Nova Labs

11/18/2020

We are impressed! Matt DelGrosso took wood that he got from his grandfather, who was a carpenter, and used the #cnc to make this frame for his Magic: The Gathering cards. #woodworking #cncwoodworking #makerspace #makersgonnamake #magiccards #mtg #mtgcommunity

11/16/2020

Great free entrepreneur event tonight if you’re interested: Join me at USPTO Experts Share Tips: "Filing a PPA Online" & "Inventor's Assistance Ctr" http://meetu.ps/e/Jwqx9/d9F52/a

11/11/2020

Coming to Nova Labs for current members, our brand new Bike Maintenance 101!

Sign up for the class on November 27 at 7pm by clicking the link below. You'll learn everything you need to know to keep your bike running (and stopping) smoothly.
https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-4049262?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=11/24/2020

11/04/2020

WW_M: *Ladies only* Intro to the Woodshop & Yellow Tools Sign off

Members, check out Anjelika's upcoming *Ladies only* Intro to the Woodshop & Yellow Tools Sign off coming up on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Spread the word!

This class is meant to introduce more women to woodworking and give an overview of the types of projects that can be done in the shop. You'll walk away with a better understanding of the tools you need to complete a project, and you'll be signed off on all the yellow tools. #woodworking #handywoman #makerspace #makersgonnamake #makersmovement

Sat, Nov 7, 2020, 9:00 AM: Let's face it, the woodshop can be intimidating. This class is meant to introduce more women to woodworking and give an overview of the types of projects that can be done in

11/01/2020

Last night's Trunk or Treat Event hosted by Nova Labs MakerSchool was a success! We were impressed by the great looking trunks and costumes and definitely enjoyed some yummy treats! #trunkortreat #halloween2020 #JunkInYourTrunk #makersgonnamake #makerstobe #makerspace

10/30/2020

One of our members took our #lasercutting, #3dprinting, and #arduino classes and then built a little device to draw a vector graphic on an #etchasketch. We are excited to see how this project progresses! #makerspace #makersmovement

10/26/2020

ENABLECON Deck

#ICYMI, our own Samer Najia presented at E-NABLECON about "Current Recycling Options in the Maker Community." #whatmakersdo #makersmovement

10/19/2020

Team SpIN, which is led by SpyDar Sensors Inc. and includes Sam Winkelstein, Stuart Dana, and Mike Johnson, is the second team in the National Institute of Standards and Technology First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge. They are developing a Vertical Takeoff and Landing plane using SpyDar Sensors’ patented Multi Ducted Angled Rotor (MDAR) technology. The eight ducted fans, which are only 90mm in diameter, produce over 90 lbs of thrust. The smaller foam prototype was designed using #Fusion360, the pylon parts were then cut out of foam on a #CNCrouter. The vehicle also features several #lasercut and #3dprinted parts. To learn more about SpyDar Sensors, check out http://www.spydarsensors.com/.

10/18/2020

We had a great turn out for our sign making event benefiting Rustic Love Vienna. This organization was started by a group of kids in Vienna, VA. We helped them build wooden heart signs to help food-insecure families in our community. All proceeds from the sign sales go to the Vienna VA Foodies who have been supporting first responders and food-insecure families during this crisis. To order your own sign or other merchandise, check out https://rusticlovevienna.com/. #communityservice #makerspace #makersgonnamake #makerstobe #ViennaVA #RestonVA #NorthernVirginia

10/18/2020

Nova Labs MakerSchool still has spots left in the Metalshop class, which will begin Q2 the first week of November and meets on Fridays from 9:30 am-12:30 pm. All 16 to 20 year olds welcome. Message them with questions and spread the word! #makerstobe #microschool #makerspace #welding #stemeducation #homeschooling #RestonVA #northernvirginia

10/17/2020

President Shane Smith, Paul Chase, and Dave Fritts are at the Fix-It-Fair in Prince William County Government, Virginia sponsored by Keep Prince William Beautiful and the County's Solid Waste Division. The fair allows residents to bring broken things and have local experts try and make them work again, thus helping the environment by reducing waste. Plus, we love the great t-shirts we got from the fair! #princewilliamcounty #reuse #reusereducerecycle #makerspace

10/16/2020

Please join us for the e-NABLE Annual Global Conference!

Virtual Sessions will take place on 10/17-18, 10/24-25 and will feature our very own Samer Najia, who will present a keynote address on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 10:45 a.m. entitled "Current Recycling Options in the Maker Community." We previously hosted an event with this organization during which we fabricated hands for kids.

Themes will include "Devices, Making and the FDA," Pandemic and Disaster Response," Sustainability, Education, Research, and Demonstrations Using On- Line Resources," and "Community Building." Maker Caucus Leader Congressman Mark Takano will also provide remarks.

For more information, check out https://enablealliance.org/enablecon/

10/15/2020

We are rooting for two teams comprised of our members who are competing in the National Institute of Standards and Technology 2020 First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge. Both Team Tempus UAS (Fred Biggs and Bo Wernick) and Team Spin (Sam Winklestein, Stuart Dana, and Mike Johnson) made it to the second round of the competition, which is designed to crowd source low cost drone technology. The idea is that, in a natural disaster, when cell towers are down, drones can carry a portable cell tower and provide critical communications links for first responders. Both teams are well into development and have an excellent shot at making it into the fly-off where they will compete for the $100k grand prize!

See Team Tempus’s submission. They are developing a tandem rotor helicopter design which is similar to the Chinook CH-47. We appreciate the great #lasercutting, #CNCMachine usage, and #3dprinting that went into this design. Glad you also made good usage of #OnShape software and a #GoPro camera for #streaming live in HD.

To learn more about the competition, check out http://firstresponderuaschallenge.org/

10/12/2020

Thanks for reminding us about last year's great event Maker Faire NoVa!

Hello, Everyone! We wanted to share some photos from last year's Maker Faire NoVa and hope you are all doing well. We thank each of you for the incredible years so far and cannot wait until the next time we can all get together in-person again! In the meantime, we continue to build and grow our programs at our home makerspace, Nova Labs, as well as our new exciting adventure creating the Nova Labs MakerSchool in Reston. Learn more here: https://www.nova-labs.org/ #MakersGonnaMake #MakersMovement #MakerFaireNoVa Photos are courtesy of Andrew Albosta/Nova Labs

10/11/2020

NovaLabsWalkthrough finalest draft

#ICYMI Our #3dprinter steward, Paul Chase, just presented this great walkthrough video at #VERRF2020. East Coast RepRap Festival (ERRF) is one of the biggest #3dprinting conferences in the US. Normally, it's held in Bel Air, Maryland, but this year, they went virtual. Nova Labs has had a table at ERRF since its inception and Paul continued to represent us well with this virtual tour. #makersgonnamake #makerspace #virtualtours

Nova Labs is the largest makerspace in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area, located in Reston, VA. We are a passionate community of makers, ...

10/06/2020

Spread the word if you know anyone who might be interested in joining our K-2 pod.

Our brand new K-2 pod has two openings left. Check out our program on our website or get in touch right now at https://www.novalabsmakerschool.org/waitlist.

#microschool #makerstobe #makerspace #homeschool

10/05/2020

We are proud of Nova Labs MakerSchool and all that they are accomplishing. They just started a new K-3 pod led by Jackie Aceto, their newest teacher! #makerstobe #microschool #homeschooling

10/04/2020

Gather around and let us tell you the story of #blacksmiths from long long ago. #blacksmithing #makerspace #makerstobe

10/02/2020

Have you ever thought you might want to join the Nova Labs Board of Directors?

Please join us on Saturday October 3rd at 2PM or Monday October 5th at 8PM for an online meeting hosted by current Nova Labs Board members, where you can get your questions answered.

New board members are elected each November and now is the time to find out more.

This meeting is open to both current Nova Labs members and non-members, but please note membership is required to join the Board.

Already know you want to join the board? Click on this link to apply now. https://bit.ly/3h1z3ax

Got questions you'd like to ask?

Email: [email protected] to reach out to members of the board recruitment committee.

We're looking forward to seeing you at one of these sessions. Register via these meetup links.

https://www.meetup.com/NOVA-Makers/events/273422254/

https://www.meetup.com/NOVA-Makers/events/273422310/

10/01/2020

Please join us in welcoming Karen Shumway as our new Executive Director!

Karen holds a graduate degree in biochemistry and has been teaching K-12 students for 16 years in magnet high school and homeschool co-op environments. For the last 5 years, Karen has been volunteering as a robotics coach, program lead, soap and science instructor, and Board Director at Nova Labs. When she’s not at Nova Labs rubbing shoulders with the creative genius of other makers, she likes to curl up with a good show, knitting needles, at least one cat, and her family. #executivedirector #nonprofit #makerspace #makersgonnamake #WomenInSTEM #scienceteacher #knitting #catlady #RestonVA

09/29/2020

Meet Google Drive – One place for all your files

Do you know anyone who would be interested in joining Nova Labs Robotics? Check it out and spread the word.

Google Drive is a free way to keep your files backed up and easy to reach from any phone, tablet, or computer. Start with 15GB of Google storage – free.

09/25/2020

Are you looking for someone to create that unique gift or build a project for you based upon your ideas? If so, message us and we will connect you with a professional maker! #gifts #homeimprovement #handmade #woodworking #metalworking #jewelry #3dprinting #sewing #leatherwork #blacksmithing #electronics #NorthernVirginia #RestonVA

09/21/2020

#ICYMI, this awesome Darth Vader Meditation Chamber made by members Paul and Daniel won first place in the #cardboardchallenge. During the month of October, stop by the Reston Museum and check it out!

09/14/2020

Nova Labs MakerSchool, we are glad to see classes are going so well!

Woodshop I, Metalshop I, Craft & Tech or Sewing, and K-2 Earth Science in action! #makerstobe #microschool #homeschooling #novalabsmakerschool #covid19

09/13/2020

Disaster Aid USA - Global Emergency Relief

Thanks to our #PPE donors and coordination with leadership from The Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring, we were able to provide funding to Disaster Aid USA, which could purchase over 11,000 masks for victims of Hurricane Laura or help with their other relief efforts. To learn more, check out their website. #HurricaneLaura #MakersVsVirus #rotarians

Disaster Aid USA- International and Domestic Disaster Response

09/12/2020

Sometimes our members want to do something a little different with their #PPE. Patrick and his wife made this #handsewn #leather mask with fabric on the inside to provide better protection. This is the most unique mask we have seen so far! #leatherwork #fabricmask #sewing

09/11/2020

Check out Adam Winsor and Asoleyo in this upcoming event!

Join us TOMORROW Tuesday, September 15, from 5-7pm Eastern for a AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit with Adam Winsor of Asoleyo, winner of $150k in prize money from the DOE in the American Made Solar Prize competition. Learn how he went from graphic designer working out of Nova Labs in Reston, VA, to a solar industry entrepreneur, what he's learned since diving head-first into solar manufacturing, and how YOU can win cash prizes in Round 4 of the Solar Prize!

https://www.reddit.com/r/solarpunk/comments/iqwdpf/live_ama_with_solar_prize_finalist_adam_winsor_a/

09/09/2020

There is always something different going on at Nova Labs. Over the weekend, Rachel assembled a massive pneumatic antenna mast and began testing it in the Nova Labs parking lot. Later on we’ll tell you about the #amatureradio experiments Rachel has planned…

09/08/2020

Thanks to our amazing #woodshop steward, Doug, we are loving the look of the shop for Nova Labs MakerSchool and for our community!

Ya’ll. Mr. Doug, our Woodshop Steward, spent his Labor Day weekend making sure the Woodshop workbenches are ready for MakerSchool’s first day tomorrow. Middle school and high school weren’t great years for him, he told me, but tech class with his Metalshop and Woodshop teachers were the highlight of his day.

Nova Labs is family. I can’t wait to introduce your family to mine this week.

09/05/2020

We presented these trophies at the Reston Museum to the winners of the #cardboardchallenge. Congratulations to the champions! Thanks Chris Hodges for the pics!

09/04/2020

Wow, this #sewing class looks great, Jalene! Not too late to register, see below. #artsandcrafts #makerstobe #education #education #northernvirginia #restonva

This isn't your 50s Home Ec class! Come learn how to use CAD and 3D modelling to create your own patterns, cut pieces on the lasercutter and Silhouette/Cameo machines, and sew them into finished products.

Currently, Jalene, who first studied at Howard University before launching her career as a professional designer, is finalizing our MakerShield PPE using CLO3D.

09/04/2020

It's not too late to sign up your kids for this #visualarts class with Margie! Check out the information below. #artsandcrafts #afterschool #makerstobe #education #northernvirginia #restonva

Does your teen adore the visual arts? Sign up for one quarter of drawing, painting, sculpting, jewelry, and stained glass with Margie Foster! A graphic designer, lifelong artist, and talented instructor, Margie will be teaching this as a 3-hour workshop Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. We even have a brand-new Studio space for these arts and crafts!

Sign up today! https://novalabsapp.zohocreatorportal.com/

09/03/2020

Good luck Nova Labs MakerSchool on your inaugural staff training. We can't believe classes start in only 5 days! Go and get 'em Karen! #microschool #homeschooling #education #makerstobe #northernvirginia #restonva

09/01/2020

The trophies are ready! We can't wait for the winners of the #cardboardchallenge to get the chance to show these off! What do you think Reston Museum?

09/01/2020

We are kvelling from the beautiful Shabbat candle sculpture our member, Yarden Grossman made for JCRC of Greater Washington and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington gala honorees. Yarden was commissioned to make this unique piece and even used wood from a tree in her backyard. Keep up the good work! #Judaica #woodworking #makersgonnamake