[Noisebridge-discuss] WEDNESDAY: Fire art engineering class! (in soma)

[Geoff Schmidt]

Hey guys, I'm teaching a flame effects class this Wednesday. Learn how  
to work with plumbing and fire, and make your microcontroller drive  
20' fireballs.

It's at Langton Labs, a Soma warehouse. Details below.

Begin forwarded message:
> [June 3, 8pm: Learn 100% of the technical skills you need to make  
> 80% of the fire art you see at Burning Man. At Langton Labs, 9  
> Langton St, SF.]
>
> HEY PUNKS. Want to set things on fire with machines? Greasy machines  
> powered by both batteries and propane? Maybe you just want to shoot  
> fire out of the top of your art car in August, or perhaps your plans  
> call for some kind of spinning, flaming, exploding, fornicating  
> Monkey Head Karma Wheel Tribal Spirit Chrysalis Victoria Engine. Did  
> you for some reason think that these things are difficult, or  
> complicated? They are neither, if you have decent SAT scores, no  
> fear of death, and a few bucks for parts.
>
> On Wednesday, June 3, I'm going to sit you down, treat you like  
> moderately intelligent engineers, and teach you all the technical  
> skills you need to build electronically-controlled accumulator-type  
> (pressurized propane) flame effects. There's no reason this should  
> take more than an hour, but I'm budgeting three. Accumulator effects  
> are ubiquitous. When we're done you'll be able to duplicate 80% of  
> the fire art you see on the playa.. in principle at least.
>
> What you'll learn, time/intoxication permitting:
>
> * Concept of operation/system design
> * Pressurized propane plumbing skills
> * Building a windproof pilot light
> * Selecting the correct solenoid, pipe, fittings, tubing, whiskey
> * Obtaining parts
> * Getting the fucking valve stem off your putative accumulator
> * Lying, cheating, stealing, holding you close, whispering into your  
> ear
> * Living out of the back of a beat up pickup truck
> * Conforming to national and Burning Man fire safety standards;  
> forging laminates; proper use of contraception
>
> Format TBD. We don't have time to do a complete build. Most likely a  
> mix of slides and demos, to include a live fire demo if  
> circumstances permit. I'm not going to teach you about  
> microcontrollers, but if you know anything about EECS it will be  
> pretty bloody obvious how to hook your toys up to a computer. If  
> not, go to Noisebridge.
>
> Cautions: like most people who do this, I am entirely self-taught,  
> and can only tell you what worked for me. In fact I know nothing  
> whatsoever about the nominal subject matter and will be making it up  
> as I go. I believe in the 80/20 approach to safety (take 80% of the  
> precautions; immolate 20% of the audience.) Expect to inhale propane  
> and be set on fire. Physical safety is important, but is not the  
> only factor; without risk, danger, harm, and uncertainty, we cannot  
> achieve true psychological safety. Management reserves all rights,  
> including your own. You're all sinners and need to be purified by  
> the divine flame. Daddy knows best. Shut the fuck up.
>
> 2 Engineering Design Points. Part of your regularly scheduled  
> Langton Labs Wednesday Experiment curriculum.
>
> June 3!
> 8pm sharp!
> Langton Labs!
> (9 Langton St, SF -- hardly a stroll from Civic Center BART)
> Small donation may be requested, depending on expenses
>
> "I said it's trivial.. I didn't say I'd done it."
>
> * geoff-schmidt
> ((email . geoff at geoffschmidt.com)
> (twitter . immir))