TechShop finds a new Downtown San Jose home

TechShop is a workshop for do-it-yourself types and craftspeople will all sorts of cool tools and resources (like a laser cutter). The current home of TechShop at the corner of 300 South 2nd Street is up for sale and will likely be torn down by the purchaser to build a multi-story housing or office project. Fortunately, TechShop already has found a new home a few blocks away at 38 S. Second Street. This is the former site of Zanotto's, which has sat vacant for years.

The new space clocks in at 20,000 SQFT, which is about 15% larger than the 17,000 SQFT they have today. That extra space will go towards a larger wood shop and more conference rooms and storage spaces.

Construction at the new location will take three months and the move is expected to take place in early fall. After they move, another key gap in Downtown San Jose's retail scene will be filled and highly active. I hope that they place some of the cooler workstations by the windows so people walking by can see what TechShop's craftsman (and craftswoman) are working on. It will definitely bring some much needed vibrancy to this street.

Source: SVBJ

Spring Cleaning Sale at The DH Co.

Our friends at the DH Co. are having a spring cleaning sale through Monday where you can save 40% off locally made shirts, tees, and hoodies. All you have to do is visit  http://www.thedhco.com and put in the discount code: SPRING40. Please support our local retailers!

TechShop Grand Opening Today!

Come out to 300 S. 2nd Street between 10am-6pm to check out the new TechShop Downtown! I have no "handiwork" skills whatsoever but was still fascinated by the tour I got a couple of weeks ago. They have a lot of really cool machines in there like laser cutters, pipe benders, and whatever else you might need to build a physical product. This place should fit in nicely into SoFA and provide an invaluable resource for the Arts organizations there!

TechShop San Jose Grand Opening Festival: Saturday September 24 from 10 AM – 6 PM

 

Get ready to party in DIY style! TechShop, the first member-based do-it-yourself workshop and fabrication studio, invites you to the grand opening celebration of our new location in San Jose. Come take a tour of our cutting edge facility: Learn how a laser cutter works and watch another machine cut through inches of steel with a stream of water. Take a look at what our members have been up to—from creating popular marketable products, to arts and crafts, to the development of a real working JetPack. Special offers on memberships and classes will be available for a limited time. Moveable Feast San Jose will be rolling through with a variety of their famous gourmet food trucks, so bring your appetite! The opening ribbon—made of cold-rolled steel—will be plasma cut at noon by Carl Bass, President & CEO of Autodesk followed by a keynote address. At 3 PM we present a live performance of explosive proportions by YouTube sensation EepyBird, creators of The Extreme Diet Coke & Mentos Experiments. The celebration is free and fun for the whole family. Come and see what TechShop has to offer you, and prepare to be inspired!

 

Schedule of Events

 

All Day - Free Tours, Equipment Demonstrations, Membership Specials.

 

10 AM - Celebration begins!

 

11 AM - Food Trucks arrive from San Jose's Moveable Feast!

 

12 PM - Ribbon cutting ceremony with Carl Bass, President & CEO, Autodesk Inc.

 

 

Carl Bass is president and chief executive officer of Autodesk, Inc. Autodesk is the leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Formerly he was Autodesk’s chief operating officer, responsible for worldwide sales, marketing, and product development. Earlier roles included CTO and EVP of product development. Bass co-founded Ithaca Software, the developers of HOOPS, which was acquired by Autodesk in 1993. Bass serves on the Board of Directors of Autodesk, E2open, the Art Center College of Design, and the Rocky Mountain Institute.  He is also a member of the Executive Advisory Boards of Cornell Computing and Information Science and UC Berkeley School of Information. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Cornell University.

 

1 PM - Keynote speech by Carl Bass

 

1:30 PM - DIY Party in Full Swing!

 

3 PM - LIVE performance by EepyBird: The Extreme Diet Coke & Mentos Experiments!

 

6 PM: Celebration concludes.

TechShop is Coming to San Jose!

As mentioned earlier today, TechShop is planning to open a Downtown San Jose location on 300 S. 2nd Street. At 17,000 sqft it would be one of, if not their largest location. TechShop is membership-based workshop that provides access to tools, equipment, and classes to allow creative people to build whatever they want. It's designed for artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, hackers, roboteers, arts & crafts enthusiats, etc. Instead of buying crazy expensive equipment to create things, you just get a monthly membership and have access to over a million dollars worth of equipment including cool stuff like 3D printers, metalworking and woodworking tools, laser cutters, and fast computer workstations. Think of it as a gym membership for people that want to build things.

What a tremendous resource this would be for Downtown San Jose! This would be 2 blocks away from SoFA (the artist mecca for the South Bay), 2 blocks away from San Jose State University, and in the neighborhood of several start-up companies and incubators. This type of easy-access workshop is exactly what we need to make the fires burn hotter in the burgeoning art and cultural districts of San Jose, particularly the Downtown core. There would also be a retail store open to everyone with basic supplies for projects, such as hardware, paint, pliers, safety equipment, electronic components, and reading materials.

Right now they are looking for help launching this location by asking for volunteers, membership pledges (you would get a membership if the San Jose location is opened), or donations. Fore more information, just click here.

Also here is a list of equipment that you would have access to with membership:

• Epilog Helix 60-Watt Laser Cutters
• Tormach CNC Milling Machines
• 3D Printer
• NextEngine 3D Scanner
• Formech 600 24" x 24" Vacuum Forming System
• Formech Heat Strip Bending System
• Morgan Industries Injection Molding System
• Sewing Machines
• Overlock Sewing Machine
• Tin Lizzie Quilting Machine
• Computer-Controlled Vinyl Cutter
• Powder Coating System
• Lincoln MIG Welders (Steel)
• Lincoln TIG Welders (Steel and Aluminum)
• Hand-Held Plasma Cutter
• Sheet Metal Spot Welder
• Sheet Metal Brake, 16 ga x 50"
• Rotary Sheet Metal Punch
• Sheet Metal Corner Notcher
• English Wheel and Planishing Hammer
• Sheet Metal Shear, 16 ga x 50"
• Sheet Metal Roller, 16 ga x 50"
• Sandblast Cabinet
• Metal Grinders and Sanders
• Metal Chop Saw
• Metal Horizontal Band Saw
• Metal Vertical Band Saw
• Computer Controlled Embroidery Sewing Machine
• Electronics Testing and Soldering Equipment
• Epson R1900 13" x 19" Achival Printer with Continuous Inking System
• ShopBot 4' x 8' CNC Wood Router System
• SawStop Professional Cabinet Table Saw
• Panel Saw
• Wood Planer
• Wood Jointer
• Wood Band Saw
• Wood Sanders
• Wood Scroll Saws
• Wood Lathe
• Drill Presses
• Metal Lathes, 14" x 40"
• Vertical Milling Machines with DRO and Power Feed
• Granite Surface Plate with Digital Height Gauges
• Lots of Machine Shop Accessories and Tooling
• Lots of Fast Computer Workstations with 2D and 3D Design Software
• Complete Stocked Tool Room
• Member Storage Rental
• Private Studio / Office Rental
• Meeting Rooms
• Comfortable HackerSpace Areas with Power and WiFi
• Retail Store with Supplies and Materials
• Free Coffee and Popcorn
• ...And LOTS More!