Meet the Makers – Mark Rehorst
Tell us about yourself.
I am a dentist in Racine, Wisconsin who used to be an electrical engineer. I am also a member of the Milwaukee Makerspace where I am most interested in 3D printing. In the past I was into audio and built electrostatic speakers, amplifiers, etc., then started restoring antique vacuum tube radios. I was always into bicycles, too, and designed and built a carbon fiber recumbent bike about 8 years ago that I still ride today.
What are you presenting at Maker Faire Milwaukee?
I will be exhibiting my self-designed and built, 2nd generation 3D printer, Son of MegaMax, and, if I manage to finish on schedule, a large volume 3D printer that prints chocolate vases. I might even bring my bicycle.
Why is making important to you?
I was born a maker. I have been making and building things since I was a little kid and can’t imagine my life without some sort of project going on. Usually, shortly before I feel like a project is finished, I start thinking about the next project. No project is ever really finished, of course.
What was the first thing you remember making?
I don’t recall anything specific, but I had Lincoln Logs and an Erector set when I was a kid, and then a lot of LEGO. At about 9 or 10 years old I started getting into electronics and built a lot of RadioShack P-box kits, a few Heath Kits, and a lot of projects from electronics magazines. In high school I was in a ham radio Explorer post 373 in Bay View and got licensed up to general class.
What have you made that you are most proud of?
That’s a difficult question. I guess my second generation 3D printer, Son of MegaMax would be my current favorite, though my bicycle is a close second.
Given an unlimited budget, what would you make?
I think I’d like a really big telescope. Or an electron microscope. Or a 3D printer that can print buildings. Or a ….
Meet the Makers – Chad Bridgewater
We’re pleased to have Chad Bridgewater returning to Maker Faire this year. If you aren’t familiar with Chad’s work, much of it has to do with re-purposing old tools into new machines. Discarded tables saws become 3D printers and laser engravers, and a drill press rescued from the trash becomes a CNC router.
Chad recently received his MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and his MFA show in the spring was the first reveal of some of his machines. Chad did much of his work in the Digital Craft Research Lab at UWM and has a great appreciation for the merging of new and old processes to creating unique things.
Chad’s appreciation for tools and those who work with their hands (coupled with his love of rummage sales) resulted in a “memorial” of 135 worn and neglected toolboxes interlocked together.
Chad’s been keeping busy this summer, and he’ll have some great new builds for Maker Faire Milwaukee. If you want a sneak peek, check out Chad’s blog at chadbridgewater.blogspot.com
Meet the Makers – Steve Hay
Tell us about yourself.
I am an old guy who can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making things.
What are you presenting at Maker Faire Milwaukee?
I will be presenting a talk on designing and building the 1903 Wright Brothers engine My father, Steve Hay Sr., my brother Jim Hay and I built a 1903 Wright Brothers Engine in 1978 that we ran for years at the EAA AirVenture. That is what led to my brother and I building the engines for the Centennial Celebration in 2003 at Kitty Hawk. I believe that engine is a perfect example for Maker Faire, because of its simplicity of design. It utilized old technology and new innovations in materials in a design which could be built with the machinery the Wright Brothers had in their bicycle shop.
Why is making important to you?
The manipulation of materials and properties of materials have always been a prime interest of mine and making things has always been a most enjoyable way of learning both. The Ornithopter, which I am presenting at Maker Faire, is one of my more successful projects, although it is still evolving. It started out as a car over 30 years ago and morphed into an aircraft. I honestly never thought it would survive this long. I have been taking it to the EAA AirVenture for 30 years.
What was the first thing you remember making?
I do remember, when I was quite young, asking my mother if I could bake a cake from scratch. She said “OK”, and I made a mess of the kitchen and the cake didn’t look like much but it tasted good. Then, as now, I am usually more interested in the process than in the finished product, so I have made a lot of things that have not quite come out.
What have you made that you are most proud of?
I have built many other things and the one I am the most proud of right now, is a very ornate 15 century wheel lock rifle.
Given an unlimited budget, what would you make?
I would take an old steam locomotive and modify it with modern materials and technology and go after the steam locomotive land speed record. That would be fun.
100 Days until Maker Faire!
Maker Faire Milwaukee is coming up fast! We’re just 100 days out, and there’s still much to do.
Our Call for Makers is still open, and we’d love to have you come to Maker Faire and show off the things you’ve made, lead a workshop, or speak about a maker-related topic. We’re also looking for volunteers and sponsors to help make the event awesome.
If you aren’t ready to help us run the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth, plan on attending and taking it all in. We’ve got some amazing things to share with you, so put the date on your calendar, and we’ll see you in 100 days!
Steve Hay’s Ornithopter
Steve Hay will return to Make Faire Milwaukee this year with his Ornithopter. If you missed it last year, here’s a description from Steve:
The Ornithopter has a 1927 gasoline-powered stover hit and miss engine which propels it forward and flaps the wings up and down. It’s constructed of tree branches, clothing and a steel supporting structure for the wings.
Steve has shown the Ornithopter at the Experimental Aircraft Association convention in the past, and we’re pleased to have his contraption at Maker Faire.
If you’re still not totally sure what an Ornithopter is, there’s plenty more to learn over at Wikipedia.
Chicago Brings the Noise!
You don’t have to be from Milwaukee to take part in Maker Faire Milwaukee. We’re excited to welcome back our friends from Pumping Station: One in Chicago who will be offering to help you build your own “PS: One Noisemaker”, which is an optical theremin. What’s a theremin you might ask? It’s a musical instrument controlled without physical contact. Typically you wave your hands in the air to create sounds. The “optical” theremin uses a light sensor to detect how much light is hitting it and creates a buzzing sound proportionally related to that. If you don’t understand electronics much, that’s ok, Jenny from PS:1 will explain it all and help your build your very own noisemaking theremin. (Already understand all the technical stuff? There’s a github page for the noisemaker.)
Return of the Power Racing Series
We’re hosting another Power Racing Series exhibition event at Maker Faire Milwaukee this year! What is Power Racing, you ask? Simply, teams build and race an electric car, with a $500 spending limit. You can start with any kids’ electric ride-on vehicle. Then, read up on creating your own vehicle, grab friends to form a team, find some tools and a helmet, and get to work. The races are a blast, and how you decorate your car counts for some serious points, too. Glitter, feathers, lights, anything goes. Visit powerracingseries.org for more information and guidelines.
Control a Spaceship with Artemis
“Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator is ridiculously good fun.” — Wired Magazine
‘Nuf said. There will be an Artemis Bridge at Maker Faire Milwaukee. Artemis, a multiplayer, multicomputer networked game, invites gamers to assume roles as spaceship officers in charge of the helm, communications, engineering, and weapons (of course), and their Captain, who tells everyone what to do, like “Set phasers to stun.”
Stay tuned for details.
Swap-O-Rama-Rama
New this year, Swap-O-Rama-Rama — that’s right, two Ramas in the name! This clothing swap and DIY workshop series explores creative reuse through recycling used clothing. Bring at least one bag of clean, used clothing to add to the collection and then dive in to find items to work with at all kinds of stations – sewing machines, hand sewing, bedazzling, beading, bleach pen and sharpie decorating, silk screening, knitting, repair, appliqués and more. We’ll have skilled volunteers on hand to help get you started and talk about how to take measurements, working with patterns and other upcycling tricks and tips. This is gonna be fun.
The Call for Makers is open!
The Call for Makers is now open!
Thanks to the success of our inaugural event that attracted more than 35,000 attendees, Maker Faire Milwaukee is listed as the nation’s largest Featured Maker Faire. We need your help to make this year’s event even bigger and better!