HacDC events calendar

Check out HacDC’s event calendar on Meetup

https://www.meetup.com/hac-dc

Microcontroller Monday is a weekly gathering of HacDC members and guests interested in microcontroller programming and projects. HacDC stocks a variety of microcontrollers for projects. Upgrading of an existing commercial laser cutter is a recent theme of Microcontroller Mondays.

Spaceblimp is HacDC’s high-altitude balloon project; it’s tracked in real-time by GPS and amateur radio and can carry several experiments. The fifth iteration reached 118,000 ft and took some beautiful photos of the Earth’s curvature. Spaceblimp 6 is in it’s planning and fundraising stages. Meetings are the first and third Tuesday of the month.

Although Linux is generally HacDC’s operating system of choice, some people know more than others! Intro Linux is a bi-weekly gathering and workshop on basic aspects of the Linux operating system, from installation, the file system, shell scripting to firewalls and more. Intro Linux is generally the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

HacDC’s Amateur Radio Club (HARC), callsign W3HAC, transmits worldwide from a 35-foot microwave tower the roof of our location as well as a nearby repeater station on 448.875 MHz. Club meetings are the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month and often feature invited speakers. Licensing study sessions and exams are administered on Saturday mornings.

3D Thursday is a weekly gathering of HacDC members and guests interested in 3D design and 3D printing. HacDC’s workhose printers are a LulzBot Mini and LulzBot Taz. The preferred design tool is the open-source ImplicitCAD, based on OpenSCAD. 3D Thursday has recently focused on designing and printing parts for a laser cutter.

Projects with upcoming (not yet scheduled) events:

Project Optical Table Robot aims to build a large-format 3D printer, laser cutter and pick-and-place multi-tool on an 8-foot optical table currently in HacDC’s dungeon. Project OTR activities often involve Microcontroller Mondays and 3D Thursdays.

Project Scanning Electrom Microscope aims to refurbish a scanning electron microscope currently in our classroom, first for imaging and eventually for lithography. Project SEM is currently pending the purchase of a vacuum gauge to troubleshoot the built-in microscope gauge and interlock, but expect an SEM Workday in the coming weeks.

Project CRISPR will demonstrate gene editing on a shoestring budget using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Look forward to the first Project CRISPR event in the coming weeks.

Anthony Stevens DC-CERT Speaking July 13th 7:30 pm

cert_logo_ serve dc_ skyline

Anthony Stevens from the DC Government will be speaking about the CERT program.  Serve DC’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program trains citizens to be better prepared to respond to emergencies in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can  provide critical support to first responders, immediate assistance to victims and can help organize spontaneous  volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the community safety.

CERT training is free and open to anyone who lives, works or congregates in the District of Columbia. Classes include:

  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Fire Safety
  • Medical Operations and First Aid
  • Search and Rescue
  • Disaster Psychology
  • Terrorism

Arrl Kids Day/National Park Service Centennial Celebration

arrl kids day 2

HacDC Amateur Radio Club is participating in Arrl Kids Day and National Parks on the Air centennial event on June 18, 2016, 2 PM to 7 PM local time.  This event is fun for kids and adults of all ages.  The object of this event is to introduce kids to amateur radio and to communicate with as many other amateur radio stations all over the world.  We will be activating National Park # DZ10 (The White House)

The President of the United States lives in a National Park

Every president except George Washington has called the White House and its surrounding grounds his place of work, rest, and solitude. Recognizable around the world, the White House stands as a symbol of democracy. The White House and its park grounds serve not only as the seat of the executive branch of government of the United States of America, but also as an iconic place for civil discourse.

North Portico of the White House