On Small Fab Labs

On Small Fablabs was the presentation of Bart Bakker at the Fablab1.5 Conference in Moscow at MISiS, the Nat Univ for Science and Technology.

 
De Facebook community on the Small Fablab Suite is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallfablab/

 
Synopsys:

1. The number of people the want to be a maker/fabber will grow, fueled by the current interest/hype in 3D printing .
Large Fablabs are great, but a bit introvert, because of their institutional character.
And they are often closed in the evenings and the weekend.

2. The Maker movement has a smaller scale.
Do not underestimate them as they foster play and fun.
Makerspaces – and small fablabs – often start as a grassroots initiative and are inclined to be open in the evening/weekends.

3. Expect a growth of small fablabs/makerspaces.
The Small Fablab Suite might be a good guide for their equipment.
If fablabs embrace the maker movement, both will flourish.
Much more people will get on the learning curve of digital design and fabrication.
Interesting could be a hub model: a large fablab with a ring of small labs around it.