Tag Archives: Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire

Thanks to all for a Wonderful 2012 Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

Posted on March 31, 2012 | 1 Comment

Our inaugural Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2012 was a resounding success, with over 300 people enjoying over 20 Maker exhibits indoors and out – at least  until some torrential Florida spring rains came, driving everyone indoors – where the party continued right up until closing time!

There were robots to drive,  custom chess pieces to make, duct tape and paper crafts to create, patent searches to, cool inventors to talk with, 3D printers to marvel at, great art, great food, and great people to share it all with!

Many, many thanks to all the great volunteers who helped make our event so successful, from the great FTC Team Duct Tape family that staffed our registration table all day to the wonderful University Area Community Development Corporation volunteers who helped guests and Makers and aided in the smooth and swift movement of Makers from the patio to the gym when the skies opened up.   It all went so smoothly, no one missed a beat in activities or fun!

We’ll share more photos and stories soon.  And you can find more on our Facebook page, too.

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2012 totally made our day!!

 

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

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TBMMF EventBrite PrePay Open Through 10am March 31!

Posted on March 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

We’ve extended our discount ticket prepurchase period through March 31 right up to opening time at 10am!

Buy your Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire tickets online now for just $5 for ages 5+.   Tickets are $8 at the door.  See you there!

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Meet the American Radio Relay League: Makers of Communications!

Posted on March 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

Need more reasons to come out to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire tomorrow?  How about the opportunity to check out some way cool Amateur Radio gear and meet the folks who know how to use it and can teach you to use it, too?

We asked West Central Florida Section Manager Dee Turner to tell us a bit about the group, which is joining us at TBMMF tomorrow.

DT: The American Radio Relay League is a non-profit organization that promotes Amateur Radio. Its purpose is to promote and advance the art, science and enjoyment of Amateur Radio. The ARRL was founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut.

The ARRL is the largest membership organization in the USA for radio amateurs with over 156,000 members. The ARRL represents its members with Congress and the FCC. They also are a member of the International Amateur Radio Union.

TBMMF: What else does the ARRL do?

DT: Other membership services include several magazines, broadcast of bulletins pertaining to amateur radio. Volunteer Examiner testing for amateur radio license, contesting, and assistance in emergency communications during disasters.

TBMMF: What makes ARRL fun and important?

DT: With amateur radio you can talk to other operator worldwide, bounce signals off the moon, talk to the astronauts. During disasters you communicate when other services a down. Help with public service events such as walks and bike rides.

TBMMF: What will you be doing at TBMMF?

DT: At TBMMF we plan on showing some of the projects built by our Technical Coordinator and Assistance Section Manager, Geoff Haines, N1GY. Demonstrate Morse code to Twitter and show videos of other DIY projects.

Now that’s something worth relaying!

 

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Posted in DIY, DIY Fun, Makers, Radio

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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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TBMMF Welcomes New Sponsor, Gabotronics!

Posted on March 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

Gabotronics is a young company based in Lakewood Ranch, FL. With over 10 years of analog and digital design experience, Gabotronics designs and manufactures embedded systems, specializing in  8-32 bits microcontroller projects, instrumentation and data acquisition, PCB Layout, custom electronic designs, as well as providing engineering consultation.

Gabotronics owner and operator, Gabriel Anzziani, will be showcasing  some of his products and doing some demonstrations.  He’ll also be running a TBMMF show special  on his Xprotolab, “the first mixed signal oscilloscope with an arbitrary waveform generator in a DIP module.” Measuring only 1 x 1.6 inches, it can be mounted directly on a breadboard.  Normally selling for $49, it will be available at TBMMF for $40.00.

Thanks, Gabotronics, for bringing more great Maker tools to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

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Posted in Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Hobbysts, Makers, Sponsors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire

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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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Meet Ryder – Our Official TBMMF Videographer!

Posted on March 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

Ryder with his home-made camera rig.

We wanted to make sure we accurately captured the fun and DIY spirit of our very first Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, so we turned to a Young Maker whose work we already know and admire.  Ryder is the team videographer for Learning is for Everyone‘s (your TBMMF organizer) award winning FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, Team Duct Tape.  Ryder’s nuanced eye for meaningful action, angles and editing helped Team Duct Tape earn a spot at the FIRST World Championship when they competed at the Florida FTC State Championship back in February.   We thought you’d enjoy learning a bit about Ryder, so you’ll have a heads up when you see him roving about on Saturday.

TBMMF: Please tell us a little about yourself, Ryder.

Ryder:  I am 13.  I live in Tampa Bay. I make videos for TDT , our FTC robotics team, and for my YouTube channel randomtvusa. I also like to build, and I am a Boy Scout. Also, I like to go camping.

TBMMF: How did you get interested in videography?

Ryder: I got interested in videography after watching Rhett and Links Commercial Kings.

TBMMF: What are some of your favorite films that you’ve made?

Ryder: TDT World  (a fundraising video for the team) and the Judges videos,  and for my YouTube channel the Batman Advice series and the Duck Tape commercial.

TBMMF: What do you like best about videography?

Ryder: Shooting the video then when you get to see the final video.

TBMMF: What type of equipment do you use?

Ryder: A small vide camera ,clamp lights, a PVC camera rig and and a Clap board.

TBMMF: What’s your dream gear look like?

Ryder: A pro video camera real lights, a nice mic for good sound, and a better editing system.

TBMMF: We know you’ve made some special gear of your own – Can you tell us about it? 

Ryder: Well I made a PVC camera rig to make the video steadier.

TBMMF: What else do you like making besides movies?

Ryder: I like making props for movies and other useful things.

You can see more of Ryder’s work at Random TV USA and the Team Duct Tape YouTube Channel.   And you can see Ryder at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire on Saturday. Be sure to say hi, and smile!

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Posted in DIY, DIY Fun, Makers, 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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TBMMF Welcomes New Sponsor MINI of Wesley Chapel

Posted on March 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

One good Mini deserves another – and Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is grateful for the Sustaining level sponsorship of MINI of Wesley Chapel , which just opened at 26645 State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel.  They’ll have a couple of sweet new MINI Coopers on hand at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, so be sure to stop by their tent and see what’s new in the cool little car department!

Thank you for your support, MINI of Wesley Chapel!

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Posted in Sponsors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire

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Up Close & Personal with Red Squid Art Stencils & Design

Posted on March 25, 2012 | 1 Comment

Red Squid Art Stencils & Design recently gifted Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire with the fantastic poster at left. We didn’t ask, but when Chuck Gutz, the Maker behind Red Squid inquired about posters and learned we only had a basic flyer, the attached turned up in our in-box. Intrigued by both the speed and the quality, we thought we’d take a few moments to learn more about Mr. Gutz and Red Squid.

TBMMF: Tell us a little about yourself.

RS:  I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I moved to Ybor City to be near the art and music scene in the early 90s. I now live in quiet Seminole Heights.
I am mostly self taught. The library was the internet of my youth and I learned how to learn at an early age. Everything took care of itself after that.

TBMMF: How did you come to do what you do?

RS:  I dabbled in art, music, design, science, and what ever else caught my attention. I got serious about painting and stencils about ten years ago when I lived in Hawaii. I’m really influenced by order and chaos in a state of flux. The imperfect repetition of stencils appeals to me as the antithesis of the obsessive perfectionism of traditional printing. I love the balance between the hard line of the stencil and the random nature of texture, overspray, and splatter.

TBMMF: What brings you to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire next week?

RS: I have a strong belief in DIY, open source, state of the shelf design. I use affordable materials available at the local hardware store. I reject the idea of intellectual property as being counter productive. I keep no trade secrets and love to show people how I do what I do. If you plant seeds you get fruit.

TBMMF: What’s up next?

RS: Currently I am studying electronics, painting, designing mazes, and working on a cool new musical instrument made from used heavy duty oxygen tanks that will be making its public debut at the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Fair! Come by and check it out and I’ll tell you how to make your own.

TBMMF: We can’t wait!

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Makers, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire

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