Hackspace of China, part 2. Shenzhen, TechSpace, photo tour

Today is Friday, tomorrow is the weekend, someone will go to relax in the countryside, someone will be in the garage with a car, someone at home at the computer, and someone will spend them in the hackspace for the assembly of robots in the company of geeks).

In the last article, we started talking about Chinese hacks, in this article we will take a short tour of TechSpace in Shenzhen (by the way, Apple products are made in this city), we will see what is interesting in them, and we will plunge into the working atmosphere.



The founder's name is Shang Song. The idea to open Techspace was born in November 2012. In May 2013 he traveled to the USA at techshop.ws. In July 2013 he found the premises, in November 2013 Techspace opened in beta mode. Since January, they took into account errors reformatted the tariff schedule taking into account the real needs of people (about tariffs at the end of the review).

TechSpace is located in a part of the building of one of the factories of the Hi-Tech Park area:


You have to work very hard to find this pearl [hackspace entrance] in the back streets of the work area.




Here is a map of the hackspace room itself:


As you can see, the room consists of the main zones:

1. Working Bench, including:
- Storage (Personal Storage)
- work with radio electronics (Equipments Area)
- work with hardware (Hardware Developing)
-
writing board (Presentation Wall) - carpentry (Hand Tools)

2. Machine room
- CNC machines (CNC Area)
- main machine room (Main Machines Area)
- additional room (Auxiliary Area)

3. Office space (on the second floor)

Let's start the tour

This is what we see when we look at the glass doors from the street.


We go inside:


A small reception with a showcase of different gifts from guests of the hackspace:

Work room

Then we find ourselves in a common working room.


Oscilloscopes, soldering irons, and a plotter are placed on tables along the wall.


If we go to the plotter now and turn around, we see this picture.


This is a co-working zone, we also see the second floor, top left (under which we went through when we entered), in the far right - the entrance to the “Machine Room”, right in the far - this is the entrance to the hackspace, on the left (not in the frame) there will be a staircase to the second floor.

The electrical wiring is made quite conveniently - extension cords on top, which removes the “noodles" from the wires under your feet (Internet access via WiFi).

And also we see a fragment of the stand with carpentry tools on the right.

If we now go up the stairs and climb a little, we will see the hall from above


As we see, apart from extension cords - well-thought out lighting - above each table.

And here is the very staircase on which we stood before this,


we see that ventilation is thought out, and the air conditioner is at the top.

And here is our extension cords on top more


conveniently enough.

Life is in full




Note that on the left is a recreation and food area (under the second floor) - water, a TV, a refrigerator. At the entrance there is a zone of information (so far only yellow leaves are visible - we will consider them in more detail later).



Before entering the stairs we see storage boxes with a lock. On the left along the wall is a table with a 3D printer and computer.

Here is a 3D printer, a


fairly simple design, but quite reliable, a series of 3D printers UP - 3D Printer UP! Plus 2 .

A serious visitor to the hackspace


Well, let's move from the work area with our head to the work area with our hands.


As we see a convenient stand with all the tools (on the left), and many drawers for storing small things. We notice the robots in the center.

And here is a closer table.


Robots are made on the basis of the MakeBlock designer, who are interested can see here , aluminum structural elements are reliable enough (you can only guess about the role of a rubber hammer).

Here, the rack with drawers itself


is surprisingly neat and tidy, it’s tidied up, is there someone on duty, and at the end of the day it collects everything back from the tables to the drawers and to their places :)

If we turn right, we will see a table along the wall


There is a lot of space - so that you can safely sit down, pick up tools and craft something interesting.

Soldering station (where without them)


A couple of oscilloscopes and educational books, if you are interested to learn by yourself


And here is the plotter (or rather Vinyl Cutter )


with the remnants of Christmas decorations

And now we will visit the rest room, they saw on the previous picture underneath the second floor


Visible on the right is a rack with books, you can take it and comfortably sit in an armchair.

In the refrigerator you can find water, Coca-Cola, beer. No one drinks beer, and Coca-Cola ends the fastest.

The Chinese are quite serious about food, usually they have lunch at 12-00, and dinner at 18-30. There are many cafes and cafes near the hackspace. After lunch, it is customary to lie on the couch and sleep for 30 minutes.

After reading, and having a rest, let's look at the second floor


here you can work in a more relaxed atmosphere, looking at the people below working (this gives some new direction to thoughts). But now the hackspace is pretty empty, nobody is working on the second floor.

Office furniture is quite high quality.


And we also note the culture of the Chinese - there is not a single chewing gum from below)

Well, now we’ll transfer to our machine room.

Engine room

The machine room consists of 3 rooms - central, left, right.

This is what the central hall looks like when we go into it from the Coworking Workspace:


We can count 4 devices (for working with wood), a nature window with fresh air, and a good mile with a good vice.

On the left and right of the partition are the separating zones (on the left side is the laser machine, on the right side is the CNC machine).

A small conversation with the founder of Shang Song.


In the left hall there is a laser cutter, coveted by all DIY-designers . With a mandatory extract to the street. As you can see - the space is quite a lot, it's nice.


Here is our handsome man closer (working area 900 * 600mm)


Well, let's engrave and cut something. So we have a


business card in memory


On the right side of the Machine Zone, there is no less beloved by all CNC machines .
True, it is suitable only for the manufacture of printed circuit boards.


There is also a drilling machine with a turning. Here they are handsome


again Pay attention to the cleanliness of the floor - someone still removes trash in the evenings :)

Well, let's finish with the Machine Room, and return to the beginning (anyone interested in the list of equipment can be found here )

We returned to the information zone located in reception area, consider in more detail what is written there.


We see information about connecting to free wifi, the Internet coordinates of the hackspace.

Advertising of various projects

Conditions

Now a little capitalism.

Annual membership:

Individual - 200 yuan (1.1 tr, at the rate of 1 yuan = 5.5 rubles)
Group up to 5 people - 500 yuan (2.75 tr)

Grants the right to:
- Attend events
- Work in a common room for 8 hours per week

Events are held approximately once a week. You can visit them without being a member, but then you need to leave one-time from 20 to 100 yuan (110-550 rubles) as a donation.

Basic membership is specifically made so limited in its ability to attract as many people as possible.

Once you are a member, you can purchase additional service packages.

Service Packages:

DIY - 400 yuan for 10 visits (TR 2.2)
- Gives the right to work with all equipment during the

Startup visit - 900 yuan per month (TR 4.95)
- You can work in a common room every day
- Gives the right to work with

Office equipment - 1500 yuan per month (TR 8.25)
- You can work at a dedicated workplace on the second floor every day
- Gives the right to work with equipment
- Gives the right to use office equipment

Plan to pay off for the year.

Impression

In conclusion, we note that hackspace is very well thought out, made specifically for people to work as comfortably as possible (spacious rooms, air conditioning, infrastructure), and all the equipment is needed nearby.

I would like to wish them development (a quick payback), and more of this level of hacks in other cities (in particular, in Russia).

Thanks to targence for the photos provided.