Stephen Kaiser Notes

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  • 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.