hallucination Visor - soldering & mind hacking workshop

Modify welding goggles to project diffuse flickering colors. Hit resonant frequencies of visual cortex and observe complex unstable spatiotemporal patterns. Hack your brain.

• Custom printed circuit board
• Preprogrammed micro-controller : 100+ color light patterns, shuffle, browse, or play in sequence
• Passive components, batteries, switches and LEDs
• Laser cut light diffuser panels with custom quasi-crystal artwork
• Everything you need ( additional materials such a as soldering and glue will be provided )

• Flicker induced geometric visual hallucinations
• Ganzfeld hallucinations
• Other neurological illusions and demonstrations

The hallucination visor displays immersive flickering lights. While completely safe for most people, individuals that suffer from photosensitive epilepsy or flicker induced vertigo should not use this device. The visor is not designed for individuals with a lazy eye or other ophthalmological conditions that interfere with convergence and depth perception.

Ready to hack your mind?

Learn how to lasercut textiles! This machine enables entirely new possibilities from easily cutting pattern pieces (within 1' x 2' dimensions) to creating new textures, functional decorations, dimensional objects, and even etching images or text onto fabric! This class will also include sewing tutorials for lasercut textile applications. Different techniques will be demonstrated and experimenting will be encouraged!

We first ran "Laser Cut Textiles" back in October right before halloween, and it was a huge hit. We are very excited to be offering again and part of our regular programming.

Part 1 of 2 - January 21st, 12-6PM
Part 2 of 2 - January 22nd, 12-6PM
Instructor - Jenine Bressner

Sign up Online - Laser Cut Textiles

This Wednesday, December 14th from 7- 10 PM at the AS220 Labs (on Lucie Way next to the AS220 Printshop), Labs Keymember, Jenine Bressner will be hosting a screening of Handmade Nation, Faythe Levine's documentary about contemporary DIY craft in the U.S. Locals also featured in this film are The Dirt Palace, and Deb Dormody of general awesomeness (If'n Books and Marks and Craftland.)

The movie is one hour long and will be preceded by a slideshow about FAB7, the fascinating international digital fabrication conference that took place this past August in Peru. The screening will be followed by a conversation about the importance of DIY, and how Fab Labs are facilitating that all over the world!

Last night marked the first workshop of "Build Your Own Audio Amplifier" at the AS220 Labs, an introductory soldering and construction class based around Elliot Clapp's Dirtbomb Amp Design. The workshop provides students with a kit, complete with a circuit board, components, and an enclosure - all of which are assembled by the students.

The kit was entirely design and developed by Labs Keymember, Elliot Clapp. Using both the Milling Machine to prototype the electronics and the Laser Cutter to design the acrylic enclosure. The kit will be developed more and available for sale soon on our online store, and of course there will be more workshop offerings based around the kit, so stay tuned

What can you do with it?

• Use it as a mini-amplifier (2 Watts) for practicing at home or on the go
• Use it as a pre-amplifier and plug it into a speaker cabinet
• Use it in-between your instrument and amplifier, it's also an overdrive pedal!

Check out more photos from the workshop...

We teach anyone how to make almost anything

The Providence Fab Academy will return for its third year on January 2, 2012 through June 30, 2012. Classes will be held in Providence, RI at AS220 Labs (a personal digital fabrication lab or "Fab Lab").

The Fab Academy is a Digital Fabrication Program directed by Neil Gershenfeld of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms and based on MIT's rapid prototyping course, MAS 863: How to Make (Almost) Anything. The Fab Academy began as an outreach project from the CBA, and has since spread to Fab Labs around the world. The program provides advanced digital fabrication instruction for students through an unique, hands-on curriculum and access to technological tools and resources.

For the past two years AS220 Labs has collaborated with MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms in offering the Providence Fab Academy. Our lab in Providence is part of a global Fab Lab / Fab Academy network. The Providence branch of the Fab Academy works with other participating Fab Labs and experts from around the wold via a distributed educational model where we pool our knowledge to provide a unique educational experience.

Learn to turn codes into things

At the Fab Academy, you will learn how to envision, prototype and document your ideas through many hours of hands-on experience with digital fabrication tools. We take a variety of code formats and turn them into physical objects.

Students will learn to use the following tools: Epilog Mini Laser Cutter, Roland MDX-20 Milling Machine, and the Roland CAMM-1 Servo GX-24 Desktop Vinyl Cutter, MakerBot 3D printer and a ShopBot CNC router.

The topics covered in this course include: digital fabrication principles and practices, computer-controlled cutting, electronics design and production, embedded programming, 3D scanning and printing, mold making and casting.

Now Accepting Applications for 2012

The Providence, RI branch of the Fab Academy is now accepting applications for the 2012 session taking place from January 2, 2010 - June 30, 2012. The deadline for applications is December 10th. However, applications will be processed as they are submitted and class size is limited. For more information, visit our site here.

If you have any additional questions, contact the Providence Fab Academy Coordinator / Instructor, Anna Kaziunas France at anna@as220.org.

Laser Cut Textiles

Learn how to lasercut textiles and make your own Halloween costume while you're at it! This machine enables entirely new possibilities from easily cutting pattern pieces (within 1' x 2' dimensions) to creating new textures, functional decorations, dimensional objects, and even etching images or text onto fabric! This class will also include sewing tutorials for lasercut textile applications. Different techniques will be demonstrated and experimenting will be encouraged!

Part I - October 29th, 1-6PM
Part II - October 30th, 1-6PM
Instructor - Jenine Bressner

Sign up at our online store

Soft Circuits

Soft Circuits I - This workshop is an introduction to soft circuits, including tips on working with conductive thread and guidance on sewing connections between a light and a battery. You will experiment with conductive everyday objects, like metal beads, to make a flickering felt brooch.

Soft Circuits II - This workshop builds upon the skills learned in the Soft Circuits I workshop, but can be taken without any previous experience. In this workshop you will learn how to add multiple lights to a circuit while creating an illuminated bracelet (or cuff) that shines only when worn.

Soft Circuits I - November 5th, 1-4PM
Soft Circuits II - November 12th, 1-4PM
Instructor - Anna Kaziunas France

Sign up at our online store

For questions regarding class schedules and enrollment, contact james@as220.org

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011, 5:30 - 8pm
AS220 Labs, Mercantile Block, 2nd Floor
131 Washington Street, Providence, RI
FREE (buy your own food and drink - it's cheap)
RSVP at Facebook

This month, Providence Geeks is doing something a little different, and coming over to the AS220 Labs to showcase the makers of Rhode Island! A select group of makers from the RI Mini Maker Faire will be giving live, hands-on demonstrations of everything from 3d-printing to robotics building.

Food and drink will be available next door at the latest addition to the Downcity food scene - Mexico!

Get more details at the Providence Geeks Blog

Fellow makers of all things noisy, lend me your ears!

This month, we got a special workshop going on at the labs. Traveling circuit bending rock band, CMKT 4 will be stopping by the labs to host a "Build a Contact Microphone" workshop on Thursday, September 22nd. Contact microphones are awesome for noise making and experimenting. Just check out some cool projects here - Get LoFi. You can record sound traveling through any material (metal, wood, your body...starting to get awesome ideas?).

What can you do with a contact mic? Put it into a glass of water in the freezer and record the sound of water freezing or unfreezing. it sounds really cool! Slap it on a banjo or any acoustic instrument and electrify it!

Build a Contact Microphone Workshop

Join the members of the circuit-bent rock band CMKT4 for a workshop on building your very own EconoMIC Bottle Cap Contact Microphone (from Creme DeMentia).  CMKT4 will show you how to solder up a piezo-electric pickup and house it sturdily in a recycled bottle-cap housing of their own design! Stick around for a set from the band as the tool-handle dip on your freshly built contact microphone dries. Additional take-home kits and other surprises will be available, come build a mic and see and hear some of the circuit-bent instruments you've read about on www.GetLofi.com  up close.  Bring your own instruments and objects to amplify!

The workshop is going to be held on Thursday, September 22nd from 7-10PM at the AS220 Labs. Students pay $20 to partake in the class, this includes materials to build 1 contact mic, and additional kits are available for $10 each. Pre assembled kits will also be on sale for students to purchase.

*To enroll in the course, go here - online store. *

Ready to make some noise? You're neighbors will love you.

The labs is offering a course next month that features the artist-friendly programming language, Processing. The language was designed to teach computer programming visually rather than cryptically, making it easier for the programmer to understand the building blocks of their program. It is used by a community of electronic artists and graphic/visual designers to make all types of interesting projects (like the picture above).

Here is an example of something you can build using processing:
a processing program that allows you to generate your own typography.

Here at the labs, we think that computer programming doesn't have to be complicated and is accessible to people that aren't computer scientists. Let's face it, computers are awesome and they can do magical things. There is probably an idea brewing up in your head that can be translated into a program and do something awesome - you just need to understand the basic building blocks, and the rest is up to your imagination. The creative programming course will take students through computer programming in a fun and simple way - using the Processing programming language. Students will learn the basics, create a program, and use their program to actually make something!

Evelyn Eastmond, currently a RISD graduate student in the Digital Media program and a graduate of MIT's Media Lab, will be instructing the class. She strives to make learning easy, fun, and interactive. She has worked on the Scratch project, a programming language designed for kids. Check more of her work out here.

The workshop is going to be held over the course of this upcoming weekend, Saturday and Sunday - August 6th/7th from 12-4PM. Enroll Here!

Last week I went up to Haystack Mountain School of Craft to train and work in their Fab Lab. Haystack is an international craft school located in Deer Isle, Maine - a beautiful area of Maine. They offer workshops in traditional crafts - blacksmiting, woodworking, pottery, metalsmithing, jewelry making, painting, and other very cool crafts! They also happen to have a brand new fab lab (see the photo below). And as AS220 is part of the Fab Lab network, Haystack reached out to our lab and asked for support this summer.

I went up to Haystack on a mission to learn how to use the ShopBot - a 4'x8' CNC Router (seen in the photo below) that can cut wood, plastic, and aluminum materials very precisely and automatically. It is the missing ingredient in our AS220 Fab Lab, and we are anxious to get our hands on it as the months go by without having one. Going up to Haystack was my opportunity to use and learn the machine in a similar environment to AS220, and I took full advantage of it.

I was partnered up with ShopBot Guru & MIT Brainiac, Nadya Peek - check her work out here. She showed me everything I needed to know to safely and successfully operate the machine. Together we consulted with Haystack Artists and Staff on their projects and helped them make things - a whole week of making things for artists! It was an amazing learning experience.The photo below is of Nadya and Stuart Kestenbaum, the Director of Haystack.

During my time there in the fab lab, I made a wide range of things for both artists and myself. The best way to learn a machine is just to use it as much as possible, so I just kept making stuff. I started out with simple furniture designs and then got into some sign making. Although I am no furniture designer, I was able to make a pretty functional stool and chair. Once you have the basic operating procedures down, it is a fairly simple machine to use, because it does all the work for you!

As for the artists, the fab lab was an absolute hit. Most people accepted the modern digital fabrication tools as just another tool in their shop. It allowed them to experiment and learn more about their own craft too. Once we put them behind the wheel of the machine, it was all over for them. We helped artists make bats for throwing clay, dies for jewelry making, stencils for decorating, precision cut finger joints, laser-cut felt shapes, and woodblocks for printing. We even had an artist mold and cast a dinosaur army!

Besides training on the shop bot, I was also learning how a different fab lab operates and interacts with an artist community. There was a lot of similarities to AS220, which allowed me to take away a lot from the experience and bring some new ideas back to labs. Two other key members from the labs, Anna Kaziunas France and Elliot Clapp, will be heading up there to train on the ShopBot later this summer. Aside from that, the lab is still looking and working hard to acquire one of these machines. So if you know of someone with an extra ShopBot lying around, send them our way!

Stayed tuned! I am going to be making video tutorials on the ShopBot and posting them online. Also, check out the slideshow below for the full Haystack experience.

Looking to be crafty and creative this summer? We have some brand new classes ( like sound synthesis and creative programming! ) at the labs. Come on and down, take a course and get trained to use our equipment or learn how to make something cool! Click on the classes below for a full description and sign up info.

June

Graphic Design Tools: Inkscape $50
Tuesday, June 14th 7-10PM

Make a Pinhole Camera with the Laser Cutter $75
Wednesday, June 8th 7-10PM and Saturday, June 11th, 12-4PM

Sign and Sticker Making with Vinyl Cutter $50
Saturday, June 4th 12-4PM

Introduction to Laser Cutting $70
Wednesday, June 15th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

July

Introduction to Audio Engineering: Two Weeks $75
Saturdays, July 23rd and 30th 12-4PM

Sound Synthesis with Pure Data $40
Tuesday, July 19th and Thursday, July 21st 7-10PM

Laser Cut Press Fit Design $50
Wednesday, July 20th 7-10PM

Sign and Sticker Making with the Vinyl Cutter $50
Tuesday, July 12th 7-10PM

Introduction to Laser Cutting $70
Wednesday, July 27th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

August

Creative Electronics with Arduino: 3 Weeks $125
Thursdays, August 4th, 11th, 18th 7-10PM

Creative Programming Weekend $50
Saturday, August 6th and Sunday, August 7th 12-4PM

Electronics for Artists: 3 Weeks $125
Wednesdays, August 10th, 17th, 24th 7-10PM

Laser Cutter Intensive: 2 Weeks $90
Tuesday, August 23rd and Thursday, August 25th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

So what is a "Make and Break"?

Well...it's basically an excuse to nerd out for the night. It is totally open to anyone that wants to come down to the labs and check out what's going on. They will occur every month, and each event will feature a new type of project that you can make and/or hack.

So what is the "Doomsday Device"?

The doomsday device is a noise making maniac electronic gadget thingy. It is basically an old alarm system circuit that has been gutted for its original purpose, and will now be used to make our device...the doomsday device. You can circuit bend it, hack it, make fun of it, whatever you want. The point of this is to have fun and maybe learn something about electronics along the way. Sound groovy?

What's the deal?

While the event itself is free, if you want to take a fancy doomsday device home with you, its going to cost you. Here is the breakdown of things:

• Spectators - Free
• Circuit benders (Not Taking Home Device!!!) - Free
• Bare Bones Kit (Not the Fancy Deluxe Kit) - $5
• Doomsday Device Kit (Fancy!!!) - $20

This is what you get with the Doomsday Device Kit:

• Doomsday Circuit
• Wires
• Thumb Tacks
• 2 Potentiometers (Control Knobs)
• 2 Control Switch
• 1 Power Switch
• 1/4" Instrument Jack (plug it into an amp!)
• Laser Cut Enclosure

See, it is cool! You could make your very own noise making machine and use it with your noise making band! Still don't believe me? Go to this facebook page and check out the video posted there.

Want to come?

It's Thursday, March 24th at 6:00PM - 9:00PM

It's at the new lab space at the mercantile building, around the back of the building on Martha Street is where the main entrance is. The address is 131 Washington Street, but that will take you to front of the building, just go around back!

See you there!

'Tis the season to be crafty and this December the labs is offering two fresh new courses that are fun, exciting, and a great opportunity to craft a gift for a loved one. These classes are also special because they will be the first classes held in the mercantile building. That's right! We have a brand new space, and we are very excited to get things going there.

Introduction to Laser Cut Press Fit Design

In this class, students will learn about the basics of press fit design using the Lab's Epilog Mini Laser Cutter. Students will fabricate and build a wine rack, decorative box, or birdhouse! Additionally, the students will have the opportunity to customize either project is unique etched graphics. This class will introduce the student to the concepts of press fit design and assembly. Students can chose to make either project and all materials will be provided. The class is comprised of one 3 hour session and you will take your project home at the end.

Check out Elliot Clapp's Birdhouse Design over to the right (you can make this!!!)

Sign up here.

Vinyl Cut Sign and Sticker Making

Learn the basics of using the vinyl cutter to make stickers and signs. Class includes the software tools and mounting techniques used to produce professional looking stickers and signs. This is a hands-on workshop and will certify Labs members to use the cutter on their own.

Sign up here.

And of course, and old favorite and staple to the labs is being offered this December. Get certified and trained to use AS220's house laser cutter! Hint: It might be a good class to take after taking the laser cut press cut class.

Intro to the Laser Cutter - Sign up here.

For more information on classes in the labs, contact james@as220.org

Our very own labs member, Jenine Bressner appeared on the Martha Stewart Show last week, showcasing her glass work skills. The episode also includes a feature on the Maker Fair and digital fabrication.

Check out the video clip here!

For more info on Jenine, check out her website.