The last year the makerspace has been branching out into some different ‘making’ areas, some of them leaning more towards the artistic side. We’ve always done a few more unusual times, like jelly art, but this year it seem like we’ve had a few more of the A things in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math).
Arranging glass to make different ornaments.
Last weekend we did a workshop for our members so we could learn more about glass fusing since the makerspace now has a small kiln. One of our teenage volunteers, Ty, had taken a glass fusing class in Indianapolis and wanted to see what we could learn/create by making some holiday ornaments with the materials and equipment we have at Castlemakers. He even volunteered to lead the workshop.
Glass ornaments made in our kiln
This is only the second time we’ve fired up the kiln, but we’re excited about the results! Some benefactors, along with the kiln, gave us a number of glass cutting and shaping tools and a selection of colored glass. They had used the setup for glass fusing and slumping, there also seems to be some things that can be used for stained glass. We’ve still got a lot to learn, but we’re thinking could become a general class in 2025. If you’re interested, sign up for our email distribution list or stop by the makerspace during Open Shop hours – we’re always glad to share what we’ve learned or learn from others…
On October 23rd we did our second Artificial Intelligence (AI) class at Castlemakers, focusing more on the uses of AI. In June we did a class on creating your own AI LLM on your own computer (which not only is a great way to learn about the technology but also addresses privacy concerns), but realized there was also interest in how it can be used.
One of the key points in the class, regardless of of the AI product you use (and we showed several), is phrasing the question. Putting together a scenario and asking the AI engine to report or behaving within context of the person or situation makes a real difference in the results. Ian, who utilizes AI and develops software, also demonstrated a system he made where you could input PDF or other documents that created a video podcast summary with 2 AI avatars discussing the results. It was kind of like Google’s Notebook LM on steroids.
If there’s interest in the future, we could put together another class on the subject, although the field is moving so rapidly we’d have new topics to cover. Next time we could perhaps even have AI teach the class!
A big part of our mission involves education and enabling people to learn and do things they didn’t realize they could do. That’s why we offer classes and workshops to others.
Sam W. goes over designing parts in Fusion 360.
It’s also about sharing knowledge with others. Being an all volunteer organization, we rely on not only our active members to share that knowledge but also others in the community. So when a CNC machinist who works in Terre Haute volunteered to teach a class in the software program he uses everyday, Fusion 360, we jumped at the opportunity. It turned out to be a great hands-on class on how to design parts and components in 3D – he offered to help the class attendees on their own design in the last hour of the class.
Do you have something you’d be willing or like to show others in our community? We’re glad to work with you put together a workshop or class, it’s something that we have done a lot over the last 10 years since Castlemakers first started as a ‘maker group’ and later turned into a makerspace. We’ve offered classes from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Welding – and an awful lot in between. Stop in during our Open Shop times or send us an email if you have something you’d like to share!
Temperatures in the 40’s meant the 2022 Putt Putnam County was literally our ‘coolest’ one yet!
This month started off with our 6th annual Putt Putnam County event, which is always exciting not only for those building a mini-golf hole but also the crowd played course down Franklin Street. This year was much colder than usual, but still fun for those that made it out to play the community built 12 hole course this year. We’ll be looking to increase the number next year, so start working on ideas now!
Becky and Chuck show off the yard birds they made in our Intro to Welding class.
We’ve also had several classes this month, including offering our first welding class where people could learn how to weld by making a yard bird! Troy Fiechter, one of our members & a talented artist/welder on his own, taught the basics of welding in the half-day class and then helped them to make their own yard art using a wide variety of different scrap parts and tools.
Our Tinkercad/3D Printing class was a good turnout and nice mix, combining interested locals and people that drove up from Linton, Indiana. Not the farthest someone’s driven to take one of our classes (Kokomo still holds that record), but nice to know that others appreciate our offerings. October also means we get to help out with Putnam County Public Library‘s Halloween Event, which we bring out one of our 3D printers to make bats, skulls, and other scary objects to give away to the kids that come there.
We’ve got a number of classes planned for November, including a Raspberry Pi configuration class this Wednesday and Learning to Solder class later in the month. Check out our learning / classes webpage for those & more.
This coming Wednesday, August 3rd, from 7-8:30 pm we’ll be putting on a solar system information session at Castlemakers. This no-charge presentation will briefly discuss general types of solar systems used in homes, then dive deeper into photovoltaic systems and solar panels. If there’s time, we’ll also talk briefly about how to determine solar potential at your location. If you’d like to read more, here’s a blog post that covers a session we did before.
We’ve started the new year by offering a CNC class and planning an exciting year of learning opportunities to help people with making & DIY skills. Next week on Jan 26th we’ll be doing a workshop on doing a Solar Assessment using PVWatts, part of the grant we received last year to create a solar awning and become an area resource for solar/photovoltaic energy. And watch for a more advanced CNC class that will focus on techniques that can be used to create signs and other objects out of wood, acrylic, and maybe with some patience even metal.
But we’re especially interested in what you’d like to learn about. Our classes are for and taught by people in the community. We’ll have a Fusion 360 (a design program) class in February and are planning to offer the Jelly Art class again this summer. But tell us what you’re interested in by email (classes-at-castlemakers.org) or stop by the makerspace sometime and let us know. If you have an interest in teaching something to others in the community, also let us know – we’d be glad to see if we can help offer it through Castlemakers!
It was great to be able to offer a Cricut/ electronic cutter class again before the upcoming holidays. We offered the class several years ago, actually before we had the current Cricut Maker at the makerspace.
Laurie showing some of the things that can be made with an electronic cutter.
The class covered the basics by making several gift bags and a holiday greeting card, although the makerspace machine can be used for lighter and heavier materials including fabric and even balsa wood. Laurie Hardwick, who has a history of creating all kinds of things with a Cricut, taught the class and did a phenomenal job – the things she brought in to show everyone were amazing.
If there’s interest, we can do another Cricut class after the first of the year. If you’d like to make more holiday items, be sure to check out our classes webpage for an upcoming lasercutter class where you can learn to make a holiday ornament.
This last week we offered something completely different – a class on making edible flowers in gelatin. “Jelly Art” is a popular technique in Asia using a syringe to inject natural ingredient colors into a clear gelatin base. With the proper needles and some patience, participants made some pretty amazing decorative gelatin art that they could take home to eat if they wanted.
Flower petals & leaves are made with natural ingredients that are injected into the special gelatin.
For all of us that had never done this before, it was surprisingly easy, although having someone demonstrate how to do it (and help if a mistake was made) was perhaps the most valuable part of the class. If you’re interested in the materials used, we’ve got a webpage for the class that explains the materials used in making the gorgeous flowers.
Special thanks to Weiwei for teaching the class & bringing all the materials to get it done in a 3 hour class. Should we offer another class like this in the future? Let us know!
Everyone showing their completed edible flowers that they made in the class.
Example flowers made in clear gelatin by students.
Castlemakers offered a Jelly Art class, taught by Weiwei Chao, in the fall of 2021 at the makerspace. If you’re interested in learning how to make edible gelatin flowers, we’ll be having another in the summer of 2022 when she’s back from Taiwan.
Jelly Art (sometimes called Gelatin Art) is made from a high quality gelatin with a few extra ingredients. Edible and colored liquids are injected in a clear gelatin base to create an artistic design, often flowers and leaves, to create an extremely impressive edible dessert. It is currently very popular to make these in Asia.
For the class Ms. Chao helped participants with the process of making one of these beautiful creations so that everyone got to take a flower they made home. The $40 cost for the 3 hour class included everything needed to make your own design. A list of ingredients are below.
Ingredients: Taiwanese made Konjac Jelly (Japanese vegetable jelly), Coconut cream, sugar, water, Butterfly pea flower powder, turmeric powder, purple sweet potato powder, Red yeast from rice, strawberry powder, green tea powder (Matcha).
Our 5/1 class on learning about micro:bit interfacing.
Last weekend we had our advanced micro:bit class that was cancelled last year due to Covid. Ian Girvan, one of our members, taught the class & everyone there learned a thing or two about the more advanced features of this IoT like device. The class was taught using v1.6 of the micro:bit, v2’s released last November are still almost impossible to find; versions are similar enough it doesn’t make a real difference.
Participants learned how to use a breakout board to connect lights, sound, & control a DC motor with a micro:bit. They even got the chance to use a light sensor & variable resistor as input to control a LED.
Our next class, coming up on May 29th, will be a ‘learning to solder’ class where folks make a little jitterbug robot that starts moving when the light sensor detects darkness. We’ll soon be adding a lot more light/solar projects and classes with some upcoming makerspace additions in the next few months.
