New TouchDesigner Dublin MeetUp starting on Wednesday October 22nd

We are delighted to be hosting TouchDesigner MeetUp Dublin in our space. It’s new monthly meetup for anyone curious about TouchDesigner software, from complete beginners to experienced creators. Whether you want to learn the basics to build interactive 3D and 2D audio-visual applications, share your projects, or connect with others using the software, the meetup provides a welcoming space to do so. The event is free to attend and you can indicate your interest in joining the session here on meetup.com

Each session will run for about two hours in a relaxed, hands-on setting. With multiple rooms available in the space we can run beginner and advanced activities side by side if needed, so everyone gets the most from the evening.

Expect an informal, community-driven environment where the format adapts to participants. You can bring a laptop to follow along, show your work, or simply join the conversation. The event is an opportunity to meet other creative technologists and artists, and to further develop the growing TouchDesigner community in Ireland.

Meet the TouchDesigner Dublin team :-

Ciaran Eaton

Ciaran Eaton is a Creative Technologist and Educator based in Dublin. With a background in audio and visual arts production, Ciaran integrates visual programming environments such as TouchDesigner with open-source software and aims to foster an active community around creative workflows.

Website

Serdar Buhan

Serdar is a software engineer based in Dublin with a curiosity for creative technology and building interactive experiences. In his spare time, he explores tools such as TouchDesigner, Processing, Blender, AR, photogrammetry, pen plotters, and generative AI.

Instagram

Cailean Finn

Cailean Finn is an Irish media artist, researcher, and creative technologist from Waterford, Ireland. His practice investigates the idiosyncratic nature of human–machine relationships, drawing from computational histories and engaging with technologies and practices such as creative coding, artificial intelligence/life, game development, and physical computing.

Website

Pauric Freeman

Pauric Freeman is a multidisciplinary artist based in Dublin, working across audiovisual performance, sound, and installation. His practice explores translation, using data collected from live instruments as the basis for real-time audiovisual compositions.

Website

Instagram

Louise Nolan

Louise Nolan is a multidisciplinary artist and designer working in glass, print and digital media. Her work is transmedia integrating digital techniques with physical installations to create an interactive multi-sensory experience for the viewer. She is a visiting lecturer at NCAD and TU Dublin in physical computing, creative coding and emerging media practice. Louise is also a host for Maker night at TOG.

LinkedIn

Instagram

October Repair Cafe

Bring your broken tech and trinkets to get them fixed by the skilled volunteers at Tog Hackerspace!

On October 18, 2025 (International Day of Repair), between 2 and 6 pm, TOG Hackerspace will host a repair cafe!

At this event, the skilled volunteers at TOG will share their expertise and passion for repair, helping you fix your broken items and breathe new life into them. Whether it’s a malfunctioning gadget, a piece of clothing in need of mending, or a household item that’s seen better days, bring it along and let the TOG team work their magic.

What can you bring in?

  • Clothes and accessories
  • Toys
  • Small electrical appliances and electronics
  • Small furniture

…. And many other things!

Safety testing (PAT) for electrical devices will be available.

Continue reading “October Repair Cafe”

Jeffrey Roe Named Reuse & Repair Champion at the Full Circle Awards 2025

We’re thrilled to share some amazing news from the repair community: our very own Jeffrey Roe has been awarded the title of Reuse & Repair Champion at the Full Circle Awards 2025 by Circular.ie.

The awards ceremony took place at the launch of Circular.ie in Lansdowne Road, and the judges had high praise for Jeffrey:

“Jeffrey has been the driving force behind Repair Cafés in Ireland and is a well-recognised champion and leader in the field. His community-driven, hands-on approach empowers people with valuable repair skills and fosters collaborative, social spaces for learning. Jeffrey stands out for his technical innovation and leadership in embedding repair culture within communities.”

This recognition highlights not just Jeffrey’s personal commitment, but also the incredible collective effort of everyone involved in running Repair Cafés at Tog Hackerspace and across Ireland. Every event is powered by volunteer fixers who bring their skills, patience, and community spirit to the table.

Over the years, Jeffrey has helped build and lead the Repair Café movement here at home while also sharing and exchanging knowledge abroad with Buinho in Portugal and FabLab Cuenca in Spain, among others. These international trips show that repair is always a two-way exchange: while Jeffrey brings experience and tools, he also returns with new ideas and approaches to share locally.

And the repair journey doesn’t stop here! Upcoming Repair Cafés:

  • 🔧 Tullamore – 11 October 2025
  • 🔧 Tog Hackerspace (Dublin) – 17 October 2025

Read more about Jeffrey’s award on the Circular.ie site:
👉 Reuse & Repair Champion – Jeffrey Roe

Congratulations Jeffrey, and a massive thank you to all our fixers and visitors who make Repair Cafés possible. Here’s to keeping repair culture growing!

Radio Experiment Day at Tog Hackerspace – Tuning In to the ISS

As part of National Space Week, Tog Hackerspace in Dublin will be hosting a Radio Experiment Day on Sunday, October 5th, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This isn’t a class or formal demonstration — it’s a hands-on day of experimenting, tinkering, and learning together. The focus will be on trying out different ways to receive signals from the ARISS Slow Scan Television (SSTV) event taking place that weekend.

The Space Week SSTV Event, Series 29, will feature six images transmitted from the International Space Station (ISS) on 145.800 MHz (PD120 encoding). Two transmission windows are scheduled:

  • First Window: Oct 3–4, Start Fri 14:00 UTC, End Sat 10:00 UTC
  • Second Window: Oct 4–6, Start Sat 11:00 UTC, End Mon (time TBD)

The same set of images will be sent in both windows, so there will be plenty of opportunities to catch them. On the day, we’ll also be calling in to the Dublin-area IRTS news broadcast on 2M, with two especially good ISS passes around 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Everyone is encouraged to bring along their own radios, antennas, and setups — the more variety, the better! Feel free to just drop in, have a chat, and join the fun.

📍 Location: Tog Hackerspace, Unit 1B, Motorcity, Kylemore Rd, Dublin 12, D12 CF6V
🅿️ Lots of free parking available
🔗 More info: https://www.tog.ie

Come join us, meet fellow amateurs, and help us see just how many ISS images we can pull down from space!

Tullamore Repair Café

We’re excited to be bringing our Repair Café to a brand-new town — Tullamore! Join us for a morning of fixing, learning, and community spirit.

📍 Where: Tullamore Library, O’Connor Square, Tullamore, Offaly, R35 X226

📅 When: Saturday, 11th October 2025

Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

This special Repair Café is only possible thanks to the support of The Climate Action Team, The Community and Culture Department and the Just Transition Team of Offaly County Council.

What can you bring?

We’ll be ready to tackle repairs on a wide range of household items, including:

  • Clothes and accessories
  • Toys
  • Small electrical appliances and electronics
  • Small furniture
  • …and more!

Each repair is limited to half an hour. Bring up to a maximum of three items. We will see what we can repair in your time slot. Ticket holders will be given priority.

We’ll even have PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) available to ensure repaired electrical devices are safe to use.

Whether it’s a toaster that won’t pop, a lamp that’s gone dark, or a favourite toy in need of TLC—don’t bin it! Our volunteers will work with you to diagnose and repair your items, all while sharing tips and advice to help you learn new skills.

While you’re waiting, soak in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of Tullamore Library.

Event Details

🛠️ When: Saturday, 11th October 2025⏰ Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

📍 Where: Tullamore Library, O’Connor Square, Tullamore, Offaly, R35 X226🎟️

Admission: Free, but booking in advance via Eventbrite is essential.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tullamore-repair-cafe-tickets-1659180967939?aff=oddtdtcreator

This special Repair Café is only possible thanks to the support of The Climate Action Team, The Community and Culture Department and the Just Transition Team of Offaly County Council.

Together, let’s keep things out of the landfill and build a culture of repair in Tullamore!

See you there!

The Reverse Hammer Machine – A Pull of Strength at Dublin Maker

When you think of fairgrounds or arcades, you often picture the classic “hammer strength” game – swing a mallet, ring the bell, prove your power. For Dublin Maker this year, I wanted to flip that idea on its head – literally. Instead of smashing something down, players pull upwards against a resistance. That’s how the Reverse Hammer Machine was born.

It’s part carnival attraction, part engineering challenge, and part community experiment in building something a little quirky, a little geeky, and a lot of fun.


The Concept

The idea was simple:

  • Replace the hammer strike with a pulling action.
  • Use a Bluetooth-enabled crane scale to measure how much weight someone can pull.
  • Display the results on a big screen so everyone around can see the outcome.

Rather than brute force through a mallet, the machine measures grip and pull strength. It’s surprising how competitive people get once the numbers are up in lights!


How It Works

The machine looks like a cross between a fairground attraction and a maker project gone wild. Here’s what’s inside:

  • Bluetooth Crane Scales – these are normally used in warehouses or for weighing heavy loads. I hacked one into the system to register the pull force. Aliexpress special
  • ESP32 Controller – a small but mighty microcontroller that handles the Bluetooth connection, reads the data, and passes it on.
  • LED Strip – mounted along the board to give a visual indicator of how much force is being applied. The harder you pull, the higher the light climbs.
  • Display Screen – the live weight reading is shown on a large monitor, complete with a fun duck mascot illustration for a playful touch.

Players grab the rope, pull upwards, and watch their strength measured in real time. The numbers shoot up on screen while the LED strip glows higher and brighter – instant feedback, instant bragging rights.


The Build

I built the frame tall and sturdy, with enough presence to attract attention across the room. The whiteboard-style front not only holds the LED strip but also doubles as a canvas for signatures and doodles from players.

For more photos of the build, check out our gallery.

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Some key features of the build:

  • Mechanical setup: The rope feeds through a pulley at the top so players can get a good pulling grip.
  • Electronics box: A control panel with a button and a microcontroller sits neatly to the side.
  • Data display: The Bluetooth scale readings are processed by custom code and displayed on the big screen with graphics.

The artwork – a cheerful duck in a top hat – was added to keep things light-hearted and tie in with the playful Dublin Maker spirit.


On Show at Dublin Maker

The Reverse Hammer Machine made its public debut at Dublin Maker, where visitors of all ages lined up to test their pulling power.

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Lessons Learned

As with any maker project, there were a few quirks and challenges along the way:

  • Bluetooth quirks – the crane scale wasn’t exactly designed to be hacked, so getting stable data required persistence.
  • User safety – people can pull harder than expected, so making sure the frame was strong enough was a priority.
  • Showmanship – it’s not just about the electronics, it’s about making it fun and inviting to play and the competition of competing against family and friends.

By the end of the day, the board was covered in names, the LED strip had seen plenty of action, and the duck mascot had overseen countless strength contests.


Why Build It?

The whole point of Dublin Maker is to share creativity, curiosity, and the joy of making. The Reverse Hammer Machine isn’t just about strength – it’s about turning an idea into something physical that makes people smile.

It blends hardware hacking, coding, design, and a touch of carnival silliness into one interactive exhibit. Best of all, it gets people talking, laughing, and competing in the spirit of fun.

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What’s Next?

I’d love to refine the project further:

  • Add a leaderboard system that stores top scores during the day.
  • Integrate sound effects for dramatic impact when someone hits a new record.
  • Maybe even design multiple “difficulty modes” with adjustable resistance.

The great thing about projects like this is they never really finish – there’s always another upgrade waiting to happen.


Bringing It All Together

The Reverse Hammer Machine shows what can happen when you take a familiar idea and twist it. By hacking together a Bluetooth crane scale, some microcontrollers, and a splash of creativity, you end up with something that feels both retro and futuristic.

It’s a reminder that engineering doesn’t have to be serious – sometimes the best projects are the ones that make people grin.

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