As of this week, the QC Co-Lab is closed temporarily during our transition to a new space. We’re working hard to ensure the downtime is kept to a minimum & want to stress this is not a permanent closure. There is a exciting announcement we hope to make very soon! But, in the mean time, please stop by the old space to sign the entryway wall. We sincerely appreciate and have nothing but gratitude for Mary Ann Hamilton, Hamilton Tech faculty, and staff for supporting the QC Co-Lab over the past five years. Because, without them, we wouldn’t be here today as the Quad Cities premier makerspace.

On behalf of the QC Co-Lab, a big thank you to Hamilton Tech for their hospitality & generosity.

And, to our members, we ask for your patience during the downtime & transition.

Sincerely,

The QC Co-Lab

The QC Co-Lab is proud to announce the first annual QC MakeFest on July 18th, 2015!
The RiverCenter
10a-6p

More details to follow, please check the event page for more updates: https://www.qccolab.com/qcmakefest/

A small, but spirited crew made the trip up to Cedar Rapids for the annual Makerfaire, hosted by the Cedar Rapids Metro MakerSpace.

Our display consisted of RC Dalek, augmented reality sandbox, Tesla coil, Van De Graaf generator, Jacobs ladder, quadcopter (display only) & plasma ball. The AR sandbox & Tesla coil seemed to have stolen the show as those were very popular exhibits to see. The only item that didn’t require some form of electricity was the static display quadcopter. It was a mix of interactivity, electrical arcs & amazement from show visitors.

Between the awesome activites, visits from our members (current & former), and great hospitality from the Cedar Rapids Metro MakerSpace, it made for a very sucessful, fun-filled day. A big Co-Lab thank you to Ben Ziegler, Ray Benge, Nick Benge and Keith Claussen for making the trip! Special thanks to members Eric Engamells for lending a hand as well.

A shout out to Dave Langkamp for stopping by to visit & he did a nice job covering the show on his blog (Part 1 & Part 2). He interviewed Ben & Keith gave an assist holding the camera.

The last Terrarium Workshop scheduled for this Saturday (3/29/14) has, unfortunately, been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We thank everyone that participated this month & we will definitely consider offering the class again in the future. We’re working on offering more classes soon on other topics, so stay tuned!

Everyone that attended the parade last night & helped out had a great time! We will hopefully have a more complete gallery available very soon, but here’s a few links to show off the news coverage we got last night. Awesome job QC Co-Lab!!!!

QC Times

KWQC-TV6 10pm Newscast

WOC 1420

We will be participating in this year’s Halloween Parade in Davenport Thursday night! Line up starts at 5:45p with the parade kicking off at 7:00p. Our lineup spot is on 3rd St. by the Brady St. intersection (spot 36, denoted with the gearhead logo on the map below). So, if you have a chance, please stop down & cheer us on! Our theme is “Mad Scientist” & have treats to hand out, along with some tricks up our sleeves ;).

The ‘parade float’ leading the group is the Co-Labulance, so we’ll be hard to miss. Hope to see lots of you down there tomorrow, because you won’t want to miss the show!

We came, we saw, we rocked it!

The QC Co-Lab attended the 2nd Annual Cedar Rapids Mini-Maker Faire on Saturday, April 27. Hosted by the Cedar Rapids Science Center located in the Lindale Mall, fellow makers and tinkers alike attended the event to show off interesting contraptions, gizmos, projects and wares.

Jacob Burkamper attends to the quadcopter display during the 2nd Annual Cedar Rapids Mini-Maker Faire on April 27, 2013. QC CO-LAB/Keith Claussen

We were very well represented by Jacob Burkamper, Keith Claussen, Chris Cooper, David Hinkle, Phil Haubrich, Mark Kruse, Cody Wilson and Ben Ziegler as they managed the exhibits, chatted with show visitors, and made sure everyone was safe while experiments were exhibited.

Our display was the largest at the show, taking up a total of four tables. Quadcopters, the Rubens’ Tube, Van Der Graff Generator, Jacob’s Ladder, POV machine, and the Liquid Nitrogen (LN₂) demonstrations were the life of the Faire. There was so much we wanted to show, it took three vehicles to transport all the gear.

Quad Coper flights by David Hinkle thrilled spectators as the high-tech remote-controlled craft hovered in the air while streaming live video back to our booth several yards away. Chris Cooper’s LN₂ demonstrations dazzled the dozens of show visitors who gathered around to see how superconductors react, pound nails into wood with a ‘banana hammer,’ shattered a racquet ball and served freeze-dried marshmallows to those brave enough to try.

Chris Cooper, QC Co-Lab Vice President, demonstrates different experiments and offers freeze-dried marshmallows with liquid nitrogen (LN₂) during the 2nd Annual Cedar Rapids Mini-Maker Faire on April 27, 2013. QC CO-LAB/Keith Claussen

In between shows, Chris had the opportunity to venture outside and attempt to make contact with the International Space Station as it passed by overhead. He used a DIY Yagi antenna hooked up to an APRS enabled handheld radio that operates in the amateur radio spectrum. With some help from Mark Kruse to locate the flightpath, they were successful in doing so.

There were a couple of unfortunate situations we had to overcome. The Co-Labulance developed a coolant leak we were unable to resolve in time for the road trip. After operating briefly, the Rubens’ Tube demonstration fell victim to venue regulations, so the propane tanks were removed and the Rubens’ Tube became a static display.

Despite the setbacks, it was still a great show and everyone had lots of fun. Norah Hammond, General Manager and Education Director, Cedar Rapids Science Center and Mini-Maker Faire organizer, was thrilled with our efforts. We have already been invited back for next year!

Cody Wilson, QC Co-Lab Secretary, explains how the Rubens’ Tube operates during the 2nd Annual Cedar Rapids Mini-Maker Faire on April 27, 2013. QC CO-LAB/Keith Claussen

So, hats off to everyone that helped out getting things ready, made the trip to visit us, or presented because it was definitely a CO-LABorative effort to make it all happen.

Ben Ziegler demonstrates the Jacob’s Ladder during the 2nd Annual Cedar Rapids Mini-Maker Faire on April 27, 2013. QC CO-LAB/Keith Claussen