Jack O'Brien's Course Summary Post

Throughout my time in the FabLab this semester I was able to learn how to use the laser cutter, vinyl cutter, 3D printer, and many others. The thing that I was really good at doing was definitely working the laser cutter. I used to think that the prototyping method was stupid but now I realize it is a key use when getting the correct measurements that you actually need and what things you could change. I also used to think that when I first used the 3D printer that it was difficult to use but after using it once, it became easy to use and follow the directions. The things I would definitely change in the FabLab is student project storage. It was difficult to find your stuff when it was class time because it would get moved from another class. A thing I would also change is the process for the interns because it almost was a free study hall for that intern because they usually just sat around the whole time and did nothing. I would also change the class size for each class because my class was very overcrowded. I would also offer a full year course just because in this semester I felt really behind because we had three class periods get taken away from us because of snow days. I definitely enjoyed meeting new people, being with friends and also learning the steps on how to go about creating something but also learning about the machines. I definitely felt challenged with the vinyl cutter because I really did not like using that machine but also I felt challenged those last two weeks with the class because some of the classes Mr. D was not there or he had students with him all the time. I felt like it was also a disadvantage for some people actually doing the project and not being able to use the 3D machine because other students were making stuff that were not even projects in the course. I felt proud when I was able to create the final product of my design but also when I was able to buckle down and get through my clock but also through the steps of prototyping my table for the final project. I feel that this class was definitely a great class to select when I went through the scheduling process.