Makespace - User contributions [en]

Meetings/Planning25-10-2012

2012-10-26T13:00:59Z

Elsmorian:

'''Agenda'''

1. Day 1 planning: what needs to get done once the access control+insurance are in place?

* Painting? Which areas? This is *much* easier with an empty space, especially if painting concrete floor.
* Building/buying/installing benches? Where, how many
* other important 'infrastructure' bits that should/need to happen early (additional lighting?, ventilation?)

2. Community rules discussion

3. Use case exploration and zone-planning

4. What shall we buy with the £1000 available for October from the [[Kit wishlist: basic infrastructure budget]] ? How do we decide who decides what we buy? (committee?)

'''Notes'''

'''Action Points:'''

* John - coordinate painting project on the mailing list (started).
* Chris, Roger and Robert - coordinate building one movable metalwork bench and one movable woodwork bench.
* Electrician (Sorry, I don't know your name) - provide cost estimates for RCD installation.

'''1. Day one planning.'''

* Likely that it's possible to schedule work for access control etc. from Monday, but exact dates will depend on availability of contractors.

''a) Painting''

* Painting will require reasonable prep work and 3-4 days to dry, so represents a reasonably large constraint in the overall schedule.
* We have at least two members who are qualified to erect scaffold towers, although it may be possible to use rollers with long handles.
* Walls and floor in main room are the priority.
* It's worth considering intended use for floor duct in middle of main room before painting the floor.
* AP: John to coordinate painting project on the mailing list.

''b) Network infrastructure (added to agenda at meeting)''

* We're happy to start with an ad-hoc setup (i.e. trailing cables and mini-switches rather than wall boxes etc.), but review as the system evolves.
* We think we can get by with salvaged / donated kit and borrowed tools.
* If people find useful stuff in good condition (e.g. a rack, rack mount patch panels etc.) it's worth grabbing it now though.

''c) Benches''

* The current desks aren't really suitable for the intended use cases.
* For metalworking we need either quite sturdy benches attached to the wall or very sturdy freestanding benches. We have permission to bolt things to the wall, but the general feeling was that it would be too inflexible.
* Woodwork and metalwork have different requirements so need different benches.
* Getting a proper shop vac will be desirable soon, but probably not right away.
* AP: (Chris?) Build one movable metalwork bench and one movable woodwork bench.

''d) Other infrastructure work''

* There is a small amount of electrical work to be done.
* Decision need to be made on circuit protection, particularly RCDs. Options are (i) one RCD overall, (ii) one per circuit (~10-15 circuits), (iii) one per bench. (ii) is most likely, but depends on cost.
* It was generally felt that there will be a need for an infrastructure review in ~6mo to discuss things such as lighting, ventilation, benches, electrics etc. Until then treat on a case-by-case basis as the use of the space evolves.
* We will not remove any compressed air infrastructure for now.
* AP: Electrician to provide cost estimates for RCD installation.

'''2. Community rules'''

* Not discussed.

'''3. Use cases and zone exploration.'''

* Zoning needs to be based on (a) risk / access control, (b) mess and (c) noise.
* Generally speaking there are various activities which need some separation, and as a result we may need partitions or curtains in the main space.
* However, consensus was that for now dangerous, noisy and (very) messy work could be constrained to the small workshop.
* After a tour of the space the following use of space was proposed:
** Corridor: storage on wall opposite entrance to main room. There may be demand for secure storage as well as the boxes on shelves.
** Classroom: available for cleanish work (electronics, textiles etc.), but needs to remain easily convertable back to the classroom configuration.
** Small workshop: All dangerous, messy or noisy work, including most wood and metalwork (drilling holes with a hand drill is okay elsewhere).
** Main room: Set up along a clean -> not-so-clean gradient. Corridor end is clean, including electronics bench / component racks etc. on classroom side and 'big table' opposite. Stairs end for large work-in-progress storage, light woodwork etc.
** Mezzanine rooms: Kitchen and 'cafe' area, to include library facility. Suggestion that the existing stud wall could be truncated and converted to a bar rather than completely removed.
** Former 'library': overspill for clean end of main room, to be reviewed depending on demand.

'''4. October expenditure:'''

* Decisions listed at end of [[Kit wishlist: basic infrastructure budget]].
* General decision-making process wasn't discussed.

Makespace

2012-10-25T18:06:10Z

Elsmorian: /* Building Makespace Projects */

[[File:makespace2.png|frameless|center|322x298px|Makespace Logo]]

== What is Makespace? ==

<div style="float: right; width: 300px; border: 1px dashed gray; padding: 4px; ">
<span style="font-size: 1.5em">Current status</span>

For the most recent update, see our [http://makespace.org/index.php/blog/ blog].

Funding has been secured to help bootstrap Makespace, and a lease has been signed for 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge!''
'''This means it is all going ahead, so get involved now to help create this thing!'''

Founder members are visiting the space twice a week and are working hard to get the basic set up underway.

We are also now actively using the [http://groups.google.com/group/cammakespace Mailing list] to coordinate the set up and fit out of the space.

We have a [[Currently_active_and_interesting|list of the '''most important current discussions''']] going on in this wiki. Or check the [[Special:RecentChanges|"Recent changes"]].
</div>
Makespace is a community workshop in Cambridge, UK, for people to come and meet, learn and building (almost) anything.

It is currently being built up by its founder members, and is a 4k sqft workshop space in the city that will eventually be:
* A space with flexible access control and facilities
* A home for equipment like a 2D laser cutter, 3D printer, CNC Router, Soldering stations, etc
* A meeting and training area including a projector, chairs, etc
* The surroundings to meet, work, build, socialise and do amazing things

And as a community resource, it'll bring together a network of enthusiasts and innovators, the prototyping industry, consultants, businesses and educational communities in a mutually beneficial way. It is aiming to reach people from all across the East of England, using Cambridge as the initial hub.

If this sounds interesting, you should join our Meetup group. You can also contact the founders through this group. The group can be found at

''' http://www.meetup.com/makespace '''

We're something between a FabLab/hackspace/TechShop-type place: [[WhatIsMakespace|help us figure out what we want to be]]!

== Who should be involved? ==

The space will be great for individuals wanting to experiment, startups or companies wanting access to prototyping equipment, companies in the business who can come and do training and provide services beyond Makespace, and groups that want space to meet. Anyone who could benefit from a shared space focused on making things.

At its core will be a membership-based structure; the price of membership will be £40/month inc vat for full membership, with more details to follow.

See here for a non-exhaustive [[People|list of people]] currently involved.

== Getting involved ==

If you'd like to express interest in Makespace, keep up to date with how things are going, or find out about upcoming real-world meetings, please join our [http://www.meetup.com/makespace Meetup] group.

This is our main community list and you can see archive update posts on meetup, or [[Updates|here]].

We also have a mailing list at http://groups.google.com/group/cammakespace. You can email the list at cammakespace@googlegroups.com. Posts from new users may be held for moderation.

We are also present on IRC. Join #makespace on Freenode. You can also access this via your browser at http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=makespace

And it doesn't just have to be electronic; here are some extra resources to help you spread the word in the real world:
* [http://files.meetup.com/1669256/a5poster.pdf A5 Flyer]
* [http://files.meetup.com/1669256/makespace-poster.pdf A4 Poster]
Please post them in offices, clubs, related shops, and anywhere you think will catch the eye of an interested person! (we'll make up to date ones soon!)

If you'd like to contribute to plans on the wiki, go for it. The [[Currently active and interesting]] page will show you where the action is at the moment.

Help make sure everyone who should know about Makespace knows about Makespace!

Various ways of how the Makespace community interacts are listed here: [[Communications]]

== Progress so far ==

For a detailed look at the progress so far, see our blog [http://makespace.org/index.php/blog/ here] (in the past we used to post on the [[Updates]] page).

Funding has been secured to help bootstrap Makespace, and we have secured a lease for our premises in Mill Lane, Cambridge. We are now in a building phase with our founder members creating the space for general opening.

''This means it is all going ahead, so get involved now to help create this thing! Founding Members have the chance to get involved now in return for their financial support with bootstrapping Makespace. Indicate your interest [http://bit.ly/MakespaceFounderDetails on our short form] if you are able to support us with £250 for the first 6 month's Founder membership upfront. (Other membership types will be available once we are ready to open, so don't worry if this option doesn't appeal!) ''

Here are the working specification documents:
* [[Structure]]

Founder members are meeting weekly to work through questions about space usage, layout, rules, community, kit and fit out, and more. Read more about [[Makespace planning meetings]].

== Building Makespace Projects ==

The founder members are now working on '''how the space should be used''' and the '''projects to make it happen''':
* [[Space layout ideas]]
* [[Storage]]
* [[Kit wishlist]]
* [[Equipment status database]]
* [[Computers]]
* [[Makespace member guidelines]]

== Manuals for existing equipment ==
* [[UP 3-D printer]]

== Personal and Other Projects ==

* [[Projects|Makespace projects]]

We are also working on outreach activities as follows:
* [[Engineering Festival 2011]]

== Social Meetings ==
While we wait for the space proper to open, MakeSpace meets regularly to do some hacking in the pub. The canonical means of arranging these is via Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Makespace

At the moment, these tend to be every other Thursday, at the Anchor pub near the space.

== Formal Meetings ==
There are brief write-ups of relevant meetings provided at [[Makespace/Meetings | Meetings]], committee meeting minutes are also listed below:

* [[Minutes21-10-10|Founder Member Meeting, 21 October 2010]]

== Sponsorship and Donations! ==

Makespace is made possible by membership fees and sponsorship, and also support from Ideaspace. We gratefully receive any donations, however small, that can help with developing, running and improving Makespace for everyone.

* [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=R9GWU9BP9XBMC Donate to Makespace via Credit Card or Paypal]

Also, we accept donations-in-kind. Head over to [[DonationsWelcome]], where we're tracking the things we need and the things people have that we might need.

Thanks!

==Links==
Some information about other groups around the world that may be of interest can be found on the [[Links|Links page]].

File:ElsmorianBenchesSketchUp.jpg

2012-10-24T22:21:16Z

Elsmorian:

Kit wishlist: basic infrastructure budget

2012-10-24T11:11:36Z

Elsmorian: Added oil drum suggestion

We have provisionally allocated an initial ~£1k each month till year end for infrastructure basics.

Big equipment/capex purchases are going to require us securing sponsorship, and cash is tight whilst a lot is going out for space setup (insurance, security, access, fire, lawyers etc) before we have all the grant so we're being a bit careful right now, but especially thanks to all the commitment of founder members, the cashflow looks ok for us to spend a bit now on basics.

So basically up to the commitiee how this £1k/month should be spent, but painting seems reasonable one.

We will be able to claim VAT back (with a VAT receipt!), but whilst cashflow is tight assume any cost are inc vat prices. There was general maillist concensus for storage box shelving (now ordered + built - came in at ~250 inc vat/delivery/couple of test boxes), and i'd request we budget for an industrial henry xtra hoover (~150) having spent the evening brushing up and wanting to ease and set a precedent on future cleanliness, but what else is up for discussion! I think i saw some provisional paint calculatons fly past, and seems in a ball park that could fit. Also some vices to bolt to some of the desks could be wise, but will let the planning meeting discuss what and how to allocate this money.

'''What do we want in October?'''

''Any donations of the below are very welcome...''

* <strike>Henry industrial xtra hoover (£150)</strike> - Donated, thanks!
* <strike>Storage box shelving</strike> - Bought, £255
* Vices for benchwork
* Safety equipment - goggles/gloves/masks
* Hammer / mallet
* Set of decent screwdrivers
* Box of Cat5/Cat6 cable (+ connectors, crimping tool?)
* Wired network switch(es) as necessary
* Good quality wifi access points (3)
* Henry hoover bags
* Bin bags, cleaning products
* A bin (General bin + Recycling bin)
** Suggested use of old [http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EMPTY-205LTR-Oil-Barrel-Metal-Drum-BBQ-Waste-Burner-Heater-BEDFORDSHIRE-/330803570368?pt=UK_Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item4d056de6c0 oil drums] as cheap, large, strong bins. Could even weld castors on the bottom.
* Couple of good quality brooms
* More stools/chairs/benches for the main workshop
* Planed timber and sheet materials (plywood/MDF) for benches, shelves, etc.
* Sundries (Screws, bolts, rawlplugs, etc)
* Small storage boxes for sundries
* [http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/120846280330?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&cbt=y| PAT Tester] £27 this is an Portable Appliance Testing Adapter, needs an Insulation & Continuity Tester to work, and they start about £200 plus VAT. A basic PAT start from £175 + Vat
* Paint (Walls of robolab 2 coats approx £60, Floor of robolab 2 coats approx £60 also)
* A makespace stamp
* Tea/Coffee/washing up facilities
* A sink for the above in the heavy workshop - there is water+drainage already available, so no real alterations to do. Cheap wall mounted sink is about £40, but if anyone has a spare belfast sink...

Personal Storage Policy

2012-10-17T17:20:23Z

Elsmorian:

'''What can and can't we store in our storage boxes?'''

* No smouldering materials

* No hazardous materials (COSHH) - every material has a MSDS sheet saying whether it needs marking, can be put in cupboard, etc. if obviously hazardous, need to get sheet and read it and follow any storage procedure

* Things should be labelled and appropriately packaged

* no food not securely packed

* no explosives

* no radioactive, chemicals, bio hazards, fuming or odorous, illegal

* what about paint stripper? you buy consumer grade thing, but now it’s in a workplace, print the data sheet and store on file. If there’s a symbol on the
back or you don’t want to drink it … orange symbol - means worry about it.

* if you make a new chemical - you don’t know if it has an orange sq - so don’t store it without checking

* note that donations might be hazardous :) stuff at home is ok but it’s not ok at works premises

* Random inspections!

* if it looks hazardous, a metal flammable liz cupboard

safestorage.co.uk

* if you printed the MSDS sheet, the sheet goes in a folder.

* no noise emitting things (no beeps every hour)

* “no active things” but ok for silent digital watch

* nothing that affects people working around it or things in adjacent

* no hot / light / emissions

* lids secured or marked or packed, (e.g. knives) , marked if super heavy

* LI ion batteries - commercial off the shelf batteries in own covering OK, your own project, not.

* fire proof areas for battery charging

* no unattended charging of non-off-the-shelf Li Ions or using non-off-shelf chargers

* Nothing obviously dangerous or illegal :)

Visible summary rules - detailed page linked off (broad rules with lots of examples)

Ideaspace engagement plan

2012-10-17T16:47:25Z

Elsmorian: Added Makerfaire details

We need to write an engagement plan to receive the next tranch of funds (£10000). It would be great to include all the ideas from the community. We hope to have this plan written by early November.

The plan needs to show how, during 2013, we'll engage 500 people, each for a total of 6 hours, around Makespace stuff. The engagement doesn't have to be in the space (although we'd expect a lot of it would be). The 6 hours don't have to be at once - it could be a series of 6 1 hour talks. We don't have to be supercareful about tracking the attendees but we will be trying to do this, so having a way of showing who's turned up for what will be necessary.

It would be good to gather ideas here, estimate number of people / hours that could be achieved with each, and flesh each out into a nice description that makes it clear what the activity would look like, who it would attract, and so on.

Bear in mind we'll be executing this plan later :)

Ideas at the meeting involved: maker faire, hosting robot wars, A Level school groups, "make it, fix it" events, instructables - do a simple task and document it (e.g. trebuchet from paperclips), Tedx cam, talks, discussion group

==Ideas==

===Mini MakerFaire===

*Faire where people setup stalls and show / demonstrate / sell their creations, by they crafty, techy or whatever!
*Past faires: Derby[http://makerfairederby.com], Manchester[http://makerfairemanchester.com] & Brighton[http://www.makerfairebrighton.com],
*Many people (Possibly > 500 thoughout the day!)
*Unlikely many will be there > 2 hours, but still puts a dent in the 6 hours per person
*Good way to connect with broad community
*Also potential money-earner, selling tea, coffee, juice & cakes?
*Awesome fun :-)

Agenda for Thursday 11/10/12

2012-10-11T17:07:44Z

Elsmorian:

There are a range of things we could talk about this week as noted at [http://makespace.org/index.php/2012/10/madespace-first-founder-members-event/ Madespace].

We should focus on the items needing most urgent decisions, or with long lead times. Perhaps some of:

* Priorities: what’s important first? chairs, internet, kit??
* Community engagement & Culture (this intersects with Rules - eg is alcohol allowed or not) It's important because it will start to crystallise quite quickly, and once a culture is set it will be tough to change
* Where are we on the shiny / less shiny spectrum? (this affects how potential sponsors might view the space, as well as people’s attitudes to the space, whether they feel involved/responsible and so on)
* Donations: what do we take? What do we not take?
* What have we forgotten? What else should we be talking about?
* Makespace Use Cases to inform the use of space
** What uses can be made of Makespace that aren't represented by current founder community
** How can the space be arranged to be useful/flexible for these groups
** When to start reaching out to groups currently not represented
*What furniture should be placed where, what we are missing and could do with

'''Proposed agenda:'''

1. Introductions

2. Discussion of which topics (as above) should be priorities

3. Selection of 1-2 topics for the evening

4. Working...

5. Wrap up and sharing results

6. Planning next meeting

Agenda for Thursday 11/10/12

2012-10-11T17:07:22Z

Elsmorian:

There are a range of things we could talk about this week as noted at [http://makespace.org/index.php/2012/10/madespace-first-founder-members-event/ Madespace].

We should focus on the items needing most urgent decisions, or with long lead times. Perhaps some of:

* Priorities: what’s important first? chairs, internet, kit??
* Community engagement & Culture (this intersects with Rules - eg is alcohol allowed or not) It's important because it will start to crystallise quite quickly, and once a culture is set it will be tough to change
* Where are we on the shiny / less shiny spectrum? (this affects how potential sponsors might view the space, as well as people’s attitudes to the space, whether they feel involved/responsible and so on)
* Donations: what do we take? What do we not take?
* What have we forgotten? What else should we be talking about?
* Makespace Use Cases to inform the use of space
** What uses can be made of Makespace that aren't represented by current founder community
** How can the space be arranged to be useful/flexible for these groups
** When to start reaching out to groups currently not represented
** What furniture should be placed where, what we are missing and could do with **

'''Proposed agenda:'''

1. Introductions

2. Discussion of which topics (as above) should be priorities

3. Selection of 1-2 topics for the evening

4. Working...

5. Wrap up and sharing results

6. Planning next meeting

File:Elsmorian-Bench.jpg

2012-10-11T10:51:15Z

Elsmorian: uploaded a new version of "File:Elsmorian-Bench.jpg": Fixed Rotation

Idea for a workbench frame

File:Elsmorian-Bench.jpg

2012-10-11T10:49:45Z

Elsmorian: Idea for a workbench frame

Idea for a workbench frame

AutomatedStorageProposals

2012-10-07T22:22:37Z

Elsmorian: /* Proposal 4: Rotating Shelves */

These proposal are for a storage/retrieval system for the undermezzanine spaces, which are too low to walk into.

See [[Under mezzanine 1]] for a rough diagram of one of the rooms.

==General thoughts==

A overhead system allows the whole floor area to be used for storage, while a floor-based one will take up some space for aisles.

Assuming we stack boxes more than one high, we'll want to keep empty stack slots in reach for "hanoi-ing" to get the lower boxes out. These empty slots need not be in fixed locations.

Interface to the door RFID would allow the system to start fetching your stuff while you're still arriving (even when you don't want it to).

===Proposal 1: Gantry crane===

A gantry runs along rails at the edges of the room, and a trolley runs along the gantry.

Advantages:

* Can be made from generic off-the-shelf hardware (angle iron, skateboard wheels/bearings)
* Floor is unmodified, apart from rails if using ground rails
* Nothing suspended from rafters, unless using overhead rails
* Potentially most efficient use of floor space so highest capacity
* Looks cool and industrial :)

Disadvantages:

* Complex control scheme will need lots of programming
* Many points of failure

===Proposal 2: Serpentine suspended railway===

A track runs in a serpentine or spiral pattern, slung under the ceiling, and a trolley runs along it. Mechanically simpler than the gantry, but needs more track, and will probably be slower. Could run out into the main room and bring things to workbenches.

Advantages:

* Simple control scheme
* Potentially fewer points of failure than gantry

Disadvantages:

* Needs strong curved track, may be difficult to source
* Less efficient use of floor space
* Lots of non-static load on rafters

===Proposal 3: Floor-based carousel ===

A floor-mounted monorail or two-rail system in an oval layout. The railway is fully occupied with trolleys, so pushing one way will bring the next trolley around.

[[File:Storage-rail.png]]

There are no aisles, so to get to your box, you need to push the carousel around until you get to your box. I'm imagining it manually powered.

A set of points next to the entrance allow removing the whole train out into the main G24 room. The main room won't have rails, so the trolleys will have to be able to run on a smooth floor.

Because of the step in the floor, we'll have to either make a false floor or run the rails up and down slopes.

Advantages:

* Mechanically very simple
* Safe in the event of power failure, nothing being lifted and can be manually operated
* No load on rafters

Disadvantages:

* Very inefficient use of floor space
* Requires one trolley per box, rather than just the crane

===Proposal 4: Rotating Shelves ===

Shelves similar to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS_DbPZB2ic (Inspired by Wall.E!)

Boxes sit next to each other on shelf, in front of the rotating machine is a flat conveyer belt, and a solenoid or linear actuator to push boxes from shelf onto conveyer to take to the door, and back again.
(Shelves would be as wide as the room is deep/wide depending if fewer larger shelves or a greater quantity of shorter shelves are desired)

Advantages:

* Mechanically fairly simple
* Safe in the event of power failure, nothing ever lifted.
* Fairly efficient space-wise.
* Fairly quick to "scroll" through shelves

Disadvantages:

* Side supports and chain assembly has to be pretty strong

AutomatedStorageProposals

2012-10-07T22:19:40Z

Elsmorian: /* Proposal 4: Rotating Shelves */

These proposal are for a storage/retrieval system for the undermezzanine spaces, which are too low to walk into.

See [[Under mezzanine 1]] for a rough diagram of one of the rooms.

==General thoughts==

A overhead system allows the whole floor area to be used for storage, while a floor-based one will take up some space for aisles.

Assuming we stack boxes more than one high, we'll want to keep empty stack slots in reach for "hanoi-ing" to get the lower boxes out. These empty slots need not be in fixed locations.

Interface to the door RFID would allow the system to start fetching your stuff while you're still arriving (even when you don't want it to).

===Proposal 1: Gantry crane===

A gantry runs along rails at the edges of the room, and a trolley runs along the gantry.

Advantages:

* Can be made from generic off-the-shelf hardware (angle iron, skateboard wheels/bearings)
* Floor is unmodified, apart from rails if using ground rails
* Nothing suspended from rafters, unless using overhead rails
* Potentially most efficient use of floor space so highest capacity
* Looks cool and industrial :)

Disadvantages:

* Complex control scheme will need lots of programming
* Many points of failure

===Proposal 2: Serpentine suspended railway===

A track runs in a serpentine or spiral pattern, slung under the ceiling, and a trolley runs along it. Mechanically simpler than the gantry, but needs more track, and will probably be slower. Could run out into the main room and bring things to workbenches.

Advantages:

* Simple control scheme
* Potentially fewer points of failure than gantry

Disadvantages:

* Needs strong curved track, may be difficult to source
* Less efficient use of floor space
* Lots of non-static load on rafters

===Proposal 3: Floor-based carousel ===

A floor-mounted monorail or two-rail system in an oval layout. The railway is fully occupied with trolleys, so pushing one way will bring the next trolley around.

[[File:Storage-rail.png]]

There are no aisles, so to get to your box, you need to push the carousel around until you get to your box. I'm imagining it manually powered.

A set of points next to the entrance allow removing the whole train out into the main G24 room. The main room won't have rails, so the trolleys will have to be able to run on a smooth floor.

Because of the step in the floor, we'll have to either make a false floor or run the rails up and down slopes.

Advantages:

* Mechanically very simple
* Safe in the event of power failure, nothing being lifted and can be manually operated
* No load on rafters

Disadvantages:

* Very inefficient use of floor space
* Requires one trolley per box, rather than just the crane

===Proposal 4: Rotating Shelves ===

Shelves similar to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS_DbPZB2ic (Inspired by Wall.E!)

Boxes sit next to each other on shelf, in front of the rotating machine is a flat conveyer belt, and a solenoid or linear actuator to push boxes from shelf onto conveyer to take to the door, and back again.

Advantages:

* Mechanically fairly simple
* Safe in the event of power failure, nothing ever lifted.
* Fairly efficient space-wise.
* Fairly quick to "scroll" through shelves

Disadvantages:

* Side supports and chain assembly has to be pretty strong

AutomatedStorageProposals

2012-10-07T22:19:06Z

Elsmorian: Added proposal 4!

These proposal are for a storage/retrieval system for the undermezzanine spaces, which are too low to walk into.

See [[Under mezzanine 1]] for a rough diagram of one of the rooms.

==General thoughts==

A overhead system allows the whole floor area to be used for storage, while a floor-based one will take up some space for aisles.

Assuming we stack boxes more than one high, we'll want to keep empty stack slots in reach for "hanoi-ing" to get the lower boxes out. These empty slots need not be in fixed locations.

Interface to the door RFID would allow the system to start fetching your stuff while you're still arriving (even when you don't want it to).

===Proposal 1: Gantry crane===

A gantry runs along rails at the edges of the room, and a trolley runs along the gantry.

Advantages:

* Can be made from generic off-the-shelf hardware (angle iron, skateboard wheels/bearings)
* Floor is unmodified, apart from rails if using ground rails
* Nothing suspended from rafters, unless using overhead rails
* Potentially most efficient use of floor space so highest capacity
* Looks cool and industrial :)

Disadvantages:

* Complex control scheme will need lots of programming
* Many points of failure

===Proposal 2: Serpentine suspended railway===

A track runs in a serpentine or spiral pattern, slung under the ceiling, and a trolley runs along it. Mechanically simpler than the gantry, but needs more track, and will probably be slower. Could run out into the main room and bring things to workbenches.

Advantages:

* Simple control scheme
* Potentially fewer points of failure than gantry

Disadvantages:

* Needs strong curved track, may be difficult to source
* Less efficient use of floor space
* Lots of non-static load on rafters

===Proposal 3: Floor-based carousel ===

A floor-mounted monorail or two-rail system in an oval layout. The railway is fully occupied with trolleys, so pushing one way will bring the next trolley around.

[[File:Storage-rail.png]]

There are no aisles, so to get to your box, you need to push the carousel around until you get to your box. I'm imagining it manually powered.

A set of points next to the entrance allow removing the whole train out into the main G24 room. The main room won't have rails, so the trolleys will have to be able to run on a smooth floor.

Because of the step in the floor, we'll have to either make a false floor or run the rails up and down slopes.

Advantages:

* Mechanically very simple
* Safe in the event of power failure, nothing being lifted and can be manually operated
* No load on rafters

Disadvantages:

* Very inefficient use of floor space
* Requires one trolley per box, rather than just the crane

===Proposal 4: Rotating Shelves ===

Shelves similar this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS_DbPZB2ic (Inspired by Wall.E!)

Boxes sit next to each other on shelf, in front of the rotating machine, a flat conveyer belt, and a solenoid or linear actuator to push boxes from shelf onto conveyer to take to the door, and back again.
Advantages:

* Mechanically fairly simple
* Safe in the event of power failure, nothing ever lifted.
* Fairly efficient space-wise.
* Fairly quick to "scroll" through shelves

Disadvantages:

* Side supports and chain assembly has to be pretty strong

Projects

2012-10-04T12:58:16Z

Elsmorian:

== Here we will add our projects ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Project name
! Status
! People
! Tell me more about it
|-
| Roll and jump music generator
| Planned
| [[User:Dadabit|Dadabit]]
| This is a wearable with gyro and accelerometer. I will connect to ableton and/or maxmsp. So in initial phase. Also if there is anyone who did mapping, desperately in need to learn.
|-
| [[Mechanical computing]]
| Working but unreliable
| [[User:JimM|JimM]]
| Turing machines and other computers built without any electric components using ball bearings as memory.
|-
| FleetFoot
| Planned
| [[User:Brice|Brice]]
| clojurescript + processing.js + webgl = Awesome!
|-
| Magicsphere
| Development
| [[User:Brice|Brice]]
| Secret Volumetric POV project
|-
| Lispator
| Concept
| [[User:Brice|Brice]]
| Complete Lisp machine implemented in FPGA.
|-
| MetaWatch automation
| Concept / Improvements
| [[User:Benjymous|Rich M]]
| Expanding the MetaWatch software for more "Internet of Things" integration - watch notifications when the doorbell rings, Turn lights on from your wrist, that sort of thing!
|-
| shapeshifting fabric
| design/development
| [[User:Dadabit|Dadabit]]
| well I got some sma wire, currently able to drive it, Now trying to make the machanical to actually end up in some coordinated movements. I need 3D modeling may be. Ping me if yo can help me with 3d modeling with the movement. I will thank you forever. (how long is forever can be negotiated)
|-
| Solr Logr
| Development/Refinement
| [[User:Elsmorian|Chris Elsmore]]
| Data logger, display and controller for my off-grid solar installation, and investigation into other alternative energy sources like building wind turbines.
|}

== Communal projects ==

[[WorkbenchLinks|Workbenches]]- we need a horizontal surface to make things on, and people are keen to start making the makespace by building benches. See some suggestions for DIY workbench designs.

[[AutomatedStorageProposals|Automated storage/retrieval]]- a long-term crazy idea to build some sort of storage robot in the half-height storage area under the kitchen which will retrieve a member's storage box when they swipe their RFID tag. If you have a fleshed-out idea for how it ought to work, write up your proposal and link it from this page.

SkillsKnowhow

2012-10-04T12:29:40Z

Elsmorian:

Do you need to learn, grok, grasp, make, dig, instrument utilize something and searching for a skill, knowhow, here you might find the person who has it. And why not share what you know ?

Pictures of some of the people listed in this table can be found on the [[people]] page.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Skill/Knowhow
! TeachorLearn
! User(s)
! Level
! Tell me more about it
|-
| water hopping
| teach
| Ren, Stimpy
|
| Only the chosen will know
|-
| Mapping
| learn
| Dadabit
|
| I would like to learn a bit of video mapping to surfaces, tips tricks. if you did sth in the past just would like learn how you did it. Anything I want to do touches a bit of video mapping at some point.
|-
| Basic electronics
| teach or (lets say help)
| Dadabit
| fair enough
| sensors, microcontrollers, connecting the system to computer software. If you want a colloboration and help for a nice project of yours I might hop in.
|-
|Basic electronics
|help
|alexrice
|variable
|PIC microcontrollers (rusty), AVR microcontrollers (basic), analogue electronics related to audio,
|-
|Oxy-fuel welding, brazing, silver soldering
|help / teach
|alexrice
|functional but not always pretty
|Have required equipment
|-
|Manual machining
|teach
|alexrice
|good
|Manual milling and turning on small lathes and mills, metric and imperial screw cutting
|-
|3D CAD
|Help/Teach/Learn
|brice
|novice
|Some basic experience on 3D mechanical CAD/drafting
|-
|Digital electronics
|Help/Teach/Learn
|brice
|intermediate
|multiplexing strategy/persistence of vision. Ardui-fu
|-
|Programming
|Help/Teach/Learn
|brice
|intermediate/advanced
|Particularly interested in learning about dynamic, interactive simulations in functional langages. (clojurescript+processing=dynamic simulation in your browser?) Can give introduction to programming on processing/arduino. Can contribute to code projects at any level of complexity.
|-
|Programming
|Help / Teach
|Martin_de_S
|Intermediate
|I'm a professional coder- I can help out with HTML/CSS/JS web coding, scripting languages, C++, C for Arduino, some Linux SH etc.
|-
|Arduino (software and electronics)
|Help / Teach
|Martin_de_S
|Intermediate
|I've spent a fair while playing with the Arduino and interfacing with other bits and pieces. If you want specific help with a project or are wondering what to do after blinking an LED I'll try to help out
|-
|Cool software
|Help / Teach
|[[User:rjw57|Rich Wareham]]
|Can teach to any level
|I can help you with coding in almost any language. I'm very interested in designing cool bits of software to do cool things.
|-
|Signal Processing (more the old school variety)
|Help / Teach / (and certainly learn)
|[[User:heng|Henry Gomersall]]
|Advanced
|I'm a full time signal processing engineer from an academic background. More the old school stuff (transforms, sparsity and the like) but I'm keen to improve my stats-fu.
|-
|Programming
|Help / Teach
|[[User:heng|Henry Gomersall]]
|Intermediate
|Python and C (and getting them to work together!). A few years full time experience, but not quite a guru yet. (also Matlab, but I have strong feelings about that).
|-
|Programming
|Help / Teach
|[[User:Wojciech|Wojciech Meyer]]
|Any level
|I can do C, C++ equally good, but mostly OCaml these days (equally well we can do Haskell or Scheme). Up to pair programming.
|-
|Computers / Software
|Help / Teach / Learn
|[[User:Phil|Phil Cowans]]
|Advanced
|Mainly C/C++/Ruby, low level things, systems (esp. Linux), networking etc. Interested in machine learning, computer vision, graphics, things with matrices, etc.
|-
|Digital Electronics
|Learn / Stumble blindly with others
|[[User:Phil|Phil Cowans]]
|Beginner-ish
|Limited experience (and pretty rusty too), interested in embedded systems, microcontrollers, robotics, etc.
|-
|Machining
|Help / Learn
|[[User:Phil|Phil Cowans]]
|Beginner
|Generally keen to make something physical - happy to help out anywhere I can be useful.
|-
|Programming / Software
|Teach / Learn
|[[User:Elsmorian|Chris Elsmore]]
|Intermediate
|I mostly use Python, JavaScript, ObjectiveC, and have some experience of Java & C. Always willing try and help, and learn new things!
|-
|Electronics / Hardware
|Help / Learn
|[[User:Elsmorian|Chris Elsmore]]
|Intermediate
|Familiar with basic analogue & digital circuits, Arduino, as above, always willing try and help, and learn new things!
|-
|Metalwork, Machining and Woodwork
|Learn
|[[User:Elsmorian|Chris Elsmore]]
|Beginner
|Haven't done any serious work since school, but I really enjoyed it, and would love to get back into it!
|}

User:Elsmorian

2012-10-03T16:49:39Z

Elsmorian: /* Chris Elsmore */

[[File:ElsmorianProfile.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Chris Elsmore]]
=Chris Elsmore=

My day job is as a Research Assistant at the University Computer Lab investigating electricity use within the department, and how to measure, store and communicate that resource consumption to users. I'm also creating an iPhone application to calculate users' carbon footprint on their way to work.

In my spare time, I'm interested in alternative & renewable energy, HiFi & Audio projects.

More: [http://elsmorian.com elsmorian.com] [http://twitter.com/elsmorian @elsmorian]

=♥ I like=
* Python, HTML/CSS/JS, Objective C
* Electronics, Arduino & Raspberry Pi
* Sensor networks and Internet of Things
* Music, audio and playing the drums.
* Photography, both digital and old school 35mm film ;)

=⤾ I want to learn=
* Metalwork - welding, brazing etc,
* Machining, using lathes and CNC mills, especially with Aluminium.
* Effective 3D CAD for 3D printing, beyond simple messing about in Sketch Up
* More about everything!

User:Elsmorian

2012-10-03T15:00:47Z

Elsmorian: Initial Page

Member's Skills

2012-10-03T13:35:55Z

Elsmorian: Added me (Elsmorian) to the list

People of makespace. Note that this list might not be comprehensive

<div class="memberslist">
{| style="border-spacing: 0px; width: 75%; height: 300px"
| {{MemberDetails|nickname=dadabit|wikiusername=dadabit|realname=gaye dadabit|imagefile=gayedadabit.jpg }}
| {{MemberDetails|nickname=srimech|wikiusername=JimM|realname=Jim MacArthur|imagefile=Jim3-scaled.jpeg }}
| {{MemberDetails|nickname=LaurieJ|wikiusername=Laura|realname=Laura James <br \>(Co-founder <br \>and director)|imagefile=LJ-square2.jpg}}
| {{MemberDetails|nickname=Brice|wikiusername=Brice|realname=Brice Fernandes|imagefile=Brice_stripes.jpg }}
| {{MemberDetails|nickname=rjw57|wikiusername=Rjw57|realname=Rich Wareham|imagefile=rjw57_profile.jpg }}
|-
| {{MemberDetails|nickname=benjymous|wikiusername=Benjymous|realname=Richard Munn|imagefile=benjymous.jpg }}
| {{MemberDetails|nickname=elsmorian|wikiusername=Elsmorian|realname=Chris Elsmore|imagefile=ElsmorianProfileSmall.jpg }}
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|}
</div>

= Skills =

If you have knowledge to share with others, or are looking for expertise, check out the [[SkillsKnowhow|skills exchange]].

File:ElsmorianProfile.jpg

2012-10-03T13:32:00Z

Elsmorian:

File:ElsmorianProfileSmall.jpg

2012-10-03T13:31:37Z

Elsmorian: