What a day! Members of the Quantum Technology Club arrived on-site at the Liverpool MakeFest 2023 at 08:00 and had the centrepiece of our display, the QuanDome, up on the main stage in double-quick time. It had been well rehearsed. Soon after, everything else was up-and-running and we were ready for the public.
Quandome
The QuanDome is an amazing structure called an Icosahedron. Some of its statistics are:
- 12 junctions
- 30 lengths of conduit
- 20 equilateral triangle faces
- 45m of electrical conduit
- Over 2,500 NeoPixels
- 84m light tape
- 20m cable
- 120 connectors
- Three separate current circuits
- Pulls over 40A DC current
- 2.5m tall
- Programmable from mobile app
- 200+ man hours of work
The visitors were able to control the lighting of the QuanDome using the large wireless remote control the team has also built. They could adjust the speed of change, the colours used and the sequence used to illuminate the NeoPixels. The excitement on the faces was clear to see and some kept coming back. During time visiting other stands to see what they were doing, it was clear that Quantum was the talk of the MakeFest with both fellow exhibitors and visitors chatting about ‘that illuminated shape on the main stage’, as one visitor put it.
QuanTris and four-in-a-row
The day wasn’t just about the QuanDome though. Last year’s centrepiece, the large QuanTris game, was making a reappearance, together with the four-in-a-row game that has proven so popular in the past too. These all provided visitors with a festival of light, looming large from the main stage.
Amateur Radio
Many thanks go to the Wales Digital Radio Group (WDRG) who had come all the way from Porthmadog and Scarborough to help us demonstrate amateur radio. The venue is a large Faraday Cage and communicating with the outside world from within is pretty much impossible. Simon and Pablo are two of the infrastructure gurus at the WDRG. The group specialises in running communications networks that don’t need huge external antennas erecting to be able to speak with other radio amateurs around the world. It was just what we needed for this venue and also demonstrates the inclusivity of amateur radio, enabling radio amateurs living in managed accommodation and those on small budgets to enjoy the hobby like everyone else.
Morse Code Treasure Hunt
The Quantum group had competition this year for their treasure hunt. Morse code characters were placed throughout the library on its various floors and young visitors and their parents had to find them. The entry sheet had a conversion chart on the reverse so that they could translate the letters and make a phrase. This year’s phrase, Merseybeat, was a nod to the Liverpool MakeFest 2023’s them of the 1960s. Everyone who took part was given a prize; we steadily worked our way through many bags of lollipops.
Our venerable crafter undertook the manufacture of customised key rings and plaques.
Code Club
It was great to see some of our 2022-2023 Code Club graduates with as the show. The demonstrated some of the projects that had been undertaken by our younger members during the year and helped to run the QuanTris and four-in-a-row game.
Until next year
Liverpool MakeFest 2023 was well attended and it gave us a great platform to demonstrate was a small regional technical club is capable of. Plans have already started for MakeFest 2024 – we look forward to seeing you all there.
If you visited us at Liverpool MakeFest 2023, or have been enthused what you have read about us, then please come along and pay us a visit. Our meetings start again after the summer break in September. Makers, radio amateurs, coders, electronics experimenters, and techno-crafters are all most welcome.