Estes Valley Library - Robots and Tech: Solder for a Light Up Tree

 

December 17, 2022 brought the Estes Valley Library - Robots and Tech: Solder for a Light Up Tree class. I was very excited for this after my ornament - because I wanted to redeem myself for having 1 light that didn't blink on my soldering ornament. 

Sometimes bad luck likes to search me out and it comes in 3's. First I was 7 minutes late due to a tourist jam - tourists literally standing in the middle of the road not moving for anyone and no idea why as there was no wildlife in the area. Second, this was a teen and adult class and someone saw fit to bring their five year old and that child seemed to be babysat by myself or the instructor, not by the parent. Third. the child was carrying around the demo trees and since the instructor was busy having to babysit and trying to help people, I wasn't able to see the demo and my tree got put together wrong so only part of it lit up. I was just going to get another kit and try it some other day, but the instructor took my tree and gave me one of the demos that was working, because she felt badly that I didn't get the instruction that the other people did.

The library does great with their classes and we had everything that we needed to start our tree - they had even put the main pieces on the tree that are the circuit creators. We had to solder each and every bulb (once on the front, twice on the back) then put the tree together (this is where i didn't get to see a demo and put postive/negative next to each other and it was supposed to be positive on one side and negative on the other so that when you soldered it to the base that made it light up all the way around. 

After soldering to the base you had to screw on the battery housing and connect the battery wires to the base. Then put in batteries and light the tree up. 

This required so much soldering and it was a good lesson in making sure your points were soldered well and connected well. I was pleased with my solder points and other than the error of not understanding the way the tree was being put together - this was a fun and exciting class and I would do something like it again.  

YMCA Ceramic Class

 December 8, 2022 brought Ceramics night at the YMCA! This was fun because we were able to choose an item that added up to $20. I chose 3 ornaments since it was Christmas time. 

The paints are ceramic specific and require several layers to come out correctly. 

Doing the back of the ornaments. 

Working on the fronts

The tub of glaze for the ceramics. 

The Kiln. 

And Finally, the completed and glazed and fired ornaments. 

Estes Valley Library - 3D Printer Training Class

 

December 16, 2022 brought the Estes Valley Library - 3D Printer Training Class. I was very excited for this because of the current trend in the Model Horse hobby for 3D printed horses. 

We were given a work book of how to use it and Barbara Jo (the instructor) went through it. Then we got on a website and of course I picked a HORSE 😆

And then we got to print - We had a time limit so it had to be something small that would print in about 15 Minutes. 

So my Horse ended up between H0 and Micro scale! 

And there is my purple horse - he is missing ears because they got stuck to the supports. I thought he was pretty cool though! I can't wait to do more! 

Estes Park Library - Holiday Ornament Making - Solder a Blinking Bulb

 December 14, 2022 brought the Estes Park Library - Holiday Ornament Making - Solder a Blinking Bulb class. 

This was the goal to make a blinking ornament like above

There were 6 in the class - some people are not able to read rules and brought their kids along when told not too because we were dealing with hot objects, but other than that it was a great learning experience. 

They had the station set up for us with all our supplies. 

We were given our instructions and a demonstration and then turned loose. 

I don't have pictures of me soldering, but it was much more difficult than I expected.

I had one green bulb that refused to light up. Other than that I am extremely pleased about how this came out! I can't wait for the Saturday the 17th class on soldering!! 

YMCA Wreath Making Turned Glass Ornament Class

 Another day, another fun Craft night at the YMCA. December 1, 2022 was a Wreath Making night. Or it was supposed to be. Due to some unforseen circumstances it changed from Wreath Making to Making a Glass Christmas Ornament, which for me was equally cool!

We were each given a station with tools, shown the glass peice and the water sanding area then shown the various designs of some glass and set loose to make our ornament. 

This was the design that I chose to try to produce - a snowman

And here is mine, before, and after the kiln.

It was a fun learning experience and I hope to do it again.