At Ace Makerspace we are always evolving our classes and workshop offerings. Our focus is on inclusion, practicality, and fun. While some classes are evergreen and can always be found on our calendars others are hosted by request. Information on how to request a class is in the class descriptions.
We offer three main types of education.
3D Printing Open Lab. This open lab covers a wide range of learning opportunities including learning all the basics of operating the printers at Ace Makerspace. This 2-hour open lab is FREE and is offered on the first Wednesday of the month.
Alcohol Ink Paintings on Wood. This Art and Sip workshop uses laser-cut wood panels and alcohol inks to create vivid amazing art. The atmosphere is social and you are invited to share treats pot-luck style. This is basically an adult coloring book with fancy supplies.
Level: Beginner
Timing: 2 hours
Cement Casting. Cast your own unique set of coasters as well as a planter or two in this 4-hour workshop. We will use different types of molds, create molds, and seal and decorate finished pieces.
UV Resin Jewelry. Cast your own unique jewelry using UV Resin in this 3-hour workshop. All materials and tools provided including one-of-a-kind ACE-made findings. Each person creates between 2 and 6 pieces.
Painted Leather Patches. In this 2-hour workshop, folks use alcohol inks and leather paints to color laser-cut veg-tan leather patches. Folks create 2 to 6 pieces.
Shotgun Silkscreening. Go from sketch to shirt in this workshop 4-hour workshop. We will be making screens and using laser-cut mylar to create unique screenprints. Each person can choose 2-3 shirts from our eclectic stock of blanks. You can also bring your own garments to print.
Electronics Night. This open lab covers a wide range of learning opportunities including learning all the basics of operating the printers at Ace Makerspace. This 2-hour open lab is FREE and is offered on the Last Wednesday of the month.
Tiny Brush Robot Workshop. Learned the basics of electricity by building toothbrush robots in this 2-hour workshop. Folks will learn about resistors, batteries, LEDs, and motors. It’s beginner-friendly and tons of fun. At the end of the class, we’ll have a battle bot session where you can name your robot and put it in the ring.
Laser Basics and Certification. This workshop covers the basics of laser operation for new laser users. All the basics for certification are also covered in this 3-hour workshop.
Illustrator for Laser Cutting (virtual). Learn to prepare designs for etching & cutting in Adobe Illustrator. We will cover Illustrator tools for expedited design, exporting for cutting, and popular image generation in this 2-hour workshop.
Open Lab: Focus on Focus. We will be focusing on focus in this 2-hour FREE Open Lab. How to align and focus on various material types based on etching or cutting needs.
Open Lab: Fabric Fundamentals. Not all fabrics cut equally we will be going through the fundamentals of cutting natural and synthetic fabrics. This is a FREE two-hour open lab.
Open Lab: Acrylic Finesse. Cutting and etching acrylic can be tricky. We will be exploring methods of getting great results in this 2-hour FREE open lab.
Lasercut Custom Holiday Ornaments. Customize and create wonderful seasonal ornaments in this 4-hour workshop. We can customize both flat and 3d Base designs with names, dates, and more. We use excellent solid woods like maple, cherry, zebra, walnut and bloodwood, and more from Ocooch Hardwoods.
Lasercut Custom Holiday Cards. Customize and create wonderful seasonal cards in this 3-hour workshop. We will be using a variety of laser-friendly art papers to complete your cards. Once your cards are cut we have a full station set up for adding embellishments to your cards complete with art markers, and more.
Metal Lathe Basics. Description
Metal Cutting Fundamentals. Description
CNC Metal Mill. Description
Boundaries for Better Living. Description – HOw to say and hear “no”
Micro-inclusions for Leaders. Description
De-escalation with Community Integrity. Description
Anti-Racist Training for Makers: Schema of Makers. Description
Anti-Racist Training for Makers: Maker Say What. Description
Anti-Racist Training for Makers: Taking Care of the New Maker. Description
Anti-Racist Training for Makers: You’re too comfortable, managing privilege. Description
Illustrator for Laser Cutting. Description
Fusion 360 basics for CAD/CAM. Description
Sewing and Textiles Open Lab. Description
Sewing 101 Bootcamp. Description
Shotgun Silkscreening. Go from sketch to shirt in this workshop 4-hour workshop. We will be making screens and using laser-cut mylar to create unique screenprints. Each person can choose 2-3 shirts from our eclectic stock of blanks. You can also bring your own garments to print.
Box Bottom Tote Bag Workshop. Description
Messenger Bag Workshop. Description
Nuno Silk Felting Workshop. Learn how wool can easily be felted to silk organza making interesting textures and patterns. Nuno Felted materials are perfect for wall hangings, scarves, wraps, and require no finishing! This 3-hour workshop is great for beginners or experienced folks.
Holiday PJ Pants Workshop. Learn basic sewing skills like making elastic waistbands, hemming, and stitching simple seams with accuracy. You will go home with a pair of festive PJ pants and the skills to make more for everyone in your crew during the holiday season. This 3-hour workshop is great for beginners or experienced folks.
Ice Dying workshop. Learn the fabric dying technique of Ice Dying. In this 4-hour workshop, you will learn to use fiber-reactive dyes and ice to create permanent watercolor-like designs on fabric or clothing. No experience is needed.
Large CNC Router (Wood) Training and Certification. Description
Band Saw + Drill Press 101. Description
Woodworking Tools Intensive. Description
Jointer + Planer 101. Description
Table Saw + Panel Saw 101. Description
Lathe Basics. Description
Router Basics. Description
Joinery. Description
Solid Wood Cutting Board. Description
Solid Wood Candle Holder. Description
Magnetic Knife Holder. Create a great gift or piece from your home from Zebra Wood, Mahogany (or possibly Maple) with this project in this 3 1/2-hour workshop. Great beginner workshop using the drill press, palm routers, miter saw, and sanders.
Reclaimed Wood Table Top. Use reclaimed Peroba Rosa barn wood to create a small tabletop suitable for a side table in this 2-day workshop. This project-based workshop is good for beginners too.
Multi-Wood Cutting Board. Create a unique cutting board in this two-day workshop that is a great workshop for beginners and experienced folks alike. Day one, folks will learn about wood properties and concepts in woodworking as well as design the structure of their cutting board. After doing the primary cutting for boards folks will glue up and clamp their boards and leave them overnight to cure. Day 2, will encompass the finishing process using a variety of sanders and shaping tools like the bandsaw, drill press, or miter saws. This is a 6-hour workshop total.
Bee House Build. Build an awesome shelter for mason bees. Not only will it help the pollinators in your garden but it will look darn cute. This workshop is suitable for beginning woodworkers. In this 3-hour workshop, folks will see a demo of the CNC Router and then use miter saws, table saws, palm sanders, and the drill press to create their bee-houses.
ACE volunteer and contract instructors offer a lot of classes. Not all of them might be on the calendar. Both volunteers and contract teachers need a minimum number of students for a class or workshop to be sustainable. That is why most classes are scheduled based in interest.
If you are interested in a class (see list) that is not on the schedule there is a path to getting the class on the calendar. Do the logistics work for the instructor. This is how:
- Find at least 3 people including your self who want the class. (tips and ettiquet for posting on Slack)
- Work among yourself to work out 3 dates all three of you can make.
- Post on the relevant slack channel asking for an instructor! Include the dates you can all make.
We have yet to see this method fail in getting a class scheduled.