Stephen Kaiser Notes

• Xcarve - kit by inventables - https://www.inventables.com/technologies/x-carve
• Not in a makerspace
• Email list
• Google - programming.
• Has a makerspace at Work - at Google. Is a software engineer. Front end web stuff. Wants to transition to making things. Would leave Google if had money. If Stephen had more control of the day to day.
• Host an event at Google?
• Imagined what uses before 3D printer -
• Didn't know how much you had to know about design to make useful objects
• It's not advertise that "you need to learn 3D modeling"
• "I want to make unique parts, but it requires CAD skill to do it" - stephen.
• If I need it - it will happen
• If it's not unique - I'll just buy it
• Example of having to make it - hose adapter for a shop vac, 2"
• What did you do to learn 3D design? Took tech drawing in high school. Udemy has a couple good classes. Udemy 3D printing class. Vladimir. About designing a spoon.
• Main takeaway for Stephen - how to use the software to get the end result. Workflow of designing. Not super intuitive to get there.
• After a couple Udemy courses - designed a hose adapter
• Stephen has a 3D printer at work. But never uses the one at work - as they have no reservation time. Just the inconvenience when people are already using the 3D printer.
• Home machine: convenience of using it.
• Maker Nexus - group that tried to fill in after TechShop folded. http://www.makernexus.com/. Active, first employee - http://www.makernexus.com/newsletters
• When Stephen got his Lulzbot Mini - once you get a tool - you want more tools. He started wanting to make things after getting Lulzbot mini.
• Used to skateboard and make ramps.
• Amazon Lab126 - skunkworks
• Stephen was first disappoined about 3D printing. Not pretty. But for toolmaking - that was good.
• Main use of a 3D printer - it is about making other tools.
• Main cool part about 3D Printing - is that you get excellent capacity for 3 dimensions.
• Lulzbot Mini is limited to 6x6"
• Huge printer can open possbilities of much bigger things
• If you put it together - you know how to fix it.
• Lot of people at Google that apply to get wood shop
• Google has wood shop, 3D printing, metal
• Shop is both for entertainment and function - some stuff is donated by employees.
• There is one shop there.
• There are people on a mailing list for the tool shop
• Tool shop is under 1000 of 40k employees. Wide range of employees there.
• People ask questions on Google Mailing List - Workshops mailing list
• What kinds of things are people working on? Home improvement - home entertainment, beds, climbing wall
• Has a metal shop.
• There is a 3D printer 'makerspace' - it's more 3D printers. Laser cutter, sewing machines.
• Would there be interest in Googler employees to go build a 3D printer? yes for Stephen. Possibly pitch an event for them. See more product and how it works. Prove the product before hosting event. Stephen would probably have to be a host for the event. Sponsor or point of contact. Allow it or help out
• Worth pursuing? Stephen could look into it.
• 3D printer worked out of the box. Needed to know how to design things to print successfully.
• Stephen runs Octoprint - on a Raspberry Pi - web interface.
• Printer in garage, but controls it from a computer
• Safety stuff - probably not a fire extinguisher for 3D printer
• 3D printer is highly utilitarian, not a finished product
• Stephen got to a point with a 3D printer - where he understands capacity of 3d printer
• Team building retreats - offsite, not on weekend. Half day would be a good thing - not a full day. One day max.
• Retreats happen 1-2 times per year
• There are off-site events - like launch parties
• No more than 1 per quarter for a retreat.
• Google is so big that there are so many different unrelated area. Different product areas and budgets.
• How many groups at Google? Hundreds of products?
• One retreat was a weekend at Lake Tahoe - another Escape Room.
• Decent experience, not super fancy for Lake Tahoe trip.
• Donate 3D printers to community centers -
• Volunteer list - 20 hours per year for volunteering is paid to Google Volunteers.
• Companies post their event through Google - and people can volunteer for it.
• 3 consecutive days - for a Google person.
• Googler interest for a CEB press for Africa? Yes - more than a 3D printer.
• Zambia - with technology. Problem with technology.
• Totally depends on manager and team. Whether manager finds value in it.
• Stephen volunteered on his own for Makerspaces for Schools?
• The way it works: inernal Googler works with some program. And Googlers sign up. Middle school case - one in Oakland had a makerspace. 2 week program. Is that some nonprofit?
• Makerspace in a school. 1 hour per day for 1 hour of time.
• Google initiative - to create makerspaces? It's a Google project.

Summary

• Stephen can be a point of contact to look into running a workshop for Google employees
• Makerspace program from google - from google. Helping to fund, making a curriculum, and helping to build it. Curriculum is a big one.
• Build a 3D printer and donate it to a school.