Rec and roll: Makerspace raising money for plasma cutter

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Recroll


What do you do after work? Lots of folks head to the gym. But a special group exercises their minds and hands at the Manchester Makerspace, 36 Old Granite Street, devising creative solutions with tools like lathes and 3-D printers.

The Makerspace summer fund drive needs to raise $26,000 to provide CNC (computer numerical control) and manual plasma cutting capabilities. Any excess will go toward supporting the organization’s non-profit missions.

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Board member Dan Perrinez wrote, “A CNC plasma cutter will give us the essential WOW factor we need to excite and draw interest and grow our community, and it gives us a greater ability to do more outreach.”

You can cut metal with a hand-held plasma torch, but making precision cuts by hand is impossible. A computer numerical control (CNC) cutter, a staple in parts manufacturing, carries a plasma torch over a table based on a programmed X-Y axis. Some systems can be controlled by the CNC or by hand.

Members share help and advice

Jason Martin is a tech manager who is “two levels removed” from the actual work. He said, “I love the access to other members and what they know, sharing help and advice.”

At Makerspace, he is not removed at all from the members’ projects. He added, “Here I have access to way cooler tools than I have at home.” He participates in metal working, welding, and auto mechanics, and teaches 3-D modeling software. Martin is secretary for the board of the nonprofit organization.

The converted mill building has spaces for woodworking, metalworking, electronics, and rapid prototyping, plus a bay for automotives There are 3-D printers and a plasma cutter.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fwSoVpg5WU]

In addition to the specialized work spaces, the Makerspace has a public room that members use for meetups like board game makers, PineSec (IT security), Python programming language, and cosplay costume makers.

Learn more and join

cropped LaserableLogoMakerspace has an open house every Monday from 6 to 8 p.m.  New members are welcome to expand the base of 50 members. A subscription is $65 per month with a 10 percent discount for students, veterans, and seniors. Members receive a 24/7 access key. Storage lockers cost $25 per quarter, and plot rentals are available, priced on square footage. The nonprofit Manchester Makerspace opened in 2016. It is run by volunteers.

Group supports nonprofit missions

“Over the past nine months alone we have interacted over 600 times with teachers, students, veterans, and entrepreneurs. We shared knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) software and computer numerically controlled (CNC) tools such as 3-D printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, and milling machines.’

“The Makerspace exists to lower barriers of access for our community, and owning large/expensive pieces of equipment like a CNC plasma cutter fulfill our purpose in a more significant way than most tools people can find in a garage workshop.”

 

 

 

 

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