From Idea to IoT

Category: Makerspace

Visiting Penang’s makerspace, Malaysia

During my stay in Malaysia I discovered Penang’s makerspace which looked very promising.

Location

@Cat Co-Working and Penang Makerspace

The island is a nice spot to spend some time but don’t expect too much from the beach, it’s small and busy. Malaysia is a Muslim country so you might be the only one wearing a bikini. And finally, expect a lot of traffic on what looks more like a squeezed city than an island. You can feel my thoughts, can’t you 😀

Penang’s makerspace is situated at the ground floor of @Cat Co-working space, near the Jetty. Map. The enormous colonial building has been freshly renovated. While the Internet connection is very bad on Penang island, this place has an absolutely giant connection speed.

There’s also a museum and a café, a little over priced but is uses the same good WiFi.

The place is at the initiative of the Malaysian government who’s intended to do a silicon valley like area. This brought in fundings, investors, donations BUT… that is also a problem. First thing is, workers are public sector employees, and my feeling was like they don’t care about you and me. If you want to know anything you’ll have to ask. If you want to 3D print but THE printer guy is on holiday for a week, well, just come back in a week because the other 10 won’t show you. Secondly there is little flexibility, let me explain :

Service and Equipment

In order to bring my Idea to IoT, I was looking for a Makerspace that would allow me to develop a prototype. This involved SMT reflow.

Because Penang’s makerspace is owned by the government, asking for help in acquiring a missing equipment is difficult. You know, bureaucracy. They actually suggested that I should buy or build and donate the equipment myself.

There is free basic electronic equipment such as soldering stations. No subscription, just walk in and start making. Awesome.

For a small membership fee you get access to a very large panel of wood work tools, advanced electronic equipment like spectrum analyser and [to be completed]. And of course the usual 3D printer.

Taxes

Window view from @Cat

It is also good to note, Penang and surrounding area benefit from tax free importation on electronic parts. This means not paying any custom fees that can be as high as 30% or more.

Conclusion

Penang’s public makerspace has a lot of potential, yet what makes it strong is also making it very weak. If you are a Digital Nomad maker you should checkout Makerspace Thailand.

December 19, 2016
Working at Makerspace Thailand in Chiang Mai

Laser cutter at Makerspace Thai in Chiang Mai

For the purposes of my IoT project, I was looking for a makerspace that would allow me to make my IoT prototype. Also called hackerspace, fablad, fabcafé,… some only have basic equipment like a 3D printer and a soldering iron. When it comes to more advanced electronics such as an oscilloscope or SMT reflow facilities there is not so much left. Let’s have a look at Makerspace Thai.

Why I choose Chiang Mai’s Makerspace Thai

Makerspace Thailand’s 3D Printers

I have contacted Nati, the owner of Makerspace Thai, on their Facebook page. He was more than happy to help building a toaster reflow oven for SMT prototyping. So I decided to move to Chiang Mai, certainly the home of the biggest digital nomad community in the world, for a month to build the IoT prototype. They also have a temperature controlled solder iron, a hot air soldering station and a basic oscilloscope too.

And that’s just about electronics, now add a big laser cutter, at least four 3D printers, two CNCs, a whole bunch of tools for woodwork as well as AC and good WiFi! But Nati is speaking about much more equipment, let me know on the comments if there’s something new.

Taxi and Tuk-Tuk in Chiang Mai

The makerspace’s surrounding

Makerspace Thai is located in the heart of the old town, between cafés and stunning Temples, in a small quiet back street and next to Punspace Co-working space. There’s plenty of space to host any project and giant windows to let Chiang Mai’s daily sun come in.
The makerspace offer different price package depending on the frequency you need, from a single day use to the full-time membership. Check out their website for the updated rates.

Are you a Digital Nomad maker?

After a month spent in their space, I can say it out loud, Chiang Mai’s makerspace is the perfect place for Digital Nomad makers! I might meet you there one day 🙂

If you are around Malaysia there is a similar place. I’ll talk about the Makerspace located at the ground floor of aCat Co-working in Penang, Malaysia in a separate post.

December 17, 2016
Visiting Chaihuo Makers in Shenzhen, China

My trip to Shenzhen was aimed at meeting with manufacturers and suppliers for making IoT devices. It is also important to get the feeling of the life in the world capital of electronics and see if I could stay there longer. Knowing what equipment is available in each makerspace helps me to know where I could be located for working remotely as a Digital Nomad. I had the opportunity to visit the Chaihuo Makers. The makerspace also organize conferences, DIY activities and can put you in contact with manufacturers like their mother company Seeed Studio.

Equipment at Chaihuo Makers

I could not see their equipment as they are moving the makerspace to a bigger space but they do have a Reflow Toaster Oven for SMT prototyping and might have some more complex electronic equipment as I’ve been told.

OCT-LOFT Building A5, Shenzhen, China

Direction to Chaihuo Makers

The address is:

OCT-LOFT A5 Room 227.

There is no sign outside, follow the building A5 and make your way up to the first floor.

This place is the showroom for public visits but the actual makerspace is moving to a new address in January 2017. The newly renovated ancient industrial area, OCT-LOFT, is beautiful. All around, you will find countless cafés, restaurants, art galleries, handicraft etc.. It is centrally located and easy access by Metro.

December 16, 2016