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The First question people ALWAYS ask is, "What on earth is a Fab Lab?" Normally this question is also associated with a puzzled look by the one who is asking the question, so lets start there to begin with.
What On Earth is a Fab Lab?
In 2001, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) started the Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA). The CBA is an interdisciplinary initiative exploring the boundary between computer science and physical science, studying how to turn data into things, and things into data. Another way to look at it, is to develop programmable molecular assemblers that will be able to make anything, even other molecular assemblers!
Out of the CBA came Fabrication Laboratories (Fab Labs). The idea of the Fab Lab was meant to be an outreach program providing widespread access to modern means for invention under the guidance of the Fab Foundation. Ultimately this would empower people at a grassroots level, especially in rural areas or areas otherwise void of easily accessible equipment. The ultimate goal is to give the people the means to create and drive local entrepreneurship.
What is the Fab Foundation?
The Fab Foundation is the body meant to facilitate and support the growth of the international Fab Lab network. Their mission is to provide access to the tools, knowledge, and financial means to educate, innovate, and invent using technology and digital fabrication to allow anyone to make (almost) anything, and thereby create opportunities to improve lives and livelihoods around the world.
What Makes Up a Fab Lab?
A Fab Lab is basically a location with off-the-shelf fabrication and electronics tools commonly found in various industrial settings. Items such as 3-D (three dimensional) and 2-D (two dimensional) modeling software and scanners help the individual design the ideas generated. Then machinery such as 3-D printers, laser engravers, CNC routers and plasma cutters, vinyl cutters, CNC mini-mills, and etc. build from the 3-D and 2-D software into prototypes or finished products.
Why Wabeno School District?
The simple fact of the matter is that in order for students to compete in the 21st century, they need to have the skills needed. Many students greatly benefit from hands-on learning through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education. By being able to design something and build it, they are quickly empowered by what they were able to do. They see how they will use things like math, and they embrace it. In a nutshell, school becomes REALLY FUN!
How Does This Effect Education?
Rather than focusing on a fixed syllabus where the students are going through the day-to-day motions, the students are encouraged to work through the engineering process to define a problem, research it, design it, create it, and then improve upon it. Through this cycle, they find challenges and solutions that make their ideas become reality. Through flexible learning, this empowerment gives them the experiences that one will find in real world through success and through failure.
Is it Worth It?
Imagine what life would be like without the modern machines that help us out. From driving your car, cooking your food, to communicating with family and friends, you are using things that someone thought of and created. Now imagine where we as a society could go if we empowered our children to create, especially at young ages, by giving them the opportunities and abilities to make their thoughts come to life. Maybe one of our kids will come up with a revolutionary new idea that will change the world for the better, and greatly increase your well being. Wouldn't that be worth it?
Who Owns My Invention?
Let's say you use the Fab Lab to come up with a brand new invention that you know will change the world. The idea is so grand, that you know you could make lots of money with it. You might wonder who owns the rights to this invention and the wealth behind it? This might seem like a stupid thing to wonder, but if you were to do this while attending a university or working for a particular business, the university or business would own majority rights to the fruits of your labor, even if you did it with your own equipment and on your own time! Pretty ridiculous, right?
Rest assured, that is not how we do things here, as we are not going to take majority ownership of it. Our expectation if you come up with the next great thing, is that we would expect you to "pay it forward" by helping out the School District of Wabeno with a monetary donation when you are successful.
Can A Business Use the Fab Lab?
Commercial activities can be prototyped in the Fab Lab. However, these activities must not conflict with other Fab Lab uses or restrict others' ability to learn and create. In other words, the business needs to grow beyond the lab rather than within the lab.
For instance, if you have the idea for a new gadget and would like to design and make a few prototypes, that is what we are here for. However, if you wish to mass produce those gadgets, you will need to do that outside of the Fab Lab.
In any event, it is entirely up to YOU to do the work. The Fab Lab is not a job shop and a source for free labor and machinery. It is YOUR responsibility to do the work.
Can I Hire The Fab Lab?
The purpose of a Fab Lab is a place for people to use to do personalized creation, a place for people to let their creative juices flow freely. As such, we require that YOU do the work yourself.
If you are interested in having our students do the work, we welcome this. However a cost will be associated with the work so that our students can learn how businesses operate. Based upon the project scope, time and materials will be charged based on the request. While sometimes the project might only take a few minutes to make on one of the machines, it might take several hours or even days to set the project up and develop the programming. Due to this, the entire time will be billed for, not just machine time.
Regardless of that, please understand that we are NOT a job shop. Realize that students only have 45 minutes each day to work on a project, depending on their class schedule, unless they spend extra time at the end of the day to work on a project. So be prepared that it might take weeks (maybe even months) to get your project completed. Our staff members are here to teach the children and community, not do projects. Sorry if this causes inconvenience.
Will the Fab Lab Be Open During the Summer?
Summer hours will only be available for community workshops. These times will be set up ahead of schedule. These workshops are recommended for everyone using the Fab Lab, and some courses require prerequisites to be taken prior to enrolling into those courses. A fee will be associated which will vary based on the workshop. It covers costs of materials for that particular workshop.
Please remember that this is a school, and when school is not in session during the summer months, our custodial crews are working feverishly to revamp things, clean, re-paint, etc. They do a remarkable job during the year, but can only do so much when students are here. The only time to do the big jobs are when students are not here during the summer months. In addition, facility use costs the district money, whether it is electrical usage, equipment wear and tear, faculty availability, etc. So the open hours of the Fab Lab during summer months will be for workshops only.
How Do I Become a Member?
If you live within the School District of Wabeno Area or have children that attend the district, and have the creative knack, then please come on down! Whether you want to make a special cookie cutter, a gift for a family member, mentor children or community members, or design and build the next great thing, just get in contact with us.
You can either contact the High School office at 715-473-2592, or visit our General Information page on this website for more information.
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