Have you always wanted to cut on the laser, but don’t know how to use a program that allows you to create the right kind of file? Inkscape for the Laser Engraver is happening this Tuesday, May 22 from 7-9:30PM.

This class is for beginners who have never used Inkscape before. I will be teaching you all the basics of this free vector imaging program so you can create your own laser cut projects. At the end of the class, you will receive a 3”x5” piece of birch wood and cutting time to practice your new skills. Call us (206 357 9406) or come by the shop to register. This workshop is $50. Please bring a laptop with the latest version of Inkscape installed and a mouse with a scroll wheel. Looking forward to seeing you there!

12:58 am  •  22 May 2012 by allisonatmetrix   •  view comments

     Tired of looking at schematics on the Internet or printed in a magazine that you want to build but don’t even know where to start? Its time to get your projects off your valuable breadboard and make them into something more permanent. In just a few hours you can learn the fundamentals of soldering! Nothing beats being able to look at a schematic and turn it into a functional layout on a standard proto board. Take your prototyping to the next level by making a durable device that can be handled and incorporated into an actual project.

     Here at Metrix we have enough silicon and tools to make anything your heart desires. Reserve your seat at our soldering workshop and we can show you how to make a simple yet expandable binary counter out of a few items we have in the shop. At only $50 the workshop will fill up quick. Space is limited so be sure to call or give us a visit before the next scheduled class on May 27th at 7pm.

     It helps to have a small background knowledge of electronics but if you are  lacking one of our labcoats will be more than happy to get you into one of our “Introduction To Electronics” workshops and give you the head start you need. We know your up for it, all you need is yourself, steady hands and some ambition.

5:18 am  •  16 May 2012 by defusemetrix   •  view comments

The print on the right is Emmett’s Screwless Heart Gears, downloaded from Thingiverse, one of our favorite sources of models and the best place on the Internet to share 3D models for printing.  The print on the left is a right ventricle, scanned from a live human heart.  A ventricle is an uncommon thing to print, not very romantic or novel on its face, but perhaps one of the most *interesting* uses of our printers to date.  Perhaps one of the most important for our collective health as well.

Ventripoint, one of Seattle’s awesome medical startups needed to test some of its technology, and they came to us for this print.  Ventripoint, using technology from the University of Washington creates anatomically accurate reconstructions and corresponding measurements of the right and left ventricles of the heart using ultrasound and knowledge based reconstruction rather than MRI.  By printing this model, submerging it in saltwater, and scanning it, they can test their hardware and software setup without using an actual organ.  From what I gathered in our brief conversation, ultrasound is tricky, and by being able to quickly 3D print problem shapes, they can regression test their hardware and make sure that anomalies that get caught stay caught.  The thin walled model in PLA holds up, is accurate enough to get a detailed reading, and would be hard to create in any other way. 

Testing for pulmonary hypertension in the conventional way using MRI is an expensive procedure and limited to those that have the equipment.  By using a combination of Ventripoint software and a traditional ultrasound, this procedure can be brought down considerably, and made accessible to many more people.

Its nice to know that we can be a small part of this.

4:35 am  •  13 May 2012 by mattw-at-metrix   •  view comments

Have you always had a really awesome laser cut design you’ve wanted to do but were worried about the price? Are you new to laser cutting and engraving and want to try it out without having to think about cost?

Take advantage of our incredible flat rate deal !

We have a small supply of 3mm birch plywood planks (5”x12”) and for a limited time you can purchase them for $15 each and laser cut, etch, or engrave anything you want on them no matter how long the design takes. However the job must be completed in one run, i.e. you can’t bring the same plank multiple times for different small jobs. There is no restriction on when you use your plank. Get one for yourself or get it as a gift for a friend who needs a project. No limit on quantity. 

The laser cutter operational hours are still 8PM-12AM but you can always purchase your flat rate plank during the day and leave it with your design for us to cut in the evening.

3:59 pm  •  10 May 2012 by plamena-at-metrix   •  view comments

Have you always wanted to cut on the laser, but don’t know how to use a program that allows you to create the right kind of file? Inkscape for the Laser Engraver is happening this Tuesday, April 24 from 7-9:30PM.

This class is for beginners who have never used Inkscape before. I will be teaching you all the basics of this free vector imaging program so you can create your own laser cut projects. At the end of the class, you will receive a 3”x5” piece of birch wood and cutting time to practice your new skills. Call us (206 357 9406) or come by the shop to register. This workshop is $50. Please bring a laptop with the latest version of Inkscape installed and a mouse with a scroll wheel. Looking forward to seeing you there!

12:29 am  •  23 April 2012 by allisonatmetrix   •  view comments

Small things hold much power for making awesome things. Come learn about microcontrollers and how you can use them at the Intro to Arduino workshop which will be held Tuesday, May 15, 7-9:30 PM at Metrix Create: Space.

The workshop uses the Arduino board platform to teach the basics of microcontrollers, inputs and outputs, sensors and actuators, and simple ways to program them. The workshop focuses both on developing an understanding of the hardware involved in making the microcontroller board work as well as of the software needed to communicate with it. This beginner workshop will allow you to get started on whatever exciting robotics projects you have in mind, both small and large in scale. No previous programming experience necessary. Basic electronics experience will be helpful but not necessary. The workshop fee of ($60) covers 2.5 hours of instruction and all materials, including an Arduino board. To sign up give us a call (206 357 9406) or come down to the Metrix Create: Space shop on Broadway.

9:26 pm  •  21 April 2012 by plamena-at-metrix   •  view comments

Need some mood lighting at home? Come learn about the many useful applications of a potentiometer as well as other essential electronics components. 

The Intro to Electronics workshop covers basic electronics theory and teaches you about electronics components and how to properly connect them through hands-on circuit building exercises. At the end of the workshop you will have the building blocks to begin your own electronics projects, both small and large in scale. The workshop is great for complete beginners as well as those in need of an electronics refresher.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 7-9:30 PM at our shop on Broadway East. The $50 workshop fee includes 2.5 hours of instruction and all materials. Call (206 357 9406) or come by Metrix Create: Space to sign up. 

9:04 pm  •  18 April 2012 by plamena-at-metrix   •  view comments

Miles took his favorite mono Ipod speakers and fused the wires together to make a mini boom box in stereo. A fairly simple thing to do at Metrix, but seriously cool! “Its the little things”

10:57 pm  •  29 March 2012 by hilarycreatespace   •  view comments

3:08 am  •  29 March 2012 by hilarycreatespace   •  view comments

It’s finally spring! The season of natural creation- flowers, baby animals, and sunshine. Come celebrate by learning to create something of your own on the laser cutter at Metrix.

The Inkscape for the Laser Engraver workshop is happening Thursday, March 29, 7-9:30PM. This class is for beginners who have never used Inkscape before. I will be teaching you all the basics of this free vector imaging program so you can create your own laser cut projects. At the end of the class, you will receive a 3”x5” piece of birch wood and cutting time to practice your new skills. Call us (206 357 9406) or come by the shop to register. This workshop is $50. Please bring a laptop with the latest version of Inkscape installed and a mouse with a scroll wheel. Looking forward to seeing you there!

7:06 pm  •  22 March 2012 by allisonatmetrix   •  view comments