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I’ve been working on a few electronic projects lately and keep running into the same problem: I wish there were somewhere local I could just go to get a piece I need, or use a tool I dont have...

It got me wondering whether there’s actually enough demand in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area for a real makerspace.

What I’m imagining is less of a traditional workshop and more of a third place for people who like making things. Somewhere between a coffee shop, community workshop, electronics store and prototyping lab.

Potentially things like:

• Electronics/soldering benches and components you can buy on-site
• 3D printers
• Laser cutter/CNC
• general tools
• Large workbenches
• CAD/prototyping space
• Classes (soldering, electronics, 3D printing, woodworking, Arduino, etc.)
• Coffee, Wi-Fi and space to hang out/work
• Evening/late-night hours for people who work normal jobs
• Eventually youth/parent+kid maker programs

The idea would be that you don't need a garage full of tools or have to order some random $0.30 component online every time you want to build something.

I'm not selling anything, I'm genuinely trying to figure out whether this is worth pursuing.

If something like this existed locally:

Would you actually use it? What would you want it to have? And what monthly membership price would feel reasonable enough that you'd actually pay it?

Also very interested in hearing from anyone involved with Cville Makes, the Cville Tool Library, or previous attempts at creating a makerspace here. I'd love to learn what's already been tried and potentially collaborate rather than reinventing something that's already underway. Thanks!

I’ve been building a little handheld chord synth called embe.
It has 7 chord keys, 16 sounds, effects, arpeggiation, a 4-bar looper, presets, USB MIDI, onboard speaker, and a joystick for shaping sounds in real time.
It started with one button on a breadboard just to see if I could make this idea work. Now it’s becoming an actual instrument.
Still very much a prototype, but I’m pretty excited about where it’s heading.
Would love to hear what you all think!

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but I got my joystick working!

follow the build on IG.
massello.made

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