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Another Repair Café Fix

We’re no stranger to Repair Cafés  here at TOG, having just run our biggest one ever in January. Repair Cafés are events where volunteers try to fix stuff to keep it in-service and out of landfill. We had about 90 fixes attempted on the day with much success, thanks to a fantastic pool of fixers. You can read about it in the Irish Times.

This particular fix was a simple one, but we also decided to upgrade the power socket to USB-C. A rechargeable work light from ALDI had become intermittent in charging. The charging socket (micro USB) seemed sensitive to touch. Some of the tiny surface mount pins on the charging socket circuit board had failed. These proved quite difficult to re-solder, even with our best hot air kit.

Checking the usual Chinese websites, there are many kinds of USB-C plugs and sockets available. We bought 3 types…. some chassis mounting ones, some on a small PCB similar to the original one, and some plain vanilla ones with just 2 flying leads. We decided to use the plain one. With a bit of enlarging of the hole to make it fit, and some 2-part epoxy, the new USB-C socket is now in place and connected up. These have just a red and a black wire so it’s just 5V, but that’s fine for this application.

Talking afterwards, most of the gadgets and gizmos that we’ve made at TOG have traditionally used some kind of barrel plug for 5V or 12V. Since USB-C is now the in-thing, it’s easy to use it for new projects. Drop in to our regular Monday night Electronics or Tuesday night Open House to see this and much more.

If you need something repaired come along to our upcoming repair cafes.

Fingal Makerspace, Blanchardstown Library 29th March 2025

Tog Hackerspace, 19th April 2025

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Pizza Oven Overhaul

From almost the very beginnings of TOG, our monthly Saturday evening Open Social has been a constant fixture in our calendar. At our Open Social in January 2015, a quick hack over the previous few weeks at making a brick pizza oven from a stack of red bricks and some bits of angle iron turned out to be an unexpected instant hit. Our Open Social was changed forever, and has become as much of an outdoor event as an indoor one, irrespective of the season.

We were blessed in TOG 2.0 (Chancery Lane) to have our own private yard where we could leave the oven permanently. Fast forward to TOG 3.0 (Blackpitts) where there was a large outdoor car park, but we couldn’t leave stuff out there permanently. The solution was to create a mobile pizza oven that we could wheel in and out as required. Using a gym ball as a mould, we made our current mobile pizza oven.

After 7 years of hard use, it was time for a bit of well deserved maintenance. The top was removed and the base refilled and leveled with fresh perlite. New dedicated fire bricks instead of red bricks were laid out for the base. Unlike the previous red bricks, these fire bricks are all identical in dimensions and have now made a super flat cooking surface. The inside of the dome got some re-pointing with new red pottery clay.

At our combined Open Social and 16th birthday party last week, the newly refurbished oven was put to the test. The pizzas were fabulous. Thanks to Conor for making the dough! Being a maker space, you get to prepare and cook your own pizza. We even have peels that we made ourselves. We are a maker space after all! To see the oven in action and to have a go yourself, drop into any of our Open Socials.

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Exciting News: Grant Awarded for Our Hands-On Computing Course!

We’re excited to share some fantastic news: Tog Hackerspace has been awarded funding under Dublin City Council’s Informal Adult Education Grant Scheme 2024! This support will enable us to run a 5-week physical computing course designed specifically for older adults, introducing them to the exciting world of electronics and programming.

Over the course of five weeks, participants will get hands-on experience learning how to use code and electronics to control the real world. Each week will focus on different concepts and projects, providing a supportive and engaging environment to explore and create. In the final week, participants will work on solving a personal problem or developing a project that’s meaningful to them.

We’re looking forward to launching this course soon and can’t wait to share the dates with you. Stay tuned for updates, and if you know someone who might be interested, spread the word. Together, let’s spark creativity and learning in 2025!

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Engineers Week Soldering Workshop

Join us for an exciting and educational Beginner Soldering Workshop as part of Engineers Week 2025! This workshop is designed for those who are new to the world of soldering and want to learn the basics. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, a maker, or simply curious about soldering, this workshop is perfect for you.

In this class, our experienced instructors will guide you through the process of soldering components onto a circuit board. You’ll learn about the different types of soldering tools, materials, and techniques. Our hands-on approach will allow you to practice what you’ve learned, so you can feel confident in your newly acquired skills.

You’ll start with the basics, such as how to properly use a soldering iron, and work your way up to soldering components onto a circuit board. You’ll leave this workshop with a fully functioning circuit of your own creation, a greater understanding of soldering, and a newfound sense of confidence.

All materials and equipment needed for the workshop will be provided, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing anything beforehand. Just come ready to learn, have fun, and take your soldering skills to the next level. Whether you’re a complete beginner or simply looking to improve your skills, this workshop has something to offer everyone. So sign up now and join the soldering community!

Date: Saturday, 1st of March 2025 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Cost: €35 plus fees

Location: Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin 12, D12 KRW1

Booking via the following link: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1217709123769?aff=oddtdtcreator

No electronics skills are required. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Workshop open to ALL. Limited to 12 participants per workshop.

This event is one of many taking place during Engineers Week. Visit Engineers Ireland Engineers Week for more information.

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16 Years of TOG: Cake, Pizza, and Craic Await!

Join us for our 16th birthday party and regular Open Social all rolled into one! TOG has reached the ripe old age of 16. Like a teenager hitting a milestone, 16 probably entitles us to something, or makes us eligible for something, but we’re not quite sure what that is. Maybe driving lessons for the 3D printers?

What to Expect:

Being a birthday, there’ll be cake, of course! We’ll also have our pizza oven fired up, turning out delicious homemade pizza throughout the evening.

Our Open Socials are the perfect way to spend a Saturday evening. They’re an informal opportunity to explore the space, chat with members, and get inspired by all the creative projects on the go. If you’ve never visited before, this is your chance for the grand tour. Members and visitors will be happy to talk about their projects or hear about things you’d like to work on.

Expect an evening filled with caint, ceol agus craic (talk, music, and fun). The space stays open until the last member calls it a night—usually well into the small hours of Sunday morning. Whether you drop in for 10 minutes or stay the whole night, you’re very welcome.

  • Date: Saturday 25th
  • Time: 7pm
  • Location: TOG Hackerspace

We have plenty of free parking available, so feel free to bring along beer, food, gadgets, or anything else you’d like to share. Come celebrate with us and be part of TOG’s vibrant community on this special occasion. We can’t wait to see you there!

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Dublin Linux Community Hackerspace Meetup + Tech Swap Shop

We are hosting the Dublin Linux Community for their January meetup. You can find out all about their meetup below.

Details

This time around the theme will be lightning talks! Showcase a project you like or something you’ve worked on recently. There’s a projector screen in the space that you can hook your laptop up to. We will also have a swap shop for any random tech and gadgets that you think might be useful to someone else. Please note that you do not need to be a member of TOG to attend but if you are interested in joining we will be doing tours of the space if you’re interested in joining.

PLEASE RSVP AND CHANGE IT IF YOU’RE NOT COMING SO WE CAN GAUGE INTEREST GOING FORWARD

Continue reading “Dublin Linux Community Hackerspace Meetup + Tech Swap Shop”

Details

This time around the theme will be lightning talks! Showcase a project you like or something you’ve worked on recently. There’s a projector screen in the space that you can hook your laptop up to. We will also have a swap shop for any random tech and gadgets that you think might be useful to someone else. Please note that you do not need to be a member of TOG to attend but if you are interested in joining we will be doing tours of the space if you’re interested in joining.

PLEASE RSVP AND CHANGE IT IF YOU’RE NOT COMING SO WE CAN GAUGE INTEREST GOING FORWARD

Continue reading “Dublin Linux Community Hackerspace Meetup + Tech Swap Shop”