<jamesnew...@geocities.com> wrote:
> The problem with Makerplace (I assume you mean makerplace.com, the facility
> that opened in San Diego on Morena?) is that you have to commit better than
> $100 per month ($135 seems to be the current best price) to join before you
> can even post on their forum. I'd love to teach a class in soldering, but I
> can't find a way to offer it. This is the email I just sent to Michael at
> MakerPlace:

> So, my goal here is to setup and provide a class on electronics, in
> conjunction with the 3D printing class that John Ecker is setting up. I'm
> thinking there may be people who want to learn to solder and have some
> practice with a cheaper board before they try to solder the Gen7 electronics
> board for the rep rap which is about $20.

> I'd like to gauge interest in such a class before I commit to it.

> I was thinking they might solder up something easy but still useful like a
> relay driver, or power regulator, or pulse generator. The cost would be
> about $10 to $12 for materials, then whatever you want to charge for hosting
> the class. I'll teach the class for nothing but I'd love to get some credit
> with you for future use of the facility.

> But I can't post the offer if I'm not a member, and I just can't justify the
> membership when I have a shop up here in Escondido with most of the stuff I
> need.

> So... where do we go? I've got everything required to teach the class, I
> could do it next weekend or anytime you like. But without some way to sign
> people up, or find out who is interested, it's dead.

> I have PCBs to practice on, and the components to populate a relay driver or
> regulator or pulse generator or LCD panel or whatever... and they aren't
> expensive. I'm ready to teach a class. I've done it before, so I know how to
> manage a room full of guys and how to keep them from burning themselves or
> destroying a PCB.

> The offer is out there. :shrug:

> --
> James.

> On Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:00:32 AM UTC-7, Richard Rouse wrote:

>> Yeah, I am sort in the dark now too about this.

>> Its great there is a hackerspace but if they do not have a free open
>> meeting session then it sucks.

>> We had one meeting in my lab and it was awesome but the second meeting
>> the group totally flaked out on me so I said screw it.

>> Makerplace should have a open hour or so. Nuecleon was willing on
>> having this on Saturdays. Its sort of far though.

>> Richard

>> On Thu, Mar 29, 2012 at 9:42 AM, James Newton <jamesnew...@geocities.com>
>> wrote:
>> > Hi Richard, glad to hear from someone.

>> > Markus and I have continued talking about the Gen7 electronics, tossing
>> > ideas back and forth. He is about to release a version 1.4 board and
>> > wants
>> > to switch to the TB6560 driver which would save some more money over the
>> > Polulu boards and provide more drive capacity. The TB6560 has a horrible
>> > flaw,

>> > http://www.cnczone.com/forums/stepper_motors_drives/139306-how_can_an...
>> > but he is working around it by limiting the power supply options to ATX
>> > only
>> > and using the standby power for logic before switching on the +12
>> > supply, or
>> > by including a separate motor supply switch.

>> > At this point, based on the lack of interest here, and the limited
>> > interest
>> > on the forum at Makerplace (and the fact that you must be a paying
>> > member to
>> > post on that forum), and no contact from John about the class he was
>> > talking
>> > about offering, I'm going to step back and concentrate on other
>> > projects.

>> > If John or you or anyone else asks, I'll be happy to answer questions or
>> > do
>> > whatever I can to help, but otherwise, I think I've done all that is
>> > worth
>> > doing at this point. Hopefully interest will grow in the future.

>> > --
>> > James.

>> > On Tuesday, March 27, 2012 9:37:06 AM UTC-7, Richard Rouse wrote:

>> >> Hi James,

>> >> This is awesome, I am interested in this board since then you don't
>> >> need to buy an expensive arduino mega. Its really cool but I have 4
>> >> RAMPS kits already.

>> >> I think customers want preassembled boards (that's what ultimachine
>> >> says). So would be keen on helping automating fabrication if there's
>> >> interest. Maybe could do at this makerplace

>> >> Not sure what is going on with this group ... seems like no notices
>> >> for meetings been busy last couple of weeks but would be interested in
>> >> going next meeting.

>> >> Richard

>> >> On Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 9:19 AM, James Newton
>> >> <jamesnew...@geocities.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >> > So, I've been talking to Markus Hitter from Germany who is the guy
>> >> > who
>> >> > did
>> >> > the board layout for the Gen 7 electronics. He wants to sell kits of
>> >> > the
>> >> > PCBs with all the parts and the cost varies from $73 each for one
>> >> > down
>> >> > to
>> >> > $54 each for 10. $60 each for 5. That is for all the components in
>> >> > both
>> >> > tables on the wiki page, but NOT including the endstop PCBs. He will
>> >> > also
>> >> > sell the PCBs for between $25 and $20 depending on quantity. All of
>> >> > that
>> >> > is
>> >> > including shipping price from Germany. He will take paypal, direct,
>> >> > but
>> >> > I'm
>> >> > working with him on making a shopping cart so his presentation to US
>> >> > customers will be a little more acceptable. Just wanted to let you
>> >> > know.

>> >> > So we can either include making the PCB as part of the workshop or
>> >> > just
>> >> > buy
>> >> > it. Honestly, I think most people would just like the electronics
>> >> > part
>> >> > of
>> >> > the build to "go away" LOL... so I question including the making of
>> >> > the
>> >> > PCB.
>> >> > Some people are probably interested in how to make one, but I think
>> >> > that
>> >> > might be better as a separate workshop. That's just my opinion. It
>> >> > can
>> >> > work
>> >> > either way.

>> >> > If I can find the time, I'm also going to look at having the PCB
>> >> > professionally produced. I'm not sure, but I think it could be less
>> >> > than
>> >> > $20
>> >> > each even in very small quantities. And a professional PCB is SO much
>> >> > nicer
>> >> > to solder or repair if needed.

>> >> > I'm sort of starting to loose interest in this based on the lack of
>> >> > feedback
>> >> > from anyone other than Jeremie. If there anyone out there? LOL...
>> >> > Speak
>> >> > up
>> >> > so we know you are still involved!

>> >> --
>> >> Richard Rouse
>> >> HTS Resources, LLC.
>> >> 325 W. Washington St. #2-150
>> >> San Diego, CA 92103 USA
>> >> 619-846-8291
>> >> rjdro...@htsresources.com
>> >> www.htsresources.com

>> --
>> Richard Rouse
>> HTS Resources, LLC.
>> 325 W. Washington St. #2-150
>> San Diego, CA 92103 USA
>> 619-846-8291
>> rjdro...@htsresources.com
>> www.htsresources.com