Josh Williams
November news!
November news!
Maker Works
We got a new planer!
We got a new planer!
Josh Williams
The Day The Robots Took Over
The Day The Robots Took Over
Josh Williams
Open House Wrap + New Classes!
Open House Wrap + New Classes!
Makerspace
Josh Williams
Open House Oct. 13th + New Tracks + Last Chance ...
Open House Oct. 13th + New Tracks + Last Chance Wood Carving & Member Projects!!

November news!

We just had our first snowfall in Washtenaw County, our Winter Catalog has been posted, and Maker Works is warm and full of free ways to get making this month. Scroll thru for the details on:

  • Veterans: Free Membership!

  • xTool Laser Demos: 11/11, 4 PM

  • Open Night w/Lasers: 11/16, 4 PM

  • Six free community events!

Help us spread the word. Please share this as a wish list, to a friend, work network, discord server, slack events channel, etc. Thank you!

Veterans Day is Tuesday, Nov 11th, but membership at the shop is free for Veterans the entire month of November.

Beyond November, Maker Works continues to provide a reduced rate membership.

Thank you to all who have served!

We'll be running free demos on the xTool. Drop in anytime and bring something small to test!

The xTool F1 Ultra is great for engraving and cutting a wide variety of materials, including wood, leather, acrylic, and metal. It’s fast, precise, and especially useful for signage, jewelry, tool marking, tags, and decorative items. You can think of it as a “computer-controlled beam of light” that can draw, mark, or cut with exceptional detail.

free sign up!

We'll be running demos on the xTool and Epilog all evening, drop in anytime!

Open Maker Night is an event for people to come hang out and/or work on their own projects. In addition to providing space, Maker Works will provide everyone with free membership for the evening! This means you can use any tool that does not require a safety checkout class, as well as any tools that you have taken the safety checkout class for.

FREE SIGN UP!

The Lasers at Maker Works are incredibly versatile tools, perfect for creating or personalizing items. This bundled track teaches everything you need to know from design to machine operation as you create and customize three projects!

Learn more

Our Metal Shop Track is back! From Welding to CNC Plasma Cutting, you'll learn nearly a dozen machines in this bundle of classes.

No experience needed, learn new skills as you begin the new year!

Learn more

GoTech Geek Show & Tell

2nd Tuesdays at 7 PM

MW: Fix-It-Friday

Third Fridays at 4 PM

SEMI Woodworkers

2nd Thursdays at 7 PM

A2 Modern Quilt Guild

November 19th at 6 PM

ARROW Amateur Radio

3rd Tuesdays at 6:30 PM

MW: Open Maker Night

3rd Sundays at 4 PM

Learn the silver metal clay process in this unique Make & Take workshop.

Silver metal clay starts as a pliable material that can be shaped like regular clay, but transforms into solid sterling silver when fired in a kiln. This class covers the basics of the tools and silver clay handling, along with design techniques for making pendants, bracelets, and more.

After your piece dries, it will be fired in the kiln (allowing for some shrinkage), then you'll finish it through buffing and polishing. $105 (includes materials)

Learn more
 

Thank you for helping make Maker Works a warm and creative community, we hope to see you at one of this month’s events!

 

We got a new planer!

The old Delta RC-51. Never did anyone wrong. Just a bit too loud.

The old Delta RC-51, you served us well.

For years, our Delta RC 51 Planer helped thousands of members surface wood to just the right thickness. It got the job done, but at 97 decibels, it sounded like a giant axe smashing into wood at 5,000 RPM. We’ve longed for a quieter helical head planer, but the cost and the risk of downtime has held us back.

That all changed a few months ago when one of our members stepped up with a $2,000 matching offer. It didn’t take long for 20 more people to get us to $4,000. We had to decide between upgrading the old Delta or going for something new. After some research and a few calls with Jeff at Glenn Wing, we sealed the deal on a brand-new Powermatic 209HH.

Benefits:

  • It’s 10 decibels quieter, about half as loud to the human ear.

  • The helical head leaves a nicer finish.

  • A longer infeed and outfeed table reduces snipe.

  • An improved design let us plane shorter boards.

  • Carbide inserts will last longer, meaning less downtime swapping knives.

Thanks to everyone who donated! This new tool is quieter, safer, and more efficient. It’s a huge improvement for everyone, and It’s incredibly wonderful to have the support of the community to not just sustain, but to improve our shop. Thank you!

While the basic operation of the tool is nearly the same, our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been updated, and staff are happy to help.

Check out the photos (including the Shop Dog at Glenn Wing) below!

Oh, and if you’re interested in purchasing our old (still working!) planer, shoot me an email: executivedirector@maker-works.com

The Day The Robots Took Over

The shop is BUSY Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons January - February. Each year Maker Works supports another group of high schools building their robots for FIRST! Below are just a few shots of what was happening on a recent Sunday afternoon.

Wait, what is FIRST? FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an international program that inspires young people to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by engaging them in hands-on, team-based challenges. Each season, students design, build, and program industrial-sized robots to tackle a unique challenge. The latest game, "REEFSCAPE," emphasizes ocean exploration and conservation, challenging teams to enhance ocean habitats through innovative robot designs.

Students and mentors learn machining skills to support use of tools like the Bridgeport mill. This enables them to create and cut precise parts for their robot chassis by manupulating an endmill to remove material in a piece of metal across the X, Y, and Z axis. With the Bridgeport, this is a very manual (not CNC) process, but depending on your needs it can be quicker to get a job done when compared with the CAD/CAM/CNC toolchain required for the Tormach CNC Mill (see below).

Collaboration at its finest! The ShopBot CNC Router is used to cut pieces for the REEFSCAPE field. This effort exemplifies teamwork, with materials funded by the PiHi Samurai team and fabrication handled by Zebrotics. The ShopBot does a fantastic job repeatedly cutting accurate shapes in wood, foam, and plastic up to 4’ x 8’!

Creativity extends beyond robots! Vibrant team shirts are made cost-effectively by ordering sublimation transfers and pressing them on the Maker Works heat press. The Vinyl Cutter does a fantastic job when working with non-polyester fabrics or working with one or two colors. Sublimation transfers do a phenomenal job when dealing with multiple colors — even gradients. And yes, the Zebrotics team has one of the coolest logos.

Precision is key! The Saline Robotics team spent some time on one of our favorite tools in the metal shop: The Tormach CNC Mill. Similar to the Bridgeport this tool enables very precise drilling and milling in metal and plastic. Before turning this machine on, a design is created in CAD software and converted with CAM software to a format the Tormach understands (G-Code). It takes more work than the Bridgeport, but the results can be repeated more easily.

It wouldn’t be FIRST if you there wasn’t a photo of the omnidirectional Mecanum wheels and a robot on its side! These robots have some serious power, speed, and ingenuity behind them. Each year the FIRST Robotics season brings together thousands of teams across the world, each one coming up with solutions to a number of challenges.

Maker Works is extremely proud to be able to host a couple local teams and support their work. We often hear from local engineering firms that when hiring, experience with FIRST can be the difference in who gets the job.

If you’re a FIRST team looking for access to the shop, shoot us an email! Maker Works currently subsidizes most of the cost of this, if you’d like to help, please consider making a donation to the shop!

Ironberry Harvesting!

Two Planet Steel: Forging a Cleaner Future on Earth and Mars

We're constantly inspired by the ideas and creations in the shop, and we are so fortunate to get to work with such a diverse group of people. In the afternoon we’ll be introducing people to household tools and by the evening we’re working with someone prototyping a heat exchanger… for Mars?

Last week, we hosted Rolf Olsen, the founder of Two Planet Steel at the monthly 'geek show and tell' event that is GoTech. He aims to transform steel manufacturing for Earth’s climate and lay the groundwork for steelmaking on Mars.

From Earth’s Depths to Mars’s Surface

Rolf’s talk highlighted the origins of taconite, a key U.S. blast furnace material, formed billions of years ago in the Great Lakes. Cyanobacteria transformed dissolved iron into solid deposits, shaping resources we depend on today. He shared how Mars’s hematite-rich regions, like Meridiani Planum, contain “Martian blueberries”—iron-rich spheres that cover parts of the planet’s surface. He likes to call them "ironberries", we like it : )

Challenges of Steelmaking on Mars

Steel production on Earth demands water, molten metal, and oxygen. On Mars, water scarcity, low gravity, and a CO2-rich atmosphere make this process difficult. Rolf’s research explores water-free methods that utilize Mars’s iron-rich surface materials while reducing the environmental impact of Earth’s steel industry. It’s nice when scientific space research has real benefits here on Earth!

Getting started at Maker Works

Rolf's work has the financial backing of the National Science Foundation, and he's able to make that support go farther by utilizing the tools, space, and knowledge found at Maker Works. We've been fortunate to have a history of startups working out of the shop, it lets people move quickly and save money!

We're looking forward to seeing where Rolf's work takes him. You'll often find him in the Metal Shop, if you see him, ask him about “Ironberries!”

Open House Wrap + New Classes!

We had a fantastic turnout for our Open House! A HUGE thanks to the members and staff that came out to help tour and demo the shop!

A few pictures + notes below!

New class tracks debuted at the Open House. Textiles starts THIS weekend!

Laser Project Track, now with Inkscape!

Learn how to design and personalized three projects on our 50 Watt laser. Saturdays 10:30 am - 1:00 pm, Nov. 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd.

Brand New ShopBot CNC Project Track with Al

Ready to dive into CNC woodworking? Create two projects on our giant 4' x 8' ShopBot CNC Router! Sundays 9:00 am - 11:30 am, Nov. 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th

Textiles Track: Personalized CNC Embroidered Bag

Only two spots left! Secure your place in the Textiles Track and bring home a custom canvas zipper bag! Saturdays 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Oct. 19th, 26th, Nov 2nd, 9th.

This weekend was an absolute blast. Over 150 people were introduced to the shop that day, with nearly all the big shop tools being demonstrated by our amazing members.

Huge thanks to Scott & Renee of Kalamazoo Makers & 1st Choice Services for coming in early to do some last minute cleaning, and everyone that came out to support!

If there’s something you saw (or didn’t see) that you’re curious about please let us know, shoot us an email, phone call, or stop in!

Open House Oct. 13th + New Tracks + Last Chance Wood Carving & Member Projects!!

Join us for our 13th Anniversary Open House on Sunday, October 13th! Please help spread the word via this link.

We're opening up another Metal Shop Fab Track and a brand new Textiles Track, and registration closes this week for the Intro to Wood Carving course!

Join us at Tech Trek on Sep. 27th with The Future Innovators Academy, and Sep. 29th at the Zero Waste Fall Festival at Kiwanis!

Finally, our next Shop Improvement + Game Night is Saturday, Oct. 5th!

Read on for details, and thank you for being a part of our community!

Join us for an epic afternoon of tool demonstrations, fantastic member projects, and tours through the entire shop!

THREE BIG ASKS!

1. Register for the event! Say hello, collect a coin, maybe a Maker Works' giveaway (you'll have to attend to find out!), and learn about new upcoming programming!

2. Volunteer! We're looking for a few people that can demo some tools or help offer tours (You'll have a guide) : ).

3. Share this event with that person you know that's been meaning to see the shop, or a company interested in sponsoring : ).

Learn more

Class Tracks in Wood, Metal, and Textiles!

Wood Carving Track
Sundays 9/29 - 11/03

Registration Ends 9/19! Dive into the transformative art of wood carving with expert sculptor Mike Kapetan across six sessions in our quiet morning woodshop!

Carving Track Sign Up

Metal Shop Fab Track
Sundays 10/13 - 11/03

Open the doors and get comfortable with basic metal fabrication via welding, plasma cutting, drilling, punching, grinding and more in this four part series.

Metal Track Sign Up

Textiles Track
Saturdays 10/19 - 11/09

Learn to use the most popular textiles tools: The Bernina Active, Consew Industrial Sewing Machine, and CNC Amaya Embroidery to customize a classic canvas zipper bag!

Textiles Track Sign Up

Member Project Spotlight

Project ready for delivery!

A few weeks ago the shiny basketball on the right was a solid cube of aluminum. High school student Elliot learned a number of processes from Fusion 360 CAD and CAM to 3D Printing and operating the Tormach CNC Mill. And just a little bit of buffing : ) Nicely done Elliot!

The resources at Maker Works are invaluable, people are capable of doing amazing things when they have access. Thanks to all of you who have helped support Maker Works, and thus students like Elliot!

What's Elliot's next project?

A couple different setup operations on the Tormach CNC Mill

Do you like shiny? 

Upcoming Activities

Tech Trek
Friday, Sep. 27

The Future Innovators Academy has invited us to join their booth at A2 Tech Trek. Come check out the hundreds of participating tech organizations from Ann Arbor all in one place!

Learn more

Zero Waste Festival
Sunday Sep. 29th

Join us at the Zero Waste Festival at Kiwanis! We'll be there running repair demos, converting old shirts to shopping bags, running upholstery demos, and promoting tool use!

Learn more
Volunteer!

Got Kids?
Starts This Week!

The Future Innovators Academy fall workshops start THIS week! Robotics, LEGO Robotics, Coding, Digital Art, Game Design and a whole lot more.

Learn more

Whether you're interested in helping keep the shop clean, help repair community items, introduce household tools to young adults, want to help demo a tool, run a tour, mend some clothes, we've got a number of friendly options. Learn more, and sign up here!

FREE: Tours, Classes, and Repairs!
Thank you Kiwanis!

Free Tours

Last year Maker Works ran over 150 free tours of the shop. Over the next 12 months we're hoping to double that with support from Kiwanis!

Take a tour as an individual, or request one for your group!

Free household tools class

Maker Works offers an 'Intro to Intro to Household Tools' workshop that typically costs $80 / person. With support from Kiwanis we're able to provide free access for individuals, and make them available on request for groups!

Free Repairs

We estimate over 100 household items were repaired last year. Saving money, reducing waste, and emphasizing repair! Thanks to Kiwanis, we're able to continue running this activity every third Friday of the month!

These opportunities happen thanks to Kiwanis and the volunteers that help! Find out how you can volunteer here, or sign up to be notified about volunteering here!

Cleaning, Pizza, and Game Night
Saturday, September 7th!

A huge THANK YOU to the dozen people that came out in September to improve the Metal Shop, let’s do it again!

Shop Cleanup!

It's time for a clean-up in the loading dock! Join us 4pm - 6pm on Saturday, October 5th to get dirty and clean-up the Wood Shop.

Sign up here!

Pizza!

We were told that offering pizza increases the likelihood you will sign up to help clean shop!

Rumor has it there may be BBQ as well : )

Game Night!

4pm - 11pm, all ages, all are welcome!

Bring and share a game and snacks, or take advantage of Randy's impressive library. Free and open to all ages!

September Classes and Beyond!

Classes are posted on the website through September! Ready to learn? No membership required!

  1. Choose your class and sign up today.

  2. Don't see a date that works for you? Use the 'Request a Class' button to let us know your availability and we'll match you up with an instructor!

What's YOUR favorite online resource?

Thanks to your feedback, we had some nice additions and updates to our semi-hidden Materials & Resources page!

Next up, tell us your favorite online resource for information! Web sites, articles, youtube channels, tiktok videos, etc. Let us know!

Thank YOU Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor!

Thanks to a grant from the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor, Maker Works is able to:

Kiwanis has been a huge resource to the Ann Arbor community and beyond for over 100 years. We are thrilled to have their support!

As always, you can also support shared access to resources by:

  1. Taking a class or starting a membership!

  2. Making a contribution today!

  3. Sharing this newsletter with someone you know

New sponsorship opportunities to support the shop are coming soon, let me know if you'd like to be first to know!

Thank you!

Josh Williams

Wood carving, sewing maintenance, wood track, laser projects and more!

We have some fantastic new workshops to announce. Our last instance of these all filled quickly! Also, the shop will be closed on Labor Day (Monday, Sep. 2nd).

Thank you for being a part of our shop!

Mike Kapetan, a master sculptor with an extensive background in the academic, spiritual, and scientific realms of art, brings his knowledge and passion to this six part workshop.

This deep dive into Wood Carving will include the tools you need to get started, the knowledge to use and maintain them effectively, and two projects you'll work on and take home with you!

Learn more

Barbara Keys of Sewing Crazy is joining us for an afternoon to help you learn to maintain your sewing machine!

Cleaning, oiling, and troubleshooting minor problems will be covered.

This is a hands-on, bring your (working) sewing machine and everything needed to run it (power cord, bobbin, etc). 

Learn more

Join Ella in a four-part, hands-on series designed to safely introduce you to the most popular tools in our wood shop. With each tool we'll follow up with steps for you to build a classic, three legged milk stool!

Whether you're a beginner eager to learn new skills or an experienced woodworker seeking access to these tools, this series offers something for everyone.

Limited to just three participants, this series ensures personalized attention and hands-on learning!

Learn more

Join Nova and Pam in a hands-on, four-part series designed to teach you to safely use the most popular tool at Maker Works! Beginners and existing users will get a fantastic onboarding learning the 50 Watt Epilog Laser AND a number of accompanying tools and materials!

Day 1: Get checked out on the laser and create a custom hardwood version of our classic 5" ruler.

Day 2: Learn the rotary tool and media blaster to customize your own drinking glass.

Day 3: Create a custom (bring your own photo) wood puzzle and learn the value of a good mask!

Day 4: Explore box making software and create a custom engraved box.

Four projects, plus a month membership to use the tools beyond the class! Class runs Sundays 10:15 am - 12:15 pm, Sep. 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th.

Limited to just six people - register here!

sign up today!

Whether you're interested in helping keep the shop clean, help repair community items, introduce household tools to young adults, or prepare a thousand car bodies for The Great Maker Race, we've got a number of friendly options. Learn more, and sign up here!

A huge thank you to Annick for helping teach our Household Tools workshop, and all the amazing volunteers at Fix-It-Friday!

FREE: Tours, Classes, and Repairs!
Thank you Kiwanis!

Free Tours

Last year Maker Works ran over 150 free tours of the shop. Over the next 12 months we're hoping to double that with support from Kiwanis!

Take a tour as an individual, or request one for your group!

Free household tools class

Maker Works offers an 'Intro to Intro to Household Tools' workshop that typically costs $80 / person. With support from Kiwanis we're able to provide free access for individuals, and make them available on request for groups!

Free Repairs

We estimate over 100 household items were repaired last year. Saving money, reducing waste, and emphasizing repair! Thanks to Kiwanis, we're able to continue running this activity every third Friday of the month!

These opportunities happen thanks to Kiwanis and the volunteers that help! Find out how you can volunteer here, or sign up to be notified about volunteering here!

Cleaning, Pizza, and Game Night
Saturday, September 7th!

A huge THANK YOU to the dozen people that came out in August to improve the loading dock, and Three Little Piggies BBQ for providing some seriously delicious food. Let's do it again!

Shop Cleanup!

It's time for a clean-up in the loading dock! Join us 4pm - 6pm on Saturday, September 7th to get dirty and clean-up the Metal Shop.

Sign up here!

Pizza!

We were told that offering pizza increases the likelihood you will sign up to help clean shop!

Rumor has it there may be BBQ as well : )

Game Night!

4pm - 11pm, all ages, all are welcome!

Bring and share a game and snacks, or take advantage of Randy's impressive library. Free and open to all ages!

September Classes and Beyond!

Classes are posted on the website through September! Ready to learn? No membership required!

  1. Choose your class and sign up today.

  2. Don't see a date that works for you? Use the 'Request a Class' button to let us know your availability and we'll match you up with an instructor!

What's YOUR favorite online resource?

Thanks to your feedback, we had some nice additions and updates to our semi-hidden Materials & Resources page!

Next up, tell us your favorite online resource for information! Web sites, articles, youtube channels, tiktok videos, etc. Let us know!

Thank YOU Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor!

Thanks to a grant from the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor, Maker Works is able to:

Kiwanis has been a huge resource to the Ann Arbor community and beyond for over 100 years. We are thrilled to have their support!

As always, you can also support shared access to resources by:

  1. Taking a class or starting a membership!

  2. Making a contribution today!

  3. Sharing this newsletter with someone you know

New sponsorship opportunities to support the shop are coming soon, let me know if you'd like to be first to know!

Thank you!

Josh Williams

NEW Laser Shop Fab Track! Thank you Ella, Daniel, and Ben! Clean-up + Pizza & Game Night

We're excited and a little sad about this update!

We're launching a new Laser Engraver Project Track featuring four different projects.

Ella, Daniel, and Ben are moving onto bigger things, they are going to be missed!

Our most recent Shop Improvement + Game Day was a huge success, and we've been having a fantastic turnout with the Kiwanis sponsored (free) Household Tools class, Fix-It-Friday events, and Tours.

Read on for details, and thank you for being a part of our community!

Join Nova and Pam in a hands-on, four-part series designed to teach you to safely use the most popular tool at Maker Works! Beginners and existing users will get a fantastic onboarding learning the 50 Watt Epilog Laser AND a number of accompanying tools and materials!

Day 1: Get checked out on the laser and create a custom hardwood version of our classic 5" ruler.

Day 2: Learn the rotary tool and media blaster to customize your own drinking glass.

Day 3: Create a custom (bring your own photo) wood puzzle and learn the value of a good mask!

Day 4: Explore box making software and create a custom engraved box.

Four projects, plus a month membership to use the tools beyond the class! Class runs Sundays 10:15 am - 12:15 pm, Sep. 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th.

Limited to just six people - register here!

sign up today!

thank you ella, daniel, and ben!

The staff at Maker Works provide an amazing experience for all. While we're always sad to see staff go, we are excited to see them move towards bigger and better things. Thank you so much Ella, Daniel, and Ben!

If there was an award for fastest learner, Ella would have it. In a little over a year she became proficient in, and taught classes on just about every woodshop tool. We're excited to see her move on to a fantastic new job that will greatly benefit from her skill and focus!

Daniel's been a wonderful part of the shop. From developing video games, and building motorcycles, to welding his way through an iridescent powder coated cat-tastic world. He's ready for The Big University, but we're not sure his roommates are ready for him : )

Ben has been a member at Maker Works with the Zebrotics FIRST Robotics Team for over a year. When he offered to volunteer with us for the summer we couldn't say no! While school beckons him away from us, his improvements around the shop will continue to serve many.

Free: Tours, Classes, and Repairs!
Thank you Kiwanis!

Free Tours

Last year Maker Works ran over 150 free tours of the shop. Over the next 12 months we're hoping to double that with support from Kiwanis!

Take a tour as an individual, or request one for your group!

Free household tools class

Maker Works offers an 'Intro to Intro to Household Tools' workshop that typically costs $80 / person. With support from Kiwanis we're able to provide free access for individuals, and make them available on request for groups!

Free Repairs

We estimate over 100 household items were repaired last year. Saving money, reducing waste, and emphasizing repair! Thanks to Kiwanis, we're able to continue running this activity every third Friday of the month!

These opportunities happen thanks to Kiwanis and the volunteers that help! Find out how you can volunteer here, or sign up to be notified about volunteering here!

Cleaning, Pizza, and Game Night
Saturday, september 7th!

A huge THANK YOU to the dozen people that came out in August to improve the loading dock, and Three Little Piggies BBQ for providing some seriously delicious food. Let's do it again!

Shop Cleanup!

It's time for a clean-up in the loading dock! Join us 4pm - 6pm on Saturday, September 7th to get dirty and clean-up the Metal Shop.

Sign up here!

Pizza!

We were told that offering pizza increases the likelihood you will sign up to help clean shop!

Rumor has it there may be BBQ as well : )

Game Night!

4pm - 11pm, all ages, all are welcome!

Bring and share a game and snacks, or take advantage of Randy's impressive library. Free and open to all ages!

september CLASSES AND BEYOND

Classes are posted on the website through July! Ready to learn? No membership required!

  1. Choose your class and sign up today.

  2. Don't see a date that works for you? Use the 'Request a Class' button to let us know your availability and we'll match you up with an instructor!

What's YOUR favorite online resource?

Thanks to your feedback, we had some nice additions and updates to our semi-hidden Materials & Resources page!

Next up, tell us your favorite online resource for information! Web sites, articles, youtube channels, tiktok videos, etc. Let us know!

Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor

Thanks to a grant from the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor, Maker Works is able to:

Kiwanis has been a huge resource to the Ann Arbor community and beyond for over 100 years. We are thrilled to have their support!

As always, you can also support shared access to resources by:

  1. Taking a class or starting a membership!

  2. Making a contribution today!

  3. Sharing this newsletter with someone you know

New sponsorship opportunities to support the shop are coming soon, let me know if you'd like to be first to know!

Thank you!

Josh Williams

FREE Activities, New Metal Shop Fab Track, Clean-up + Pizza & Game Night

Hey hey!

Exciting news, we’re able to offer free: Tours, Household Tool Workshops, and Fix-It-Friday repair events thanks to a grant from the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Foundation!

We've JUST launched our latest class track for the Metal Shop. Learn how to operate ten of the most popular metal shop tools in four sessions this September!

Last, we're starting a monthly shop clean-up day, coinciding with Game Night! Join us Saturday, August 10th from 4pm - 6pm to clean and organize the loading dock. Stick around after for pizza and tabletop games!

Read on for details, and thank you for being a part of our community of making!

Free: Tours, Classes, and Repairs!
Thank you Kiwanis!

Free Tours

Last year Maker Works ran over 150 free tours of the shop. Over the next 12 months we're hoping to double that with support from Kiwanis!

Take a tour as an individual, or request one for your group!

Free household tools class

Maker Works offers an 'Intro to Intro to Household Tools' workshop that typically costs $80 / person. With support from Kiwanis we're able to provide free access for individuals, and make them available on request for groups!

Free Repairs

We estimate over 100 household items were repaired last year. Saving money, reducing waste, and emphasizing repair! Thanks to Kiwanis, we're able to continue running this activity every third Friday of the month!

These opportunities happen thanks to Kiwanis and the volunteers that help! Find out how you can volunteer here, or sign up to be notified about volunteering here!

Join Eric and Randy in a hands-on, four-part series designed to teach you to safely use ten of the most popular fabrication tools in the metal shop. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn new skills or an experienced metal fabricator seeking access to these tools, this series offers something for everyone.

We'll get you up to speed on everything from MIG/TIG Welding to the Drill Press, Bandsaw, Abrasive equipment, Plasma Cutter and more!

Additional time with instructors gives you an opportunity to ask questions about your own projects, or where to start!

Class runs Sundays 9am - 12pm Sep. 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th.

Limited to just four people - register here!

sign up today!

Cleaning, Pizza, and Game Night
Saturday, August 10th!

Shop Cleanup!

It's time for a clean-up in the loading dock! Join us 4pm - 6pm on Saturday, August 10th to get dirty and clean-up the loading dock.

We'll tackle a different shop area each month.

Sign up here!

Pizza!

We were told that offering pizza would increase the likelihood you would sign up and come out to help clean shop!

We promise the pizza won't be made using AI. This time.

Game Night!

Open to all (even if you don't help clean : ) from 4pm - 11pm.

Bring and share your own game and snacks, or take advantage of Randy's impressive library. Free and open to all ages!

august CLASSES AND BEYOND

Classes are posted on the website through July! Ready to learn? No membership required!

  1. Choose your class and sign up today.

  2. Don't see a date that works for you? Use the 'Request a Class' button to let us know your availability and we'll match you up with an instructor!

What's YOUR favorite local resource?

Maker Works has a semi-hidden Materials & Resources page here.

Have a suggestion? We'd love to hear! While local resources are ideal, we're happy to hear about online options as well. Whether it's an amazing discount fabric store, hidden electronics shop, or a place with all the weird components you can't get at the traditional big-box store.

Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor

Thanks to a grant from the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor, Maker Works is able to:

Kiwanis has been a huge resource to the Ann Arbor community and beyond for over 100 years. We are thrilled to have their support!

As always, you can also support shared access to resources by:

  1. Taking a class or starting a membership!

  2. Making a contribution today!

  3. Sharing this newsletter with someone you know

New sponsorship opportunities to support the shop are coming soon, let me know if you'd like to be first to know!

Thank you!

Josh Williams

July Updates: Mamas and Lasers, Tables for Good, Sunday Artisan Market!

More details below the fold! We're Laser Engraving Pint Glasses with The Mamas Network on Friday, July 26th.

Thomas Tusano just finished a table for The Bungie Foundation that's raising money for good and looks phenomenal!

We're starting to table at the Sunday Artisan Market! Let us know if you would like to join us!

Finally, we have just two slots left in our CNC Make & Take (use the code CNC49BLOG), and click on if you'd like to be notified about the next CNC Weekend or Woodshop Track class!

The Mamas Network exists to build a ​vibrant and supportive community so that no mama ​feels alone in their journey through motherhood.

This Friday that means heading out to Maker Works to custom laser engrave pint glasses before heading out for an evening at the Mothfire Brewing Co. : )

Are you a mom, or know a mom? Check out the Mamas Network website and the July 26th event at Maker Works!

Thomas Tusano came to the shop a little over a year ago already familiar with most of the tools, it's been a joy to see the range of work he brings in. You'll find him in the woodshop just about every day working to fulfill orders for his business, but he also dedicates a significant amount of time working on projects that give back.

His latest project is a 'Dreaming City Coffee Table' for The Bungie Foundation - yes that video game company. Creators of 'Halo' and 'Destiny', which you may have heard about. The photos don't do the pearlescent finish justice, or show the beautiful play of light that passes through the engraving and onto the undersurface. Up for auction 'til 5pm on July 25th!

table with us at

the Sunday Artisan Market

Last weekend Elvira joined us at the Sunday Artisan Market to both help raise awareness about the shop and showcase some of her own work. (Thank you Elvira!) The Market is a fantastic place for artists to showcase their work.

We're setting up dates to table there again and would love for you to join us! We provide all the setup along with a partner to hang out with. Whether you're looking to support the shop, or want to promote your work, we would love to hang out with you. Let us know when you're available!

Build and take home your own CNC Machine! Join Maker Works' instructor Leena for a full day guided build of your own personal 3018 CNC Router. This lightweight router is great for cutting and engraving wood and plastic.

The class is a fantastic introduction to the world of CNC. Leena will walk you through the wiring, mechanics, and software from start to finish, and you get to take home your own CNC Router!

Feel free to bring a build buddy, but register soon — just four spots! Use the early bird discount code 'CNC49BLOG' to bring the price down to $449!

register today!

august CLASSES AND BEYOND

Classes are posted on the website through July! Ready to learn? No membership required!

  1. Choose your class and sign up today.

  2. Don't see a date that works for you? Use the 'Request a Class' button to let us know your availability and we'll match you up with an instructor!

Shhhhh, upcoming news about Kiwanis : )

Maker Works was recently awarded a grant from the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor! Our next newsletter will have details and a call to action for:

  • Free Group Tours

  • Free Intro to Household Tools Workshops

  • Expanded Free Fix-It-Friday Support

  • Expanded Community Partnership Support

In the meantime, if you know of a group that could benefit from any of the above items, let us know (or tell them!).

As always, you can also support shared access to resources by:

  1. Taking a class or starting a membership!

  2. Making a contribution today!

  3. Sharing this newsletter with someone you know

New sponsorship opportunities to support the shop are coming soon, let me know if you'd like to be first to know!

Thank you!

Josh Williams

July News: Amy's Latest Work, CNC Discounts, Pen Plotters and MORE!

We're excited to feature the latest work below by Amy Anderson, she's consistently making innovative and creative pieces. We also have an update from Andi at Future Innovator's Academy!

Our woodworking track sold out, but you can get notified of the next!

Our early bird discount ends soon to learn how to operate four CNC machines in our weekend intensive, or bring a buddy to build your own CNC! Use the discount code 'CNC49BLOG'.

Thank you for being a part of our community of making! If you’d like to receive this in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter!

Member Project: Amy's Lazy Susan Side Table

Amy's been on a woodworking marathon ever since she got started at the shop last year, and it shows!

The legs on this piece are Cherry, the rest is Ambrosia Maple she picked up from Johnson's Workbench. A whole lot of imagination, CAD, and CNC work on the ShopBot followed by some custom joinery, and finished off with a beautiful resin inlay. To top it all, it rotates around the shelf on a 12" heavy duty lazy susan!

When asked if we could feature it, Amy responded with a lovely comment:

"Thanks to Maker Works I was able to learn several new aspects of woodworking, joinery, CNC design, engraving and the different ways to do an inlay. The strength and knowledge of each team member at Maker Works has grown many skilled and successful woodworkers. It is a safe and welcoming environment. 

This piece was only imagined and getting it into real life form took a lot of time and recalculations."

Thank you Amy for inspiring all of us with your imagination and hard work!

Learn to safely operate four CNC machines in this two-day workshop!

Join a small cohort learning to safely operate the Epilog Laser, Plasma Cutter, ShopBot, and Tormach. You'll leave with the knowledge to cut and engrave wood, metal, and plastic using the power of robots.

This is an incredible opportunity to learn the basics of design (CAD), converting designs to machine code (CAM), and operating the machines.

Psst, you'll also be the first to play with Dale's custom pen plotter.

Possible post class projects on the Laser, ShopBot, and Tormach Mill!

Sign up using the early bird code 'CNC49BLOG' to bring the price to $449!

Register today

Build and take home your own CNC Machine! Join Maker Works' instructor Leena for a full day guided build of your own personal 3018 CNC Router. This lightweight router is great for cutting and engraving wood and plastic.

The class is a fantastic introduction to the world of CNC. Leena will walk you through the wiring, mechanics, and software from start to finish, and you get to take home your own CNC Router!

Feel free to bring a build buddy, but register soon — just four spots! Use the early bird discount code 'CNC49BLOG' to bring the price down to $449!

register today!

STEM Camp

Ages 7 - 14

Half & Full Day camps

Sign up here

Andi's been a member of the shop for over a year, starting when she launched The Future Innovators Academy at Maker Works in 2023. She quickly outgrew us, expanding to her own space and equipment (Laser Engravers & 3D Printers, for kids!).

Summer camps are in full swing, and she's offering our community a discount on STEM camp (linked left), use the code 'MakerWorks' to take 15% off!

Additional camps with spots open below!

Lego Robotics
Ages 5 - 8
Half & Full Day camps

Sign up here

Roblox Game Design
Ages 7 - 14
Half & Full Day camps

Sign up here

Minecraft Modding
Ages 8 - 12
Half & Full Day camps

Sign up here

JUNE CLASSES AND BEYOND

Classes are posted on the website through July! Ready to learn? No membership required!

  1. Choose your class and sign up today.

  2. Don't see a date that works for you? Use the 'Request a Class' button to let us know your availability and we'll match you up with an instructor!

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Maker Works has an annual budget close to $400,000, of which about 85% is covered by class attendees, membership dues, and studio space rentals.

This past week we've been highlighting the City of Ann Arbor's Zero Waste efforts. The city is doing a fantastic job engaging individuals and businesses to reduce waste, you can help us continue to do our part of providing shared access to resources.

  1. Take a class or start a membership!

  2. Make a contribution today!

  3. Share this blog with someone you know!

New sponsorship opportunities to support the shop are coming soon, let me know if you'd like to be first to know!

Thank you!

- Josh Williams

The future is yours to make!