CDL & Makers Day at InfoAge Mar. 15 & 16th

Yea! I have my blog post software working again! I'm now using Python, OAuth and Google's Blog API service to post. The AI generated code (down right scary too) is here: GBlog. Now I'll try to use this blog to post updates about what is going on at CDL. BTW, the GBlog code probably won't be too useful to others as I'm using it with a combination of bash, emacs lisp and python. I create an elisp personal journal a long time ago and have modified it slightly to work with this setup. I should post that code also.

What's going on is the Maker's Day at InfoAge (March 14-15, 2026). Since we're a Makerspace we'll be up and running both days. NJMakersDay.org. This is happening at InfoAge a week early because they have other events scheduled for that weekend.

What it is:

• A celebration of maker culture, maker spaces, and the values of making, tinkering, and learning.
• A collaborative effort involving public libraries, museums, schools, and businesses across New Jersey.

What Happens:

• Hands-On Activities: Events feature interactive projects like coding, robotics, 3D printing, circuit building, crafting, and design challenges.
• Community Focus: It aims to connect residents with local creators, innovators, and makerspaces.
• STEAM Integration: Promotes Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math through activities.

When & Where:

• Annual Event: Held each spring; the 2026 event is March 20-22.
• Statewide: Occurs at hundreds of locations, from local libraries to museums.

Why it's Important:

• Inspires Creativity: Showcases STEM and maker culture to the public.
• Builds Connections: Enhances community engagement and collaboration.
• Promotes Learning: Encourages innovation and hands-on experimentation.

Sample My Blog Post Title

This is a sample blog post with HTML content.

Introduction

This is a paragraph with bold text and italic text.

Features

• Support for HTML tags
• Easy to use command-line interface
• OAuth 2.0 authentication

Code Example

def hello_world():
    print("Hello, World!")

Thank you for reading!

Makerspace near me ... Can't find CDL

Hey! We're getting more members! Yes! But despite my efforts the search engines: DuckDuckGo, Bing and Google can't seem to find many Makerspaces near me (i.e. in NJ, Grrrr!). I get Rutger's Makespace (which is near me), sometimes I get Fubar and a lot of Makerspaces in NY City and Philadelphia, especially on the maps feature. As far as search engines go DuckDuckGo and Bing are horendous! I've added CDL/Computer Deconstruction Lab to Bing and Google, a ton a sites used for looking up makespaces. Many of the 'popular' sites are impossible to contact. The rest I've added us (CDL) in hope we'll be found. I'm gonna start working the Social Media sites and see if that helps. Wow that's a lot of work.

Now on to things that make more sense for a Makerspace! We've got the Taz Lulzbot printing pretty well. It might need a few more adjustments but it's working well. I've been working on my Monoprice Select Mini V1 (MP200). I've got the SCR added, the old bed taken off and I have the new parts to add. Matt started up the CNC and can operate the X, Y and Z. Pat has done some more work on the telescope. It's coming along rather nicely and work rather well. I'm adding the Arduino projects to the CompDecon Github projects. For now I'll stick to C (Arduino Env so C & C++) and Python 3. Later when we need to handle web pages I'll start working on teaching HTML, CSS and Javascript. I'm also looking to built a Telsa Coil, Jacobs Ladder, 'wireless' light (Tesla's wireless power), some Smart Home projects and more. The list grows but that's not a bad thing. :-)

We've got new additional hours, the Makerspace is now open on Sunday from 12 until 5PM in addition to our Monday 7 - 10PM hours. We're also opening on Oct 12^th & 13^th from 12 until 5PM.

What's happening at CDL? Sept/2022

Hmm, looks like the API broke so I'm doing this manually in the Blog editor. (OMG! ;-) )

Unusual summer in that most are quiet around CDL. We're usually spending a lot of time with our families, around the house and vacationing. This year we've done a few things in the lab also! We have a few new members and they've been visiting all summer. We've spent time getting the Lulzbot 3D printer working. Still need to get some glass and buildtac to address the huge scratch in the bed. We do have a few other 3D printers we're working on (Monoprice Mini, Tarantula, a delta and a home made RepRap clone we're going to run Klipper). The CNC machine has been a bit neglected but I'm hoping to resolve that later in the fall. We've been doing a lot of work on the InfoAge network. Improving Internet access and WiFi. Work on Security (cameras) and most exciting the CDL Meade LX200 12 " Telescope. We've improved how we move it about and we have a "crash cart" for the telescope. We're going to get a large battery (LFP) so we can power the scope and support longer. I'll be working on documenting what we've done and post pictures a bit later. Of course, More to come!

Let there be light - 2022-02-14

... so it started with I couldn't get the gate open. The lock box wouldn't budge so I couldn't get the key to open the gate. Fortunately Joe Wilkes showed up to unlock the gate. Since he's no longer on the CDL board he gave me the keys. I can now get in much easier, yea!

So once inside Joe, Pat and I were shooting the breeze. I remembered that someone donated a few fluorescent bulbs so I attempted to replace the dead bulbs. We now have a bit more lights working. I need at least 4 more T8 bulbs then all the light fixtures will have working lights.

While I futzed with the bulbs Pat was busy with the telescope. He did done some searching online and noted that we seemed to be missing a part but not an important part. While disassembling the transmission he discovered that our scope had a bearing that popped out which allowed the axle to flop around inside the transmission. He put the bearing back and gave it a quick test. Huge improvement, this time I got it on video. After some more adjustments Pat thinks he has it working as well as can be expected. There's a kit online that may be able to improve it's operation some more so we'll probably invest in that. Next week we might be able to take the scope outside and give it a go.

After the telescope Joe and Pat were asking questions about the 3D printers. Where to start, what software etc. That turned into a bit of a discussion on everything 3D. We closed up shop a bit earlier this week (10PM instead of 11PM). Pat will share with me his photos, Joe will send me his CNC Notes and I'll work on the 3D Printer Notes. I'll also work on a set of PI, Arduino and RP2040 notes. The makerspace is coming together quite well. Now it's time to bring up dues. We have to have a way of paying for this stuff.

Man on the moon ...

Just a quick note that CDL will be attending the VCF Swap Meet at Infoage on Saturday, February 26^th, InfoAge's Maker's Day on March 26^th, and we'll have our Learn to Solder at VCF East on Saturday and Sunday, April 23^rd & 24^th.

Last week (2/7) the CDL crew spent part of the night working on the 3D printer. So far we've managed to clean it up some (a ton of saw dust covers it). The heating bed has a scratch in it. Might cover it with some glass. We ran a few quick tests and found it needs bed leveling. And then we got distracted by the Meade LX200GPS Telescope. This is a monster telescope that we decide to clean up and test. Testing went well but we ran into a snag. The horizontal drive skips when the scope rotates and the weight gets out of balance. We found some notes on the scope that suggest it needs to be balanced but we found that it seems to skip at the slightest touch. So we're looking into that issue.

Tonight I'll be preparing for the VCF Swap Meet and testing the voltage on the DIY 3D printers as I have a new power supply to replace the PC power supply. Dan Jacobs spent part of the last week cleaning up the lab. Martin, Jeff, Doug and myself worked on more network infrastructure for Infoage.

CDL and MicroPython

As if I needed an excuse to play with different technologies (twist my pinky) ... A new person has asked if he can join the Computer Deconstruction Lab and learn about Python, HTML, CSS, Javascript and Linux. I said "Yes", basically this is one of our missions, teaching technology. We have an intro class for Python from Linux, Mac or Windows. But I also picked up a couple of RP2040's and a Adafruit Feather RP2040. The Feather already has MicroPython. I intend to use it to teach that programming and MicroPython isn't always in a resource rich environment like a desktop, laptop or Pi computer. It also looks like another member is interested in a Python class. So I'll work one up based on Joe Wilkes excellent class. I really should add some new classes, Joe did an Arduino (C/C++) class but we also need a Linux basics class. Additionally an HTML/CSS/JS class, that's a hard one as I'll need to get DOM straight in my head.

On the lines of Micropython (and C++, perhaps Rust) and the RP2040 boards, WIZnet invited me to a contest for their Raspberry Pi Pico or RP2040 based projects along with WIZnet’s hardwired TCP/IP technology boards. With all the projects I have TCF, CDL, and family, I'm going to be quite busy for some time so I decided to buy some boards rather than register for the contest. I'll now be able to play with the boards when I get some time. I have 2 Ethernet Hats for my 2 RP2040s and 2 WIZnet W5100S-EVB-Pico (Pico and Ethernet on one board). I also have a PIC32 Fubarino with the W5500 board (Temperature & Humidity sensing traffic light). A quick look at the reference project and I see that they have projects using MicroPython. Very cool!