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West Coast Wood Slabs Walnut Projects

Posted on by J

Many thanks to West Coast Wood Slabs for donating beautiful walnut wood scraps to VHS. Thank you! Thanks also to Mike for setting up a Walnut Materials Challenge with those scraps! Here are just some of the beautiful things VHS members made:

Pen and pen holder by Sean.

Salt container by Ignacio.

Container and lid by Ace.

Container with lid by Rahul.

Containers with lids by Mike.

Cuff links by Mike.

Wooden bowl with lid by Mark.

Spindle turned sculpture (with walnut) by Mark.

Laser engraved phone stand by Luke.

A tree for the tree. Made by Logan and Roxy.

Carving mallet by Janet and Mimi.

Walnut necklace with maple inlay by Jake.

Lamp by Hugh.

Container by Eric.

Container with lid by Baptiste.

Visit Instagram to see more VHS projects. If you’re interested in donating furniture-grade hardwood scraps for our materials challenge please contact us. Thank you!

Posted in Projects, Unsorted

VHS to take lead in Douglas Island maker hub development

Posted on by Vancouver Hack Space

After long and tough negotiations with the greater Vancouver region cities as well as the province, Vancouver Hack Space (VHS) is proud to announce its winning bid for the provincial plans to establish a maker-island on Douglas Island (https://goo.gl/maps/t8LUxEVcju72). This will be in preparation of legislation that is currently under development that will ultimately bar any hacker/maker activity within the city limits of nearly all of the metropolitan Vancouver city councils. Over the next few months, VHS will start reaching out to fellow hacker-/maker-/creative-spaces in the GVRD to establish requirements and timelines for the eventual move. The plans for the development of Douglas Island will include a permanent VMMF structure, as well as member-accommodations and space to build log houses.

Initial construction is to commence early April of 2019.

Posted in Media Release, Press, VMMF

World Create Day 2018 / Super Happy Hacker House 40

Posted on by tycho

Dear everyone! After far too long, Super Happy Hacker House is back.

What

Open House (Noon – 5pm)
Never been to a hack space before? Dying to see the VHS space? This is the perfect time to visit! VHS members will give you a tour around the space, show off some cool projects, and answer any questions you have. Many of our members share an interest in 3D printers, laser cutting, machining, crafting, electronics, robotics, programming, electronic music, and art. We’re also combining this event with World Create Day.

Show and Tell (6pm +)
Have you made something amazing? Are you in the process of building something that will become amazing? Are you just starting out and want to talk to people about your amazing idea? Come down to VHS and tell us about it. Bring your projects!

Super Happy Hacker House (8pm – Late)
Super Happy Hacker House (SHHH) is a social night where members, friends and guests gather for a social night of conversation, adult beverages, lightning talks, and super happy hacker games.

Lightning talks – (11PM)
A lightning talk is VHS’ version of an un-conference, where people do short presentation on any subject that they want. Unlike other presentations at conferences, lightning talks last only a few minutes (2 min or less) and friendly heckling is encouraged.

Read a great Georgia Straight article about one of our previous open houses/SHHH!
http://www.straight.com/blogra/499266/photos-vancouver-hack-spaces-fifth-anniversary-open-house

Where
1715 Cook Street, Buzzer #104
Vancouver, BC
Limited street parking is available just outside the space. Bikes can be parked in our loading bay for the night or locked up on the bike racks outside the front door.
This map shows all the parking and amenities around the new space.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/view?mid=17_GZyKM0usRTE3BCA8lXbZWsIac

When
March 17th from Noon till late (2-3 am)

Who
Everyone! Hackers, Makers, Crafters, Kids, Guests, Members, Friends of VHS, Anyone and Everyone.
If you are under the age of majority (19) then you should bring your parent or guardian with you as well. For those of legal drinking age (19), VHS will have donated beer for the adult-only event that will be available after 8pm.

Why
Because it is awesome!

Posted in Events

EVENT: Sept 15th. Surface Mount Soldering, 7 – 10 pm, $10

Posted on by J

 

VHS is offering another surface-mount soldering workshop on September 15th, 7 – 10 pm at VHS. Surface-mount components are the small components on top of circuit boards (like your computer motherboard, phone, etc.).

Imagine being able to build your own surface-mount boards or fix your own electronics? SMD gives you that skill.  It’s recommended that you already know how to through-hole solder. Open to everyone, non-members welcome!

Get your ticket now!

What You’ll Make:


You’ll learn how to:

  • solder surface-mount components
  • use a stencil to apply solder paste
  • make circuit boards in the VHS reflow toaster oven
  • be the coolest kid on the block

SIGN UP HERE (only 6 spots available so sign up now)

VHS has always been supportive of folks with limited funds. If this is you, please contact us.

Posted in Events

Soldering at Makerfaire and beyond!

Posted on by Jarrett

What a great turnout at Maker Faire 2017 last weekend! A big shout out to all the awesome organisers, this is one of the best events of the year in Vancouver, hands down!

We taught kids of all ages to solder, as young as 4, and as old as 80! For those following along at home (we have take-home kits!), here’s the how to solder comic we use, as well as the guide to our VHS Blinky Badge kit. There are usually a few kits at VHS in the vending machine if you’d like to give this project a try.

Want to know how the circuit works?
Check out the Falstad simulator version for a pretty visual representation, or read some words about it here!

Not a member or keyholder? Feel free to swing by on any of our open nights. You can use our soldering stations and teach yourself how to solder. We’ll give you a hand if you need one. See you at the space!

Posted in Events, Media Release

Visit us at Vancouver Mini Maker Faire this weekend!

Posted on by Bruce

We’re getting excited to see everyone at VMMF 2017 this weekend, June 10-11!

VHS will be there with our traditional learn-to-solder booth, as well as showcasing a selection of projects built by VHS members. Get your tickets today, and drop by and say hello!

By Jake McIvor

Posted in Events, VMMF

Super Happy Hacker House (SHHH) 39 – April 22nd

Posted on by tycho

What
Open House (Noon – 5pm)
Never been to a hack space before? Dying to see the VHS space? This is the perfect time to visit! VHS members will give you a tour around the space, show off some cool projects, and answer any questions you have. Many of our members share an interest in 3D printers, laser cutting, machining, crafting, electronics, robotics, programming, electronic music, and art. We’re also combining this event with World Create Day. Head over to the topic on Talk to find out what World Create Day is about and start your project!

Show and Tell (6pm +)
Have you made something amazing? Are you in the process of building something that will become amazing? Are you just starting out and want to talk to people about your amazing idea? Come down to VHS and tell us about it. Bring your projects!

Super Happy Hacker House (8pm – Late)
Super Happy Hacker House (SHHH) is a social night where members, friends and guests gather for a social night of conversation, adult beverages, lightning talks, and super happy hacker games.

Lightning talks – (11PM)
A lightning talk is VHS’ version of an un-conference, where people do short presentation on any subject that they want. Unlike other presentations at conferences, lightning talks last only a few minutes (2 min or less) and friendly heckling is encouraged.

Our sponsor Dominion Cider has donated cider for the event, which will be available after 8pm.
Remember to BRING YOUR OWN CUP if you want to drink beverages at the space.

Read a great Georgia Straight article about one of our previous open houses/SHHH!
http://www.straight.com/blogra/499266/photos-vancouver-hack-spaces-fifth-anniversary-open-house

Where
1715 Cook Street, Buzzer #104
Vancouver, BC
Limited street parking is available just outside the space. Bikes can be parked in our loading bay for the night or locked up on the bike racks outside the front door.
This map shows all the parking and amenities around the new space.

When
April 22nd from Noon till late (2-3 am)

Who
Everyone! Hackers, Makers, Crafters, Kids, Guests, Members, Friends of VHS, Anyone and Everyone.
If you are under the age of majority (19) then you should bring your parent or guardian with you as well. For those of legal drinking age (19), VHS will have donated beer for the adult-only event that will be available after 8pm.

Why
Because it is awesome!

Posted in Events, Media Release, Press

Made @VHS – March Edition

Posted on by Bruce

Another month, another selection of amazing VHS activities and member projects to highlight! The only difficult thing is to pick out just a few, but let’s see what we can come up with.

Scrap Wood Contest

Mike proposed an impromptu scrap wood contest. Entries ranged from functional (who doesn’t need more shelves?) to, well, beautiful:

I know there’s no formal winner for the contest, but… wow.

Blacksmithing

Spicehammer introduced himself to the VHS community with the question, “Any interest in a blacksmith’s forge?” And if you’re wondering, the answer to a question like that is “yes!”

portable blacksmith forge

By all accounts the event was a success, and hopefully Spicehammer will bring his equipment in for another try sometime soon. It was a very generous and well appreciated visit.

Lasers and LEDs, oh my!

Our laser cutter tube finally gave up the ghost at the end of February, and we’d have had it running again very quickly if our spare tube wasn’t faulty as well! Once that was diagnosed, our awesome laser maintenance team got us up and running again with all possible speed. But that’s not the cool part. (I mean, it’s cool. but… okay, stop digging!) What’s really cool is what packetbob has decided we should do with the failed spare tube:

I could watch that all day. And once it’s installed at VHS, I just might!

Once again, that’s only a small part of the creative awesomeness that’s been going on at VHS over the last month, much of which you’ll only see if you come for a visit on one of our Tuesday Open Nights. Why not drop in, or better yet join VHS today and share your own ideas and interests with us all?

Posted in Projects, Recycling, Things People Made

Workshop: Foreign Thought Ingress Protection

Posted on by Jarrett

Foreign Thought Ingress Protection Workshop. Open to ages 19 and over.

This workshop will provide you will all the materials and instruction to put together your own helmet of Faraday!

Do you dream of being able to think clearly, free of intrusive thoughts? Are major governments, or bad agents trying to influence your actions? Then this is the workshop for you!

During the workshop we will be discussing the design and process involved in creating various styles, as well as assembling your own to take home.

When:
7pm – 10pm Friday, April 7th

Where:
The Vancouver Hackspace,
1715 Cook Street #104, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Who:

The workshop is open to the public. VHS members receive a discount on the fees.

Adults only, please!

Equipment
You must bring yourself.

Parts included with the workshop
These parts are included and used for the workshop, and are yours to take home:

1 x Sheet Aluminum Foil
1 x Dollop iron-impregnated epoxy

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/foreign-thought-ingress-protection-tickets-33349371869

Posted in Courses, Events

Made @VHS – February Edition

Posted on by Bruce

All kinds of interesting projects are created by members and guests at VHS. A few of them get documented on our forum, talk.vanhack.ca. But not everybody follows Talk, so maybe we should show off a few of these on this blog, yeah? Let’s give it a try. Here’s a sampling of things people were working on in February.

Monster Corner Planter

Monster Corner Planter, installed and looking great! Have you got a big plant? Why not build it a custom home? Baptiste has been building this beautiful organic piece for a while, but he documented the build and the finished result last month.

This planter was laser cut. Yes, laser cut.

A pile of laser cut plywood parts for the monster corner planter.

Now that’s a puzzle!

Read all about this laser cut project.

CNC Milled Circular Dies

Majicj is interested in die cutting paper, but why not take it a step further and machine your own dies?

Die being machined from rectangular aluminum blank on CNC mill Machined die with micrometer measuring thickness

Die with sample paper cut lying on table

CNC mills are remarkably powerful machines, and Majicj is doing some very creative work with this one. And right now, VHS has three of them.

Read more on this machining and papercraft project.

LED Strips

Most VHS projects don’t start and end in a month, and often they involve many people collaborating and building off of each other’s work. As an example, here’s Janet’s build of Jarrett’s LED board, reflow soldered in the VHS reflow oven built by PacketBob, and tested using LukeCyca’s Partycat wifi-connected LED controller.

No idea what photo to choose for all of that, so… VHS LED wall.

Read more on this electronics project.

There were many other interesting projects and ideas shared over the last month, and more still that you could see if you drop by for a visit on one of our Tuesday Open Nights. The only thing we’re missing is your projects; why not join VHS today and add your own flavour to the VHS mix?

Posted in Projects, Things People Made