You’ve probably seen him at the front desk, operating a scissor lift in the courtyard, or huddled around a 3D printer holding court on print settings. We’re talking about Jeremiah Burian, Maker Labs Manager at Groover Labs–now also our Facilities Manager.
Jeremiah Burian welds together posts for the courtyard at Groover Labs.
Jeremiah joined Groover Labs six months before we opened–back when staff meetings were held in Curt’s workshop because the building was under construction. Since those early days, Jeremiah has played a central role in shaping the Maker Labs. We’re thrilled to announce his promotion and expanded responsibilities.
Congrats, Jeremiah!
We last profiled Jeremiah in 2021. Read about his background as a Certified Master Welder here. Since then, he’s been so much more than that: a technician, builder, consultant, problem solver, prototyping evangelist, instructor, a friend–and yes, still, a welder.
A Brief History
Jeremiah first met Curt and Tracy through MakeICT in 2015, a local volunteer-led makerspace, where all three served on the board of directors. Curt and Jeremiah designed and built the 4x4 CNC plasma table there, still in use today. And that was just the beginning. They went on to build a larger, more advanced table here at Groover Labs.
Over the years, Jeremiah has worked on some of our most complex projects, including the vehicle control unit for Greenfield Robotics, a build that required manufacturing from the CNC Mill, electronics lab, metal lab, 3D printers, and the PCB assembly line.
Speaking of the PCB assembly line–Curt and Jeremiah researched, purchased, and assembled our Neoden pick-and-place machine and reflow oven, which automates the process of placing and soldering surface-mount components onto custom circuit boards. True to form, Jeremiah taught himself how to operate the equipment and then wrote the general operations manual for the line.
He also worked closely with PEEQ Industries, helping to design and iterate internal electronics for one of their healthcare products. That project involved everything from custom PCBs and power supplies to vibration motors and nondestructive testing. He also played a key role in creating the assembly process and workflow now used to manufacture and assemble the devices at Groover Labs
Vehicle Control Units designed and manufactured at Groover Labs.
Most recently, Jeremiah worked closely with Tracy to identify, evaluate, buy, and assemble new equipment for the Maker Labs–work that has expanded our capabilities and positioned Groover Labs as the go-to destination for hardware prototyping in Kansas.
What’s Next
Jeremiah will continue to lead the Maker Labs, overseeing tools, workflows, prototyping, and member support. As Facilities Manager, he’ll also take on responsibilities to ensure the entire Groover Labs space–coworking, labs, classrooms, conference rooms, and more–runs smoothly and efficiently.
We’re proud to recognize Jeremiah for his contributions to Groover Labs, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.
We asked Jeremiah a few questions to learn more about the Maker Labs, its tools, and what keeps him engaged at Groover Labs. Read his answers below.
What’s one tool or piece of equipment in the Maker Labs that you think is overlooked, and why? (Note: your answer can’t be the plasma table, which we know you built!)
This is a tough question, as I believe many pieces of equipment get overlooked during the prototyping process. The table saw, Co2 Laser cutter, and sometimes even 3D printers are often overlooked during the initial process. A prototype could be built with wood, cardboard, or with supplies from a local hardware store. People often want to go straight to the final product. It’s actually much easier to start with a rough design. Get something into your hands that you can feel and work with. Make sure it is going to work/fit as intended. Then move on to making a more refined prototype. You can spend a lot of time making something look good, but that doesn’t end up working.
If someone has an idea for a product but isn’t sure where to start, how should they approach the Maker Labs?
Great question! To get started, we would like people to reach out to us through our contact@grooverlabs.org email. This email goes to the team here at Groover. We ask that you tell us a bit about the project, what you are needing, or what you are wanting to do. We typically set up a quick 15-30 minute meeting to discuss the project and to see if and how we can help.
The pick-and-place machine at Groover Labs automates the process of placing and soldering surface-mount components onto custom circuit boards.
What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on at Groover Labs?
Another tough question! There have been so many challenging projects here, from the Greenfield VCUs to PEEQ healthcare device to cat carriers to the Courtyard canopy–each has its own set of problems to solve.
I would say anything that uses the pick-and-place machine, as stated above. It really took a deep dive and investment of time to learn the machine, understand the workflow, and write a manual on how to use it going forward.
What’s something people don’t realize about building prototypes?
Prototyping is a learning process, and it isn’t the final form. Use your prototype to evaluate your project and learn from it. It typically takes multiple iterations before becoming the final product. Again, you don't always need expensive injection molding machines or specialized equipment to get started. Don’t be afraid to build your prototype out of wood, paper, or any other affordable materials.
What’s something you’ve taught yourself recently, and how did you apply it to the work you’re doing at Groover Labs?
I believe in continual learning, from YouTube, online Forums, or working on projects for members. The one thing I constantly improve on is sharpening my problem-solving skills, and thinking outside the box. I’ve always thought outside the box, but Curt Gridley taught me to look even farther. Sometimes you can use things for unintended purposes. We often take parts of different tools and transform them into something that works for us. (We created a nondestructive leak detector out of a syringe and a hacked blood pressure test device to test the PEEQ healthcare prototype.)
When not at Groover Labs, what do you enjoy doing?
I am a Board member of the Kechi Arts Council (KAC), where our mission is to “Promote and Enhance the Arts in Kechi.”
I enjoy spending time with my wife, Jenn, and my 3-year-old grandson, Karter. (I’m too young to be a Grandpa!)
I am always looking for scrap bolts, gears, and chains to transform into metal art. I hope to get my home workshop set up in the near future. (after I finish building our 300 ft fence).