Here are TechCreate we are committed to developing STEAM education in Ireland. We have developed a range of classes and clubs to suit children aged 8-13 that enrich their education on top of what is available in mainstream education in schools.

Starting with our Beginners Kids Coding Class children from as young as 8 can learn basic coding concepts using our fun and interactive Ozobot robots and Ozoblocky coding tool.

After completing this those kids with the aptitude and interest in coding can then progress on to the Intermediate Kids Coding Class where they will start to learn the Python programming language. For kids that aren’t interested in coding they have the option to join our Maker Club or Tech Skills Club.

Maker Club introduces them to digital fabrication and each week they get to work on instructor led projects which explore Laser Cutting, 3D printing, art and design.

Tech Skills Club is for kids that want to develop other computer skills. It offers familiarity with a full range of real world IT skills from word processing to video editing.

Kids who complete our Intermediate Kids Coding Class can then join our Coding Club where they can further develop their Python coding skills and work on their own projects with support from our instructor. They also have the option to join our Pi Club where they will learn about electronics and how it can be combined with Raspberry Pi.

Finally we believe that typing and keyboarding skills are very important for kids as everything becomes digital. To aid this we offer a free online typing club that all kids who attend our classes and clubs get free access to.

We deliver all of these courses and camps at our facility in Clane and also offer taster sessions which we deliver on Libraries and schools around the country. We will be expanding our reach and network over the coming years to include other parts of the country. STEAM Education in Ireland is here to stay and at TechCreate we want to be at the forefront.

Laser engraving is a highly versatile means of personalising just about anything. From signage and awards, to gifts and model-making, laser engraving allows you to put your personal stamp on a huge range of materials.

How does laser engraving work?

‘Laser’ stands for ‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.’ A laser beam is created by using mirrors and lenses to focus the laser light, creating a tool that is not only precise but that will never wear out. There are different types of laser used for different materials, with some suited to many.

What can I do with laser engraving?

The only limit to this is your imagination!

At TechCreate, with either a DIY membership or through our Done For You service, you can personalise almost anything for any purpose. You may wish to have a special glass object engraved as a gift, or to create an eye-catching sign, or even an award!

‘Tech tattooing’ is a popular way to use laser engraving, in which we can decorate and modify your devices (such as iPad, phones and tablets). Using a CO2 laser engraver, we etch away the anodised surface of your device, leaving a new finish beneath and creating a unique, beautiful, personal design. Whatever you want, our machines can create it!

What if I don’t know how to carry out laser engraving?

You don’t have to – at TechCreate we offer a Done For You service, whereby we can make your vision a reality without you ever needing to know how our machines are operated. However, with a membership, you are welcome to learn to use the equipment yourself and get stuck in to laser engraving, as well as a whole host of other skills.

The beauty of digital fabrication is the speed, pinpoint accuracy and consistently high quality outcomes. With laser engraving, you can etch your dream design, your name, or anything else you like, wherever it’s needed!

As well as laser engraving, a TechCreate membership will gain you access to the following:

• 3D Printing – create absolutely anything using our 3D printer. From design prototypes, to children’s party decorations, the sky is the limit!
• Adult Maker Workshops – here you will learn 2D digital drawing for using our laser cutter/engraver, and 3D drawing with a view to using the 3D printer.
• Kids camps and coding masterclasses

At TechCreate we have a real passion for learning, and to help others expand their creativity into pieces of art. Call us today to find out more about laser engraving – and many other things!

See more videos about our Makerspace on our YouTube Channel

Learn more about our laser cutting and engraving services here

The reasons why STEM is important for the future are so numerous that it’s hard to condense into one concise article. We know that STEM – short for science, technology, engineering and mathematics – pervades every area of our lives, and that it is vital for the continued progression of our society. Each day we learn more about the world around us, and how our contributions to STEM are vital to our success.

However, there are many other reasons why STEM is important for the future – particularly the accessibility of STEM education to groups who have traditionally been excluded in the past, as well as the value of STEM education to children and young people.

Why STEM is important for the future – diversity

To begin with, STEM are fields that have been traditionally dominated by men, particularly white men from wealthy families. Improving access to STEM-related fields for more diverse groups is absolutely vital to continued learning and progression; the input of those who have been excluded so often is incredibly valuable and is already proving to have diversified our knowledge across the world. STEM bridges ethnic, gender and cultural gaps, therefore it makes perfect sense that making STEM accessible to young people, particularly young children, is paving the way to a diverse, accepting future. We want futures in STEM to be considered by young people of all genders, all cultures, and from all different backgrounds.

Why STEM is important for the future – self-sufficiency in a technological age

STEM branches into every aspect of our lives. Even those of us who follow an entirely different route will still surely find ourselves in need of technological skills, at least. Small business owners, start-ups, entrepreneurs, will all find themselves in a stronger and better position with the skills in place to be able to design and develop products, or even just their own websites. Giving young people a grounding in STEM gives them more choice and knowledge as they move forward; the kids in our coding classes may not all go on to a career in programming, but they will come away armed with the knowledge to create for themselves, and for people they know. The world is changing – fast – and it’s important that we continue to keep up in order to thrive within it.

At TechCreate we are passionate about what we do, and we exist because we wanted to share that passion with the rest of the world. We wanted to do our bit to make technology accessible to as many people as possible, and to help arm people with the skills necessary to develop their art, their business, or just to have fun!

On Saturday July 23rd, 2016 at Merrion Square in Dublin the team from TechCreate attended the Dublin Maker event. Dublin Maker has been running for a number of years in Trinity College, and this year was the first time in Merrion Square.

We were very impressed with the whole set up and of course having good weather helped a lot. For makers gates opened at 8am giving us time to set up our stands. Merrion square was a great venue, with a nice carnival type atmosphere.

At 10am the public started to arrive and from then on until 6pm we had a steady flow of visitors. It was great to talk to so many different people, both young and not so young and show off some of the different things we do here at TechCreate.

We showcased our 3D printer and laser made crafts that were made on our Trotec Speedy 300 Laser. We also had our Ozobots on hand to explain to people how we use them for our kids coding classes.

Having not been to Dublin Maker before we didn’t really know what to expect, but by the end of it we all felt that we had enjoyed ourselves, even if we were a little bit hoarse from all the talking!

Our only gripe was that we were so busy on our stand that we really didn’t get enough time to talk to all of the other great Makers. There are so many great things to see and do it was a shame that we missed them.

All in all it was a great event and we will definitely hope to be back next year and hopefully they will get to keep the event in Merrion Square as it is a great location.

Keep your eye on www.dublinmaker.ie for details of next years event once it becomes available/

Here are some pictures from the day at Dublin Maker

At TechCreate, we offer coding classes to teens who are looking to supplement what they’re learning in school, or who simply have a thirst for all things web dev! We all know kids can change their minds a thousand times when it comes to their future career path, but we also know that coding skills are highly sought after and very transferable. Your teen may want to go down the road of being a professional programmer, building websites, games and much more, however even if they don’t these valuable skills will definitely come in handy.

Without web development skills, starting (and maintaining) your business’s online presence can be more difficult. Being able to create and edit your own website, rather than having to pay someone to do it for you, can save you a lot of money and stress. Plus, if something goes wrong and your site
goes down, being able to locate and solve the problem means you’ll be back up and running in no time. Programming classes in Kildare can give you full control over your online presence – and this is priceless!

Web development is also a fantastic career to pursue in a freelance capacity. Many of us dream of being able to be in charge of our own hours and to be able to work from home if needed, and programming is a usefully well-paid area to go into. Programming classes can start setting your teen up to be a successful freelancer, or even just give them skills to fall back on if they decide to try something else further down the line.

For programming classes in Kildare, look no further than TechCreate. We offer a range of programming classes in Kildare for kids and teens, and we are always looking to add more courses to our books dependent on demand – so feel free to contact us if you’d like us to offer something new!

As well as programming classes in Kildare, we offer a huge range of facilities for all ages and abilities.

With membership, you can learn to use our equipment for your own projects, or you can take advantage of our Done for You service. We also have our Drop In and Make days for if you can’t decide whether to take a membership or not, and just want to try things out.

Along with our coding classes we offer:

• Digital embroidery
• Laser cutting and engraving
• 3D printing
• CNC cutting
• Electronics workstation
• Digital cutting

So whether you want to unleash your creative side, or simply pass on your brief to somebody skilled to carry out for you, TechCreate is your first stop for programming classes in Kildare – and more!

During the process of design, there will likely be points where you’ll need to go back and think again, and possibly need a plan B (or C, or D…). It can be frustrating and costly to discover that changes need to be made – this is where product prototyping comes in.

Product prototyping is the process of creating a ‘prototype’ of your design. You will be able to see it and hold it in your hands, and most importantly, see how it really works. Being able to trial your product ‘in the real’ can help you prevent expensive mistakes (and corrections) later on, and give you a real insight into how your product will function.

Additionally, an accurate prototype gives you the power to carry out market trials and get feedback at a much earlier stage, and without shelling out before discovering you need to make changes.

Traditionally product prototyping could be very expensive with investment in expensive CAD design software and the creation of injection moulds and usually a manufacturer on board to make the prototype for you. This could typically run to thousands of euro worth of costs.

The advent (and accessibility) of 3D printing has made it possible, and affordable, for more designers to create beautiful, accurate prototypes. Rather than resorting to more time­ consuming
and expensive prototype builds, 3D printing can allow you to hold your design in your hands in just a few hours.

At TechCreate, we use the Ultimaker 3D printer to bring your designs to life. Here, we can assist entrepreneurs to create prototypes to help push their product forwards towards the market. You have the choice of becoming a member and using our equipment and software yourself, or if you prefer we can do it for you to save you times. Either way you will be able to get a prototype for a lot less than it would have traditionally cost you.

It is not just small businesses who use the Ultimaker 2 for prototyping, Siemens AG a large multinational uses the Ultimaker 2 for prototyping engineering components. In doing so they have been able to reduce their time from model stage to final component to about 1-2 weeks instead of the previous 12-16 weeks. This saves them a huge amount of time. To learn more about Siemens AG prototyping with the Ultimaker 2 click here.

Prototyping of parts by Siemens AG on an Ultimaker 2 like the one at TechCreate

If you are thinking about product prototyping then please call in. We can cut costs for you even further by letting you use our equipment rather than having to purchase your own.

Digital Fabrication using our Laser

At TechCreate, we understand that you may not have the time or the inclination to come and learn digital fabrication techniques yourself at our workshop – you may just wish to have your task carried out by someone who knows what they’re doing. Perhaps there’s a birthday coming up, or the end of a project that has come around far quicker than you expected!

If this is the case, our Done For You service may be just what you’re looking for.

Laser Engraving

Engraving can be used on a huge range of materials, from metal to paper – even (almost unbelievably) beef jerky! Engraving is perfect for personalising gifts for your loved ones, creating tags for your pets, and many more tasks.

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is a form of digital fabrication that is precise, quick and easy. We can cut parts for any project you’re wishing to carry out, including sign­making and parts for products/product prototypes.

3D Printing

3D printing is a process where a machine ‘prints’ a 3D design, created in a CAD programme. 3D printing works by thin layers being created and placed together in order to produce a 3D object.

This process can be used to create a huge range of products and items.

Tech Tattooing

Tech tattooing is a popular service, in which we can personally modify your items (such as iPad, phones and tablets). Using a CO2 laser engraver, we etch away the anodised surface of your tech, leaving a new finish beneath and creating a unique, beautiful and personal design. Whatever you want, our machines can create it! The beauty of digital fabrication is the speed, pinpoint accuracy and perfect quality. Using these qualities we can put yout dream design, your name, or anything else you like.

We provide a range of services that cover all manner of digital fabrication tasks, such as 3D printing and laser cutting. Please do enquire if you need something not listed here – we may well be able to help!

However, if you’d like to learn there techniques yourself, please do feel free to come by for one of our drop in and make sessions, or to join us at members of TechCreate. We also carry out workshops for children to learn digital fabrication and coding. Please do check your schedule and book now!

We are passionate about tech, and we want to bring our passion to you. Our great value rates and accessibility to all ensure that we are front­runners in this business. Call us today to find out what we have to offer, to enquire about availability and check our rates. Thank you!

With talk of computer programming being introduced into the national curriculum for primary school ­aged children, code fever is starting to hit parents (and kids) across the country – and for good reason. Computer science is the future, and without a basic knowledge, our children could be at a disadvantage.

In this article we will go over some of the many reasons why your children should learn how to code.

Preparation for the Future

Not only is computer programming one of the fastest growing career sectors in the world, programming languages themselves are the most important languages we speak. An increasingly digital world requires an increased digital knowledge for those who will traverse it. Teaching children how to code means that they will already have a basic knowledge of what makes our world go round, and this is important for their success. An understanding of how things work in the way they do, how they were created and why, are important even for those who don’t pursue a career in computer science.

Career Choice

Many adults are now taking part in crash­ courses in programming and web development as a means to change their careers, earn more money or progress within their companies, and these courses don’t come cheap. People are realising now that computer science is the future. Of course every child won’t be a coding genius, in the same way that every biology student won’t be a doctor, but giving children a chance early on to figure out if they have an aptitude for coding (and if they enjoy it) will open up their future options. Additionally, learning to code fosters logic ­based thinking processes – this is a positive outcome for every child, regardless of their future plans. In the same way that we want our children to learn different languages when they are young, due to the proven educational benefits, learning coding languages can have the same positive effect.

Creativity and Empowerment

Coding opens up a world of limitless possibility, where anything and everything is possible. There are no constraints on creativity, and yet all that is needed is some kind of device to code on. The kids who love consoles can work on their own games, others can build websites from scratch, the list goes on and on. Putting that power and skill in the hands of our children is an incredibly empowering thing for them, allowing them to express themselves independently.

Improved Capacity for Learning

It is inevitable that, at some point in their lives, your child will have to get to grips with some kind of coding, whether that’s as part of their careers or simply the need to build a website for their own business. When we are young we are much more receptive to learning new things than we are as adults, therefore it’s the perfect time to introduce them to the digital languages that shape our world.

TechCreate provide a range of Kids Coding classes, from complete beginners up, click here to see a list of upcoming classes

Are you in the Clane area and looking for something different to do? Maybe you are visiting the area on holiday or perhaps you are trying to entertain the kids and avoid the dreaded “I’m bored” complaint.  Maybe you are looking for something fun to do with your friends.

At TechCreate, located in the Clane Business Park, we offer a range of à la carte maker projects called Drop in and Make for anyone looking for things to do in Clane. Our projects typically take from 1-2 hours and are suitable for children and adults alike.

There is no excuse, even if you are a complete beginner, you’ll get a great feeling of accomplishment completing a project and connecting with your inner maker. Doing something different from the every day grind can help you relax and reduce stress. With prices starting from €10 per project it is a great way to while away a few hours, lost in creativity, without breaking the bank.

We plan to add to the list of projects regularly so there is always going to be things to do in Clane even if you have visited us before! Currently the options range from constructing laser cut models to building electronics projects. We also give you a chance to see our laser cutter/engraver in action, oh yes and be sure to ask to see our 3D printer!

In addition to all of the maker projects we also have a 3D virtual reality headset for you to try, to get a glimpse of the future. Be careful though, it can be addictive and just as entertaining for everyone else watching you! So now you never need be stuck for things to do in Clane, whatever the weather.

To learn more about our Drop in and Make options you can get all of the details here.

We recently held our first kids party at TechCreate and everyone had a great time. With some even saying it was “the best party ever!”.

The party kicked off with everyone getting their own Ozobot to play with. Colm, our instructor, explained how they worked and the children set to work to see who could draw the best track for their Ozobot to follow. They were a pretty creative bunch and there was a good bit of healthy competition as they each tried to outdo one another.

After a break for food, courtesy of Dominoes, everyone got a chance to make their own laser cut model from a selection of different animals. Some of the group even decided to paint them!

During the party everyone got to see our 3D printer and Laser cutter in action, with each child going home with their creations plus custom engraved party favors with their names on and even laser engraved party bags.

When we set about designing the parties at TechCreate we used the experience we have of being parents to 3 children to help us come up with something a bit different from the norm. You won’t find the same old tired Children’s party themes with us!

If you are interested in having a different type of party for your child then please check out our party page which gives details of our children’s parties. The way it works is that you get to book our entire facility for your own party on Friday evening or Saturday afternoon. This means you have TechCreate all to yourself.

We have a number of different options for children’s parties that we will be adding to in the coming months, including virtual reality and digital wall games so be sure to check back regularly so you don’t miss out!