Exhibit Prototyping Skills Days (Intermediate level) - 2 days

15-16 July 2019, 10am -7pm both days

£100 for members, £130 for non-members

Lunch is not included

Book your place here

Do you have an idea for a demo or an exhibit that you've always wanted to prototype, but have never had the chance? Or would you just welcome the chance to do some Sci-Comm-related making in the company of other BIG members? Then you might enjoy our Exhibit Prototyping Skills Days.

In this Skills Day offering, we’ll spend two days in the workshop of the Edinburgh Tool Library working on our own projects. You should be prepared to work largely independently: some familiarity and confidence with hand tools and machines is a must. We're offering the workshop facility and a community spirit, not a training event (a day for people with little to no experience is scheduled for October).

However, you need not be a workshop master to benefit from this event. Don't worry if you haven't used some of the woodworking machines before - everyone will be given an induction to the machines.

The workshop is equipped for woodworking. Drilling and hand-sawing metal is also possible.

And if you are staying in Edinburgh for the BIG Event, you'll have the chance to try out your prototype with BIG members on Friday 19^th at Dynamic Earth.

Preparation: You'll get the most out of the event if you come with a clear idea of what you'd like to make. This way you will be able to get stuck in and start making straight away. We'll provide the basics: a collection of reclaimed timber, wood screws, and all the tools and machines* you'll need. For other materials and components, Screwfix and B&Q are not far away, but it will save you time if you do your shopping in advance.

*Machines available:
Band saw
Chop saw ( 2x )
Planer
Rail saw
Router table
Pillar drill press ( 2x )
Belt sander
Lathe 

Tools available:
Drills
Drivers
Chisels
Sanders
Routers
Jigsaws
Circular Saw
Heat gun
And all the basic DIY tools (saws, hammers, screwdrivers etc) 

About the session leader: Ben Craven
Ben is a vision scientist by training, but now makes his living teaching Product Design Engineering at Glasgow School of Art, and gentle maths and stats for the Open University. He also does freelance work in informal science communication, and arranges efficient networking events.