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Tag: makership

Published on Leave a comment on Uhh Hi

Well hi, my name is Michael Dorsey, a computer engineer student currently doing Co-op at LVL1. Right now, I'm working on two projects relating to gaming, one of them having to do with fusing a game console with a projector to make it "all-in-one," similar to how people have been also modifying game consoles to become portable.

The other project I'm working is attempting to modify a game controller with the use of a micro-controller. I'm not fully sure how I'm going to go about doing this as I'm still in the middle of research and trying to plan this all out. However, hopefully by the beginning of next month I'll have made much progress on my work. For now, here are some pictures that reflect the ideas of my projects.

Portable X-box 6172537277_43ce9e6179

Published on Leave a comment on Solar Panel Fabrication Set Up

All the necessary equipment to make reliable solar panels is now set up at LVL1.  This includes a custom built oven with a vacuum sealing system capable of making panels up to 15x21 inches, but no worries for bigger projects individual panels can be wired together in series or parallel and with the right framing anything is possible.  A further break down of this oven and the panel making process is coming in the future.  Along with the oven a tile saw has been set up with a 0.015" thick diamond blade.  This saw can be used to cut scrap or non-scrap of mono or poly crystalline solar cells into usable custom sizes to fit the needs of various projects.  The only other equipment needed to make a panel is a soldering iron, which LVL1 has plenty of.  Only some materials for making solar panels will be available the rest will need to be purchased.  For more info contact Sam Ellis at srelli02@louisville.edu.

The set up:

Example of a solar panel made using the equipment followed by a table of its performance characteristics:

Isc:   0.4485 A

Voc:   16.8 V

PowerMax:  5.1 W

Imax:  0.3845 A

Vmax:  13.28 V

Fill factor:  0.6697

% Efficiency:  12.36%

 

Published on Leave a comment on A Makership for U of L Engineering Students

People soldering kits at LVL1 on May 1
People soldering kits at LVL1 on May 1

Hackerspaces are starting to change engineering education. Let's put two University of Louisville Co-op interns in the LVL1 hackerspace! We are exploring how to get students working on hands-on projects sooner in the engineering curriculum.

As a Co-op at LVL1, you can contribute to an ongoing project or even launch your own project. The first Co-ops will start in summer 2012. You must be a Speed School student seeking a Summer 2012 Co-op to apply for this program.

If you’re seeking a Co-op position in Fall 2012, Spring 2013 or  Summer 2013, stay tuned! There will be another application session for each of those semesters.

 

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Published on 3 Comments on LVL1 awarding TWO new Makerships in 2012

LVL1's New Year's Resolution is to "make more makers!" We are offering not one, but TWO new Makerships to start off 2012! Through private donations from LVL1 membership, we have raised funds to award $100 of project financing and 3 months of LVL1 membership to TWO worthy makers!

The Makership recipient gets $100 for project materials like arduinos, sensors, electronic components, laser cutter materials, conductive fabric, EL wire, software, books, 3D printer filament, tools, bits, odds, ends or whatever else you might need.

The LVL1 membership gives you access to our 40W laser cutter, Makerbot 3D printer, woodworking tools, electronics tools, metal mill, computers, electronic surplus and much more.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS IS JANUARY 31, 2012

A Makership is a $100 project stipend and 3 months worth of LVL1 membership dues awarded to an individual in the Louisville area. We recognize that potential makers with limited financial resources often are unable to afford any membership rates- no matter what the discount might be. Similarly, the cost of materials to develop a cool project can be just out of reach to those strapped for cash. Our makership program seeks to eliminate these financial hurdles and get makers making!

We award our makerships to applicants who can put together the best pitch for (1) what they want to make and (2) how they plan to do it. Your project could be anything from an electronic gadget, to an open source software project, to a citizen science project, to a fire-breathing robotic pony, or (hopefully) a project we haven’t imagined. We want LVL1 to be the place where these things are made! LVL1 makerships are open to anyone whom could benefit from our community and resources to make something great.

For more information on applying for a LVL1 Makership click here.

Do you want to see this Makership program succeed? You can help LVL1 provide more Makerships with a small donation of $5/mo. We will announce a new Makership as soon as the donation funds make a new one available! Click the Paypal donate button below to contribute to a Makership: