FREE April Tool Trainings at the Fab Lab
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Katie Gradowski
Apr 1, 2018, 3:16:43 PM4/1/18
to Sprout Discuss
FREE workshops with Parts and Crafts in Javascript, lasercutting, and CNC routing
We are running a series of FREE workshops -- 3 sessions each, covering design, tool setup, and hands-on practice -- to introduce people to our basic toolset. Drop in or take both sessions to get your tool certification.
Intro to Lasercutting: 3 sessions
Learn how to use a high-powered laser to cut and etch different types of materials, including acrylic, wood, and fabric. This is a three-session tool training designed to give people an introduction to use this tool safely for your own projects.
- Design with Inkscape: Tuesday April 3, 6:30 - 8 pm. Wednesday April 4, 6:30 - 8 pm. Whether your're creating ornaments, making your own signs, or etching a picture, the first step to using the lasercutter is being able to set up the file. Our first class will be an introduction to Inkscape, an open source tool that is one of the main platforms we use to design for the lasercutter. REGISTER HERE
- Setting up the Tool: Tuesday April 10, 6:30-8 pm. Set up a file and send it to cut! We'll go over speed and power settings for etching glass, cutting plywood, etching acrylic, and more. Participants will have an opportunity to experiment with different materials and go over basic safety practices that are required to use the lasercutter independently. REGISTER HERE
- Fun Stuff: Lasercut Jigsaw Puzzles: Tuesday April 24, 6:30-8 pm. Design a puzzle for the lasercutter using collage materials, or bring a picture and make your own! If you have an independent project that is ready to cut, we'll send it to the lasercutter and you can take it home with you. REGISTER HERE
Intro to ShopBot: 3 sessions
The ShopBot is a CNC router that can be used for larger-scale woodworking projects such as sign-making and furniture design. CNC routers can be used for a variety of carpentry work. This is a three-session tool training designed to give people an introduction to use this tool safely for your own projects.
Intro to Programming: 3 sessions- Design with VCarve Pro: Wednesday April 4, 6:30-8 pm. Learn how to design and set up a 2D file to cut with the ShopBot. This workshop will focus on drawing and layout in VCarve Pro, including tool demos and workflow, with the goal of getting people set up with a file that they can cut. REGISTER HERE
- Setting up the Tool: Wednesday April 11, 6:30-8 pm. Overview of toolpaths, router bit selection, and basic safety procedures for setting up the ShopBot to cut a file. Import your file from VCarve to ShopBot control software and learn how to safely set up your workspace. REGISTER HERE
- Fun Stuff: Design a Cutting Board: Wednesday April 25, 6:30-8 pm. Use the ShopBot to make something practical for your kitchen! Participants with independent projects will have an opportunity to design and cut their work. Build something and take it home with you! REGISTER HERE
Three short one-shot introductory workshops in computer programming using Javascript, the programming language that runs in your web browser and controls the front-end of most web-software. Each workshop is a self-contained introduction designed to give students who aren't familiar with programming a sense of what coding is, how it's done, and what it can do.
- Drawing Data in Javascript: Thursday April 5, 6:30 - 8 pm. Learn to read information data from a data-set and use it to draw to a screen and create simple data visualizations. REGISTER HERE
- Manipulating Text in Javascript: Thursday April 12, 6:30-8 pm. Learn to read, write, manipulate, and analyze text using code. REGISTER HERE
- Programming Interactivity in Javascript: Thursday April 26, 6:30-8 pm. Learn to take input from the mouse and keyboard and use it to control what's on the screen. REGISTER HERE
All classes start at 6:30 sharp. Participants are welcome to arrive early and we encourage people to leave some extra time to find parking and locate the Fab Lab!
Girls’ Invention Week!
June 25-29 (1 week), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
Fabville Open Shop!
Monday - Thursday
83 Highland Ave
The Fab Lab is open to the public Monday through Thursday. It is FREE and anyone is allowed to come! You do not have to be a Somerville Public School student or even live in Somerville. Open shop hours are as follows:
- Monday: 3-5:30
- Tuesday: 3-5:30
- Wednesday: 3-8 pm
- Thursday: 3-8 pm
Where are you located? FabVille is located on the far east side of the Somerville High school campus (library side). To get to the Fab Lab, enter near the gym and go down the stairs to your right, turn left and head to the end of the hallway. We're at the very end of the Voc Ed department, last door on the right.
Who can come? Anyone is welcome, but the Fab Lab is primarily geared toward late middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults. It's a professional toolset, and there's less of the "pull something out and build it!" that we have at Parts and Crafts. Kids 13 and under should plan to come with a grown-up.
Does it cost anything? All classes and workshops are offered free of charge. This includes advanced classes like Arduino robotics, lasercutting and 3D printing, and materials for small-scale manufacturing.
Who runs the Fab Lab? The Fab Lab is run by the City of Somerville in partnership with Parts and Crafts, a kid workshop and community makerspace located at 577 Somerville Ave. To find out more about our programs, visit www.partsandcrafts.org.
Registration is open for Parts and Crafts Summer Camp!
Girls’ Invention Week!
June 25-29 (1 week), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
$325/session. REGISTER HERE
A week of building and taking apart and experimenting and playing! We’ll have our electronics workbench, craft table, hot glue, cardboard, computer lab, and lots of great projects and activities! This session is open just for girls, as a safe space and a warm introduction to what we’re about!
Music and Mechanisms
July 2-13 (2 weeks), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
Music and Mechanisms
July 2-13 (2 weeks), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
$650/session. REGISTER HERE
A week to make motion and movement and music of all kinds – accoustic and electronic, simple and complex, tuneful and noisy. We’ll also build machines, play games,draw pictures, go on hikes, program computers, build circuits, hang out and have a blast! No camp on the 4th of July.
Science and Spectacle
July 16-27 (2 weeks), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
A week to make motion and movement and music of all kinds – accoustic and electronic, simple and complex, tuneful and noisy. We’ll also build machines, play games,draw pictures, go on hikes, program computers, build circuits, hang out and have a blast! No camp on the 4th of July.
Science and Spectacle
July 16-27 (2 weeks), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
$650/session. REGISTER HERE
Come explore the hidden science behind everyday and not-so-everyday phenomenon – fascinating demonstrations of physics, light, and movement. We’ll make kinetic sculptures, sound waves, gels, goo’s and more!
Imaginary Worlds
July 30 – August 10 (2 weeks), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
Come explore the hidden science behind everyday and not-so-everyday phenomenon – fascinating demonstrations of physics, light, and movement. We’ll make kinetic sculptures, sound waves, gels, goo’s and more!
Imaginary Worlds
July 30 – August 10 (2 weeks), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
$650/session. REGISTER HERE
Sometimes creativity is designing a clever linkage or solution to a programming problem, and sometimes it’s inventing a magic spell or a fascinating creature. We’ll design alien worlds and alien life and make movies about them, play games and tell stories.
Life: Natural and Artificial
August 13 – 24 (2 weeks), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
Sometimes creativity is designing a clever linkage or solution to a programming problem, and sometimes it’s inventing a magic spell or a fascinating creature. We’ll design alien worlds and alien life and make movies about them, play games and tell stories.
Life: Natural and Artificial
August 13 – 24 (2 weeks), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
$650/session. REGISTER HERE
Robots and wildlife! We’ll make autonomous robots and program computers to simulate living things and then we’ll go outside, explore the urban ecosystem, garden, hike around Somerville gathering wild edible plants and cook ourselves a snack!
Robots and wildlife! We’ll make autonomous robots and program computers to simulate living things and then we’ll go outside, explore the urban ecosystem, garden, hike around Somerville gathering wild edible plants and cook ourselves a snack!
Registration is open for April Vacation Week!
April Vacation Week!
April 16 – 20 (1 week), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
April 16 – 20 (1 week), 9-3 pm (early and late care available)
$350/week. REGISTER HERE
See our sliding scale page for more information about sliding-scale pricing.
Spring is here! Celebrate the end of winter with a week of making! This week typically coincides with Rocket Day (on a Saturday), sculpture building, and the Cambridge Science Festival for piles of DIY goodness. Register for a full week or for individual days.
Spring is here! Celebrate the end of winter with a week of making! This week typically coincides with Rocket Day (on a Saturday), sculpture building, and the Cambridge Science Festival for piles of DIY goodness. Register for a full week or for individual days.
Stop by Saturday Open Shop!
Every Saturday from 12-2 pm
@ Parts and Crafts, 577 Somerville Ave
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