Cherokee Makerspace engages in many projects that impact our communities significantly. For example, our Go Baby Go team has built and given away "all-terrain wheelchairs" to help children with disabilities, and is an ongoing effort. We also actively teach and promote STEM education through robotics activities, connecting with kid in several area high schools.

A laser cutter is critical for many of our projects including drawing more volunteers and members to expand our activities and serving more people in our community.

Please help us acquire this critical tool.

Cherokee Makerspace OM Laser needed

Here are the details to this machine: https://omtechlaser.com/collections/mid-range-co2-laser-engravers/products/80w-co2-laser-engraver-cutting-machine-with-20-x-28-working-area-with-autofocus Besides the machine itself, this campaign will cover ancillary equipment like a water cooling system for the laser tube and a "rotary axis" that will let people engrave on round objects.

And it's not just us...
This is an important campaign on it's own, but it's also part of something much bigger. It will be the prototype not only for our future campaigns, but if we're successful, it'll be a model we can share with other makerspaces to help them grow as well! Outreach is always a challenge for makerspaces, and we want to share what we learn from this project so other makerspaces can grow their own memberships too.

We've laid out all the specifics of what we're going to do and how it will help us grow below but if you don't feel you need all that detail, the Donate button is right above 😉 This is a time-critical need, please help and take advantage of the year-end tax credit as well!

What?

A much larger, more powerful laser cutter
Can cut wood and plastic up to 10mm thick
Able to handle standard-size plywood and acrylic sheets
Working area of 20x28 inches
32-inch pass-through lets it handle stock 32” wide by any length
A large bed makes it practical for cutting cloth for clothing design, cosplay

Why?

The reason is twofold:

Our GoBabyGo off-road wheelchair charity project is based on the PowerWheels Wild Thing toy. It was a good platform, but they've been out of production for several years and are getting harder to find in usable condition. We're working on an all-new design built from scratch from quality materials. A laser cutter will make fabricating parts from sheet goods for this porjecdt faster and easier.
The makerspace needs more members to make it more sustainable and reach more people
- The laser cutter will broaden our appeal, bring in more crafters and creative artists
- It will serve as the basis for classes we can market to the local community
- It's an easy introduction to the technology, will draw people to the space and let them take home projects they've made themselves
Laser cutters are the tool that draws new members to makerspaces
- Very few people have the budget or space to own one themselves
- They’re easy to use and very approachable even for non-techies
- They're a powerful enabling technology for all kinds of projects
- You can use them for everything from cutting acrylic or plywood to decorative engraving on a wide range of materials to precisely cutting cloth for making clothing or cosplay costumes.

How we'll grow

We'll use this laser to offer craft classes for people to make their own gifts for friends and family, such as
- Custom-engraved cutting boards
- Seasonal ornaments
- Laser-cut cards and decorations
- Personalized desktop organizers
- (And many others)
The classes will include everything: materials, instruction and guidance, machine time
- Participants go home with finished projects
- Something they made themselves, customized with choice of name, text or artwork
- Very unique, fun to make, fun to give, very special to receive and a great way to learn
Get the word out! How we'll market this to maximize the opportunity
- Posters and free-standing signs placed in:
  - Hardware stores
  - Craft stores
  - Home centers
  - Churches
- "Live" displays at key locations
  - Large free-standing poster display
  - Member(s) standing there, engaging with passers-by, answering questions
- Track the results, learn what works best & refine as we go
  (This will be the testbed/prototype for future campaigns)
  - QR codes on all media (posters, free-standing signs, cards) will lead to a welcome page on the website
  - QRs will let us track many things, find what works best
    - What locations?
    - What poster artwork?
    - What messaging?
  - We'll apply our learnings from this campaign going forward, as we conduct:
    - More classes
    - Special events
    - Fundraising for Go Baby Go
    - Ongoing prospecting for new members
- A model for the future, for us and others
  - - Make own future outreach more effective
    - Share the learnings from this with other makerspaces, to help them grow too

This is a time-critical need!

- This is a brand new idea for us, and we want to get started on it ASAP so we'll be able to hit the ground running next year
  - We need to get funding ASAP to get the laser here and set up
  - Time is tight, but we can make it if you help
- We’re working on course development, space prep and the marketing plan in parallel with the fundraising, so we can hit the ground running as soon as the laser arrives
- Can you help us get there quickly?
  - If you can donate $2,000 or more, we'll put your name or choice of graphics on the front of the machine
    - Two spots available, or take over the whole front panel 😁
    - Your name so the members will know who to thank!
    - Company name/logo
    - Promote other charities
    - Just a "you can do it" message for the users

Can you help?
Please consider donating now!

Cherokee Makerspace cosplay Alex and Shalini

About Cherokee Makerspace

Starting as the workshop of the Firestorm Robotics team (Etowah Electric Eagles) seven years ago, Cherokee Makerspace has grown into a community resource for creativity and fun, thanks to the tireless efforts of the team's founders and other members. Our vision is to become a community innovation center, collaborative workshop and thriving hub of positive community and friendship.

Why support our makerspace?

Cherokee Makerspace is all about community, positivity, fun and service; it’s people of all kinds from all over, exploring their creativity, working together to serve the community, and supporting each other. We’re building a vision of community, mutual support and encouragement that’s become all too rare these days.

We keep our membership fees low so more families can afford it. The dues help pay our monthly expenses and fund projects. We’re stable, but limited funds mean we have to put some projects on hold. More members mean more resources and a stronger community. This laser and the classes and marketing we’ve planned around it are a way to grow our base and do even more cool projects in the future.

Cherokee Makerspace Go Baby Go Bryce Gets Her Wheels

Positive projects changing lives

We’re proud of what Cherokee Makerspace has been able to give back to our community. Here’s two of our current projects:

The First Robotics team
High school students learn to build robots to meet complex challenges in competition with other teams. We currently have 8 students enrolled in this season, with four paid college-age interns who are alumni from when they were in high school themselves. The program is self-sustaining, with plans to expand next season
Go Baby Go - "Giving handicapped kids the ability to play!"
What an incredibly rewarding project! We modify PowerWheels Wild Thing “off road” vehicles to adapt the controls to the childrens' handicaps, and install a seat/harness system so they’ll be secure. Suddenly, they can go anywhere under their own power, instead of being confined to a wheelchair. The joy on their faces when they get their new rides is priceless!

What's in a Makerspace?

Simply put, a makerspace is a place with tools and equipment where you can design and make things. It's where you can exercise your creativity, incubate your next business and talk to people who can help you take your ideas to the next level. More than anything though, it’s a community of people sharing their creative passions and supporting each other. That’s our vision.

What makes Cherokee Makerspace special?

Cherokee Makerspace Bridgeport Mill Well, the people of course! 😁

But we’ve also been blessed by generous donors and support from major companies, so we’re unusually well-equipped. At the heart of a makerspace are tools and machines that most people can’t afford or fit into their homes. Rather than shelling out thousands of dollars and cramming tools into their garages or basements, people can join a makerspace like ours for a small monthly fee and have access to an entire workshop of tools most of us can only dream about.

The new laser we’re raising money for fits that category and will really round out our offerings. We already have a 4x8’ CNC router for cutting shapes out of sheets of wood or plastic, a 4x4’ CNC plasma cutter that can precisely cut metal up to ⅜” thick, a metal lathe, a full-sized Bridgeport milling machine, a 20-ton hydraulic press, an array of 3D printers including resin-based ones, a vinyl cutter and a whole range of smaller items.

Finding this level of equipment in a makerspace (and people who can show you how to use it) is incredibly rare. This fundraiser is part of a push to get the word out so more people can join the fun with us.

Critical equipment needed for our social projects!

Help us make an even bigger impact on our community!

Team Members