Category: CMS Public Newsletter

  • New Virtual Learning Classes!

    Makers,

    Next week join us for two new virtual learning classes: On Friday, June 26th from 6 – 8 PM we have How to Reupholster a Car, Boat, or Motorcycle Seat: Virtual Learning (register here) & on Sunday, June 28th from 11 am – 1 pm, we have Bookkeeping and Record Keeping 101 – Virtual Learning (register here).

    Both classes are presented free of charge & more information can be found by following the registration links.

    Virtual Sumo Bot Competition.

    Join us for the bracket – based Virtual Sumo Competition (register here) live on June 21st, following the Nashua Robot Builders Meeting (some point after 7:15 PM, more info here.) By registering you will be able to watch the competition! Virtual prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

    Share Your Skills With The Community

    We are looking to bring more online learning opportunities to the Claremont Makerspace community. Would you like to share your skill or lead a project? Please email brendan@claremontmakerspace.org to learn how.

    Personal Studio Spaces

    CMS has personal studio spaces available for rental. While all departments of the CMS offer shared workspace, CMS Personal Studio Spaces provide personal work areas for dedicated users to call their own. Personal studio spaces are made up of 48″ dividers and come in sizes of 60 sq/ft and 100 sq/ft , with each studio including 2 power outlets and an Ethernet jack. Studio Members may fit up their studios however they wish (as long as it’s all code compliant and respectful of others). To learn more about Personal Studio Spaces & availability, click here.

    What have you been working on? 

    Have a cool project that you’ve been working on at home? Please share it with us! Our community is excited to learn about how people are keeping busy and creative during this downtime. Please share pictures and stories with us, by emailing info@twinstatemakerspaces.org and join us on our online community board.

    Be Well & Happy Makin,’

    The Claremont MakerSpace Team

  • Chemistry in Your Kitchen!

    Makers,

    This Friday, join us for some fun science experiments you can do from home in Chemistry in Your Kitchen.  Follow along with the New Hampshire Academy of Science to explore the chemistry of some of the everyday objects in your home. Learn to measure pH without an expensive meter or hazardous chemicals. Analyze marker ink so you can conduct your own forensic investigation of who drew all over the bill left on the table. Investigate some of the chemistry behind marshmallow roasting, and learn how to pass hidden messages at your next campfire!

    This is a virtual class. This class is free, but registration is required. A link to the online portion will be provided following registration. Suggested age group for this class is grades  6 – 8, but everyone with an interest for fun science is encouraged to sign up! This class will happen Friday, June 12th at 1 PM. Register for this class here.

    Beginner Zentangle

    Wednesday, June 17th 6 – 8 PM

    Zentangle® is a simple-to-learn method to create beautiful art by drawing simple patterns. The process is a mindful and meditative art form that some use to enhance creativity, increase focus, or just to relax. In this class, participants will learn philosophy, method, and approach to creating Zentangle art. Students will put pen to paper and learn to tangle beautiful patterns on small square paper tiles. All materials will be provided by the instructor in class. If you can draw a line and very basic shapes, you can create beautiful work! No artistic experience is required, but artists looking to incorporate something new into their practice are welcome.

    Virtual Sumo Bot Competition

    Let’s face it – it might be a while before we can return to hand to hand combat – so why not have a robot do your bidding for you? Meet The Sumo Bot, a maniacal battler of brute force and binary. Two bots shall enter the ring, only one will leave victorious. Will it be yours?

    Robots can be coded using blockly which is easy-to-use block-based coding or Javascript.  Anyone can enter the competition by creating an account and building code on the http://roboton.io/ site.  We will also be holding coding hang out sessions on May 26th (register here) and June 7th (register here), from 6 – 8 PM. If you are newbie, this is will be a great opportunity to start learning. 

    Please register for all events if you plan on attending and/ or participating.

    Join us for the bracket – based Virtual Sumo Competition (register here) live on June 21st, following the Nashua Robot Builders Meeting (some point after 7:15 PM, more info here.) By registering you will be able to watch the competition! Virtual prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place..

    Share Your Skills With The Community

    We are looking to bring more online learning opportunities to the Claremont Makerspace community. Would you like to share your skill or lead a project? Please email brendan@claremontmakerspace.org to learn how.

    What have you been working on? 

    Have a cool project that you’ve been working on at home? Please share it with us! Our community is excited to learn about how people are keeping busy and creative during this downtime. Please share pictures and stories with us, by emailing info@twinstatemakerspaces.org and join us on our online community board.

    Be Well & Happy Makin,’

    The Claremont MakerSpace Team

  • Our Favorite Birds: Virtual K – 12 Art Class

    Makers,

    Next week, CMS shop lead and instructor Allison Zito will be offering a week long virtual class for ages K – 12, Our Favorite Birds.

    In this multi-session class, students will use a variety of mediums to recreate their favorite birds. We will draw, paint and use pastels to make renderings of our most cherished avian friends.  At the end of the class, students may digitally submit their pictures to the Mass Audubon museum exhibit. 

    This class will meet 12 – 1 PM, June 8 – 11th.

    This class is free, but registration is required.  Learn more here. 

    Starting next week, learn how to code a virtual Sumo Bot for our upcoming competition on June 21st and on Saturday join us for Setting Up Your First Website. Learn more about both of these events below!

    Virtual Sumo Bot Competition

    Let’s face it – it might be a while before we can return to hand to hand combat – so why not have a robot do your bidding for you? Meet The Sumo Bot, a maniacal battler of brute force and binary. Two bots shall enter the ring, only one will leave victorious. Will it be yours?

    Robots can be coded using blockly which is easy-to-use block-based coding or Javascript.  Anyone can enter the competition by creating an account and building code on the http://roboton.io/ site.  We will also be holding coding hang out sessions on May 26th (register here) and June 7th (register here), from 6 – 8 PM. If you are newbie, this is will be a great opportunity to start learning. 

    Please register for all events if you plan on attending and/ or participating.

    Join us for the bracket – based Virtual Sumo Competition (register here) live on June 21st, following the Nashua Robot Builders Meeting (some point after 7:15 PM, more info here.) By registering you will be able to watch the competition! Virtual prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

    Setting Up Your First Website

    Saturday, June 6th, 10 AM

    As a maker, a website is crucial to show your skills or sell your wares. People will find you, get to know you, and buy your stuff. In this class, you’ll learn how websites work, the steps to set up your own website using WordPress, how best to show off your craft online, and even how to sell them.

    This class is presented free of charge, but registration is required. This class will be presented online, you will receive the access link after registration. Register for this class here.

    On Instructor Corey Maas:

    Corey Maass is a full-stack web developer with a love for creativity, entrepreneurship and “building stuff” both on and off the web. He currently lives in Plainfield, New Hampshire.

    Share Your Skills With The Community

    We are looking to bring more online learning opportunities to the Claremont Makerspace community. Would you like to share your skill or lead a project? Please email brendan@claremontmakerspace.org to learn how.

    What have you been working on? 

    Have a cool project that you’ve been working on at home? Please share it with us! Our community is excited to learn about how people are keeping busy and creative during this downtime. Please share pictures and stories with us, by emailing info@twinstatemakerspaces.org and join us on our online community board.

    Be Well & Happy Makin,’

    The Claremont MakerSpace Team

  • Claremont MakerSpace Update – Limited Operations v2.0

    Dear Makers

    We are pleased to be writing to inform you that effective Monday May 18th, we will be entering limited operations v2.0 status.  Here is a summary of what has changed. You can find the complete policy and procedures regarding access to the Claremont MakerSpace during this period on our website.

    Partial Access to MakerSpace being implemented.

    As makers that engage in the act of manufacturing (making things), the Claremont MakerSpace will be implementing, on a trial basis, the rules applicable to the manufacturing sector of the economy described in Exhibit C of Governor Sununu’s Executive Order #40 (“Stay at Home 2.0”).

    Makers will be able to self-certify their status as part of the essential manufacturing sector by navigating to the members only section of the Claremont MakerSpace website to review, and accept the terms and conditions for access to the Claremont MakerSpace during this period, and self certify.

    Pursuant to the rules attached to this email, our first step will be to provide a 25 hour per week period for access to the Claremont MakerSpace, from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday.  Based upon what we learn from this updated status and our interaction with local and state authorities, we will modify these hours in the coming weeks.  Our hope is that we will be able to expand these hours.

    Please read the enclosed rules for access to the MakerSpace, as they are for everybody’s safety including your own.

    Financial Hardship Scholarship is being launched

    We are very happy to report that we have funding that will be made available to subsidize members who have experienced severe financial hardship – including involuntary loss of employment or income as a result of COVID-19.  We will be providing more information on this in the near future.

    Remote Education being launched at no charge

    We miss having you all at classes at the MakerSpace, but we do not anticipate being able to run them until we can safely assemble again in groups.  In the meantime, we have been working with our instructors to launch remote education, and look forward to providing maker opportunities at a safe distance.  With the help of our donor community, these remote classes will be free for the next couple of months.

    Although these are socially distant and extra cautious measures, we look forward to slowly welcoming you back to making and manufacturing at the Claremont MakerSpace. Thank you for being part of our community.

    If you have any questions or problems accessing the Members Only Section to self certify or schedule time in a shop or on a tool, please contact us at info@ClaremontMakerSpace.org.

    Claremont MakerSpace Limited Operations v2.0 Access Policy

  • Online Classes at CMS!

    Makers,

    We wish you continued well being during this time. We are moving towards offering online educational experiences at CMS, including Beginner Zentangle, next Wednesday, May 20th at 2 PM. Registration information can be found here. 

    “Zentangle® is a simple-to-learn method to create beautiful art by drawing simple patterns. The process is a mindful and meditative art form that some use to enhance creativity, increase focus, or just to relax. In this class, participants will learn philosophy, method, and approach to creating Zentangle art. Students will put pen to paper and learn to tangle beautiful patterns on small square paper tiles. All materials will be provided by the instructor in class. If you can draw a line and very basic shapes, you can create beautiful work! No artistic experience is required, but artists looking to incorporate something new into their practice are welcome.”

    This class is free, but space is limited. Please register soon, if you plan on attending.

    We are looking to bring more online learning opportunities to the Claremont Makerspace community. Would you like to share your skill or lead a project? Please email brendan@claremontmakerspace.org to learn how.

    What have you been working on? 

    Have a cool project that you’ve been working on at home? Please share it with us! Our community is excited to learn about how people are keeping busy and creative during this downtime. Please share pictures and stories with us, by emailing info@twinstatemakerspaces.org and join us on our online community board.

    The below picture comes from a headboard made by CMS wood shop lead Dave Lucier.

  • Another Way You Can Help

    Attention Makers:

    Our friends at Cole-Tac have recently switched their operations to making gowns and face masks to help with the PPE shortage due to COVID-19.  Although they have an abundance of supplies and the ability to cut designs, their bottleneck is sewing the face masks. They currently have identified a need of over 5000 masks.If you own a sewing machine you can help! Cole-tac is bundling material in lots to produce 25 masks. The material is cut and only needs the final assembly.

    They have also streamlined the sewing so it only takes around 5 minutes to produce a mask. Check out their step by step video here.

    If you’d like to help out please email Dustin at dustin@coletac.com to coordinate picking up materials at their Newport facility. 

    Thanks, Be well & Keep on Makin

  • Update from the Claremont MakerSpace

    Hello Maker Community,

    We hope this email finds you well and that you are finding ways to keep being creative.

    As of March 28th, 2020 TwinState MakerSpaces has moved to limited operations at the Claremont MakerSpace.  During this time access to the premises will be restricted to staff and certain individuals engaged in essential activities as that term is defined by the State of New Hampshire.

    This is a temporary action that we feel is necessary to play our part as good citizens in limiting the spread of this dangerous illness.

    We look forward to coming out on the other side of this national emergency as a stronger, more connected and more resilient community.  Please join and be active on our Community Forums at discourse.claremontmakerspace.org so that we can continue inspiring and supporting each other during this difficult period. We want to hear from you, we want to see what you are making and we want you to be part of the Maker Community in exile.

    We have been constantly amazed by the dedication of our supporters, donors, volunteers, and everyone’s passion, talent and creativity and we look forward to the time when we can all gather together again at the Claremont MakerSpace and celebrate this amazing community.   Until then, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@twinstatemakerspaces.org, or on facebook or our forums with any questions, or just to say hi and let us know what you are working on.

    TwinState MakerSpaces, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and during this difficult time we need your support. If you are able, please consider making a donation to support our important mission and enable us to continue supporting work on essential projects. Your support will also help us emerge from this crisis with the resources necessary to continue to grow the Claremont MakerSpace.

     Please, if you can, make a donation on our website.

    Be safe, stay healthy and keep makin’,

    The Claremont MakerSpace Team

  • Be Part of the Solution

    Hello Maker Community,

    We hope this email finds you well and coping with home schooling, social distancing and an early spring bout of snow.

    We want to share with you some more information on how you can be part of the community of innovative people trying to help put their talents, skills and resources to use as part of the solution.

    • You can put your spare computer resources to use to help researchers find treatments that can have an impact on how COVID-19 impacts people.  For many years a dedicated team of researchers have been running a massive distributed computing project to simulate protein folding to find cures and therapies for a diseases such as Alzheimers and Cancer .  They have recently prioritized their efforts on finding solutions to COVID-19. The point is to generate the data necessary to discover treatments that can have an impact on how this virus affects humanity. The Folding@home software allows you to share your unused computer power with them, so they can research cures and treatments for COVID-19. While you are working from home, why not put your office computer or unused server or part of your home computer to work.

      The Claremont MakerSpace has dedicated all of our spare computer resources to this task, and we encourage you to do so too.  If you want to join our team, we’re team #247608

      You can find information about the project in the following locations:
      The Folding@home website

      Hackaday has two detailed articles explaining the project and how to download, install and configure on your computer. Remember, if you want to join the Claremont MakerSpace Folding@home team, we’re team #247608.

       Hackaday March 18, 2020 and a followup article from March 22, 2020

    • Join the new Claremont MakerSpace Community Forums. We’re hoping that this can be a resource for local makers to coordinate efforts, share ideas, inspiration and projects for groups and organizations that need help. You can create an account on the new CMS Community Forums using your google account, or Facebook.  

      Claremont MakerSpace Members should select “with LDAP” when you create an account, and then use your the same username and password that you use for Claremont MakerSpace network computing account (your username will be your.name. If you need to reset your CMS network computing password, you can do so at https://claremontmakerspace.org/membersonly/#myaccount)

       
    • Follow us on Facebook.  We’ve been posting information on projects and ideas that other MakerSpaces are working on and information on projects you can undertake right now and make a difference. We’re also posting regular updates on designs and requests from the medical community on what they need, and how they would prefer they are designed and delivered.

       
    • Plan C From Maker Space From Make: – Learn how a grassroots uprising of makers, engineers and others are creating a backup plan for the backup plan for COVID-19. This is about the people and projects of Plan C from Maker Space.
    • Mighty Small is a NH initiative to connect people with downtown businesses that are offering unique and inventive ways to access goods and services.  The site includes a Resource and Adaptation Guide strategies to help businesses navigate the current crisis.

     Be safe, be healthy and keep makin’,

    The Claremont MakerSpace Team

  • How you can help

    Makers, In this difficult time you can put your skills, time and energy to use helping the community get through this.

    • Sew Face Masks:  Supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers are being seriously strained.  As the COVID-19 case count increases, this will become an ever increasing problem.  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is asking for donations of home made fabric face masks.   You can help right now by donating your time and skills.   More information is available here on the Dartmouth-Hitchcock website.
    • Help crowdsource Repair Information for Hospital Equipment: iFixit is building a central resource for maintenance and repair of hospital equipment. This is an attempt to centralize all the documentation and resources necessary to keep these life saving machines operating and to help the biomedical technicians who service them working as efficiently as possible when machines need repair.
       
    • Digital Fabricators (3D printers, CNC plasma torch operators, CNC router operators): There’s a need for 3D printed parts including ventilator valves and reusable face masks as well as other fabricated parts.  We are still investigating what specifically hospitals in the region are asking for or will be asking for in the near future and what the best design solutions are.  In the meantime, if you are interested in helping, please contact ryan@claremontmakerspace.org who has offered to help coordinate this effort.

     Other resources and information:

    • If your business is impacted by this crisis, the Upper Valley Business Alliance has information about current resources available for regional businesses. 
    • if you’re hungry and looking for a place to get takeout, here’s a list from the Upper Valley Business Alliance ofUpper Valley Restaurants that are offering delivery and curbside pickup options.   
    • The Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce has a list with information about local businesses, special hours and programs. 
       

    Additional Maker resources coming soon:The Claremont MakerSpace will be setting up a website where members of the community can share ideas, designs, materials and support. Look for information on that shortly.

    Be healthy and keep makin’ 
    The Claremont MakerSpace Team

  • How you can help – Face Masks

    How to Make a Face Mask

    Thank you for donating your skills and your time to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health! Due to COVID-19 one of our greatest needs is to increase our supply of Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”). According to the CDC, volunteers can help increase our supply of PPE by making fabric face masks, which are usable in a crisis response when necessary.

    Read First: Infection Prevention

    Please answer these questions for yourself:

    1. EXPOSURE: “Have you been in contact with anyone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days?” 
    1. SYMPTOMS: “Do you have fever, cough, or shortness of breath?”

    If “no” to EXPOSURE and SYMPTOMS, then proceed with making masks. 

    If “yes” to EXPOSURE and/or “yes” to SYMPTOMS, please do not make any masks. If you are experiencing cough, fever or shortness of breath and have concern that this might be COVID-19, please call your primary care provider for a risk assessment. If you do not have a primary care provider, please call the state at: NH: 2-1-1, VT: 802-863-7240.

    Practice good hand hygiene when making your masks! Wash your hands whenever you start and end a sewing session. In addition, we will wash all masks when they arrive at our facility.

    Guidelines for Making Face Masks

    Materials:

    100% unused cotton fabric (front) – no metallic fabrics

    100% cotton or cotton flannel (back)

    ¼” or 3/8” flat elastic

    You may provide your own fabric or pick up a kit with all needed materials (except thread) from us. Please see: “Connect with Us” below.

    How to Make a Face Mask

    A video and instructions for making the masks can be found at this website (thank you to the Turban Project and Deaconess Health System). We strongly recommend watching the very helpful video from Deaconess. For your convenience, we’ve listed the instructions here as well.

    (Note: the instructions list two sizes, Adult and Child. We would recommend making adult-sized masks primarily. If possible, making a few larger Adult masks would be helpful as well, simply by adding an inch to the cut fabric.)

    1. Put right sides of cotton fabric together. Cut 9 x 6 (Adult) or 7.5 x 5 (Child) or 10 x 7 (Lg. Adult).
    2. Starting at the center of bottom (long) edge, sew to the first corner, stop. Sew the elastic into the corner. A few stitches forward and back will hold this.
    3. Sew to the next corner, stop, and bring the other end of that same elastic to the corner and sew a few stitches forward and back.
    4. Now sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again put an elastic in the corner.
    5. Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic.
    6. Sew across the bottom leaving about 1.5” to 2” open. Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out.
    7. Pin 3 tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are in the same direction.
    8. Sew around the edge of the mask twice. 

    Connect with Us

    Once your masks are made, you may drop them off in bulk in resealable plastic bags at our donation center located at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Service Center, Green Warehouse, 50 LaBombard Road North, Lebanon, NH. Drop-off items will be accepted 7:00am to 3:30pm, Monday through Friday, and 9:00am to 2:30pm, Saturday and Sunday.

    If you would like a kit, please call ahead for availability to the donation center hotline at 603-650-4217. This number is open M-F 7 AM to 3:30 PM.

    Thank you again for your generosity. If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Roth at kristin.a.roth@hitchcock.org.