IMPORTANT: Events are colored by category. To view a list instead of a calendar, click the "Switch to List View" in the top right corner of the calendar.
This time is set aside to perform tasks around making sure our tools stay in peak performance and trying to ensure that the tools stay in good working order during the month.
Never repaired a tool or performed maintenance before – not a problem!! There are maintenance task for all levels of expertise – and we’ll always have at least one person around that can help you learn!
Open Circuits is open to both Twin City Maker members and the public at large. We'll meet in the Twin Cities Maker Electronics Lab and spill out into the lobby as necessary.
(on the docket for the foreseeable future)
It is not necessary to RSVP to this event!
Come hang out with one of our new woodshop managers on the First Tuesday of Each Month for this Free Class focusing on the tool at the center of most woodshops - the table saw.
We'll be going over basics of how to safely operate each table saw along with covering topics like:
If you've got a piece of wood you'd like to cut, bring it along; otherwise, we'll have scrap on hand so that everyone can have a try.
Avoid wearing loose fitting clothing or long sleeves that you cannot roll up. Make sure to wear comfortable closed toe shoes as you'll be standing throughout this class.
*Please Note: Ignore the "Spaces Left" on this Event. It will always show Zero!
This four step process includes: sign up, training video, practice quiz, and an in-person written and practical test on the laser.
Twin Cities Maker Community Night: Grill & Gather! Join us for a laid-back summer evening at Twin Cities Maker! We'll be firing up the grill and serving a variety of delicious eats—including vegetarian options—so come hungry. This is a great opportunity to meet other members, hang out in the shop, and enjoy some good food and conversation.
Our Program Director and Board President will be on hand to chat with anyone who has questions about the organization, ideas to share, or just wants to say hello. Whether you're a longtime member or new to the space, you're welcome here. Bring a friend, bring your curiosity, and let's hang out!
Twin Cities Maker (TC Maker) is a non-profit, all volunteer run, community maker space based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Our mission is to make, share, and learn.
We have a maker space (The Hack Factory) for members to build projects using various media and technologies, from wood and metal working, electronics to fabrics, laser cutters to 3D Printers and beyond.
We invite you to come visit our space and take a tour to learn about our community, and how you can participate in it. Wednesday nights from 7-9pm is also the best time to become a member!
Learn more about us at our website! https://www.tcmaker.org/
This event is a tour only. Non-members are not permitted to operate any tools or equipment. Appropriate safety precautions MUST be taken before entering the shop.
Fiber Night on Wednesday in the lobby for anyone who wants to join! We'll be working on beginning knitting and crochet but are open to any other suggestions
Email artifactory@tcmaker.org with questions!
Orientation will be a half-hour session covering space changes, equipment and material locations, donations, cleanliness protocols, and safety procedures for new members and those who haven't been down to the Artifactory in a while.
Whether you are an experienced picker or brand new to the hobby, Open Locksport is an opportunity to meet other people in the area who are interested in picking locks for fun. Many regular attendees are interested in other security related topics as well, such as the intersection of cyber and physical security.
We welcome both members and non-members to attend Open Locksport any first Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM. We do ask that you RSVP to this event.
Whether you are brand new to picking or an experienced picker, stop by to learn hands-on from our frequent attendees or to share your knowledge while we explore locks and tools provided by TC Maker.
Resources
Text-based
A Locksport Primer http://www.locksport.com/home/index.php
This link leads to a PDF hosted by Locksport International that goes over some of the basics of locksport, locks and lock picking in a friendly comic book format.
TOOOL Learning Resources https://www.toool.us/resources.php
The Open Organization of Lockpickers is the most active locksport organization in the world, and maintains many well-developed resources in text and graphical form (slides) to learn the basics and beyond.
Lockpicking - by Deviant Ollam https://deviating.net/lockpicking/slides.html
Collection of slides and notes about many lock and lockpicking topics, some duplicated from Toool with some new material for those who want to go deeper.
Video
Learn Lock Picking: EVERYTHING you Need to Know! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTZddvAws9M
By Lock Noob, a prolific YouTube creator with hundreds of useful videos.
DEF CON 23 - Lock Picking Village - Preston Thomas - Intro to Lockpicking 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU7-r83Nx3Y
Published by DEFCON, the massive hacking conference. A bit of a rough recording of a lock picking village intro, but sufficiently clear and quite succinct. Runtime 27 min.
[1424] Lock Picking… An Inside Perspective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_sy3dLwHkc
By LockPickingLawyer, another prolific YouTube creator with massive amounts of lock picking content. This video shows some picking techniques in great resolution and detail utilizing a cutaway lock.
Bosnianbill – a retired prolific creator with 1800+ videos on topics at all skill levels https://www.youtube.com/@bosnianbill/videos
Where to buy lock picking tools, and what to buy
Best places to get a cost-effective and serviceable beginner’s set of tools?
Covert Instruments (LockPickingLawyer’s online store) https://covertinstruments.com/collections/lockpicks/products/genesis-lock-pick
Toool’s Equipment Page https://www.toool.us/equipment/Necessary-Nine-Pickset-p365089401
Red Team Tools (Deviant Ollam’s online store) https://www.redteamtools.com/essential-lock-pick-set/
Lockpick Extreme https://lockpickextreme.com/product/12-piece-lockpick-set/
All of these sets are similar in capability in price, ranging from $19 - $30 (before shipping) with the Covert Instruments offering edging out the others because of how they have narrowed the short-end of their double-ended turning tools.
When purchasing lock picks for the first time, it is important to realize that more shapes (profiles) don’t necessarily correlate to more capability. Keeping with the basics improves your versatility as a picker as well as keeps your costs to a minimum.
If you are interested in looking at more advanced sets, here are some manufacturers to check out:
Peterson https://www.thinkpeterson.com
Sparrows https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com
Multipick https://shop.multipick.com/en/index
Southern Specialties https://lockpicktools.com
SouthOrd https://www.southord.com
Additional online communities you might be interested in
The old-school forums that started the hobby in the early 2000’s are still alive and brimming with knowledge:
Keypicking https://keypicking.com
Lock Picking 101 Forum https://www.lockpicking101.com
Most day-to-day conversation has migrated to Reddit, mainly r/lockpicking https://www.reddit.com/r/lockpicking/
Lockpickers United Discord https://discord.gg/lockpicking
Join this in-person orientation to learn more about the CNC routers at Twin Cities Maker.
Orientation will start in the classroom—not the CNC room.
Agenda:
CNC orientation is generally held on the second Friday of the month.
This is orientation required for use of the metal shop at TC Maker Minneapolis. We explain our equipment, safety procedures, storage and training requirements for our more advanced tools. Also provide recommendations for PPE, consumables and other things to help make your use of the metal shop effective for you and our other members.
At 6:45 we will do a brief training for use of the metal shear, which requires in-person checkoff. Following that, you will be allowed to use our 4' sheet metal shear. You can attend either or both sessions if you wish.
Please be on time and let me know if you cannot attend. Thank you
This orientation will show the basics of FDM 3D printing and lab etiquette to get you checked off to use FDM 3d printers. Upon completion you will be checked off for use of these particular machines. If you have not taken the 3D lab orientation please let the instructor know.
(FDM = Fused Deposition Modeling)
We encourage members and non-members alike to attend our board meetings!
The Board Meetings are normally held on the 2nd Tuesday of the each month, but may fluctuate depending on Board Member schedules/holidays. Please refer to our calendar of events for dates and times of all meetings.
All board meeting are held in person in the Artifactory as well as virtually online. To join the meeting online please visit https://go.tcmaker.org/boardmeeting
To view the agenda for this meeting, please visit this link.
To request an item to be added to the agenda, please contact President@TCMaker.org at least 5 days prior to any board meeting.
This class will cover the use of the SLA/DLP 3D printing machines. We will go over the etiquette and safety procedures of handling the materials and machines. Upon completion you will be checked off for use of these particular machines. If you have not taken the 3D lab orientation please let the instructor know.
Starting a New Project and just don't know what your first step is? Need some additional help or guidance on advanced techniques/jigs on the tools? Just want to hang out and listen to other people's questions and solutions?
Stop in to the Wood Shop on this night for a drop-in Q&A Session. We'll have one or two volunteers around who will be available to help you with any of your Wood Shop related questions!
1. Basic/Beginner Questions on how to use Table Saws
2. CNC/Laser Related Questions
3. Lathe / Turning Questions
4. Drum Sander Training/Questions
Whether you are a brand new member of Twin Cities Maker, or have been a member for a really long time but haven't been in the shop for awhile, attending a new member orientation will get you up to speed on the policies, guidelines, and culture of Twin Cities Maker.
Signup, download a copy of our handbook, and come to session. During orientation you get to meet some new people, have all your questions answered, and get acquainted with Twin Cities Maker policies, guidelines, and culture.
Orientation lasts for about 1 hour with time after for questions and support for any issues.
After you have completed orientation you will receive your fob to access the facility, which will be activated once have paid all membership fees.
If you are going to be working in the woodshop be sure to sign up for woodshop orientation immediately following this class. Check our orientations calendar to register.
All New Members are required to Pre-Register for this Orientation.
If you cannot attend an in person orientation, please reach out to membership@tcmaker.org so that we can work out special arrangements.
Join the CNC Club at Twin Cities Maker, a vibrant community for CNC enthusiasts! Whether you're a seasoned expert or just curious about CNC technology, this club offers a space for members and interested newcomers to engage, share insights, and deepen their understanding of CNC machinery and techniques.
During our gatherings, the Shapeoko2 and the Sequoyatec 4×8 machines are exclusively available for club activities, providing hands-on experience. We encourage you to bring your projects, questions, or simply your enthusiasm for learning—there's something for everyone, from practical demonstrations to engaging discussions.
Our club convenes on the second Thursday of every month, from 7pm to 9pm, promising an evening filled with fascinating topics and guest speakers who are experts in the field of CNC.
In line with the Twin Cities Maker spirit, we strive to cultivate an environment that is not only educational but also supportive and inclusive. Our core values emphasize Excellence, Respect, and Consideration for one another, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere for all participants.
Stay updated and join the conversation on our dedicated #dept-cnc Slack channel, where you'll find announcements and lively discussions. For highlights and upcoming events, don't miss out on Lonnie Bryan's posts in the same channel.
While registration is not mandatory, it is appreciated as it helps us anticipate attendance and tailor our sessions to meet the interests of the group. Join us at CNC Club, where your passion for CNC meets community and creativity!
Wood Shop Orientation is a required orientation for all woodworkers.
During Orientation we will cover basic shop safety guidelines along with best practices that are necessary to use the wood shop at Twin Cities Maker!
https://wiki.tcmaker.org/en/shop_departments/wood_shop