TVCOG Newsletter: March 2026

News from the Makerspace

Support the COG for a Chance to See Nick Offerman This April!

We've been graciously donated 2 tickets to Nick Offerman’s stand up show at the Palace Theatre on April 11th, to be raffled off. Raffle tickets are $5 each. Drop by during our staffed hours (Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm) or during our weeknight volunteer shifts (Mon-Fri, 6-9pm) to make your purchase. Winners will be announced on March 23rd at 5pm. You don’t have to be present to win, but you do have to respond to our phone call within 24 hours.

Enjoy comedy, songs and notions inspired by his newest book. "Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop’s Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery" is a narrative woodworking guide for kids, large and small.

In the Spotlight

Expanded Manufacturing, Prototyping, and Design Mentorship Services

We are excited to share our new and expanded services, all of which are open to the public! One of our core goals is to help local entrepreneurs and innovators scale their businesses. With these offerings, we're expanding the resources available to hardware startups right here in the Capital Region. But if you need help with a personal project, don’t worry! All of these services are open to everyone, regardless of professional level.

New CAD Mentorship

Fun Stuff Design, led by Dierdre Shea and Julian Goldman, is now offering their design expertise to both members and non-members alike. In their new one-on-one Fusion360 Mentorship, participants will get expert CAD help from a professional industrial designer. FSD can tackle a majority of problems, whether you are just starting out or are an experienced user. They are most experienced in CAD for rapid prototyping, focusing on CNC and 3D Printing, and have a specialty in CAD for mold making. Want to double check if they can help you before registering? Email them at [email protected]

Register Here

Design for Manufacturing Services

Alexander Titcomb is our in-house machinist and maker. His design consultation, prototyping, and fabrication services are now available to the public! Transitioning from a looks-like/works-like prototype to a manufacturable product is a long process. Alexander can help bridge that gap, providing his years of expertise to help your project to the next stage of development. Enjoy a free initial consultation and special rates for TVCOG members!

Request Alexander's Assistance Here

Events & Classes

Silver Rings

March 28 | 1:30 - 3:30pm | Ages 16+

Leave class with new skills and 3 silver rings of your own!

Fused Glass Jewelry

April 25 | 1:30 - 4pm | Ages 16+

This hands-on beginner class teaches participants how to make 2-3 custom fused glass pendants.

Private Class Options:

Book one-on-one private equipment training at your convenience!

Quick Start Guide: MIG Welding
Quick Start Guide: TIG Welding
Laser Cutter 101: Engraved Light-Up Acrylic Sign
Laser Cutter 201: Create a Dice Box
Electronics 102: Intro to Electronics Soldering
Electronics 110: DIY Retro Video Games with Arduino
...and more coming soon!

Learn More & Register Here

Manufacturing & Entrepreneurship

Practical Prototyping for New Entrepreneurs & Inventors

April 16 | 6 - 8pm

Join us for dinner and learn something new! Get expert insight into the prototyping process for new entrepreneurs and inventors. We'll cover the typical lifecycle of a new hardware product business, and examples of prototyping for customer discovery. Then hear real life examples of how doing early market research with basic prototypes changed the course of a product from Troy Fisher, a veteran toy inventor of 25 years with hundreds of products under his belt.

Register Here

Lunch & Learn: Strategic and Tactical People Ops (HR): Best Practices That Founders Need to Know Now

Hosted by UAlbany Innovation Center, an i518 Partner March 11 | 12pm - 1pm

Debra Best, founder of Deb Best Practices – HR 911/411, will discuss the ins and outs of what founders need to consider from an HR perspective. Unlike a large corporation, most startups don’t have a dedicated HR employee, much less a team. Attend this session to avoid many of the common headaches that arise from simply not knowing what you need to know!

Register Here

News from the THINQubator

Events & Classes

STEAM-Powered Saturday: Chalkboard Slime

TOMORROW! Saturday, March 7 | 10am - 1pm
FREE

Have fun making slime, then see how it works with chalk! This workshop is recommended for families with children ages 6+, but all ages are welcome. This workshop does require the ability to use ingredients without ingesting them. One of the ingredients can have a strong scent. A mask is suggested for those sensitive to strong smells.

STEAM-Powered Saturday: Paper Architect

Saturday, March 21 | 10am - 1pm
FREE

See what structures you can build using paper! This workshop is recommended for families with children ages 4+, but all ages are welcome. This workshop does require the ability to be creative with open-ended activities.

STEAM-Powered Saturday is brought to you for free through the support of the T Backer Fund and the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Tech Valley Center of Gravity
30 3rd St, Troy