Expansion Update - 04/30/20

DMS General
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Even though the Dallas Makerspace has been closed, there are still Expansion activities being done by various contractors.

Pretty soon the Warehouse area will no longer look like a Warehouse. The Electricians should be done by the end of this week. In the photo below is the main power panel. Everything is complete except for installing the front panels on the circuit breaker panels.

Main Panel
Main Panel4032×3024 2.75 MB

Then in the next photo below, back in the other corner where the Machine Shop will be located there is still work underway. All of the electrical outlets from the overhead cable trays still need to be connected to the appropriate circuit breakers.
Machine Shop
Machine Shop3024×4032 1.75 MB

Then in the next photo below, the new 400 Amp panel for Fired Arts, Jewelry, and Glassmaking is complete except for the installation of the front panel. You can see at the top of the photo the newly installed ventilation duct for all the kilns. Each kiln’s vent hood will be connected to the duct with an electric damper that will open and close the appropriate vent hood. The gray box to the right of the circuit breaker panel will house the controller to operate all the dampers and the roof-top fan system.
LV9 Panel
LV9 Panel3024×4032 1.97 MB

Then in the next photo below, this is a close up of the damper assembly. This is the same type of damper that is currently used on the laser cutters.
Damper
Damper3024×4032 2.41 MB

Then in the next photo below, an overall view of all the duct work going from corner to corner along the entire length of the wall. In the center of the wall is the connection duct that will go straight up to the roof. Once City Hall opens up, then we can get the building permits to have the roof-top fan installed. The same type of duct work will be added to the Blacksmith area.
Warehouse Ducts
Warehouse Ducts4032×3024 2.66 MB

We are currently under contract negotiations with the heavy lifting Riggers to move all the heavy Machine Shop tools to their new location. This work may start as early as next week. They will move the HAAS CNC, the Bridgeport Mill, 2 Metal Lathes, Bandsaw, Drill Press, Cold Saw, and various heavy tables. They will also professionally level the HAAS, the Bridgeport Mill and the Lathes. Good thing we are closed as some of the Automotive equipment will be temporarily re-positioned to allow access to the Machine Shop area.

The construction of the new 22 foot tall walls around Blacksmith is held up because we cannot get building permits at this time. Hopefully City Hall will re-open in the month of May. Would like to get this work completed while DMS is closed.

I fully understand that everybody is getting tired of waiting for DMS to open back up. But, the Expansion effort is still going forward. The contractors feel safer working at DMS at this time since no one else is in the building.

Your comments are always welcomed.

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2

Awesome!

Question: is the 480v wiring happening during all of this?

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Is there any progress on getting drywall in to seal up blacksmithing?

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This is pending getting the building permits.

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The new 480V transformer has been set in place and re-connected to the 480 Volt circuit breaker panel. A new 50 Amp breaker was installed in the panel just for the welder. Now the new outlet for the welder can be installed. I am assuming you want to keep the welder in the same location that it currently is at. If so, the new outlet can be installed.

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Well there were two 480v outlets in our spec; the welder will stay where it is and the drop can just go next to it (center of the two welding bays). The one for the fiber laser was going to end up where laser currently is. If the fiber laser happens at a later time so be it (can’t move the equipment there anyway until laser vacates), but getting the transformer TIG welder running properly rather than blowing 208v breakers, and allow more welders to run at once in general, would be nice when we reopen.

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Rich, this is all very good news. Thanks for all you do!

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I believe Rich covered that (unless you just mean the purchasing of Sheetrock):

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Exactly I was talking labor and materials, I don’t believe a vendor has been selected yet for that effort.

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Commercial construction goes through several phases.

  1. Plans are drawn up
  2. Plans are submitted to the City and Landlord for approval
  3. After approval you get vendor quotes
  4. The Board of Directors selects the vendor
  5. You file for the Building Permit, City needs Vendor name and amount of bid
  6. Work Begins

Due to City Hall being closed, we are in a wait-state at item 2 above. It all takes time before the first shovel of dirt gets dug.

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Thanks for all you’re doing! Excited to come back to a space that more functional than ever!

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Thank you ( and all other involved ) for your hard work.

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:heart_eyes:

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14

Pardon the question if it has already been answered somewhere else but what is the status of being able to move automotive into the new area?

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Last I’ve heard as auto chair is still waiting on fire engineering.

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This progress is amazing and will be an incredible legacy to many generations of future makers.

@richmeyer an by extension all others involved, thank you for all your time and efforts on the expansion.

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