The Observation Deck

A hackerspace is a community workshop where people can come together to make things. http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Hackerspaces

I was looking at the list of hackerspaces around the world and noticed that there isn't one in the Cleveland area. http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces

I'm working on designing a project for my students in which they learn about the learning process (challenge-->solution-->product) by building a WikiSeat. http://wikiseat.org/index.php/Main_Page I've run into a challenge in this process because I need about 100 of the "catalysts" that form the central construction piece in the project. WikiSeats has published the schematics involving how to produce these catalysts, but I don't know where I can go locally to have these things made. http://www.instructables.com/id/WikiSeat-A-Catalyst-for-DIY-Seating/r As a huge believer in the connection between community and classroom, I really see an opportunity for someone in the Cleveland area to set-up a hackerspace for projects like this one.

Lakewood would be a great place for a hackerspace, as it seems ideally fitted to the maker culture that seems to be developing in our area (Michael Gill's recent work is particular evidence of this idea). It would also be a tremendous learning space for our region's students. So after all that, is there anyone that anyone knows who would be able to start a hackerspace or who would be at least a good lead for me to connect with as I try to get these "catalysts" made? Though I would love to do it myself, I'm about as useless as can be around tools.

that would be really cool, I've heard there are places in SF and maybe a couple other cities where you can pay a monthly fee and use shop tools, CNC machines and 3d printers, etc. Is this the same concept? How much money would this take to get off the ground and how much would it cost members, etc.

I'm really interested in being a part of something like this.

Yes, it is the same concept and I think I've found one here in Cleveland. However, they're proving difficult to contact. They're called The Makers Alliance of Cleveland and from their website http://www.makersalliance.org/ it looks like most of the people involvewd are even from Lakewood. I'm going to keep trying to contact them and see where I can get.

I'm still looking for anyone with knowledge of the tool&die, machinist ilk that can talk to me about how to go about getting 100 of these catalyst pieces made. If anyone knows anyone who works with metal and could talk to me about this, that'd be a real help.