Make:PDX will be kicking off 2010 with a meeting focused on Robots. Specifically the Portland Area Robotics Society (PARTS – http://portlandrobotics.org)

PARTS will be describing their group and some members will have the robots they have built on display.

Also, the Oregon Robotics Tournament championships are coming up in February and are always looking for volunteers. More info at HTTP://www.ortop.org

Hope to see you for our first meeting of 2010!

RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/event.php?eid=284841364637&index=1

RSVP on Upcoming: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/5220734/OR/Beaverton/MakePDX-January-Meeting/TechShop-Portland/?ps=7

Saturday, November 21, 2009

3:00pm – 6:00pm

TechShop 10100 SW Allen Blvd., Beaverton, OR 97005

MakePDX is getting together again and this time we will have guests from the Micro-Inventors Program of Oregon!

Ever wondered what to do after you came up with that great idea or how to go about selling it or protecting it? MIPO is an organization designed around helping inventors get to that next step!

ABOUT MIPO (http://mipooregon.org)

MIPO provides inventors with consulting, training, and resources that focus on bringing their inventions to market as a means of diversifying Oregon’s economy and increasing opportunities for solutions to societal challenges.

MIPO works with entrepreneurs to move their inventions and conceptional models toward commercialization or licensing ventures. By doing so, local communities will benefit from an increase in higher-paying jobs and better opportunities for products to enter the market that were conceived in Oregon.

By creating these opportunities, Oregon will cultivate an environment of economic and technology innovation that will increase capital investment in Oregon, create more innovative-based enterprises, emphasize job creation, while focusing on socially responsible inventions that bring solutions to our complex societal challenges.

As usual if you bring project that you’ve been working on and show it off you’ll get a fabulous piece of Make swag.

During the BBQ we’re going to be doing an egg drop. The winner will receive a nice T-Shirt and an issue of Make magazine.

We have a speaker from the Oregon Electric Vehicles Association coming down to talk to us.  The OEVA is a group that meets every month to talk about making and using electric vehicles.

As always, there will be time for every one to show off their projects, and every one who does will get a prize.  And of course there will be drinks and snack to go along with the meeting. If you have a recipe that you really like and want to show off don’t be shy.  Cooking is making to after all.

The previous workshop was very well done.  Don put on a great workshop that started out with a walk through of the design process.   Later he moved on to in depth discussions of cadsoft Eagle and the etching process.

The class is this Sunday (June 14th) at tech shop 1-5pm and costs $35.  You’ll get every thing you need to etch a circuit board, except the chemicals.

This work shop is a must for any one getting started with circuit design.

We have lined up a speaker from the active and inventive local electronics gurus, DorkbotPDX. They regularly have meetings at various locations around town that range from casual gatherings to focused in-depth workshops. Check out their calendar for more info.

Also we have a speaker from the Portland State Aerosapce Society. PSAS members work on airframes, avionics, communication equipment, motors, software, and more. They welcome participation from students and community members and have a list of open projects that they would like help with if you’re so inclined.

The Northwest Audiovisualists will be having a meeting at Techshop just before the Make:PDX meeting and have offered to give us a demonstration of some of the fun things they are working on as well!

Finally we are also hoping to have some craft beers available from Make:PDX members and the Oregon Brew Crew as well as Coffee provided by a local Micro-Roaster.

We’re terribly excited about keeping up the momentum from our last meeting (aside from the month-long gap) and hope to see you there. Please bring your projects and baked goods to share!

Thanks go to Handmade NW and DIYAlert for the tip!