Wishlist

New Space

All Hands Active (AHA) is Ann Arbor's oldest makerspace. Formed in 2009 by a handful of makers, AHA has slowly grown to 50+ members. We offer weekly classes and public free access to tools such as a laser cutter, CNC router, soldering irons, sewing machines, vinyl cutter, and 3D printers. The brightest minds in Ann Arbor come to our space to learn, explore, hack, and make. We invite entrepreneurs to use our co-working space as a place to get started. Over the past 7 years, we've slowly grown our space by continuing to add new tools, classes, and equipment. While we're excited to provide our members and the community with more variety, it's become increasingly aware that our space is running out of room. To allow for more growth and provide makers with more project space, we've decided to relocate.

We're excited to announce that we've secured a new location 2 blocks from our current space on Liberty street! With 300 more square feet, segregated working areas, better power availability, handicap access, and natural light, we can easily say that this relocation will provide our makers with a more comfortable space to work.

Our goal is to give the new location is a more professional look with a fully outfitted classroom that will allow us to offer programs throughout the week. We are humbly asking for the help of our members and the community to raise additional funds to make our new location as awesome as it can be.

What we've accomplished so far

Here's what we've accomplished this past year with the help of our members:

• Acquired new large laser cutter for public use
• Acquired new large vinyl cutter
• Upgraded all public access computers
• Upgraded portions of our network and now providing shared storage for projects
• Built out our kitchen
• Upgraded our electronics bench with new gear
• Purchased more electronics bits to provide the public free of charge
• Upgraded our 3D printing area with more printers available to the community
• Streamlined our event and class hosting process.
• Designed and built new programmable soldering badges to offer at conventions.

Proposed layout of new location

A mock-up of our new location can be seen here.

What we hope to purchase

The total estimate for all the space improvements is just over $14,000. That is a staggering amount of money for All Hands Active. To secure the lease, All Hands Active will need to use everything we have left in our savings. Without your help, our new space will only be a shell. We need to make it feel like a polished new home to ensure our success as we hope to continue growing and impacting the community.

Better electric access

We presently run an array of small surge protectors and long extension cords. We've had our new location properly wired with lots of outlets to eliminate many of these. We'd love to finish the job by securely mounting power bars to the wall behind each table and installing power drops from our classroom ceiling.

7 power strips (48") @ $75 each = $525

• 3 new bars for our sunlit work area
• 1 new bar in our craft area.
• 2 new bars for our classroom tables
• 1 new bar for the 3D printer area and store display

5 Moveable twist lock outlet drops @ $150 each = $750

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Total: $1275

Improved security

The new space will offer RFID/pin based locks on both the building and space entrances. All Hands Active needs to purchase, contract the install, and manage keeping the building secure for us and other tenants. We've already acquired a new camera system to improve monitoring.

2 RFID System and new tags @ $300 each = $600

Installation by building approved contractor @ $500

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Total: $1100

Improved floors

The new location will need floor upgrades to address one of the major issues at our current location (uneven, unable to clean, difficult to locate dropped items). The new space is a mix of carpet and 3 types of worn tiles. We're removing walls and counters; so, we can't use the existing tile due to the gaps we'd be left with. To resolve the issue, we will need to remove carpet, re-tile the entire space, and install trim around every wall.

New tile floor @ $3000

Wall trim @ $500

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Total: $3500

Decoration and signage

The new space is a white box. Big, but boring. We'll need to add splashes of color to the existing walls, and have some new signage, business cards, and banners printed with our new address. We can use our vinyl cutter to create signage for our windows and outdoor advertising locations.

Printed signage/banners @ $500

Paint @ $300

Vinyl for new our door signs @ $500

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Total $1300

Better seating

Our present selection of chairs is a collection of home and office chairs that were donated. Most of them have become worn and broken. While we do our best to maintain them, some are past their expiration date. We'd hate to have to keep the chair with 2 missing wheels.

15 Matching office chairs from UM property disposition @ $40 each = $600

8 Drafting/Tall Chairs @ $100 each = $800

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Total: $1400

More work area

Our present work areas are 8ft laminated folding tables which have seen better days. We've recently completed the build of several nicer wooden work benches. The larger space will call for more tables. We'd prefer larger, finished work benches for in entrance and classroom areas. These will stand up to the daily abuse that our makers put on them. They will aslo give the space more of a finished feel and less like something we've cobbled together over time.

2 10ft work benches for crafts and 3D printing areas

• 2 10ft coated Oak tops @ $150 each = $300
• 2 Work bench bottoms @ $125 each = $250
• 2 Sets of heavy duty Casters for new tables @ $40 each = $80

3 8ft work benches for classroom

• 3 8ft coated Oak tops @ $125 each = $375
• 3 Work bench bottoms @ $125 each = $375
• 3 Sets of heavy duty Casters for new tables @ $40 each = $120

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Total: $1500

More storage

In our current location, we've used many plywood shelves and a mixture of old kitchen cabinets. We find the cabinets to be better at organizing and deterring clutter. We hope to add storage cabinets above our work areas. We'd also like to plan for a rolling tool chest that will allow makers to roll the chest to wherever they're working. This will help to avoid repetitive trips across the space to gather tools, and improve tool organization.

10 Steel wall mounted cabinets @ $175 each = $1750

• 4 for craft/laser area
• 2 for loud noise room
• 2 for electronics area

Rolling steel tool chest @ $400

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Total $2150

Upgraded network

The current network at AHA is a mismatch of 10/100 and 1GB switches. We'd like to replace the remaining 10/100 switches and better distribute network connections (wireless and wired) throughout the new space.

Conduit, wall jacks and cabling @ $650

3 16 Port 1GB Ethernet switches (classroom, work room, laser area) @ $100 each = $300

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Total: $950

Classroom improvements

We'll finally have a formal classroom at the new space. We'd like to have movable benches and many of our tools on movable carts. This will make for less disturbance of the work area when classes are going on. In addition, our new classroom will be properly wired for power. We currently move a TV around our space now to present in classes.

Projetor 1080P projector @ $650

Projector screen wall mount @ $200

Podium @ $100

Wall mounted sound system @ $100

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Total: $1050

Additional tools

Adding tools enables new types of projects to be done at All Hands Active. Our wood shop is getting a major overhaul during the move. We would still like to fill gaps with a few additional tools.

Replacement Band saw @ $150

Belt Sander @ $50

Disc Sander @ $50

Mechanics socket set with case @ $30

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Total: $550

Upgraded computer hardware

Our computers received a refresh 2 years ago and are still in great shape. Our monitors were donated to us over the years and are in various states of disrepair. We'd like to replace the bad ones with larger higher resolution screens. This will enable easier use of our computers for CAD and design work. Our printing capabilities are presently limited by a temperamental laser printer. While we don't do much printing at AHA, we like to have the option available to our members when needed. In addition, many of our artists have requested a scanner specifically designed for high resolution art scans.

6 27" 2k monitors @ $200 = $1200

Color laser printer @ $300

Flatbed art scanner @ $300

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Total: $1800

Funds:

• Donations of <$1000 are usually project-specific, such as the funds that went to sponsor this year's Power Wheels Racing Series efforts
• Donations of >$1000 don't have a usual mode of use since we've never had one yet, but rest assured we'd put it to really really good use.