From a garage to 4,000 square feet of making magic. Here's our story.
Santa Barbara Hackerspace exists to provide a collaborative environment where people can learn, create, and share knowledge about technology, science, and the arts.
We believe that access to tools and community can unlock incredible creativity. Whether you're a seasoned engineer, a curious hobbyist, or someone who just wants to learn how things work, there's a place for you here.
Be inspired. Bring your ideas. Lend a hand.
A hackerspace (also known as a makerspace or fab lab) is a community-operated workspace where people with common interests—often in computers, machining, technology, science, digital art, or electronic art—can meet, socialize, and collaborate.
The term "hacker" here refers to the original meaning: someone who enjoys exploring the details of systems, pushing boundaries, and learning how to make things work—not to be confused with computer criminals.
From humble beginnings to Santa Barbara's premier maker space.
SBHX was founded by a small group of makers meeting in a garage. The vision: create a shared space where people could access tools and learn from each other.
We moved into our first dedicated location—a small industrial unit in Goleta. Membership grew as word spread about our laser cutter and electronics lab.
Officially became a registered non-profit organization, allowing us to accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants to expand our equipment.
Moved to our current 4,000 sq ft facility at 302 Pine Ave. Added dedicated areas for woodworking, metalworking, and a scanning electron microscope.
Surpassed 50 active members and launched regular workshop series. Upgraded our 3D printing fleet and added new CNC capabilities.
We continue to grow, add new equipment, and welcome makers of all skill levels. Join us and be part of what comes next.
The principles that guide everything we do.
We believe tools should be accessible to everyone. Our space is open to all skill levels, backgrounds, and disciplines.
The best ideas come from working together. We encourage members to share knowledge, help each other, and collaborate on projects.
Every project is an opportunity to learn. We embrace experimentation, welcome mistakes, and celebrate growth.
We maintain strict safety protocols and require training for dangerous equipment. A safe space is a productive space.
Respect for people, equipment, and the space. We clean up after ourselves and leave things better than we found them.
We're more than just a workshop—we're a community. Members support each other both inside and outside the space.
We're proud supporters of the open-source community. Many of our projects, documentation, and tools are shared freely on GitHub for others to use and improve.
From custom jigs for our equipment to software tools for our members, we believe in giving back to the maker community that has given us so much.
View on GitHub// sbhx-welcome.jsconstmaker= {name:'you',skills:[],projects:[] };functionjoinSBHX(maker) { maker.skills.push('everything'); maker.projects.push('amazing things');returnmaker; }// Ready to start?joinSBHX(maker);
Join our community of makers, hackers, and creators. Your next project starts here.
