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First work day proves productive

Day 2

OSE’s summer interns did a lot on their first Monday here, getting a feel for what meetings and shop work will be like in upcoming weeks.

The plan for each day this summer is to start mornings off at 9 a.m. with a meeting and to work on designs until 1 p.m. After an hour break for lunch, interns work hands on with tools until 6 p.m. However, days may vary depending on what the team needs to get done.

Morning meeting/tour

Founding Director Marcin Jakubowski and the interns met to discuss plans and programs around 9 a.m.

The agenda included discussing plans for the summer, week and day, along with brief introductions on how to download and use the two main 3D modelling programs that interns are using this summer, SketchUp and FreeCAD. Marcin also encouraged interns to not shy away from editing Google doc files and Wiki pages, providing a short tutorial on how to embed links and videos.

Summer plans include workshops on how to build the CEB PressMicrohouse and possibly Gasifier Burner. Interns will also build and work with a slew of other OSE machines, including the CNC Torch Table. One of the first items of business, though—install a pool!

Marcin and the interns (above) did a lot of summer planning at their first morning meeting. Photo by Marcin Jakubowski

Marcin and the interns (above) did a lot of summer planning at their first morning meeting. Photo by Marcin Jakubowski

To access meeting minutes, click here.

At around 11 a.m. Marcin had the interns take a break from the meeting to go on a tour of Factor e Farm with two guests who stopped by for part of the morning. All but one of the interns are here for the first time and a lot of them arrived after dark the day before.

Marcin showed the interns everything from the broken tractor that inspired him to start building his own machines to the EarthBag that Marcin built when he first moved to his farm.

Working in the shop

In the afternoon, the interns immediately tackled several different small projects.

Six people disassembled an older model of the CEB Press and documented the process with photos and a time lapse video, which will soon make its way online.

Intern Stephen Whiting removes a bolt on an old model of the CEB Press with the help of (left to right) x, Gabriel Elkind and Juan Bennazar.

Intern Stephen Whiting removes a bolt on an old model of the CEB Press with the help of (left to right) x, Gabriel Elkind and Juan Bennazar. Photo by Molly Reichert

Another group of four took apart and reassembled the frame around a Power Cube. After they finished, they helped re-organize a storage unit.

Two others put together the pool deck. A few others worked on miscellaneous tasks around the Farm, including installing screen doors in the HabLab and working on programming the CNC Torch Table.

The last step to fixing an extension cord is to tie electrical tape around the components not covered by the outer-most layer of insulation.

The last step to fixing an extension cord is to tie electrical tape around the components not covered by the outer-most layer of insulation. 

After everyone finished their projects, Marcin taught interns how to repair extension cords with the remaining work time. A handful of them stayed after for 20 or so minutes practicing what they learned.

First aid workshop

Maysville Paramedic Jeff Frazier briefly talked to several of the interns about first aid kits and how to respond to medical emergencies, including broken arms and burns. Read the “Basic Medical Training Project” overview on the OSE Wiki.

People living in rural areas, like where Factor e Farm is located, don’t have quick access to medical care the same way people in suburbs and cities do. Jeff advised interns to learn at least a few basic first aid skills, especially since they are working with heavy machinery and power tools.

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