Our lab has been up and running for a few weeks now, and given that it’s winter, we had kids and adults cut out paper snowflakes, which were scanned, vectorized, then cut out of wood and plastic. It proved to be a useful demonstration of desktop manufacturing/digital fabrication, and accessible to any age group, or level computer literacy.

In a Daycare center in the South Bronx called Eva’s Kids, Dolge demonstrates how to fold the paper and cut patterns.

Afterwards we scanned the snowflakes (with a blue paper backing for contrast), performed edge detection, and then converted the pixel based image to a scalable vector graphics image. This can be done with proprietary software, like Adobe Illustrator, or the open-source vector graphics program, Inkscape.

Once in vector format, the image can be sent to the laser cutter. The Epilog laser cutter reads any .001 stroke line as a vector, and anything thicker as something to be rastered. Here we do a vector cut out of thin wood.

Children at Eva’s day care center with their laser cut snowflakes.

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The SSBxFab Fellow Program will serve as an interface between people who have engineering and/or design backgrounds (at either an amateur or professional level) with residents of the community who wish to further their knowledge base in these areas.

In exchange for access to the suite of digital fabrication equipment for use on their own personal projects, the Fab Fellow will teach either a class or do one-on-one tutorial sessions with South Bronx residents. We’re particularly looking for those who have a passion for making things, but also enjoy sharing, collaboration, and helping others.

Application can be downloaded here

The FabFellow applicant should respond with a 500 word personal statement, elaborating on why they would like to be a part of the FabFellow program, and addressing the 4 questions listed at the bottom of this page. The applicant should also include a curriculum vitae, detailing relevant design experience. If the applicant has any background with teaching, (as a teacher, TA, a personal tutor, or lab assistant, etc.) that should also be noted.

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After some delay we were finally able to get the Mobile FabLAB from MIT to its temporary home at The Point CDC in the South Bronx. Miquela, her father Stephen (who flew out from Oregon to drive the trailer for us), and myself met up with the fab lab folks at MIT to test out the machines, go over some details about driving the trailer, and then hit the road! Amy Sun passed on to us all the wisdom she obtained while driving the trailer around the country this summer, help us arrive with the lab’s contents all intact. We’re working w/ electricians and people at The Point to get power to the lab within a week.

The Mobile Lab is currently parked at The Point, outside the theater.

As explained in the About section, the Mobile Lab is on loan to Sustainable South Bronx for a year, during which time it will help build the permanent infrastructure. In the present time it’ll be used as the space for fabrication sessions for the community.

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In a few weeks, SSBxFab will begin to offer laser etching services for cell phones, ipods, laptops, and other personal items. We’ll be taking over the clients of New York based Adafuit Industries, who have been flooded with so much demand that they want to direct people to us in order to have more time for their other projects. The proceeds made by SSBxFab for performing the etching services will go towards sustaining the lab and its outreach work in the community. Exact start date, pricing, and other details will be worked out over the next few weeks.

More pictures and some video are posted on Adafruit.

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