[ELECTRON] fablabs

[Andrew Back]

On (14:00 05/10/10), Paola Di Maio wrote:
> Thanks Roy
> 
> signed up to the list
> It would be good to have some models of how other fablabs set up
> Do you know where the funding comes from?

Since they tend to involve a lot more costly machinery I get the impression
that they are member funded. The one in Manchester is free to use Fri/Sat
and the rest of the time is for paying customers. The much bigger Bay Area
TechShop has various levels of membership but it's never free AFAIK [1].
Manchester's does seem to have support from various agencies also, as may
the Bay Area one.

I'd imagine that, just like hackspaces, you could operate/fund a fablab
various ways. If you can get funding and/or space etc it could be free like
Electron Club, or you could take an approach similar to London Hackspace and
charge a monthly subscription. Obviously bearing in mind that the tooling:

- is likely to be much more expensive
- could be easier to cause costly damage if careless
- will consume more electricity (some may need 3-phase)

You might need insurance given the risks, e.g. the classic hair/necktie
caught in a lathe or pedestal drill. And would almost certainly need to
organise induction for people. Might need to do COSHH assessments and other
H&S stuff for machine oils, cutting pastes and brazing fluxes etc. 

That said you could probably just have a shed somewhere with a few small
donated machine tools in it. If it's just a few friends... I suppose it
really depends how ambitious and open it will be.

My personal opinion is that every city and medium sized town ought to have
one provided as a public service and operated like a library. But this isn't
likely any time soon!

Cheers,

Andrew

[1] http://www.techshop.ws/Join_Now.html

 
> I am thinking of doing some web based video interviews with other fab lab
> organisers to
> leearn their knowhow and model
> 
> whatdyathink?
> 
> P
> 
> On Sun, Oct 3, 2010 at 8:23 PM, Roy Mohan Shearer <fy81le at googlemail.com>wrote:
> 
> > Hi Paola,
> >
> > Please do join us at
> > http://groups.google.co.uk/group/glasgowfablabs
> > and check out/add to the research pages there. Myself and Bruce are
> > plugging away at things as much as we can but only have limited time
> > so more help/ideas are always appreciated. There is indeed a demand
> > for a fablab here, just need to figure out the wheres, whats and hows.
> >
> > Roy Mohan Shearer
> > (post-)Industrial Designer
> >
> > ____________________________________________________
> > Zero-waste Design,
> > Southside Studios, 17 Westmoreland St., Glasgow, G42 8LL
> > +44 (0)7974896651
> > www.zero-waste.co.uk
> > ___________________________________________________
> > www.tinyurl.com/thesoundishere | www.dbasscollective.co.uk
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 3 October 2010 14:05, Martin McGrath <mcgrath.martin at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Paola,
> > >
> > > See http://www.electronclub.org/doku.php?id=groups:glasgow_fablab
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > >
> > > On 3 October 2010 13:52, Paola Di Maio <paola.dimaio at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Just got back from a trip to Holland where I came  came across FabLab
> > >>  Nederlands
> > >> I am starting some research there
> > >> Somewhat related to electron agends , thought i'd ping this
> > >>
> > >>
> > http://www.iom3.org/news/fabricating-feedom-uks-first-fab-lab-opens-manchester
> > >> Could electron host a fablab instance for Scotland? would be interested
> > to
> > >> help to make it happen
> > >> cheers
> > >> PDM
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-- 
Andrew Back
a at smokebelch.org