FabLab Workshop Components

Description

• FabLabs’ commons-based components and files: Arduino, RepRap, Raspberry Pi, Jerry

Do-It-Together in Africa

Isabelle Liotard:

"A FabLab workshop is made up of a set of pooled digital machines available to the public in the aim of offering professional material to amateurs (Eychenne, 2012). For example, the workshop will have CAD and CAM software, laser cutting machines (for parts in wood, chipboard, leather, cardboard, etc.), digital milling machines (for sculpting complex objects in thick materials), digital rippers (more powerful than milling machines), 3D printers (for making complex parts from plastic and bioplastic, moulds and models), vinyl cutting machines (for cutting paper, card, vinyl, textiles, copper film for circuit boards) and sometimes even more specific equipment (plasma cutter, electronics workshops, machines to prototype circuit boards, and 3D scanners; Diwo-Allain, 2015). Some spaces are better equipped than others. Some of these machines mean that MIT Charter certification can be obtained. ICI Montreuil is one of the largest spaces in the Paris region (1800 m2) and, for example, is equipped with a great many highly-specialised machines for many different trades. What’s more, since FabLabs are part of a network, other types of commons-based projects can be implemented. Saclay’s Digiscope mainly receives students working on research projects, and functions as a network with other spaces such as Stanford’s FabLab, for example. Our interviews underscore the cooperation between these FabLabs, especially for educational projects and training. For example, EdFab offers training sessions in digital manufacturing jointly with the ICI Montreuil’s FabManagers who are already well ahead in this field. Rennes’ LabFab responded to a call for tender from the Paris Region and the Paris City Council jointly with ICI Montreuil to develop a five-month vocational training course with MOOC." (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6dbzKVh_GtpRnFreEhVajg4bWM/view)