Join us for a 2.5-hour, hands-on workshop that introduces you to the world of the Internet of Things (IoT) through Arduino Cloud. This beginner-friendly session will teach you how to connect your projects to the Internet, visualize data in real time, and manage your devices remotely using Wi-Fi.
You’ll work with two ESP32 boards, a BME280 sensor to measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure, and a small screen to display your data. We’ll guide you through soldering, wiring, and programming your sensors, and show you how to send the data to Arduino Cloud for online monitoring.
Arduino Cloud makes it easy for makers of all levels to build and manage IoT projects. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a fully functioning system and the knowledge to expand your project by adding more sensors.
At Tog Hackerspace, the strength of our community is rooted in the dedication of our volunteers. For the past two weeks, we’ve been working through Togtober 2024, a month focused on improving our space through collaborative efforts. This annual event reflects the values we hold—practicality, resourcefulness, and shared responsibility.
A Volunteer-Driven Space
Tog Hackerspace is entirely volunteer-run. We have no paid staff or external management; everything that happens here is the result of our members’ time, skills, and contributions. This self-sufficient approach ensures that our space evolves according to the needs and efforts of the community.
Ongoing Space Improvements
Since the start of Togtober, we’ve been steadily working on a range of projects to improve our space. Whether it’s reorganizing areas, upgrading tools, or addressing maintenance tasks, our focus is on practical changes that benefit everyone.
Below, you can see our organised workbench, which has been newly reorganized for better accessibility during projects.
Another improvement is the installation of new handrails to enhance safety in key areas of the space.
How You Can Participate
Togtober is still ongoing, and there are several ways you can get involved:
Volunteer Your Time: We hold work sessions every weekend. Regardless of your skill level, there are tasks you can help with.
Donate Materials: If you have surplus materials or tools, they can be useful for our improvement projects.
Contribute Ideas: If you have suggestions for improving the space, we’re open to hearing them. Practical, actionable ideas are always welcome.
Looking Ahead
There’s still work to be done as we move into the final weeks of Togtober. The success of these improvements depends on continued support from our community. If you’re able to contribute, now is the time to get involved. Together, we can ensure that Tog Hackerspace remains a functional and well-maintained environment for all.
For more information on upcoming projects or how you can participate, get in touch with us.
We are thrilled to share that Tog Hackerspace has received a grant from the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2024! This generous support, provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development, has already made a significant difference in our space. We extend our deepest thanks to Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister Joe O’Brien, Dublin City Council, and the Local Community Development Committee for making this possible.
With this grant, we have been able to upgrade the furniture in our common room, which is the heart of our hackerspace. The new stackable tables and chairs have completely transformed the room, giving us the flexibility to adapt the space to suit a wide variety of events and workshops. Previously, our furniture was heavy and mismatched, limiting how we could use the space. Now, we can easily reconfigure the room to accommodate both small gatherings and larger groups with minimal effort.
In addition, we’ve acquired a brand-new projector, screen, and mounting stand. This setup has already proven invaluable during presentations and workshops, especially for members with lower vision, as the improved visual clarity ensures everyone can fully participate. The equipment is helping us deliver a more inclusive and engaging experience for our community.
Whether it’s for a coding session, electronics workshop, or a maker night, the upgrades have given us the freedom to expand the types of events we can host and have made Tog more accessible to all.
We couldn’t be more excited about how these improvements are helping us better serve the community. Tog Hackerspace continues to provide a space where people can explore science, technology, and making in a hands-on, supportive environment. The impact of this grant extends beyond just our group, as we regularly collaborate with other local organizations, amplifying the benefits across the wider community.
A heartfelt thank you once again to the Local Enhancement Programme 2024 for your support. We’re eager to see how these enhancements will continue to improve the experience for all our members and visitors. Come check out the new setup at one of our upcoming open nights!
Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, is a weekend celebration of our favourite stories from books, comics, TV, films and games; from science fiction, fantasy, horror and beyond; attracting artists, writers, film-makers and fans from across the human sphere of influence.
Octocon is going hybrid again on October 5th and 6th at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin and Online, with the programme streamed from Dublin as well as online-only. As well as all our usual panel discussions, workshops, talks and readings, we’ll also be giving you the chance to join in hosted chats with other fans on specific topics, or sit down in a small group to talk to one of our attending creators.
We will have two Lockpicking sessions at Octocon this year. Both will take place on Saturday 5th of October from 3 pm to 4:30 pm split into two 45-minute sessions.
As the summer comes to an end, we wanted to share with you our members’ garden activities. While our passion for technology runs deep, we’re also nurturing a love for sustainability and homegrown food. This season, our members have embraced their green thumbs, cultivating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Whether experimenting with urban gardening, exploring permaculture, or simply enjoying the process of growing food from seed to harvest, there’s been plenty of progress outside the hackerspace too!
Below are some snapshots showcasing the fruits (and veggies!) of their labour.
3D printing has become an incredibly useful tool for household repairs. With a little creativity, you can fix broken items instead of throwing them away. In this post, Christian will share how he used a Prusa 3D printer to repair two everyday items: a toilet roll holder and a window blind clip.
Project 1: Toilet Roll Holder Repair When the mounting bracket of my toilet roll holder broke, I decided to design a custom clip to fix it. Here’s how I did it:
Problem: The original bracket snapped, making the holder unusable.
Solution: I measured the dimensions of the broken part and designed a replacement in CAD software.
Process: I printed the new clip using a Prusa 3D printer, and it fit perfectly. The 3D-printed part is sturdy and works just like the original.
