Acquiring tools, material and bits and bops in Melbourne

[Chinmay Pendharkar]

Hello everyone,

I'm Chinmay from Singapore's HackerspaceSG. I'm going to be in Melbourne conducting a 2-day workshop at a Javascript Conference (http://v.campjs.com/), getting Web developers excited about making/building stuff. 

It's called NodeBoats, and the idea is to build small remote controlled toy boats and program them. The boats are made of plastic containers and run on AA batteries with the SparkCore controlling an L293N. It's really simple, but it works and people have fun making it.

Here's a video of what something similar we did in Singapore last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZNRue_L3l0.

I'm gonna try to bring a few things from Singapore, but luggage restrictions and border control might not be happy with me bringing a ton of electronics into Australia. So I need help figuring out where I can buy this stuff in Melbourne. Things that might be difficult to find or might be waaay more expensive in Melbourne I'll bring from Singapore.

Stuff I will be needing for the workshop:

1. Simple rotary tool or hand drill to make holes for mounting propellers/rudders.

2. Glue gun + Glue

3. Waterproof sealant

4. AA batteries (lots of them)

5. Simple soldering iron

6. Small saw

7. Scrap pieces of wood, plastic to make small structures for mounting propellers etc.

8. Plastic containers

9. Plastic bottles

10. Styrofoam (no idea if it's still called that in Australia) for trimming floating.

Are the shops where I can get most of these things? I know tools etc can be pretty expensive in Australia, so any suggestions to find good deals would be highly welcome. 

Also for scrap material, any good places to look for those?

Thank you so much!

-Chinmay

[Tim Sheahan]

For some items, $60 gets you a month's membership at CCHS which is great value for access to many things and the space to use them -
1, 2, 5, 6 (and lots more)

For others, a trip to Bunnings or a supermarket will see you right:
3, 4, 7, 8, 9

Get someone to tip you off on a good source for Styrofoam, and you're all set!

 - Tim

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[ajfisher]

HI Chinmay.

Definitely come down to the space when you're here. We have a very active NodeBots group here including some of the core team and there'll be some of the group at Camp JS as well so worth getting to know peeps. It's worth reaching out to Anna Gerber (@annagerber) as I believe there's also a stock of Camp JS related equipment now too after the sessions last year.

Bunnings is a good source of stuff for fabrication and you can get styrofoam sheets there too. Supermarket will sort out most of the other things you want.

There happens to be a big Bunnings within walking distance of the hackerspace as well.

Let me know when you're here and I'll arrange some NodeBots related stuff.

Cheers

Andrew

[michael borthwick]

Hi Chinmay,

If you don't want to be ripped off at Bunnings or a supermarket for bulk batteries I have trade discounts at various electrical wholesalers and could get use a box of professional quality AA batteries. Alternatively I have probably 20 NiMH cells you could borrow if you can keep them dry. I have a number of junior hacksaws, razor saws, cutting jigs and portable vices which will help people unfamiliar with using hand tools to cut small pieces of wood, plastic and metal neatly and safely.

I also have a better and more varield selection of scrap material than CCHS which much, of necessity, be fairly ruthless in culling project leftovers. You are welcome to contact me off-list to organise a rummage.

A good source of plastic bottles is Wiltronics. They are about an hour out of Melbourne but we could find a way to get some of their small plastic reagant bottles delivered in time for your workshop ie http://www.wiltronics.com.au/catalogue/202047/science/bottles-reagent-polypropylene-and-hdpe/reagent-bottles-polypropylene/pp-reagent-bottle-narrow-mouth/polypropylene-reagent-bottle-60ml-narrow-mouth although others will chime in with Melbourne sources.

Cheers,

Mike

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[Chinmay Pendharkar]

Hey Andrew,

Thanks! This sounds really great. I was trying to connect with the NodeBots community for help with this. Please let me know what's the best way to reach out to them (email?). I would love to have some CampJS attendees who some experience with electronics to help me guide the teams, since it would be a little overwhelming for me to help 10 teams at one go. I have followed Anna Gerber, I'll try to contact her as well.

I'm planning to arrive on 20th May morning, so I have 20th and 21st to buy all the stuff and sort things out. If we could do some NodeBots related stuff during those days, or after CampJS (I'm around till 27th) it would be really great.

Thanks so much!

[Chinmay Pendharkar]

Thanks Mike for the info.

I fear handing over NiMH batteries to people who're hooking up their 1st breadboard. The last workshop we went through many many sets because some teams had shorts and kept draining their batteries. I might take you up on your trade discount, I'll email you off-list for that and for the rummage.

As for bottles, we just re-used soda, milk bottles for the workshop in Singapore, makes a lot more sense then buying nice bottles just to drill into them and cut them open. So I was thinking more of recycling center or such where we can rummage for old plastic bottles. Not sure how it work in Australia though.

Thanks!

-Chinmay

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[Anna Gerber]

Hi Chinmay,

I'm happy to help out at your workshop. The materials from the NodeBots at CampJS are a bunch of Arduino kits with electronics parts and breadboards. I can bring these if they are useful. I'm also flying (from Brisbane) so I can't bring many tools, but could probably fit a small soldering iron into my checked luggage.

Discount variety stores like DAISO or Kmart are a good source for the construction materials. You can also get small saws and cheap hobby knives etc there. Items at DAISO are $2.80 each. I've had success with using bits of pool noodles for floatation at other boat workshops.

Anna

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 7:49:58 PM UTC+10, Chinmay Pendharkar wrote:

[Andy Gelme]

hi Chinmay,

On 2015-04-30 13:38 , Chinmay Pendharkar wrote:
> I'm planning to arrive on 20th May morning

Each Wednesday evening (including 20th May) from 7 pm at the HackerSpace
we have a robotics / NodeBots session.

That'll be an ideal time to drop in (if you have time) and to get some
assistance. Meet some of the local NodeBots people. Perhaps one or two
who are going to CampJS may help you out.

The HackerSpace is within walking distance of the Glenferrie train
station, which is 5 stops from the city.

> I'm around till 27th

After the weekend, there are HackerSpace sessions on the evenings of the
25th, 26th and 27th.

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[Chinmay Pendharkar]

Thanks Anna! I can email you off-list for mode details about the workshop.

DIASO sounds like a good idea. That's where I got stuff for the workshop we did in Singapore too. 

Also, a long pool noodle might just be enough for most of our flotation needs.

-Chinmay

[Chinmay Pendharkar]

Awesome!

I'll add those to my schedule!

-Chinmay

[michael borthwick]

Hi Chinmay,

There are 120 off EN91 AA's waiting for you in a box in the pigeon holes at the Hackerspace.

All the best with the NodeBoats activity.

It will be interesting to find out what battery life you get with intermittent use at 600ma.

Mike

[Chinmay Pendharkar]

Thanks Mike!

I'll pick them up on Wednesday evening!

-Chinmay