full circle magazine #65

28

LINUX LAB

created so time is typically booked

on the laser cutter.

Member Mark Pitcher was the

first to show me some of the

projects he’s been working on.

Mark has owned several midi-

sequencers in the past, but wanted

something more portable, so he

started putting together a couple

of ideas for mini-midi sequencers,

one of which is arduino driven. He

also showed me an older electronic

drum kit he’s been in the process

of restoring and an arduino-driven

tripod mount that rotates at

programmable intervals for

panoramic photography.

Kwartzlab has an artist in

residence every month. This month

Tracy Fewster was exhibiting her

acrylic work and took the time to

talk with me about how she

became an artist, and to give

advice for aspiring artists. Tracy’s

journey into the art world began

and almost ended with a teacher

telling her that her artwork was

substandard. Determination and

love of what she was doing drove

Tracy to continue developing her

passion. Tracy suggests reading

about art, continuously

investigating different techniques,

and searching the Internet to

clarify anything that isn’t clear, is a

good way to improve.

Shortly after talking with Tracy,

the room got called to order for a

presentation by Eva Bodahelyi, a

visitor from a Guelph, Ontario,

makerspace called Diyode, on

Laser etching. Kwartzlab members

have cut and etched a fair amount

of art (including a 3D model of a

Tardis), but Eva has refined the

etching technique using

PhotoShop and GIMP so more

detailed pictures can be printed.

On open nights Kwartzlab

encourages people to bring

projects they want to work on.

Besides the laser cutter, 3D

printer, an d vario u s me asu re m e n t

tools, Kwartzlab has a whole back

room full of other machining

equipment. Among th e e q u ip m e n t

is a CNC router which member Don

Liebold hacked together using a

controller, dre m e l, and a man - sized

old tape storage unit. Also among

the available equipment are

welding systems, a centrifuge, 2

band saws, a table saw, 2 drill

presses, a belt sander, routing

table, and a radial saw. This tool

list covers only the basics. Kwartlab

is always adding equipment and

improving the space.

Subsequent to my visit at

Kwartzlab, I met member Darcy

Casselman at an Ubuntu Hour

event. Darcy brought me u p to

speed on the Kwartzlab Twitter

screen, actually a Chumby device

running the Chumby Twitter plug-

in.

Thanks to all the Kwartzlab

members for talking with me and

for being so generous by allowing

Full Circle Magazine to display

them and their maker projects and

works of art.

More details about Kwartzlab can

be found on their web site at:

http://www.kwartzlab.ca/

The Diyode maker space also

maintains a web presence:

http://www.diyode.com/

Charles is a step-father, husband,

and Linux fan, wh o hosts a not-for-

profit computer refurbishing

project. When not breaking

hardware/ser vers, he maintains a

blog at:

http://www.charlesmccolm.com/