constitution, and later elections for trustees.

Discussions

We've had a few very long discussions about space dynamics and how to keep the place comfortable and usable.

Borrowing tools Putting away tools Sleeping in the space Clarification on sleeping Webcams Webcams: an ultimatum Losing the parking permits Securing the parking permits Who can use the parking permits

Clearing the workshop Clearing the workshop Clearing the main room Clearing the balconies Hiring a cleaner Cleaning supplies Cleaning zones Cleaning Cleaning signs Job offer for a cleaner Cleaning your stuff + 1

Cockroaches Getting a cat Bikeshedding Politics/#occupation Learning from each other Guidance for guided tours Filming in the space TV licences Recycling Keeping people up-to-date with the ethos Spaces and mental health Top/bottom posting

News/communication

Robert moved the wiki to match the distinction between London Hackspace and the new UK Hackspaces organisation, and wikified the existing Hackspace site. Both sites are now also available over https, and can only be edited after registration, but still need people to keep them tidy and organised.

In the wake of the Cleaning Threads, Martind added the Maintenance page, and Amran created the 100 Paper Cuts page to make it easier to track small niggling problems.

Something that comes up commonly on IRC is that the beer tin is a great way to lose money. Unfortunately, we can't enforce payment for beer (or we'd need a licence), so members need assume they're giving away beer that's put in the fridge. The best solution is to have a whip-round to buy beer as a group.

We're hoping to make news a weekly thing again, in the hope that this will make it easier for members who don't visit all the time to keep up with progress and changes at space. Please help write the next one!

Other spaces

Amran's gone off to help start the Amsterdam hackspace, TechInc (Technologia Incognita)

MattVenn joined the guys in Bristol, who seem to be doing pretty well

Samthetechie helped Brighton move to their new space after the Mini Maker Faire (see below)

Errant's trying to help with robots for the CERN MCC

After a previous abortive attempt, Reading Hackspace are trying again. They need all the help they can get - mailing list twitter

Nottinghack have started Hack all the spaces podcast, and Dom's visiting London tomorrow - announcement twitter

We've had people mention starting groups in:

• Swindon

Subgroups

These have ballooned, so there's now a dedicated Subgroups page to bring them together.

• Music Hackspace has grown from a proposal for collecting equipment together to regular Thursday meetups. They have a twitter account and mailing list. Some will be at Music Hackday, as well as a visitor with MIDI tap-dancing shoes.

• There was a Nanode/Pachube workshop. Nanode is also going from strength to strength, with comprehensive guides and list of users and applications on the project page.

• Phil Jones has started a future manufacturing meet-up (3D-printing, CNC, CAD, design)

• After some long evening discussions about a cutting table, Will created a group for knitting/sewing/clothing called London Threads Space [1]. They've made contact with a separate meet-up on soft circuits and wearable technology - mailing list.

• Darren held a "Hacking Hacking" capture-the-flag event, which turned into a workshop. He's planning on holding these [regularly on the third Sunday of each month, and is after some people to help.

• The visionOntv guys have started a weekly "Hack the Media" meet-up on occasional Mondays

• After the cleaner discussion, a Hackspace Job Board was created, and subsequently a Skill Swap page.

• There's a lot of interest in an electronics workshop, but this still hasn't happened yet [2]

• Flux is funding a Kicksat for the space [3] [4]. The main project page is HackSat1. We need to decide on a payload and build a ground station to communicate with it.

• Conveniently enough, a bunch of members took the RSGB foundation course [5] and are working on kitting out our ham radio station. We had to refuse the workshop, but there is clearly an interest in learning how to build amplifiers.

• Gamejams have continued, and The Beast has travelled across London. There was also some whimsical discussion about folk-based games

• Sukey (not directly space, but with common members) has spun out its own communications and is planning for the future

• London Pub Space does what its name suggests [6] [7]

• A meetup to practise BSL was mooted

• DIYBio and Hypnosis continue on Wednesdays

Equipment

We've had long outages of the webcams, people counter and laser cooling system. In response to this, a list of projects at risk has been started, but we're not sure whether this will work.

• The "Dark & wet" room has made progress but stalled lately. It looks like Akki will be reinvigorating it.

• The laser cutter cooling system has had serious problems [8][9]. Please don't rely on coolbot - use the IR thermometer instead - and always check the logbook beforehand.
  The cutter itself has been aligned by Mars, Asc and Lbdl - these are currently the best people to speak to if you have a problem. The PC was replaced by Sci. It can still be a bit temperamental.

• Artag and Alecjw have cleaned the PCB etching station and prepared new etchant. Abby has done the same.

• The motor on the 3-in-1 lathe has been fixed after much work by Spook and Abby. Be careful with it.

• Hipster fixed the MakerBot and made some improvements like extended x, y, z-axes, and labelling it the "Hipsterbot". He also got the Stratasys working (at last!), and it's now happily printing for hours in its alcove. It's informally known as the Hipstasys.

• Sci organised a pledge for a vacuum pump.

• A projector screen has been fixed, and a mount fitted to the ceiling in the quiet room by Phil

• Russ played with and documented the knitting machine

• Take care with the angle grinder
• Careful with the scrollsaw/bandsaw
• The sheet metal press has been broken

New equipment

• The Soldering stations from element14 Hackerspace Challenge arrived
• Kal got hold of a brazing hearth and some more welding rods
• Phil has lent a book scanner
• We bought some more shelving for boxes
• Dirk has lent a pulse/signal generator
• Martin fixed the vice
• Martin's brought some welding off-cuts and offered a welding class
• We've acquired a fully-documented mop
• Glen donated some Sugru
• Phil and the music hackers have collected a load of equipment on the audio desk, and the other Phil went through the assorted the audio gear.
• Sam E has donated us a prototype hifi

Past events

• SamLR organised a trip to RAL
• We had an open day on 24th July
• A number of us went to CCC Camp, leaving the remainder to the start of the riots
• A small band visited the Maunsell Sea Forts at Red Sands
• Brighton Mini Makerfaire was a huge success
• Michael Nielsen gave a talk on Open Science
• Mark Jessop gave a talk on TOPCAT and his high-altitude balloon project while visiting the UK (the flight was a success)
• We had the Bitcoin weekend on 24-25th September, organised by Martind. Members can also get discounted tickets for the European Bitcoin Conference in Prague.
• Meseta also gave a UAV workshop [10]
• There was a screening of the F1 Monza Grand Prix in the quiet room

External:

• A UAV meetup in Guildford UAV meetup
• OSHUG hardware camp at the C4CC

Upcoming events

Party: http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/e55b1558b6a45b74 http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/194d3242038a5000 ME exhibition http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/6a134706794f5a98 28c3 http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/0cc817418320b0ea Santacon (not hackspace related, but there seems to be a certain subculture link) http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/9148f5c8d00ba3c7

• UK Hack Camp http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/d6aebe600b4cfb22

Sue Black and Dorky stuff http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/f2580c79d04ea788

We were offered, but there's clearly interest http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/1e8d2279ea8d1494

• Segways at Ally Pally http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/3a491a86283d3c76

Projects

Recently added projects:

• TRTL by Amx109, Jontyw, Hipster: "To produce a low cost kit robot that is simple to build, and easy to use/program via software with the aim of introducing and kids and adults alike to building, making, electronics and software."
• Network Everything, initiated by eb4890: "A project for a hacker event. Where lots of people make small networked devices of their choosing that are put together in interesting ways at the event"
• Combination Lock Box A combination Lock Box with user selectable and modifiable combination lock.
• Nanode Case A 2mm acrylic case cut on a laser cutter for a Nanode
• BigClock Ex-railway LCD display
• Jumbotrons [11] [12]
• There have been numerous plans for the giant phone display

See also the subgroups above.

Meanwhile Spaces have an interesting potential for physical projects [13]. Jasper's looking into doing a network visualisation at one [14]

Jasper's also helping do something interesting with the Caledonian Park clock tower [15].

The door control system is now automatically limited to subscribers [16]. You can set your Glados welcome and nickname, and disable lost cards on the website. If you haven't visited the space lately, please check whether your name is on the list of unidentifiable cards. Tom W has automated Glados [17].

Openlasertag http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/6fe1891538c0466f

Another offer of a fusion reactor http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/41c31edb74c42851

Finally finished the servers http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/4b403c23e16b34dd

SwapShop

Please can members update their items in the SwapShop so that it can become more useful and also please date when you add something.

New items this week:

Press

Filming - http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/f4582372783f4c14 Radio4, other press stuff Filming http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/ac25192e4dc41024 http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/97d4e63ebee1ad45

Caffeine News Coffee machine fixed, Club mate arrived Russ has ordered a load of glassware. BBotE http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/86aae85daaed5d14 http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/6522f36fe373ae2b

• More club mate arrived http://groups.google.com/group/london-hack-space/browse_thread/thread/a2566aa2cd6ea9b2