Opening on 19.10, 14:00–22:00
Starship Factory is officially opening again.
Blog
What gets built, repaired and tried out at our space.
Starship Factory is moving
Starship Factory is currently closed. Since we have to vacate our club rooms in the interim use at Klybeck, we looked for suitable premises and found them on Gasstrasse, near Voltaplatz. At the moment the rooms at Klybeck are closed as we are in the middle of the move. From mid-June you will find us (though not yet fully set up) at Gasstrasse 20, in the rear courtyard.
Christmas light repair workshop
The festive season is just around the corner and your Christmas lights have stopped working? Do not worry! Come to our meetup at Starship Factory and repair your Christmas lights with our electronics experts. What can you expect? Professional support: our experienced techies help you get faulty light chains, stars and other illuminated decorations shining again. Tools and materials: all the tools and materials you need for the repair are available on site. A cosy atmosphere: enjoy a warm and welcoming atmosphere in our workshop, exchange ideas with other participants and let the pre-Christmas mood inspire you. Who can take part? Everyone is welcome, whether you are handy or not. Our electronics experts are there to help you with advice and hands-on support.
Laser your design onto all sorts of materials!
Do you have a unique design that you would like to put onto different materials such as wood or metal? At Starship Factory we offer you the chance to engrave your design onto a range of surfaces with state-of-the-art laser technology. Date: Friday, 29 November 2024 Time: 19:30 – 22:00 Location: Makerspace Basel, Starship Factory, Klybeckstrasse 141, Basel
Workshop on computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) in FreeCAD
Following the workshop on constraint-based/parametric modelling in FreeCAD, let’s take a look at CAM (i.e. computer-aided manufacturing) in FreeCAD! We’ll start with some theory on 3-axis CNC milling, covering Different types of milling bits Chipload RPM Feedrate Depth of cut Conventional versus climb cutting Next, we’ll check out some options in the Path workbench in FreeCAD, focusing on operations to generate different kinds of tool paths like
Workshop on constraint-based and parametric modelling in FreeCAD
Constraint-based and parametric modelling is ideal for prototyping something, as it is straightforward to modify your design without having to partially re-model it. Rather than drawing your geometry at a fixed position and with a fixed scale and orientation, constraint-based modelling allows you to add bits of geometry (e.g. line segments, circular arcs, …) and specify properties — constraints — such as length, angle or distance in a flexible way. In addition, you can assign labels to values, which can be used to define properties of other bits of geometry (e.g. define a circular arc with the same length as a line segment elsewhere).
Punch with snowflakes
Oops, is it the end of the year again? Only one thing helps: change down a gear, roll to a stop and switch into contemplative mode. An excellent opportunity to sit together again, look back over the year and do a bit of lasering (what else)! This year we would like to build snowflakes with you, since snow has become rare in the Rhine plain. We defy global warming with Bleeptrack’s snowflake generator and create our own diversity that way. Of course you are welcome to laser other things too. If you are artistically gifted you have the chance to pick up a pen and create your own cutting templates with our help. The materials for the workshop are provided. There is also non-alcoholic punch and, if you prefer, mulled wine — plus harmful carbohydrates for everyone too weak to resist. We are already looking forward to seeing you!
Playing with Home Assistant
+++ Date changed +++ Date changed +++ Date changed +++ Date changed +++ Home automation is becoming ever more important. The components can now be bought in any DIY store. Our flats and houses are supposed to become “intelligent”. That is not always useful or sensible. But you can have a great deal of fun with it.
Klybeck Arealfest 2022
On Sunday, 26 June 2022 from 11:00 we are holding the Klybeck Arealfest. We and many others will open our doors and give an insight into what we do. There are many small projects for young and old to try out. With us you can try out smaller projects with the 3D printer, laser cutter and cutting plotter. In the Makey Makey workshop you will learn to build a banana controller, for your favourite game for instance (bring your phone), and to get to know the tinkerer in you.
3D printing workshop
Are you interested in 3D printing? Would you like to try it yourself? With this introduction to slicing and printing you will learn how to work with our 3D printers. The workshop takes place on Tuesday, 12 April, every hour from 18:00 to 21:00. Recommended age: from 14 years Prior knowledge needed: none. Familiarity with 3D model formats is an advantage.
Christmas dinner
Dear Starship Factory members and residents of the Werk, we would like to invite you to our shared Christmas dinner on Sunday, 5 December.
An assistant for the home
Starship Factory has been one playground richer for a few days: an instance of the free software Home Assistant for home automation has been installed on our cloud server. The server has also been fitted with a Zigbee USB stick, so that Zigbee-compatible devices can be controlled directly. Among these are products from Ikea’s inexpensive TRÅDFRI home automation range, but also lamps from Philips Hue.
End of the dry spell
Last Tuesday we restocked our bar with (non-alcoholic) drinks. We took the opportunity to fill the snack shelf generously again as well. The bar is open to all visitors to Starship Factory. So nobody has to suffer while tinkering any more. Please take the prices from the notice. As usual you can pay cashlessly with Twint here. For now the QR code on the donation box serves that purpose. We will replace it before long with a dedicated QR code for the snacks.
Hot cuts – introduction to laser cutting
Do you share our enthusiasm for lasers? Then this introduction to working with materials on our KH-3020 laser might be just the thing for you. It takes place on Friday, 19 November during our regular opening hours from 20:00. The KH-3020 is a variant of the popular K40 CO2 laser. The controller has however been replaced to extend what it can do. It is driven with the software LightBurn.
Wash and cure
In August we acquired an Anycubic Photon Mono X resin printer to extend our possibilities in 3D printing. To go with this printer there is now also a Wash and Cure 2.0 unit. It makes washing the printed parts considerably easier. Soft and sticky surfaces are a thing of the past.
New possibilities with high-resolution resin printing
3D printing has always been a big topic at Starship Factory. Until now, though, you had to make do with TLD printing. That changed a few days ago: from now on an Anycubic Photon Mono X MSLA resin printer is available to everyone interested. The Mono X offers a comparatively large print volume of 192 mm (L) * 120 mm (W) * 250 mm (H) at an extremely high resolution of 0.05 mm horizontally (4K display) and up to 0.01 mm vertically. It prints with UV-light-sensitive acrylic resin.
Laser upgrade
After several attempts we have finally been able to finish the extraction system on the KH-3020 laser. From now on lasering works without the stink as well. The duct fan is connected directly to the KH-3020 and switches on as soon as you switch the laser on. The difference is noticeable :-)
Rather fast internet
We have had a fast internet connection for a while. The hardware was not quite there yet. Now we have upgraded and installed a new router. With it we can finally make full use of the bandwidth of our internet connection. We have also installed network sockets on the window side of our new worktable, so that you can benefit as much as possible from the fast connection.
Introduction to 3D printing
Round two: on 2 July from 20:00, Claudius and Bernd are offering our uncomplicated and entirely informal introduction to 3D printing at Starship Factory once again. This is an event by laypeople for laypeople. After a short introduction to the principles of TLD (“thin layer deposition”) 3D printing and the typical workflows, we will explore Starship Factory’s machines together. Depending on how we feel, we will start a series of test prints, investigate how the machines work, or print first models.
An addition to the 3D printing family
We have a new arrival! For everyone who likes it big, an Anycubic Chiron 3D printer is available at Starship Factory with immediate effect. It works by the TLD process and provides a print volume of up to 400 mm x 400 mm x 450 mm (W x D x H).
We are opening again!
On 14 April the Federal Council decided on relaxations. From the week of 19 April, Starship Factory is therefore finally opening its doors to the public again. From that date you are welcome again during regular opening hours. These are, as before: Tuesdays from 19:30 to 22:00 Fridays from 19:30 to 22:00 and by arrangement on other days too, of course.
Introduction to 3D printing
+++ Date changed +++ Date changed +++ Date changed +++ Unfortunately Starship Factory remains closed to the public because of the coronavirus ordinance in force. We therefore have to postpone our introduction to 3D printing. It is now expected to take place on Friday, 16 April during our regular opening hours from 20:00. This is an event by laypeople for laypeople. After a short introduction to the principles of TLD (“thin layer deposition”) 3D printing and the typical workflows, we will explore Starship Factory’s machines together. Depending on how we feel, we will start a series of test prints, investigate how the machines work, or print first models. After this introduction you will normally be qualified to use Starship Factory’s 3D printers on your own. After that there are no limits to your creativity.
Renewed coronavirus measures
Unfortunately, because of the measures decided today by the Federal Council, we have to restrict our public opening hours. For that reason Starship Factory is no longer accessible to non-members with immediate effect. All members please continue to observe the protection concept announced in June and displayed on site, and avoid contact with other people where possible.
New 3D printing corner
After things had always been a little cramped in the previous 3D printing corner, Claudius took the initiative and secured us a few metres of high-quality metal shelving. We have now put it up and moved the printers over, for the most part. That finally gives us room for relaxed working, and for expansion too. The new printer provided by Ben, for instance, has found its home there. As a side effect we were also able to finally store the film rolls for the plotter, and the plotter itself, properly.
Workshop: build your own digital clock
We are building a digital clock to our own taste. The workshop offers an interesting mix of soldering, 3D printing and laser cutting. The individual steps can be carried out in any order. On the day of the workshop we will split into 3 groups for this. The workshop mainly serves as a way into the project. Finishing it then happens at your leisure during Starship Factory’s opening hours (see opening hours).