It’s been a while since our last post, since then we’ve been busy behind the scenes, making improvements, adding new tools, and continuing to build our community. Here’s a glimpse into what we’ve been up to:
New Space
Our space has received some upgrades! We’ve been cleaning, painting, and reorganizing to make room for more making capabilities. Flexibility is key, and we’re excited about the new possibilities that our newly updated space offers.
New Capabilities
We’ve expanded our toolset to bring you more ways to create:
- CNC Router for Woodworking: Thanks to a generous donation, we now have a Sienci Labs Longmill MKII 30″x30″ CNC router. Assembled and commissioned by Jacob M., this machine is ready for action. Jacob is also overseeing its use, ensuring it’s available for all your woodworking projects.
- Engineering-Grade 3D Printer: Meet the Qidi Q1 Pro, our new enclosed 3D printer with a chamber heater and modern hotend. It’s equipped to handle engineering-grade materials like nylon, ABS, and ASA, and can print with a wide range of filaments—from flexibles to abrasives. It’s also fast—often double or triple the speed of our other printers!
- Metal Casting and Forging: Chris F. has been laying the groundwork for metal casting and forging. He’s experimenting with a new propane forge and crucible to melt scrap metal into ingots, setting the stage for some exciting future projects.
New Board Members
We’re thrilled to welcome new members to our board:
- Jacob Munoz: After significant volunteering and collaboration, Jacob joined the board mid-2024. His expertise in small business operations and public relations will be invaluable as we continue to grow.
- Fernando Salazar: Fernando brings his drive to improve the space through painting, organizing, and infrastructure upgrades. His skills in administrative procedure management have been making a difference since he joined in early 2023.
Current Public Events
There are plenty of ways to get involved with our community:
- Maker Social: Join us on the first Tuesday of every month for a Maker Social at local area breweries, usually at Ratchet Brewery. Check out meetup.com/salem-makerspace for details.
- Weekly Public Hours: Come hang out during our public hours every Saturday from 1 PM to 4 PM and Tuesday from 6 PM to 9 PM. Whether you want to chat about projects or work on your own, there’s always something happening.
- 3D Printing Special Interest Group: On the first Wednesday of each month, dive into 3D printing with Richard M., who leads discussions on 3D printing technology, technique, and design, with a special focus on design in OpenSCAD.
- Hack Salem Meetings: Hack Salem, led by John A, is hosting most of their meetings at Spark on the third Wednesday of every month. Check them out at meetup.com/hacksalem.
We’re excited about all the new things happening at our space, and we’d love for you to be part of it. Come by, get involved, and let’s make something amazing together!
Spark Studio Salem 