Hey All,

Institute for Exploratory Research (IXR) to host Grand Opening of Technology Lab on Sunday, October 16th, 2-6pm  Come and bear witness to IXR's "Event Horizon" as we celebrate the opening of our technology lab.  All are welcome.

IXR is a new makerspace at the Jersey Shore, located at InfoAge Science and History Learning Center in Wall, NJ.  We are an open collective of technology hobbyists, geeks, artists, and other creative types who come together to share tools, resources, knowledge, and ideas.  IXR’s mission is to help lower the barriers to invention, creativity, and innovation - by providing access to resources, equipment, and community - that an individual maker may not have otherwise.

We embrace the sharing of ideas and innovation, including open source hardware and software. We also plan to host workshops, open to the public, on a myriad of topics - ranging from basic electronics, to artisan soap making.

IXR's technology lab is a 720 sq. ft. facility that is furnished with workbenches, tables, stools and chairs.  There a 2 fully equipped soldering stations, a computer workstation, internet and Wi-Fi access, a pair of 50mHz oscilloscopes, a drill press and various power tools. We also have an expansive cache of electronic components.  We plan to add a circuit board etching station, surface mount station, and additional computers and test equipment.

Event Details:
For this Grand Opening event, we will be having a barbecue, snacks and pot-luck (optional).  There will be a contest for best geek-chic fashion, so wear your best Nike Air-Mags, up-cycled jewelry, or themed T-shirt.  We will also be having a special presentation demonstrating a clever approach to transferring a circuit prototype to a permanent board.  Visitors may also take a tour of the new technology lab.

The event is free, and open to the public.  Guests may also enjoy visiting the rest of the InfoAge museum, which includes the Radio Technology Museum, Vintage Computer, NJ Shipwreck Museum, Military Technology Museum, and more.

Guests may RSVP on our Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=275905399097759
InfoAge is located at 2201 Marconi Rd., Wall NJ 07719.

For more information:
Dan Wobser
dwobser@gmail.com
www.IXRNJ.org

InfoAge:
www.InfoAge.org

October 6th at 7pm - IXR is hosting a free screening of "Bots High" (www.botshigh.com) - a documentary about highschoolers that build combat robots for competition. The event will be held at InfoAge, in Wall NJ. The event is free, open to the public, and promises to be lots of fun! We ask that everyone who plans to attend sign up on the event's webpage at http://www.meetup.com/botshigh/Belmar-NJ/.

If anyone was in the market for this, I thought I'd pass on the info about this rebate promotion. Weller is doing a spring rebate promotion on their most popular items through the end of July.

http://www.cooperhandtools.com/weller/documents/WellerNationalRebate2011.pdf

Xcelite Flush Cutter - $.81 after $5 rebate
WLC100/200 Solder Station - $29.95 after $10 rebate
WES51 ESD-safe Analog Solder Station - $94.99 after $20 rebate
WESD51 ESD-safe Digital Solder Station - $109 after $20 rebate
WSA350 Benchtop Fume Absorber - $49 after $10 rebate

Check out Electronics Express, which ships from NJ:
http://www.elexp.com/am_wellr.htm

also All-spec (from NC):
http://www.all-spec.com/start/weller_rebate0411.html?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=website&utm_content=2&utm_campaign=june11

The Cutters and WLC100's are a nice deal, I'm wondering if we should get some for the Tech-Lab. A nice upgrade if you're still using RadioShack iron (like me :p).

-DW

Welcome to IXR! The Institute for Exploratory Research is a new hackerspace based at InfoAge Science Center in Wall, NJ.

IXR's mission is to help lower the barriers to invention, creativity, and innovation - by providing access to resources, equipment, and community - that an individual "maker" may not have otherwise.

Some of the things we're planning on/would like to see in our Hackerspace:

• Electronics and Computing Lab
  Analog and Digital Electronics
  Audio circuits, Amplifiers
  PCB Etching, SMD Reflow Soldering
  Microcontrollers-Arduino (Amtel AVR/ATMega), PIC, Parallax
  Programming/Software Development/Web Design
  LINUX, Windows
  Android
• Robotics
• Woodworking Shop
• Metalworking Shop
• Plastics, Molding/Forming, Silicon
• Flying Machines!
• Home Automation/X10
• Fabrication (3D Printer, CNC machining)
• Hadron Collider*
• Physical Security Lab/Locksmithing
• Crafts and Arts Shop
• Fire ze Laser!
• MIDI/Electronic Music Lab
• and all manner of DIY, invention, crafting, collaborating and making!

In the next few weeks I hope we can get a few meetings/get togethers going, take stock of what we have available at InfoAge currently, get to know everyone's interests, and get some projects going. And, to *spread the word*!

For inspiration, I encourage everyone to start looking around at what other hackerspaces are doing. Check out Hackerspaces.org, and look at some of the established spaces, like:
• NYCResistor.com (NYC)
• FUBARlabs.com (NJ)
• TheHacktory.org (Philly)
• Hive76.org (Philly)
• HacDC.org (DC)

Also there are some fabulous maker sites out there. I will be posting a links
page soon, but to start off, be sure to check out:
• MAKEzine.com - MAKE Magazine
• adafruit.com - ADAFruit Industries. There storefront sells lots of great kits, but everything they do is "open source hardware", everything is published on their site. There's great tutorials, great videos, and be sure to check out their archive of their weekly show "Ask an Engineer" (under forums, also at vimeo.com/adafruit )
• Instructables.com - All kinds of DIY projects, both tech and general.
• DIYDrones.com - Make your own self-piloting (autonomous) model aircraft and flying machines!
• CuriousInventor.com
• HackADay.com

Again, welcome all, and I look forward to meeting you all and making awesome stuff!

-Dan Wobser

*Just kidding! (Or am I?)