Pay it forward: Help another space buy a laser cutter?

When i3Detroit reached out for help with our moving expenses, our friends and family, readers and strangers, came through for us in a big way. The new space is awesome, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

Now, a Florida hackerspace is raising money to purchase a laser cutter.  I have a hunch we can push them over the tipping point…

Solder of Fortune

Tuesday saw the first step in our plan to revive our class schedule now that our space and sleep schedules have recovered from Maker Faire, and what better way to get started than to have two illustrious makers as our guest lecturers? These two giants were none other than Mitch Altman of Noisebridge and TV-B-Gone fame and Jimmie P. Rodgers of LOLshield fame both of whom are currently on a road trip to promote their clever kits and educate young and old about how easy and fun soldering can be.

Read the rest of this entry »

This Saturday is Bed-a-Palooza with i3 Detroit!

On Saturday, June 26th, from 11AM – 4PM, we are at Bed-a-Palooza in Troy at Trainers Academy with Retro Doggy Rescue.  The goal of the event is to build 100 dog beds for Michigan shelters, where shelter dogs currently sleep on the floor.  This week has been a flurry of PVC and we have cut and assembled the 100 bed frames.  The day of the event, we will oversee the attaching of fabric to build each bed into a sturdy hammock.  We are also hosting a BBQ at the event that will start at Noon.

Meet Nemo.  Matt will be bringing the Skee Ball machine to help raise money for this little cutie who has a stage 3 heart murmur and has to go see a cardiologist.

Come one, come all!  The public is welcome to stop by and join the fun!  Trainers Academy is located at 1016 Troy Court, Troy, 48083.  More information can be found at their website: www.woofology.com.

All proceeds will go to Retro Doggy Rescue, a local no-kill rescue.  They will also be accepting physical donations such dog food, treats, toys (new or used), bowls, collars, leashes, crates, blankets, sheets, towels, throw rugs, cat food, cat litter, cat toys/supplies, or anything else pet related.

If you want to donate to the cause and can’t join us Saturday:

The LateHak Show with Hak5

The LateHak Show with Hak5 is finally here, and we just had to take advantage of the opportunity to shoot a mock intro.

Enjoy this special Hak5 with i3Detroit episode 715, followed by the mock intro.

http://revision3.com/hak5/thelatehakshow

Hak5.org

Haking around at i3

Here are the results of a weekend hacking around with Darren Kitchen of Hak5.  Thanks again D for an amazing weekend!

Checkout Hak5 Podcast at i3 Detroit Tonight

Fan of the Hak5 podcast?  Wanna meet Darren Kitchen?  Like Monkeys? 

Checkout i3 Detroit tonight (5/17), where Darren Kitchen of Hak5 will be holding court.  Hear stories of his Hack Across America tour, share your projects and meet a very cool guy. 

Starts at 6:30pm and goes until we run out of energy or beer, whichever is first.

From hackerspace to art show, lamps headed to NYC

Where would a couple of artists/designers go for help with converting their latest lighting project over to LED illumination? Why, their friendly local hackerspace, of course!

Lisa Smith and Caroline Linder‘s “Pipette Lamps”, pictured here, got blisteringly hot when equipped with halogen bulbs. Before showing the lamps at Cite, they wanted to switch light sources. But multiwatt illumination-class LEDs are a bit tricky to drive, and that expertise proved elusive. After pursuing dead-ends with overworked grad students, local electricians, and other leads, the designers asked a geeky friend, who happened to be an i3Detroit member. The connection was instant and, in retrospect, obvious.

Smith and Linder’s request was modest — design hints, electronics help, links to parts suppliers — but shipping takes time, and the looming deadline made it clear that the arm’s-length approach wouldn’t succeed. Read the rest of this entry »

Hacking Metro Detroit

We would like to send out a Thanks to Michelle Martinez & Metromode for a nice article about hacking and hackerspaces. Michelle explains the social side of hackerspaces as well as the grander movement of spaces being built around the country.

There are some great inserts from many different individuals in the scene including i3 Detroit, Bilal Ghalib from All Hands Active, Eric Michaud from Pumping Station: One, Dale Dougherty from Make, Jeff Sturges and Bethany Shorb from the up and coming hackerspace in Detroit.

You can find a link to the the article here.

Visit to Hack Pittsburgh

Found myself in Pittsburgh for a few business meetings and wanted to visit our friends to the East, Hack Pittsburgh. 

They have a very cool space with lots of style.  I am quite jealous of a number of their tools especially their TIG welder.  But I am most jealous of their ceiling cat. 

Thanks to Matt and and the team for hosting me and the delicious pizza.  The bristle bot challenge is still on and we are waiting for the day we race. 

Pictures from the shop: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nbritsky/sets/72157623687957180/

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