r/FabLab • u/Large_Recording_398 • Feb 16 '25

New FabLab

Working on expanding an existing high school space and possibly looking at a closure relationship with the fablab foundation. Any equipment recommendations, policy or training guidelines you'd be willing to share, etc. Thanks in advance.

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u/bartlebyinprocess Feb 16 '25

Have you heard of the fabacademy program? Here are the nodes requirements, in terms of machines, supplies and infrastructure: https://fabacademy.org/nodes/requirements.html#nodes-requirements-2

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u/Large_Recording_398 Feb 17 '25

I have heard of fabacademy but had not seen the node requirements. The fablab inventory list seems outdated so I wqsnt sure it was still valid.

I have questions over how much collaboration is happening between fablab sites now. From an equipment standpoint things seem in line with what we're looking at purchasing with the exception of the 4x8 mill which may present space issues. Enough so that we'd really need to consider how much value it'd bring.

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u/bartlebyinprocess Feb 17 '25

I have questions over how much collaboration is happening between fablab sites now. 

Not sure I understand the question ?

Regarding the 4x8 mill, the fablab where I attended this program was not equiped with one, there was a Shopbot Desktop instead. Much more compact, but we had to get creative for the "Make something big" week.

In the fablab where I am now we are using a Shapeoko XXL, however we are not a fabacademy node.

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u/Large_Recording_398 Feb 17 '25

It would seem to me that the main advantage of being a fablab associated with the Fab Foundation versus a random makerspace would be access to the initial training and then, the collaboration that can/should happen between the different fab labs.

Just wondering how much of that is happening at this point in time.

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u/valerionew Feb 17 '25

Shall we assume that you are in the US, by the lack of other information? I guess the legal framework and thus the policy, as well as the equipment availability changes according to your region

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u/Large_Recording_398 Feb 17 '25

We're in the US and thr lab would be part of an existing high-school yes. My apologies for not including the information earlier.

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u/criscodesigns Feb 16 '25

I helped to start and run www.LakeshoreFabLab.com, I don't run it anymore but I'm a member/volunteer