Welcoming Our Newest Addition
In July the Akron Makerspace did a grand overhaul of the Wood Lab to make room for this shiny new (to us, its refurbished) CNC router!!! It is set up, and factory training for it has been completed.
The machine is a 4′ x 8′ Maker-Fab Series Router made by and reconditioned by Forest Scientific.
We are ramping up for member training starting in September!
AMS Wood Lab Meeting
- Development of a committee of maintainers for the Wood Lab. Bob Hasenyager has too many AMS responsibilities to maintain the lab alone. We are looking for AMS members who would like to be involved in the planning and execution of improvements, machine maintenance, planning and training.
- Policy to address wood storage outside of lockers and rental benches. Fortunately the wood shop usage has been growing, but with that we need to better control the temporary storage of projects and materials, please come and help us work out solutions.
- The increasing request for more Wood Lab classes. We need more teachers for our student hungry for knowledge! Do you have a skill or project that you’d like to share?
- Discussion of future general Wood Lab meetings. Come with your ideas of what you’d like to hear at periodic meetings such as discussion on the various uses of individual tools, group projects, build and/or design contests, tricks and tips, etc.
- Want to help with a project? We have several potential projects for improving the usability of the wood shop: completion of dust collection, design and building of helpful machine jigs, building improved workbenches, wiring improvements, etc.
New Open Workshop Hours
AMS has updated its Open Workshop Hours for members. We are now open for un-keyed members on Monday and Thursday nights from 7 to 10 pm. Members with a key can ‘host’ Open Workshop Hours (really just opening the door at 7 pm then turning off fans and closing windows and doors at 10 pm). Members with keys can sign up to host here.
Open Workshop Hours are a great time to stop in to say ‘hi’ to other members and check out the rad projects they’re working on!
Akron Makes
AMS will be participating in a free, interactive, and family-friendly event at the downtown Main Akron Library on Saturday September 17th from 11am – to 4pm.
Tech, crafts, art, engineering, and imagination are all on the table!
Our Facilities Manager Andy B. will be there with his Skee-Bowl build, so stop on by! A big thanks to the APL for including us in such a fun event.
Kids Maker Fest
Sunday September 18th from 11am – 2pm, AMS will have a station in the Akron Art Museum’s Kids Maker Fest! Its a family event where we’ll be teaching all ages, toddlers to grandparents, the importance of tool safety, knowing how to fix things yourself, and how cool it is to make something with your own hands.
The event is free, but registration is recommended. Follow the link above for more details.
Cleveland Gaming Classic
Mark your calendars for Saturday September 24th! AMS will have a booth at the Cleveland Gaming Classic at the IX Center. The convention is slated to have an on-site arcade, tabletop board games, tournaments, vendor tables, VIP guests, cosplay, collectibles and more!
AMS will be showing off the equipment we have that can help gamers make merch, dice, character miniatures, cosplay, and fix their retro gaming consoles. Stop by our booth while checking out the largest gaming con in Ohio!
Large Classroom Mural
The Cool Shit Committee got its mural proposal approved by the Board! Work to complete this amazing art is scheduled to start soon. First the false wall will have to be built, then painting will begin. Reach out to Liz (head of the Cool Shit Committee) on the committee’s Discord Channel to see how you can help out!
Summit County COVID Status
COVID cases are again on the rise in Summit County. Please keep yourself and your family safe in taking precautions and help to protect your fellow makers. If you have any of the common COVID symptoms, please refrain from visiting the Space, seek a COVID test and follow all CDC protocols if testing positive. And if another member asks you to mask up, please do so. So please have a mask with you. THANK YOU!
Recent AMS Board Changes
The AMS Board of Directors voted at the August Board Meeting to move Lindsey Glorioso Hennis to the Secretary position from an At-Large position.
They also voted to appoint Ian Campbell to the newly vacant At-Large position.
These two members bring fantastic skills and knowledge to the AMS board.
At the next Member Business Meeting on August 22nd at 7 pm we will have the present membership vote to confirm these appointments.
If you’re interested in being a part of AMS’s leadership we have the Membership Coordinator and ‘Cruise Director’ (events coordinator) positions still open. If you have people and/or planning skills we would love to have you join!
Thank you for reading and being a member of our rad Maker community!
