Introduction to Wood Shop is a two-part course in the essentials of a functional woodshop and general woodworking.
This course includes an overview of woodworking technique, safe tool operation and maintenance and will culminate in hands-on experience on shop tools while participants work through select projects.
No experience necessary.
Looking to create handmade gifts for someone special? Come learn basic jewelry fabrication and metal-etching techniques to design and create unique and beautiful jewelry.
Hangout and make some noise, maybe record things, trade PCBs, talk shop. Bring some newbies to learn the ropes. 2nd Thursday of each month. 7-9pm.
Looking to create hand-made gifts for someone special? Come learn basic jewelry fabrication and fold forming techniques to design and create unique and beautiful jewelry.
Are you Intrigued by A.I.? Does A.I. Scare you? Do you want A.I. to write your next term paper? Come hang out and talk about the implementation and implications of this rapidly advancing field. Every 3rd Thursday at Idea Fab Labs. 6-8pm Co-sponsored by Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
Are you stoked on circuits? Hyped on high frequencies? Maybe just looking for a space to collaborate on your electronics projects with other people? Come to the electronics meetup! Fourth Thursday every month, 7-9 pm. Free and open to the public.
Brief Explanation: The laser cutter and engraver uses a drawing program to tell it what to do. A CO2 laser can cut and engrave wood, leather, some plastics, cotton, paper, even bread! It’s not strong enough to cut glass or metal, though it can etch glass and coatings on metal such as anodization or paint.
How it works: It uses a focused beam of light to burn through wood or other materials. It can cut all the way through or just engrave the surface. It is good at very detailed cuts and engravings.
What it makes: It is used to make engravings of images, signs, boxes, sculptures and more. A CO2 laser can cut and engrave wood, leather, some plastics, cotton, and paper!
Redsail 1290 Laser cutting & engraving machine
GWEIKE LC1390 Laser cutting & engraving machine
Brief Explanation: The 3D printer builds objects by “printing” out one layer at a time, using a 3D model as a guide.
How it works: It is essentially a tiny hot glue gun, that squeezes out melted plastic and draws a single layer of an object, then moves up a tiny bit, and draws the second layer on top of the first layer, and on and on.
What it makes: Mostly small plastic items such as toys, containers, replacements parts, and more.
2 x Prusa i3 Mk3
3D Systems Sense 3D Scanner
Brief Explanation: The ShopBot is a computer controlled router that can cut or carve wood. It can cut up to a 4ft by 14ft piece of wood. We can use a drawing program, or we can send it a 3D model in order to tell it what to do.
How it works: It uses stepper motors to move the router through the x, y, and z axis system. A router is like a drill bit, but it is designed to move sideways through wood as well as up and down.
What it makes: It can be used to make furniture: chairs tables, desks, kitchen cabinets. Also large signs, 3D carvings, and more.
