You may well already have thought of this, but sometimes distance lends perspective. As I am approximately 580 miles from your location that should suffice.
The Society of Model and Experimental Engineers are a stones throw away from you, at the other end of Herne Hill Road. They are on Wanless Road, SE24 0HW. I am a member myself, though I don’t make models, experimental engineering being more my thing.
SMEE have a wealth of experience and knowledge in all aspects of craft engineering, including machining, brazing, woodwork and so on. They also offer courses throughout the year on things like use of tools, milling and grinding. Their “Polly” introduction to model engineering course is world famous.
Special interest groups cater for things like 3D printing, electronics, microcontrollers and the like. They are also making significant inroads into the construction of small EDM machines (electro discharge machining, or spark erosion).
I think that you’d have much to gain from getting in touch with them. Here is their site:-
It is a bit difficult for me to comment because I have never met any of them personally. However, I am more than familiar with model engineering types being unpleasant and rude. I didn’t expect it from this lot, I have to say, judging from what contact I’ve had with them.
Yes, I am a member of SMEE myself, what they call a distant member. I am some distance away from Herne Hill and Wanless Road. A domestic flight is required in fact. I have never seen their workshop but I know I can take it as read that it is well equipped.
I think it does complement you very well, and this whole “maker” thing has really been going on for years; I was messing about with electronics and mechanical bits and bobs as a child in the 70’s and a teenager in the 80’s. SMEE itself goes back to 1895.
I thought I would show you a couple of pictures of my workshop that is situated in my house. The first picture is a general view of the workshop and the second is my lathe, a Harrison M250.
The trouble with SMEE training courses is that you only see demonstrations of how to use machining equipment and it is not “hands-on”. You are not allowed to use their tools yourself while you learn. It assumes you already have your own workshop with machine tools. How many people in London even have the space? Unfortunately we do not have machine tools at the Makerspace.
Hi
I am also SMEE , and have been for 4 years now, and I hope people think I’m friendly . The Polly courses have produced some fantastic machines over the years, and as a member you are free to use the machines in the basement, a couple of days during the week as it is not open all the time.
What I ought to have said in my earlier post was that the SMEE publish a monthly journal. This is full of interesting and informative articles and in my opinion is worth the cost of membership alone.
I know what you might be thinking…I am not on a recruitment drive! I’m just a bit jealous of the easy access that you all have to all kinds of great resources, living in London.
Andy, it might interest you to know that I have an article queued up to appear in MEW magazine, it is about an Arduino controlled rotary table, or automated indexer.
Thank you. I’m not sure when it will appear, Neil Wyatt the editor has told me that he will let me know before it’s publication. I have seen online that the most recent edition of MEW has an introduction to Arduino written by Peter Edwards, so perhaps my piece will turn up in the next issue or so.
. The Polly courses have produced some fantastic machines over the years, and as a member you are free to use the machines in the basement, a couple of days during the week as it is not open all the time.