Jeremy Ratliff
Editor
Just 10 months since its completion, the MAPS Fab Lab is already expanding..
“Our local small business community called and we answered,” explains Fab Lab Director Josh Zalewski of the recent endeavor.
“Through discussions with our Fab LaB advisory committee and touring local manufacturing facilities, we discovered one important element missing from our lab was instruction and hands-on exposure to CNC metal manufacturing. Receiving that information was fantastic!,” Zalewski adds.
“We rely on feedback such as this to guide us in everything we do at the fab lab and preparing our students. So we went to work planning on how we can follow-up with an answer to what our employers are looking for.”
The answer was the expansion project, which will add another 12×24 square foot space for creative thinking and application, just as the current 40’x40’ lab has been providing since it opened last January.
The addition will also feature new equipment, including a CNC lathe-used for cutting cylindrical metal parts- a CNC Mill w/5 tool changer and a CNC plasma cutter-both used for precision cutting.
“Our new metal working area and related equipment ultimately expands our subtractive manufacturing capability from soft materials such as wood and plastic, to metals.” Zalewski said.
The current lab will also soon be receiving additions as well, in the form of two more 3D printers-totaling 6 for student use in the lab- as well as another laser cutter.
“To keep abrest on the happenings in our Fab Lab be sure to like us on Facebook,” Zalewski adds. “Or check us out on the MAPS district homepage under the community tab.”