Category Archives: Inventions

Ready, Set, MAKE!

Posted on March 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

The banners are in, the programs are printed, the swag and buttons are here, the Makers and our Volunteers are ready, the Food Trucks are fired up, the robot batteries and the electric cars are charging, the artists have arrayed their wares, the media’s been alerted,  and the pennants are ready to fly for the Tampa Bay’s first ever Mini Maker Faire!

There’s still time to get your discounted tickets at EventBrite . Just $5 prepaid and $8 at the door, for ages 5+ . We promise you won’t go home empty-handed, hungry or without new knowledge  - there’s toys to make, art to stencil, things to solder, swag to collect and great food to eat!

So head on over the University Area Community Center Complex at 14013 N. 22nd Street tomorrow morning, to enjoy a little taste of the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth!

 

 

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Food Trucks, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, RC, ROV, Sponsors, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Robots, Robots Everywhere!

Posted on March 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

The University of South Florida’s new underwater robot, Tavros02, made headlines in the Tampa Bay Times this morning, as much for its unique Tweeting ability as its remarkable underwater capabilities.   Every 20 minutes, the robot sends telemetric tweets concerning its whereabouts and water conditions, complete with hashtags.

Tavros02 is just one of USFs many robotics projects. At Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, the USF Robotics Interest Group (RIG) will be on hand with several of their more battle hardened bots, ranging from 3 lbs. to over 200 lbs. in size.

The Tampa Bay Times also featured TBMMF this morning, in a piece titled, “Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Brings out the Edison in Everyone,” noting that robots will be a star attraction at out inaugural event.   In addition to USF RIG:

And guests will be able to try their hand at driving and using some of these robots, as well!

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, Florida Inventors, Inventions, Makers, Robotics, ROV, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Event Map & Program Now Available!

Posted on March 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Our event map and program is now available online! Paper copies will be available at the event, courtesy of DEX Imaging, whose in-kind support of Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is deeply appreciated!

Check out all the great Makers we’ll have on hand.  We couldn’t put it all in the program, but here’s just some of the eye-opening (and  mouth watering!) fun you can have at TBMMF this coming Saturday:

Enjoy this and so much more, at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire on Saturday, March 31, from 10am-4pm at the University Area Community Center Complex in Tampa!

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Food Trucks, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Check out the Line Up for TBMMF 2012!

Posted on March 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

The line up for our very first Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is amazing! Check it out!   There’s robots on the land and in the water, music, arts, crafts, toy making, inventions, inventors, amateur radio, and food galore!

And, wonderfully, a ... sadly – no

That’s right – Make will be at the  Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, showcasing their wonderful wares!

We erred! MakerShed is unable to join us, but will be sending along some materials for us to share.  And of course we’ve got the Maker spirit in our blood -Check out our great roster!

Our Commercial Makers include:

And we’ve got an amazing collection of community Makers!

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Food Truck Rally -Our Culinary Makers

Our Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Food Truck Rally vendors are donating a portion of proceeds from the day to the University Area Community Center Complex!

Please note, large companies or commercial entities do not qualify as Commercial Makers. If you are a large company or commercial entity, please see our Sponsor page.

Maker line-up and schedules subject to change.

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Food Trucks, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, MakerShed, Mini Maker Faire, Music, New technology, RC, Robotics, ROV, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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TBMMF Venue Tour: More Room for Makers & UACCC Rocks!

Posted on February 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

TBMMF toured our hosting facility, the University Area Community Center Complex today, and can’t sing the venue’s praises enough!  In addition to the beautiful outdoor patio space, UACCC is providing an equally spacious indoor community room space, and a great field for our TBMMF Food Truck Rally with  picnicking facilities under a shady forest of oaks!

We’ve confirmed the availability of sufficient power resources, wifi, tables and chairs for our Makers, space for electric race cars and robots, and plenty of parking and room to roam for our event attendees.

In short, the University Area Community Center Complex is made for a Mini Maker Faire, and we can’t think of a more wonderful home for the inaugural Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

That said – We’ve got plenty of room to accommodate a few more Makers, indoors and out!

Here’s just some of the possibilities you can showcase:

  • Student Projects
  • Music Performance and Participation
  • 3D Printers and CNC Mill
  • Textile Arts and Crafts
  • Home Energy Monitoring
  • RC Toys
  • Sustainability
  • Green Tech
  • Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
  • Electronics
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
  • Food and Beverage Makers
  • Robotics
  • Puppets
  • Kites
  • Bicycles
  • Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
  • Unusual Tools or Machines
  • How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Individuals, groups, schools and organizations that would like to demonstrate what they make and/or how it works in an interactive environment can have exhibit space at no cost!

Individuals who would like to sell products along with demonstrating what they make at their Mini-Maker exhibit pay a $75 Commercial Maker exhibit fee.  Large companies and other commercial enterprises are welcome to participate as event Sponsors.

Maker Applications accepted through February 22!

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Hobbysts, Inventions, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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CNN: How to Make More Makers

Posted on February 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

Dale Dougherty, publisher and founder of MAKE magazine and the creator of Maker Faire (of which Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is a regional offshoot)  was recently featured on CNN, discussing the Maker movement.

“Makers start with that simple idea to do something, which is why we call it DIY – for “do it yourself.”, Dougherty told CNN.

“Soon, however, they find out that there are lots of people like you out there. When you find others, you have a community and that community offers a place to show your work, trade tools and swap ideas, and just have fun.

“And this isn’t just for some people, or just people who like air cannons. I believe we are all makers. We can find all kinds of makers in our communities. Yet we also want to help create more makers. Through education and community outreach, we can offer the opportunity to make things to more people, but particularly children. They might find these opportunities at school but also at community centers, summer camps and science centers, or even at home. My goal is that all people, young and old, come to see themselves as makers, creators and doers because I know that the people who have the skills and knowledge to make things have the power to make the world a better place.”

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Posted in DIY, DIY Fun, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire

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12 Year Old Brickstix Inventor Wins Tagie Award

Posted on February 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

BrickStix Clings are reusable, removable and restickable cling decals. They work like window clings, and can be reused almost indefinitely, and even washed if they get dirty. More impressively, they were invented by 12 year old Greyson McClean, who recently won a Tagie Award for BrickStix Clings. Check out this great video of Greyson on the Conan O’Brien show in November.

“I’m just glad everyone followed behind my crazy idea!,” Greyson told his local Wisconsin television station. “I’ve kind of learned that if I hadn’t believed in myself, I couldn’t have expected anyone else to believe in me.”

Good advice, from a smart young inventor!

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Posted in Craftspeople, Entrepreneurs, Inventions, Makers, Young Makers

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TBMMF Welcomes SnapIt Screw!

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

We featured the Snapit Screw story here in December and are delighted to welcome them to the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire as a Commercial Maker.   They’ll be selling their eyeglass repair kit and sharing inventor  Nancy Tedeschi ’s inventive journey at our event.

Welcome,SnapIt!

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Inventions, Makers, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire

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Young Maker Hunter Morera at MOSI Feb. 4

Posted on February 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

A couple of years ago, when he was just 16 years old, Hunter Morera developed his then patent pending Select-a-Wrench, a sort of Swiss Army bunch-a-wrenches in one tool. Over the ensuing two years, Morera, of  Lutz,  has appeared on the Discovery Channel’s Pitchmen, and his Select-a-Wrench tool is now being sold in Walmart and other stores.

Tomorrow, Feb. 4, you can meet Hunter, and pitchman Anthony Sullivan, at MOSI from 11 AM to noon, where Hunter will share his story on “creating an innovative product while overcoming personal challenges”  Hunter’s personal challenges – he was born with a heart defect that’s required five open heart surgeries. Details are on the MOSI calendar.  Go get inspired!

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Inventions, Makers, Young Makers

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Red Rover Red Rover can you ROVer Underwater?

Posted on February 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

Sure you can! Especially with ROV in a Bag, thanks to a national partnership headed up by the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center in an effort to improve marine technical education in the U.S. and to meet the workplace needs of America’s marine-related workforce and employers.

ROV in a Bag lets you  build and fly your own ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) in just a few minutes – and it’s coming to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!  Check out the video below from a past competition, and visit 
http://www.materover.org
 to learn more, see more videos and find some great marine ROV educational resources!

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Posted in Contests, DIY, DIY Fun, Hobbysts, Inventions, Makers, RC, Robotics, ROV, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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