The document introduces ProtoSpace, a FabLab located in Utrecht, Netherlands that provides access to tools and machines for digital fabrication and personal manufacturing. It discusses the history and growth of FabLabs globally and how they empower users' creativity by allowing them to design, prototype, and manufacture objects. The FabLab follows the FabCharter and provides various machines and tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and microcontrollers to enable users to make almost anything.

1. An Introduction to
ProtoSpace,
FabLab Utrecht
17 december 2008

2. Digital Revolutions
communication
computation
fabrication

3. Basis of the revolutions
Treshold
Error reduction

4. Past

5. Present

6. Future

7. Origin of FabLab
• Class “How to make (almost) anything”
Prof. Neil Gershenfeld,
director of CBA

8. Personal fabrication
Examples

9. Book by Gershenfeld

10. First FabLab: Boston

11. FabLabs worldwide
India Norway
fabrication and
instrumentation divide
Costa Rica South Afrika

12. FabLabs Netherlands
Utrecht Amsterdam
Den Haag
Enschede io
Texel io
Tilburg/Eindhoven io
Groningen io
Rotterdam io
Dordrecht io

13. Think global, act local

14. FabCharter
• Mission
• Access
• Education
• Responsibility
• safety
• cleaning up
• operations

15. Machines in a FabLab
Milling machine
Laser cutter
Video conferencing
Vinyl cutter system
Milling machine

16. Microcontrollers

17. Machines creating
machines
DIY 3D printer (RepRap)

18. Share
Ideas
Designs
Knowledge
Train your peers
Just in time education

19. Innovation
Open Closed
RepRap Drymate

20. Bottom-up
Invention
Job creation
Problem solving
Education Education
Empowerment Empowerment Empowerment

21. FabLab
Empowers
your
Creativity

22. FabAcademy
How To Make (Almost) Anything
MAS 863
How To Make (almost) Anything
Mondays 1:00-4:00 E15-135
Application
People
Schedule:
• 9/8: introduction
• 9/15: vinylcutter, lasercutter
• 9/22: no class (MIT student holiday)
section: CAD, CAM
• 9/29: PCB fabrication, board stuffing
• 10/6: microcontroller programming
• 10/13: no class (Columbus Day)
section: PCB design
• 10/20: 3D scanning and printing
• 10/27: input devices
• 11/3: waterjet cutter, NC mill, router
• 11/10: no class (MIT holiday)
section: modeling
• 11/17: output devices
• 11/24: molding
• 12/1: networking and communications
• 12/8: final project preparation
• 12/15: final project presentations

23. ProtoSpace

24. Movie
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Xotvoou1RJs