Wish you had access to tools like milling machines, 3d scanners, and laser cutters, but don’t have the budget or space to keep them at your home? Well, if you are a resident of Manchester, you might be in luck. The Manchester FABLAB, an open workshop with all of the aforementioned tools and more, will be opening up next week. They aim to provide a free place for people to build noncommercial projects:
The Manchester fablab is a creative workspace in Manchester where you can pretty well make whatever you can think of. When we say anything we do mean pretty much anything. There’s about 35 fablabs (fabrication laboratories) around the world so far and people have made all sorts of things from T-shirts to robots. The fablab is open for use by individuals, community groups, schools and companies.
The Manchester fab lab will be equipped with many different machines including laser cutters, milling machines, 3D scanners, embroidery and sewing machines which are mostly controlled by simple computer programmes, so you don’t have to be an machining or computer expert to use them.
We are going to be open for use at the beginning of 2010. As always there are a hundred things to think of and a few more we haven’t thought of.
Fablabs Basics:
- The fablab is free to use for non-commercial use. (A small charge applies if you are a commercial company)
- We aim to provide free basic materials like wood, plastics and electronic components for non-commercial use (Not gold or diamonds!)
- We have lots of different machines to use and don’t worry we’ll help you learn how to use them
ADVERTISEMENT
