Pre Fab Kerala

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Introduction to Pre-fab Academy

 

What is a fablab?

A fablab is a small workspace or a workshop where one can engage in personal fabrication. Fab labs provide widespread access to modern means for invention. Working by its motto the Fablab lets anyone: “how to make almost anything”. The same way a public library or a town library imparts access to knowledge, the space and environment to foster freethinking, free thought and free flow of ideas, the fablab gives the power of innovation and technology onto the hands of a user/enthusiast.

The fablab is equipped with mainly the following:

·         3D Printing facility: typically a 3D printer of plastic or plaster parts

·         3-axis CNC machines: 3 or more axes, computer-controlled subtractive milling or turning machines

·         CNC Milling machines: Printed circuit board milling or etching: two-dimensional, high precision milling to create circuit traces in pre-clad copper boards

·         Electronics Lab & Stations: Microprocessor and digital electronics design, assembly, and test stations

·         Cutters: for sheet material: laser cutter, plasma cutter, water jet cutter, knife cutter

 

Fab Foundation

This fablab, as part of a larger, global fab community has been set up under the initiative of the Fab Foundation.  According to the website, they began as an outreach project from MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA). CBA assembled millions of dollars in machines for research in digital fabrication, ultimately aiming at developing programmable molecular assemblers that will be able to make almost anything. Fab labs fall between these extremes, comprising roughly fifty thousand dollars in equipment and materials that can be used today to do what will be possible with tomorrow's personal fabricators.

 

Fablabs Kerala

The Fablab Kerala came into being as a result of the Government of Kerala’s decision to collaborate with the Centre for Bits & Atoms (CBA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and foster innovation and the maker culture in Kerala. There are two such labs set up in Kerala, one in Thiruvananthapuram and the other at Kochi. Our Pre Fab academy course was taking place in the Fablab located at the Technopark Campus, Thiruvananthapuram. This is the first instance of a State promoted state of the art Fablab being setup in India.

 

 

 

 

Fab academy & Pre Fab Academy

 

Fab Academy Programme : This is a 6-month long full semester’s course back at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Pre-Fab Academy Programme : This is the first time where MIT is conducting a shorter version Fab Academy course, like a pre-cursor or a condensed one. As part of the programme MIT had assigned two Fab Gurus to the programme in Kerala, one is Francisco Sanchez and the other Louisiano who spent most of their time at Thiruvananthapuram & Kochi respectively.