Difference between revisions of "Virtual designs into physical objects/Fab Labs"

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*{{wp|Laser_cutting|Laser cutters}}, {{wp|Plasma_cutter|plasma cutters}} and {{wp|Water_jet_cutter|water jet cutters}} - to cut sheet materials such as plastic and metal
 
*{{wp|Laser_cutting|Laser cutters}}, {{wp|Plasma_cutter|plasma cutters}} and {{wp|Water_jet_cutter|water jet cutters}} - to cut sheet materials such as plastic and metal
*{{wp|CNC|CNC machines}} - computer controlled mills, lathes etc. ({{film icon}} [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnIvhlKT7SY Amazing video of a 5-axis CNC-mill in action])
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*{{wp|CNC|CNC machines}} - computer controlled mills, lathes etc.<br>({{film icon}} [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnIvhlKT7SY Amazing video of a 5-axis CNC-mill in action])
 
*[[Rapid prototyping machines]] - 3D layered construction
 
*[[Rapid prototyping machines]] - 3D layered construction
 
*{{wp|Printed_circuit_board_milling|Printed circuit board milling machines}}
 
*{{wp|Printed_circuit_board_milling|Printed circuit board milling machines}}

Revision as of 23:49, 10 April 2010

Fablab.jpg

Fab Labs (fabrication laboratories) are small scale workshops with modern computer controlled equipment such as...

...giving the ability within one room to create just about anything from engines to electronic devices. The concept was developed at the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT.

Around 34 fab labs have been set up around the world so far to give ordinary people in deprived areas access to this type of machinery to help people create machines and devices for themselves and their community.

A mobile FabLab:
Fablab trailer in wyoming.jpg

Commercial versions are now starting to spring too, see http://www.techshop.ws.

Links


'RepLab'

RepLab.jpg

RepLab - Open-source, replicable FabLabs. Very nascent but holds great promise as a concept. Conventional FabLabs use expensive commercial equipment - RepLab wants to reduce the cost by an order of magnitude and at the same time significantly increase functionality. On top of that it would follow RepRap principles so that the equipment in a RepLab would be able to create another RepLab. In principle: a multi-process, multi-material RepRap.