Tag Archives: makers

Free Classes for Women at TechShop on March 8

Have you every wanted to try welding? Maybe you have always wanted to learn to build your own furniture or learn to use a 3D printer. If you are a woman in the Pittsburgh area, this is a great opportunity for you to try these classes for free.

International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. TechShop is celebrating International Women’s Day by offering FREE classes to all women on Tuesday, March 8th.

TechShop is a maker space located in Bakery Square. What’s a maker space you ask? I happen to work at TechShop and while I might not be qualified to use all of the equipment in the shop, I am more than qualified to tell you about all of the things you can do and make at TechShop.

Think of TechShop kind of like a gym or fitness center, instead of treadmills, free weights and an akward area where people are supposed to do situps, TechShop has all kinds of equipment that members can use for making things. Everything from laser cutting machines, to welding, to a woodshop, as well as a large area that is not-so-awkward where everyone can work on projects.

Once you are TechShop member, and you have passed the SBU class (SBU is TechShop speak for safety and basic use), you can come in to use that piece of equipment whenever you want. The SBU classes cost between $50 and $150, so this is not only a great chance to learn a new skill but also to check an SBU off your TechShop bucket list.

Free Classes for Women on March 8 @ TechShop Pittsburgh

Here is the schedule of classes for Tuesday, March 8. You MUST call the front desk (412) 345-7182 or come into the shop to register. The front desk is open from 8:30am to 10pm. The shop is open to members from 8am to 1am.

10:00 am – Woodworking // Woodshop SBU
10:00 am – Welding // MIG Welder SBU
1:00 pm – Furniture Basics [Pre-requisite Woodshop SBU]
1:00 pm – Sand Blasting & Powder Coating SBU
2:00 pm – Textiles // CNC Embroiderer SBU
4:30 pm – Basic Metal Shop SBU // Make a Metal Bottle Opener
5:00 pm – Welding // TIG Welding SBU
5:00 pm – 3d Printing // Printerbot SBU
5:30 pm – Laser Cutting // Trotec Laser SBU
6:00 pm – Metal // Ironworker SBU
6:00 pm – Circuits & Stuff // Electronic Instruments
7:00 pm – Woodworking // Shopbot SBU
7:00 pm – Blacksmithing Basics // Leaf Wall Hook

Interested in learning more about TechShop?

Everyone is welcome to stop by the shop for a tour. Click here to sign up.
Friday, March 4 – TechShop Happy Hour from 5pm-8pm. Tickets are $10, or you can enter to win 2 ticket here.

Cities Can Help to Shape an Equal Opportunity Maker Movement (nextcity.org)
‘The Looming Entrepreneurial Boom’: Kauffman Weighs In (theatlantic.com)
Entrepreneurs Take On Manufacturing (hbr.org)

Beethoven + Coldplay + Pittsburgh Symphony = FUSE@PSO

Earlier this year the Pittsburgh Symphony performed the first in the series of mash-up performances called FUSE@PSO. The next FUSE@PSO performance is Beethoven + Coldplay and takes place on Tuesday, October 6. I had the opportunity to meet Steve Hackman who is the conductor of these performances last week. He is new to Pittsburgh and doing some really interesting things to get more new faces to the Pittsburgh Symphony.

Here is a video of the last FUSE@PSO performace which was a mashup of Brahms + Radiohead:

Steve is eager to meet more Pittsburghers and talk about his work. In the spirit of mashups I am working with Steve to put together a Meet the (Music) Maker event at TechShop this Sunday. Steve will talk more about his work and the FUSE@PSO performances. If you are interested in learning more about Steve, the Pittsburgh Symphony or TechShop, I hope you will stop by on Sunday evening.

Meet the (Music) Maker with Steve Hackman from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, October 4, 2015
7-9pm
Free – please register at http://bit.ly/1LmYgez

Follow: @TechShopPGH @PGHSymphony @SteroHideout & #FUSE @PSO

Have You Been to TechShop Yet? A Few Ways to Meet Pittsburgh’s Maker Space.

One of my favorite places in Pittsburgh, that I am surprised that more people don’t know about, is TechShop Pittsburgh. Hack Pittsburgh created Pittsburgh’s first maker space back in 2009, and continues to offer programming and events for Pittsburgh makers today. When TechShop Pittsburgh opened two years ago, it provided more opportunities for Pittsburghers to collaborate and innovate.

TechShop is community makerspace. TechShop is kind of like a gym, but for making things instead of working out. For a monthly fee, members can come to the shop and use any of the equipment. TechShop has a woodshop, metal shop, 3d printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, conference rooms and much more that is available to members.

President Obama at TechShop Pittsburgh. Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy.

The TechShop community and the maker community has continued to grow here in Pittsburgh and beyond. Last summer President Obama hosted an event on manufacturing and innovation at TechShop Pittsburgh. You can read more about the event and watch the president’s remarks on the White House blog here.

Before TechShop opened in 2013, I wrote this post about why it is a big deal that TechShop opened in Pittsburgh. Since TechShop opened, I have worked there, taken classes, participated in events and I occasionally help TechShop Pittsburgh with social media. TechShop has provided a home, meeting space and launch pad for some incredibly innovative ideas. If you haven’t been over to Bakery Square yet to check out the shop, take a class or attend an event, here are a few good reasons to check out what TechShop is all about…

TechShop Turns 2! Anniversary Open House on Sunday 3/29

Help TechShop Pittsburgh celebrate their 2nd birthday with a free afternoon of family friendly events. The open house is free to attend and will feature demos, hands on activities and birthday cake. Tickets are free, please RSVP here.

TechShop Pittsburgh Anniversary Open House
Sunday, March 29, 2015
1-4pm

Support Matt’s Millennial Trains Project Trip and Get a Month of Membership to TechShop Pittsburgh

Matt Verlinich is the general manager of TechShop Pittsburgh (he is also the guy on the left in the photo with President Obama above) and he is raising funds to participate in the next Millennial Trains project trip this spring.

I hope you will consider supporting Matt’s MTP Project and he has put together some great perks for your support including a discounted month of membership to TechShop Pittsburgh, a VIP tour of the shop and even an entire day of help from Matt at the shop.

Check out Matt’s application for the 2015 Millennial Trains Project here. Thanks to the generosity of many of the IheartPGH readers I was able to be a passenger on the first Millennial Trains Project trip in 2013. One of my takeaways from participating in Millennial Trains Project trip is that we need more Pittsburghers to go out and talk about this city with other young leaders from around the country. You can read more about my Millennial Trains Project experience here. I hope you will consider supporting Matt’s MTP project and help to send another Pittsburgher out to tell others about all of the great things that are happening in our fine city.

Upcoming MeetUps at TechShop Pittsburgh

Another great way to check out the shop and meet some fellow makers is to attend one of the many monthly meet ups that take place at TechShop Pittsburgh.

Ham Radio MeetUp – Wednesday, April 1 and the 1st Monday of every month
Jewelry Markers MeetUp – Monday, April 6
Microcontroller MeetUp – Wednesday, April 15 and the 3rd Wednesday of every month