Metrix Create:Space

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 Cutter is happening this Monday, June 18 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!

Always wanted to make your own custom objects out of silicone, urethane rubber, urethane plastic, wax, or a variety of other materials?

Come to the Intro to Casting workshop on Tuesday, July 3, 7-9:30 PM.

Casting is a fabrication method that allows you to replicate existing object as well as create completely new ones from digital designs. You can create toys, mechanical parts, and project prototypes of varying complexity and detail.

The workshop will have two parts to it. In the first half, you will learn how to make a silicone mold from an existing object. You will be able to pick up the cured mold the next day after the workshop. The second half of the workshop will focus on casting an object, which you will be able to take home with you at the end of the workshop. In the process you will learn casting techniques as well as tips and tricks for various casting challenges.

The cost of the workshop ($50) includes one silicone mold and one urethane plastic object. Please bring a small (2”x2”x2”) non-latex rubber based object with at least one flat side for the mold-making exercise. To sign up, give us a call (206 357 9406) or come down to the Metrix Create: Space shop on Broadway.

Have you always wanted to make your own mechanized noisy toys? Have some more practical projects in mind?

Come to the Intro to Arduino workshop on June 26, 7-9:30 PM.

Arduino is a user-friendly microcontroller platform that lets you work with a range of inputs and outputs to create robots, awesome light shows, household improvement projects, music instruments, interactive environments, and whatever else your imagination might dream up. The workshop covers the hardware of the board as well as how to start talking to it by writing simple code. The hands-on exercises will go over the basics of using information from inputs and controlling outputs. No programming experience necessary. Basic electronics experience is helpful but not required. Please bring a computer with the Arduino software installed to the workshop. You can download it on the Arduino website: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

The workshop cost ($60) includes all the materials (Arduino board+circuit building components). To sign up give us a call (206 357 9406) or come down to the Metrix Create: Space shop on Broadway.

Awesome things come in tiny packages, like electronics!

Come to the Intro to Electronics workshop on June 19th, 7-9:30 PM.

You will learn about a range of standard electronic components and how they fit together to make things work. Through hands-on exercises, you will learn some of the essential theories of electronics and will get to use them to build a series of circuits. This class is great both for total beginners as well as those who might need a refresher on the basics. The cost for the workshop is $50 which includes all the materials. To sign up, give us a call (206 357 9406) or come down to the Metrix Create: Space shop on Broadway.

The workshop will be held on Sunday, June 17, 2-4 PM.

This workshop, designed for beginners to 3D modeling, will teach the basics of OpenSCAD. No CAD or programming experience is required. We will cover the user interface, basic shapes, transformations, Boolean operations, and exporting for 3D printing. When we are done you should have the knowledge to make basic models and be able to understand other people’s files.

What to bring:

Laptop with OpenSCAD installled. (available here: http://www.openscad.org/)

Mouse with scroll wheel (optional) - a scroll wheel makes zooming easier but it is not required

To sign up give us a call (206 357 9406) or come down to the Metrix Create: Space shop  on Broadway. The workshop rate is $50 which includes a small powder 3D print.

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!

     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.

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.

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.

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!