TX/RX Labs - Latest posts by rtavk3

TX/RX Labs is working on a really amazing project and we are excited to begin sharing it with the public. Our team of engineers and educators has designed a 3D printer from the ground up to maximize build speed and quality while still not sacrificing ease of use. We are pairing that with an amazing set of educator resources to make 3d printing part of an exciting math, science, and engineering curriculum for middle and high school students. This project will bring the excitement and tactile stimulation that helps students create lasting learning experiences to every school. Giving educators new means to engage students and show them the value of careers in math, science, technology, and engineering.

This project is still in development, but one of our earliest prototypes will be on display as a pieceof the CTRL+P exhibition at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. This demonstration is part of our early outreach efforts to raise awareness of the projects, its possibilities and goals. This exhibition will run from May 31st to September 8th, 2013 and the schoolBOT will be continuously printing objects throughout the exhibition. More information about the exhibition can be found here.

Currently our team consists of:

To gain further information about the project or to lend your support to this worthy cause please contact:

Roland von Kurantowski III
roland.von.k@txrxlabs.org
205 Roberts St.
Houston Tx, 77003
832-656-9413

A crew of TX/RX Members (Cody Jones, Wanjun Zhang, Roland von Kurnatowski) spent two days teaching robotics to a local group of middle-schoolers over spring break. It was a really fun course that taught the basics of arduino and then built upon that knowledge to program a line follower robot. The whole two days culminated in the students competing by racing their robots against each other. The course was taught at Young Men's Preparatory Academy and was in conjunction with Kids Xplore Inc, another 501(c)3 non-profit that seeks to provide technology and science education and experiences to children. The project was funded by Schlumberger. More to Come!

TX/RX Labs is proud to announce our Summer 2013 Class Series, featuring ~40 classes in diverse topics such as Welding, Programming, 3d Printing, CNC, CAD, CAM, and much more. We look forward to sharing our excitement for fabrication and innovation with you as we collaborate to extend your abilities and provide you with new resources to use in your own projects and exploits. All classes are taught by volunteers and all proceeds go to support the lab and its non-profit goals.

To view all the classes and register please visit: http://www.txrxlabs.org/classes

Christmas just isnt the same without bending the rules of spacetime. So we whipped up a couple portals and through the tree through it. All the ornaments were custom cut on the Laser cutter as part of our ornament build day and yes that is a Hyrul Crest as the tree topper. There are some nice close shots of the ornaments as well on our facebook page: Ornament Set Props to Sudi, Katerina, Justin, Wanjun, Yue, Elaine, Chris K. for doing this build.

Sunday, August 19th 1pm TX/RX Labs John Moffitt Presents: “Earth Extinction Events, Past and Future” (one hour).

Let’s takea look at the very big picture on Earth during its last three orbits around the Milky Way galaxy … and even go a bit into the future. Many are familiar with theories of a very few recent extinction events, but less are aware that Earth’s past is filled with a far more complex pattern of extinction events and probabilities. Geologist,paleontologist and astrophysicist John Moffitt will examine paleogeography and astrophysics in the context of our complex solar system. You will learn how life on Earth has been significantly affected by the geometry and violence in a very crowded solar neighborhood. John plans to open eyes, allowing us to see how fluid conditions are for life on Earth and just how dangerous our home is.

Another addition to the Lab Data Bus has arrived. The front door RFID reader has been integrated allowing remote push of RFID data, remote opening, and data logging to the TX/RX Server. This is just one of many additions to the LDB that are in the works now that the LDB framework is in place. Next up is the conversion of the Consumables Vending machine! If you would like to participate or learn more contact roland.von.k@txrxlabs.org.

The first laser cutter class went off without a hitch, we got a lot of people checkout out and hopefully we will see the results of their work soon!Credit goes to Craig for getting all the materials together to teach the class and also taking the time out of his busy weekend to get everyone else up to speed. There will be a certification class every month, check out the event calendar on the wiki for dates. The class is open to all and is free of charge.

The LDB Project (Lab Data Bus) has bore fruit. Actually it might be more correct to say it has bore Soft Drinks. The Drink Machine has been converted into a dual cash/rfid drink machine letting individuals pay via a balance they can place on their rfid card using paypal or cash/check. This is hopefully just one of many xbee based LDB projects which will allow the lab to become more dynamic and interactive.

We’ve gone a while without any having any shirts for us to show off our tx/rx pride. Well no more! The new shirts are in and they look good imo. They are now available for instructors for the next 2 weeks and then will go on sale for everyone. They can be purchased at the lab and hopefully soon via the website. The cost will be $22 with all proceeds going to benefit the lab.

The 60W Laser cutter is up and running at the lab finally. And already we are reaping the benefits of having one. Decreased fabrication time and the ability to say we have a cnc with a freakin’ laser. So far we have cut the support structure for a quadracopter and also some enclosures, also some very tasteful renderings have been etched. The more the merrier so if you want to get in on the laser cuttery goodness then just come on down and you can get in on using it to fabricate your designs. Classes and laser cutter get together nights are already being scheduled. The first get together will be on July 11th (7-9pm) and the first laser cutter class will be free for members and will be on Saturday July 21st (11am-1pm). See you all at the lab!

In a stroke of great luck, Mitsubishi Electric offered to repair the Meldas 330M controls on our Tree Journeyman 325 Knee Mill for free since we are a non-profit. After a super fast turn around time we have the unit in hand and the control processor is up and running. We have to rebuild the parameters but this is the type of thing we love. Hacking away at some machinery learning and making things work. The more the merrier on this project so if you always wanted to learn about 1986 CNC tech or the Meldas 330M =p come out and join us.

This Wednesday, April 25 at 3:00 pm, TX/RX Labs’ own Roland von Kurnatowski III, in partnership with the GE Garages initiative, will be teaching an Intro to Arduino course at Rice University.

Participants will get an overview of the Arduino’s operation and features and then delve into hands-on development, learning how to use common sensors and program the Arduino platform. Arduinos will be provided; however, please bring your laptop. Space for this class is limited.

RSVP here.