[Swansea Hackspace] One day our space will be as wild as this

Fri Nov 21 14:08:04 GMT 2014

I would just like to second that…

Setting up communities is hard and take a lot of dedication and time, all of course unpaid.

As much as criticism is useful it can also be demoralising, so balance is always useful :)

I think you have all dome a terrific job so far and in as much as TechHub can help address some of the issues (access is a pain for us all in the building and is something you could all help resolve btw :) ). It can be hard to listen to complaints, but it is always better to face them and deal with them than ignore them in any way. The entire building is very new and needs lots of feedback, good and bad.

I have 3 x raspberry Pi on order for some digital signage and some monitors to put up. Perhaps we can organise a “ideas for techhub access system” workshop? Esp. as we now have some hardware to base it upon. 

I am thinking of buying a thumb scanning system which would unlock doors - but not set alarms. What are your thoughts on that? Only fob holders would be able to unset/set alarms.

Parking is a vey bad situation here. I would encourage everyone to utilise park tawe for a short stop (<2 hours I think).

Cheers!

— Paul

> On 21 Nov 2014, at 13:54, Gerrit Niezen <gerrit.niezen at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Emyr, e-mails like yours make all the effort in finding a location for and setting up the hackspace worth it! :) A number of people worked hard to get it up and running.
> 
> I looked at the CCC Munich photos and don’t think we’re too far off:
> - Specific area for drinks storage (with Club-Mate, yum! We need those in our fridge :)
> - Well-organised tubs for electronic components (just like our setup)
> - RepRap 3D printer (hey, we’ve got one too!)
> - well-organised tools area (hey, we’ve got those too!)
> - well-stocked library area (hey, we’ve got one too!)
> - sewing machine (we need one!)
> - key cutter (not sure why we’d need one!)
> - warning/usage signs (hey, we’ve got those too!)
> - arcade machine (there’s one on the second floor!)
> - signs with flashing lights (hmm, we need more of those!)
> 
> If our membership increases, we should be able to afford a bigger and better space.
> 
> Cheers,
> Gerrit
> 
>> On 21 Nov 2014, at 13:42, Emyr Morris <em at preseli.com <mailto:em at preseli.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> I for one think the space is awesome - I am so pleased it is up and running and dead pleased to be a member of it.
>> 
>> I look at the Hackaday features of other hacker / maker spaces and think "Yes, one day our space will be great too!"
>> 
>> It IS still early days, hats off to everybody that has worked really hard to get things this far. Our resources are still limited, and the room small, but with more members paying their dues every month we will be able to afford the rent on a bigger room, and the kit can be left set up and working.
>> 
>> I still want to see workbenches where things like power supplies, scopes, function generators, soldering irons, fume extractors etc can be left set up (but kept tidy). I would like to see a HAM 'shack' set up (I hear whispers that the Swansea Amateur Radio Society may decide to wind up which would be a shame), they meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, but maybe not for much longer... Our current location on the roof could lend to putting up a stealthy antenna outside ;-)
>> 
>> I would love to see more machines... seeing the CNC machine working on Monday was an inspiration (shame it needs a little repair now but we should get that done quickly - anybody got some 4-core 0.75mm cable? I've been looking through my scrap boxes and have not found anything yet), things like a pillar drill and a wood turning lathe maybe a metal lathe and obviously the laser cutter would make a difference too.
>> 
>> As a paid up member having my own keyfob is brilliant, being able to pop in at any time to work is great - Parking has been the single problem for me, and continues to be the main reason I don't use the space as much as I would like to. I frequently think that I could go and spend the day there working instead of in my own office in Ponty, but then I realise that I would have to spend a bucket on parking fees which puts me off. I can walk to the office. Ian, if you want your keyfob, be a good boy and pay your dues ;-)
>> 
>> I love that people get mad ideas, and that some of them may come to fruition... It is nice to be involved in a project with like minded people and I hope I can be involved for a long time. I have no idea where it will go, what shape it will be in a few years from now, and that is what makes it really exciting. I had followed and watched the birth from a distance, and feared that it wasn't going to happen when everything went quiet. But was very glad when it all took off! Well done chaps! It had gotten to the point that I had started working out how to set up a community makerspace here in Pontardawe! LOL
>> 
>> I am pleased that we are doing well on the membership front. And I hope we can retain the membership which will allow us to grow and for the space we are in to grow. I would urge anybody that has not set up a standing order / repeat payment system yet to do so ASAP to reduce the burden of chasing and reminding members for the payments. Our treasurer and chair are volunteers, who do all the admin hard work, banking the money and paying the bills. Don't forget they are not being paid to do this and that they have busy lives.
>> 
>> Well done all!
>> 
>> Emyr
>> 
>> On 21 November 2014 12:41, Justin Mitchell <justin at swansea.hackspace.org.uk <mailto:justin at swansea.hackspace.org.uk>> wrote:
>> On Fri, 2014-11-21 at 12:09 +0000, Graham Owens wrote:
>> > Yup thats what im hoping for, everything is still so 'Formal' for want
>> > of a better word.
>> >
>> >
>> > Cant wait until I walk in and
>> > overhear http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6e9JnaEDmM/TFGS1wDqEeI/AAAAAAAAB9E/iKDWNGJrzGs/s1600/images_pinky_brain.jpg <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6e9JnaEDmM/TFGS1wDqEeI/AAAAAAAAB9E/iKDWNGJrzGs/s1600/images_pinky_brain.jpg>
>> >
>> 
>> I too wish things were more informal and free-wheeling, and i can't
>> quite decide whats holding us back in that repect
>> 
>> is it the lack of space? that so much has to be constantly tidied away
>> in order to move around.
>> 
>> I think pretty much all the regulars now have a key, so it shouldn't be
>> that ?
>> 
>> Although i seem to recall reading reviews of some other UK hackspaces
>> and being surprised that the majority of activity seemed to centre
>> around their open nights.
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> 
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