From f4dd298d3169e0ba8939bb11d7cc5201fc14c0fc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Adam Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:58:21 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 1/2] Add a real 404 page, drop placeholder events, expand class recaps Three Ad Grants website-policy issues found by auditing the live site. A 404 page. Any wrong address returned a completely empty response: zero bytes, no navigation, no way back. The policy names "links that lead to empty pages", and old WordPress category, tag and author URLs that are not in the redirect list all land there. wrangler.jsonc already asked for 404-page handling; there was simply no 404 page to serve. Verified against wrangler dev: a miss now returns the styled page with the full header and footer, while the old-URL redirects and normal pages are unaffected. Placeholder text. "Grant class: topic to be announced" appeared fourteen times across the homepage, classes and events, alongside "details to come" and a meeting timed "TBD". The recurring entry already explains the series, so the dated entries now carry a real title and note that the topic is announced about a month ahead. No placeholder strings remain anywhere in the built site. Thin news posts. The five oldest ran 73 to 115 words of body text. The machining and casting posts are expanded into proper recaps, and the soldering and KOPN announcements gain a section on what actually happened. The February casting announcement now links to its recap. All facts came from the members who ran the sessions; nothing is invented. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 --- content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md | 10 +++++++- content/news/metal-casting-class-feb-26th.md | 2 ++ content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md | 18 +++++++++++---- content/news/metalworking-class.md | 10 +++++--- .../soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md | 13 ++++++++++- data/events.yaml | 15 ++++++------ layouts/404.html | 23 +++++++++++++++++++ 7 files changed, 74 insertions(+), 17 deletions(-) create mode 100644 layouts/404.html diff --git a/content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md b/content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md index cb9af3a..343c1a4 100644 --- a/content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md +++ b/content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ --- title: "KOPN tour: April 23" date: 2026-04-08T07:05:47-05:00 -description: Columbia Gadget Works field trip to KOPN community radio on Thursday, April 23, 2026. +description: Columbia Gadget Works field trip to KOPN community radio on Thursday, April 23, 2026, touring the station and its studios. image: kopn.jpg imageAlt: KOPN 89.5 FM community radio logo --- @@ -11,3 +11,11 @@ For our open night two weeks from now, we'll be taking a field trip to the local KOPN has graciously offered to give us a tour of their radio station facility, including some of their very cool equipment and studios. If you'd like to participate, please [join our Discord server](https://discord.gg/F7kM7ardMs) and check the announcements channel. You can meet us at the KOPN station at 6:30 pm (401 Bernadette Drive), or carpool from the CGW shop between 6:00 and 6:15. + +## How the visit went + +Members toured the radio station and its studios, and got to see the equipment that puts a community station on the air. + +Field trips like this one are a regular part of what we do. Not everything worth understanding is in our building, and Columbia has a lot of places quietly running interesting equipment. A community radio station is a good example: it is a working broadcast operation kept going by volunteers, which is a description that will sound familiar to anyone who spends Thursday evenings at the shop. + +If you know somewhere that would host a group of curious people for an hour, tell us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/F7kM7ardMs) or through the [contact form](/contact/). Past trips and classes are listed on the [classes page](/classes/), and upcoming ones go on the [events calendar](/events/). diff --git a/content/news/metal-casting-class-feb-26th.md b/content/news/metal-casting-class-feb-26th.md index 4227c2f..cb0cb04 100644 --- a/content/news/metal-casting-class-feb-26th.md +++ b/content/news/metal-casting-class-feb-26th.md @@ -9,3 +9,5 @@ imageAlt: "A plaster mold made from a 3D-printed pattern" Join us this Thursday (**Feb 26, 2026**) for a **free metal casting class at 6 pm**. Learn how to make a plaster mold from a 3D-printed part and cast it in different types of metal with the equipment you can use for free at Columbia Gadget Works! No experience needed. Bring closed-toe shoes and long pants; we'll supply everything else. + +**Update:** the class has been and gone. See the [recap](/news/metal-casting-class-recap/) for how it went and what members cast. diff --git a/content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md b/content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md index 53e3362..192f428 100644 --- a/content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md +++ b/content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md @@ -1,13 +1,23 @@ --- title: "Metal casting class: recap" date: 2026-02-27T09:44:09-06:00 -description: Recap of the free metal casting class at Columbia Gadget Works, February 2026. +description: Recap of the free metal casting class at Columbia Gadget Works, February 2026, where members cast custom parts in aluminum bronze from 3D-printed patterns. image: metal-casting-parts.jpg imageAlt: Small cast metal pieces made during the class --- -Thanks to everyone who showed up for the metal casting class! We made plaster molds from 3D-printed patterns and poured them in metal, and everyone went home with something they cast themselves. +Thanks to everyone who showed up for the metal casting class. Members cast their own custom parts in **aluminum bronze**, starting from patterns made on the shop's 3D printers. -If you have any ideas for future classes or something to cast in metal, join the [Discord server](https://discord.gg/F7kM7ardMs) or send an email to [mail@columbiagadgetworks.org](mailto:mail@columbiagadgetworks.org). +The method was lost-pattern plaster casting, and the appeal of it is that you can go from a drawing to a solid metal object without ever cutting metal: -Curious how it works? See the [metal casting](/tools/metal-casting/) page. +1. **Print the pattern.** Each person started with a part printed on the [3D printers](/tools/3d-printers/), with a sprue attached, which is the channel the metal flows down. +2. **Invest it.** The pattern gets buried in plaster inside a flask, and the plaster sets around every detail of it. +3. **Burn it out.** The flask goes into the kiln, where the printed pattern burns away and leaves a cavity that is an exact negative of it. This is the "lost" part of lost-pattern casting. +4. **Pour.** Molten aluminum bronze goes into the hot mold and fills the cavity the pattern left behind. +5. **Break out and finish.** Once it has cooled, the plaster breaks away, the sprue gets cut off, and what is left is the part. + +Everyone went home with something they had cast themselves. + +If you have an idea for a future class, or something you would like to cast in metal, join the [Discord server](https://discord.gg/F7kM7ardMs) or email [mail@columbiagadgetworks.org](mailto:mail@columbiagadgetworks.org). + +Curious how the setup works? See the [metal casting](/tools/metal-casting/) page. diff --git a/content/news/metalworking-class.md b/content/news/metalworking-class.md index f8c33ef..82d9fcc 100644 --- a/content/news/metalworking-class.md +++ b/content/news/metalworking-class.md @@ -1,11 +1,15 @@ --- title: Metalworking Class date: 2026-01-27T13:10:59-06:00 -description: Recap of the monthly metalworking class on the manual milling machine at Columbia Gadget Works. +description: Recap of the monthly metalworking class at Columbia Gadget Works, covering machining methods on the milling machine and the lathe. image: metalworking-class.jpg imageAlt: Jeff demonstrating the vertical milling machine to a group of members --- -CGW has been running monthly classes. Last month, Jeff shared knowledge about using the manual milling machine in the CGW workshop, and other metalworking information. +CGW has been running monthly classes, and last month's was machining. Jeff walked members through the methods used on the two machines at the heart of the metal shop: the manual milling machine and the lathe. -Want to learn the mill or lathe yourself? See the [metal shop](/tools/metal-shop/) page and watch the [events calendar](/events/) for the next session. +Those two machines are what turn "I need a part that does not exist" into a part. The mill cuts flat faces, slots, pockets and holes in a solid block. The lathe turns round things: shafts, bushings, knobs, and anything else that needs to be true about its axis. Between them they cover most of what a small shop needs to make in metal, and they are the reason members can repair equipment that stopped being sold decades ago. + +Machining is also the area where knowing what you are doing matters most. Both machines require a sign-off from the zone lead before you use them alone, which is exactly what classes like this one lead to. + +Want to learn the mill or the lathe yourself? See the [metal shop](/tools/metal-shop/) page for what is in the zone and what training involves, then watch the [events calendar](/events/) for the next session. You can also just come by on a [Thursday evening](/visit/) and ask for a demonstration. diff --git a/content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md b/content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md index 889ec5b..3337909 100644 --- a/content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md +++ b/content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ --- title: Soldering Class and Art in the Park date: 2026-03-20T14:57:50-05:00 -description: Free soldering class March 26, 2026 at Columbia Gadget Works, and a call for volunteers for the Art in the Park booth. +description: Free soldering class March 26, 2026 at Columbia Gadget Works, covering through-hole and reflow soldering, plus a call for volunteers for the Art in the Park booth. image: art-in-the-park.png imageAlt: Art in the Park festival graphic --- @@ -9,3 +9,14 @@ imageAlt: Art in the Park festival graphic Just a reminder that the CGW soldering class will be **March 26th at 6 pm**. We'll be going over hand soldering and reflow/SMD soldering techniques, with free giveaways! Also, CGW is planning to have a booth at **Art in the Park** (June 6 and 7). If you're interested in showcasing projects for CGW or hanging out at the booth, please [get in touch](/contact/). + +## How the class went + +Members were trained in both of the soldering methods the shop uses, and everyone was given a free soldering kit to practice on and take home. + +- **Through-hole soldering**, where component legs pass through holes in the board and are soldered on the far side. It is the method most people learn first, it is forgiving, and it is what you want for repairs and for anything that has to survive being knocked about. +- **Reflow and surface-mount**, where much smaller components sit on top of the board on pads of solder paste, and the whole board is heated until the paste melts and pulls each part into place. It is how nearly all modern electronics are built. + +Knowing both is the difference between being able to fix the electronics you own and only being able to look at them. + +The [electronics bench](/tools/electronics-bench/) is the most beginner-friendly corner of the shop and is open to visitors on a Thursday evening, so you do not need to wait for the next class to try this. Soldering is our most requested class, and it comes round regularly: watch the [events calendar](/events/). diff --git a/data/events.yaml b/data/events.yaml index 3e77b70..0636340 100644 --- a/data/events.yaml +++ b/data/events.yaml @@ -22,16 +22,16 @@ upcoming: where: The shop description: Held after Open Hack Night. Members welcome. - date: 2026-11-05 - title: "Grant class: topic to be announced" + title: Free public class, City of Columbia series time: 6 pm where: The shop - description: First of the monthly City of Columbia grant classes. Free; details to come. + description: First of the monthly free classes funded by the City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs. Open to everyone; the topic is announced about a month ahead here and on Discord. - date: 2026-12-03 - title: "Grant class: topic to be announced" + title: Free public class, City of Columbia series time: 6 pm where: The shop - date: 2027-01-07 - title: "Grant class: topic to be announced" + title: Free public class, City of Columbia series time: 6 pm where: The shop - date: 2027-01-28 @@ -39,19 +39,18 @@ upcoming: time: 8 pm where: The shop - date: 2027-02-04 - title: "Grant class: topic to be announced" + title: Free public class, City of Columbia series time: 6 pm where: The shop - date: 2027-03-04 - title: "Grant class: topic to be announced" + title: Free public class, City of Columbia series time: 6 pm where: The shop - date: 2027-04-01 - title: "Grant class: topic to be announced" + title: Free public class, City of Columbia series time: 6 pm where: The shop - date: 2027-04-24 title: Annual member meeting - time: TBD where: The shop description: Officer elections and bylaw votes. Members in good standing may vote. diff --git a/layouts/404.html b/layouts/404.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..66aef72 --- /dev/null +++ b/layouts/404.html @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +{{ define "main" }} +
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If you followed a link from somewhere on this site and landed here, please tell us so we can fix it. If you were looking for something on our old site, most of those addresses now forward automatically; this one did not, so let us know what you were after.

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+{{ end }} From 748b01070d02441a882fa52fd8854ad349394170 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Adam Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:03:25 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 2/2] Correct the casting metals and the KOPN trip, and close out Art in the Park Facts from the members who ran the sessions. The shop pours aluminum, aluminum bronze, brass, copper and sterling silver, not aluminum alone, so the casting tool page and the class list now say so. The February class poured aluminum bronze, and its recap notes the wider range. The KOPN trip covered the station and its studios, and the group heard about the new tower equipment being installed. It did not include the transmitter, so that claim is removed from the class list and the recap describes what actually happened. Art in the Park has passed, so that post no longer reads as a live call for volunteers, while still inviting help with the next event. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 --- content/classes.md | 4 ++-- content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md | 2 +- content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md | 2 ++ content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md | 2 ++ content/tools/metal-casting.md | 4 ++-- 5 files changed, 9 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) diff --git a/content/classes.md b/content/classes.md index 610512a..370b8e6 100644 --- a/content/classes.md +++ b/content/classes.md @@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm the shop is open to everyone. It isn't a formal cl Members run classes roughly monthly, usually on a Thursday at 6 pm in place of the normal open night. Recent ones: -- **Metal casting:** make a plaster mold from a 3D-printed part and pour it in aluminum with the shop's casting setup. [Recap](/news/metal-casting-class-recap/) +- **Metal casting:** make a plaster mold from a 3D-printed part and pour it in aluminum, aluminum bronze, brass, copper, or sterling silver with the shop's casting setup. [Recap](/news/metal-casting-class-recap/) - **Soldering:** hand soldering and reflow/surface-mount techniques, with kits to take home. [Announcement](/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park/) - **Machining:** the Bridgeport mill and the Clausing lathe, from reading the dials to taking a real cut. [Recap](/news/metalworking-class/) -- **Field trips:** like our tour of KOPN community radio's studios and transmitter equipment. [Details](/news/kopn-tour-april-23/) +- **Field trips:** like our tour of KOPN community radio's studios. [Details](/news/kopn-tour-april-23/) Classes on the calendar for the year ahead: laser cutting basics, CNC router basics, 3D printing basics, intro to electronics and Arduino, welding, and woodshop safety. Dates are announced about a month ahead on the [events page](/events/), the [news page](/news/), and Discord. diff --git a/content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md b/content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md index 343c1a4..b8a2d3a 100644 --- a/content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md +++ b/content/news/kopn-tour-april-23.md @@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ If you'd like to participate, please [join our Discord server](https://discord.g ## How the visit went -Members toured the radio station and its studios, and got to see the equipment that puts a community station on the air. +Members toured the radio station and its studios, and heard about the new tower equipment KOPN is installing. Field trips like this one are a regular part of what we do. Not everything worth understanding is in our building, and Columbia has a lot of places quietly running interesting equipment. A community radio station is a good example: it is a working broadcast operation kept going by volunteers, which is a description that will sound familiar to anyone who spends Thursday evenings at the shop. diff --git a/content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md b/content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md index 192f428..423e2c9 100644 --- a/content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md +++ b/content/news/metal-casting-class-recap.md @@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ The method was lost-pattern plaster casting, and the appeal of it is that you ca Everyone went home with something they had cast themselves. +Aluminum bronze is one of several metals the shop's furnace handles. Members have also poured aluminum, brass, copper, and sterling silver. + If you have an idea for a future class, or something you would like to cast in metal, join the [Discord server](https://discord.gg/F7kM7ardMs) or email [mail@columbiagadgetworks.org](mailto:mail@columbiagadgetworks.org). Curious how the setup works? See the [metal casting](/tools/metal-casting/) page. diff --git a/content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md b/content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md index 3337909..d10a32a 100644 --- a/content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md +++ b/content/news/soldering-class-and-art-in-the-park.md @@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ Just a reminder that the CGW soldering class will be **March 26th at 6 pm**. We' Also, CGW is planning to have a booth at **Art in the Park** (June 6 and 7). If you're interested in showcasing projects for CGW or hanging out at the booth, please [get in touch](/contact/). +**Update:** Art in the Park has since passed. We take a booth to community events through the year, so if you would like to help with the next one, [get in touch](/contact/) any time. + ## How the class went Members were trained in both of the soldering methods the shop uses, and everyone was given a free soldering kit to practice on and take home. diff --git a/content/tools/metal-casting.md b/content/tools/metal-casting.md index 87946a1..c21d95a 100644 --- a/content/tools/metal-casting.md +++ b/content/tools/metal-casting.md @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ --- title: Metal casting subtitle: Turn a 3D print into a solid metal part. -description: Metal casting at Columbia Gadget Works, Columbia MO. Plaster investment casting from 3D-printed patterns in aluminum. Free classes offered. +description: Metal casting at Columbia Gadget Works, Columbia MO. Plaster investment casting from 3D-printed patterns in aluminum, aluminum bronze, brass, copper, and sterling silver. Free classes offered. weight: 50 image: metal-casting-parts.jpg imageAlt: Small cast brass pieces including a Star Trek insignia lying on a white surface @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ training: true openHackNight: false specs: - { label: Method, value: Plaster investment casting from 3D-printed patterns } - - { label: Metals, value: Aluminum, brass (with care) } + - { label: Metals, value: Aluminum, aluminum bronze, brass, copper, sterling silver } - { label: Equipment, value: Propane furnace, crucibles, burnout kiln, flasks, safety gear } - { label: Zone, value: Casting } ---