A fab lab (short for fabrication laboratory) is a place where innovative ideas can be shared and created. It was created to provide access to state-of-the-art machinery such as 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC milling machines, which allow you to design prototypes.
A fab lab is also an open community where makers, students, professionals and the simply curious collaborate learn and share their knowledge. Indeed, fab labs aim to foster the ‘do it yourself‘ (DIY) movement to innovate from local resources.
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What is a fab lab?
The first fab lab, created in 2003 by Neil Gershenfeld, chief of the Center for Bits and Atoms at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, was an attempt to make digital fabrication accessible to the general public.
Today, the goals of a fab lab, shared by the Fab Foundation (the organisation that promotes the fab lab network worldwide), are:
- create community;
- educate;
- encourage prototyping.
How does a fab lab work?
Generally, fab labs are large open spaces. Users here can:
- register as a member of the company;
- participate in workshops to learn how to use the tools present;
- collaborate on projects.
The fab labs also provide courses in design, electronics and programming.
What tools can I find in a fab lab?
Fab lab offer a variety of machines, such as:
- 3D printers: indispensable for making complex plastic or resin objects;
- laser cutters: useful for engraving materials such as wood, acrylic or metal;
- CNC milling machines: CNC machines for machining harder materials, such as solid wood;
- vinyl cutting machinery: perfect for graphic designs;
- electronic instruments: soldering irons or oscilloscopes for prototyping.
Moreover, within the fab labs it is possible to receive support both during the design phase and during the realisation of the artefact.
Who can access a fab lab?
The philosophy behind the fab labs is based on open access and collaboration. The labs are designed for everyone, from beginners to experts. They can therefore access the fab labs:
- students and researchers;
- craftsmen and makers;
- start-ups and entrepreneurs;
- local communities.
Each actor is committed to community projects, also involving schools, NGOs such as JO Education and local authorities.
What benefits does a fab lab provide?
1. Accessibility to manufacturing technologies
The high cost of digital fabrication technologies is often an obstacle; however, fab labs manage to circumvent this by making machines accessible that would otherwise require significant investment.
2. Networking
Fab labs foster brainstorming and relationships between people from different social backgrounds, fostering the cross fertilisation of skills.
3. Training
For all those who wish to enter the world of work, fab labs represent a great opportunity. In them, it is possible to acquire practical and theoretical knowledge on the use of tools.
4. Sustainability
Fab labs promote environmental sustainability by encouraging practices such as repairing and reusing materials. Fab labs strive for a green economy.
Where can I find the fab lab nearest to me?
The network of fab labs is constantly expanding (there are more than 500). To find your nearest fab lab, you can consult the Fab Foundation website, which includes them all.
Once you find the right fab lab, you can participate in introductory courses, guided tours or even workshops to explore the potential of digital fabrication labs.
JO Education Innovation Hub Catania promotes fab labs
A fab lab is much more than just a laboratory: it can give rise to fantastic projects, ranging from research and development (R&D) to low-cost prototyping; from craftsmanship to social innovation; from robotics to educational gamification.
Fab labs are revolutionising the world of prototyping. If you have a project to propose to a fab lab, contact us. We will be happy to evaluate it and help you realise it.