FabLab

A FabLab (English fabrication laboratory - fabrication laboratory ) is an open, democratic high- tech workshop with the aim of individuals to make industrial production for individual pieces available. Typical devices are 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, presses for deep drawing or milling to process a large number of different materials and workpieces can ( "make almost everything "). FabLabs allow the easy production of highly individualized individual pieces or is no longer available spare parts ( rapid manufacturing ).

Formation

The first FabLab was started by Neil Gershenfeld at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002 and has since become a rapidly growing global movement. Thematically FabLabs are located in the vicinity of open hardware and bring the digital revolution to a new level, for example by means of self-replicating 3D printer.

Social Aspects

FabLabs provide access to production technologies and production knowledge, even where this is more difficult for the sake of education, age, wealth or region. So FabLabs help in India, Asia or Africa, to solve local problems and improve the quality of life of the people. In industrialized nations provide FabLabs technical know -how, for example, for children and young people outside of the regular school or university system and thus contribute to an increase in educational justice. FabLabs direct their activities to the international " Fab Charter " from. The Charter is the self-image of the Fab Labs, and provides guidance in the areas of "mission", " access ", " education ", " responsibility ", " secrecy" and "business". The Charter important aspects such as open access, responsibility for one's actions towards other people, machines and the environment, open knowledge transfer, intellectual property rights and commercial activities are regulated.

Future

FabLabs make high-tech production technologies for small work groups or individuals available, similar to the personal computer in the 1970s first allowed electronic information processing for these target groups. In view of current rapid prototyping method or the potentials in the field of nanotechnology, it is not improbable that in a few decades production technology will also be available at home. A " Personal Fabricator " on our desk could " print " us through online -related data any product directly.

List of FabLabs

In German-speaking countries there are ( August 2012) the following FabLabs:

  • The first FabLab in Germany was established by the RWTH Aachen in 2009.
  • FabLab Munich, operated by the nonprofit FabLab Munich eV
  • The open workshop of the Open Design City in Berlin Beta House
  • The FabLab Lucerne
  • The FabLab Zurich
  • The " Happylab " in Vienna
  • The thing factory in Cologne
  • The homemade combine in Halle ( Saale)
  • Fab Lab Fabulous St. Pauli Hamburg
  • The FabLab Nuremberg
  • The FabLab Bayreuth
  • FabLab Potsdam
  • FabLab at the Ars Electronica Center ( Museum of the Future ) in Linz
  • Garagelab V. - The FabLab in Dusseldorf ( club being founded; charitable status pending) on the premises of Coworking Space Dusseldorf
  • FabLab in Erlangen at the Friedrich -Alexander- University
  • FabLab Paderborn e.V.
  • FabLab Leipzig ( for some time " temporarily closed")
  • FabLab Thuringia /
  • Fab Lab Berlin " Fab Lab Berlin "
  • HRW FabLab Bottrop
  • L1A Makerspace Darmstadt
  • FabLab Regensburg
  • Vinn: Lab in Wildau ( Dahme- Spreewald)
  • FabLab Allgäu
  • FabLab Karlsruhe
  • FabLab Bremen

Under construction

  • IFLLAB FabLab Bayreuth
  • FabLab Brunswick
  • FabLab Darmstadt
  • FabLab Dresden
  • FabLab Rothenburg
Laser cutting
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