Maker Faire Wayne County is a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness and a celebration of the Maker Movement. It’s a place where people show what they are making and share what they are learning. Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters to homesteaders to scientists to garage tinkerers. They are of all ages and backgrounds. The aim of Maker Faire is to entertain, inform, connect and grow this community.
The Daily Record said it best: “Dubbed the ‘Greatest Show and Tell on Earth’; over 1,200 people flocked to the third annual faire at the University of Akron Wayne College the summer before last. It was a fresh experience with favorite makers from previous years along with new makers and new things to see and do.
Maker Faire Wayne County 2022 is a go!
The University of Akron Wayne College is proud to host Maker Faire Wayne County for its fourth year, scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Plan to attend and plan to participate, it’s free! Maker Faire is all about everyone showing off they are passionate about, their hobbies and crazy inventions. Be part of the fun! Projects of all ages are welcome: adults, schools, businesses, and kids alike. There is something for everyone at Maker Faire! We will announce soon when we will start taking applications.
Maker Faire Prague Goes Big Again in 2021
The biggest Maker Faire in Czechia is back in full force! Czech DIYers, inventors, designers and creators finally will meet again offline in Prague this weekend. Held in the inspiring premises of the Industrial Palace (Výstaviště Praha), the largest Czech Maker Faire brought about 150 projects from a wide range of fields and interests.
Maker Faire Prague offered several great attractions (literally). Visitors got a chance to experience a post-apocalyptic atmosphere with the Bratronice Rocket Base team, who literally live in hand-made scenery from a post-apocalyptic film and who will also bring their own DIY costumes and machines. The acrobatic group V.O.S.A. presented a 6-meter lion puppet, which needs to be controlled by at least three people. The puppet is still being perfected so that it can represent the Czech Republic at the EXPO 2020 in Dubai. Another tremendous attraction is the world’s largest air cannon – shooting from it is truly memorable and its booming sound unforgettably added to the atmosphere of the festival.
Maker Highlights
We are proud to showcase Ohio makers who participated in Maker Faire Wayne County. One of these people is Ben Engle. Ben is a maker and always had a love for making things. He finished a degree at the University of Akron as a Mechanical Engineer major. Ben enjoys making all sorts of things, especially woodworking. Ben designed and built his CNC to help him build more precise guitar parts. He keeps busy making other things like custom signs, watches, and even sunglasses, too. Ben is always up for a challenge and right now he is in the process of building another CNC that will be able to mill metal.
At Maker Faire Wayne County, Ben brought his wood CNC machine and explained to faire goers how the CNC works. As folks stayed and listened, Ben milled small items with the CNC for them to keep! Since the faire, Ben built numerous improved CNC machines, including his latest machine that is 1,500 pounds and mills many types of metal with ease.
Another group who participated in Maker Faire Wayne County are students from Dalton Local Elementary and Middle School, led by instructor Laura Grimm.
The students who presented at Maker Faire Wayne County have completed the 5th grade STEAM curriculum – Planning a Mission to Mars. Faire goers explored how these student engineers built and test items needed for a trip to Mars as part of the Dalton Local School District’s STEAM curriculum for grades K-8.
The students also demonstrated stomp rockets (outdoors, of course!) that can go as high as 30 feet! The students and attendees alike thoroughly enjoyed being part of the faire and getting others excite about STEAM, too.
Rounding out our participating makers is Ron Himes. Ron built his own 3D printer from a kit during one of Schantz Makerspace group’s many 3D printer build classes. His printer is a Tevo Tarantula, a popular model among 3D printer enthusiasts several years ago. With Ron’s printer, he brought (and made) twisted flower vases and printed (quite load!) whistles during the faire.
Ron is also into old car restorations (Pontiacs). He organizes class and work reunions and drive cars for Dale James Ford.
If you would like to know more about Ben’s home built CNC machines, Laura’s STEAM program, or Ron’s 3D printer adventures, please reply to this email!
Until next week,
Tom