A Fab Lab (= Fabrication Laboratory) is a low-cost digital workshop equipped with laser-cutters, routers, 3D scanners, 3D milling machines, and programming tools, where you can "make almost anything." There are over 100 Fab Labs around the world, open to local inventors, small businesses, students, artists and entrepreneurs.
FabLabDevon
is on track to be up and running when the refurbished Exeter Library opens on
22nd May. Devon County
Council has contributed £90k and the space to host the Fab Lab in Exeter
Library. It has £30k funding from RIO
(Real Ideas Organisation SW Bridge Challenge Fund) and has recently bid for a
further £30k from NESTA/Nominet Trust (Digital Makers Fund).
The
electrics are in, the walls are painted, the glass is in and since I took the photo even the carpet
is down. Five University of Exeter final
year Civil Engineering Students are helping with specifying and sourcing
equipment, layout etc. The equipment
will be purchased by the end of this financial year.
Adjacent
to the Fab Lab a Business and Intellectual Property (IP) Centre is being
developed to offer support for anyone wanting to start up/grow their business.
If the
Fab Lab and Business and IP Centre have caught your interest get the inside
view at Library Camp SW 2014. Go to http://libcampsw2014.wikispaces.com/ for information about this year’s Library Camp and the link to the free tickets.
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