Kit wishlist

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A list of things people would like to see in Makespace. We can't guarantee when or if we'll get any of this kit, but if there's something you'd like, let us know here.

To help us prioritise what to get, please create and vote over at http://makespace.uservoice.com/forums/179819-kit-list

If an item below can be fabricated safely using existing kit, then it should be built, not bought!

When thinking about buying kit (or even making it) we need to consider The Real Cost of Equipment

The FabLab kit

Briefly:

Fab Labs share core capabilities, so that people and projects can be shared across them. This currently includes: 1. A computer-controlled lasercutter, for press-fit assembly of 3D structures from 2D parts 2. A larger (4'x8') numerically-controlled milling machine, for making furniture- (and house-) sized parts 3. A vinylcutter, to produce signs, printing masks, flexible circuits, and antennas 4. A precision (micron resolution) milling machine to make three-dimensional moulds and surface-mounted circuit boards 5. Electronics assembly 6. Programming tools for low-cost high-speed embedded processors 7. Sewing and embroidery equipment 8. You can read more about how Fab Labs started by following this link. www.cba.mit.edu. There is also a wealth of know how on Fab Lab equipment and projects.


A la Manchester:

  • Dimension 1200es Series 3D Printer
  • Epilog Mini 24 Laser Cutter
  • Roland Modela MDX-20 Desktop Miller
  • Roland Vinyl Cutter
  • Shopbot CNC Router
  • Janome Memory Craft 200e Embroidery Machine
  • 'Fab Vac' Vac former

Woodwork/metalwork

  • Any decent bench drillpress, with drills, holding vice, etc.
  • A floor standing pillar drill
  • a plasma cutter (to cut steel sheet etc - more than the laser cutter is capable of)
  • Welder
    • Arc welder (a bit yuk)
    • MIG welder (cheap and easy to use)
    • TTG welder (suitable for aluminium)
    • Welder misc: gas (eg BOC) + cage + bolt to wall, wire, tips, gloves, apron, head shields, lightproof/fireproof curtained area to protect other workers
  • expect more ideas from cambridge Science Centre people :)
  • Decent belt/disc sander/linisher
  • Polisher for plastics and others (a grinder with attachments)
  • Measuring tools - digital calipers, micrometers etc
  • Sheet metal folder
  • Pipe bender

Electronics/PCB tools

  • Temperature-controlled soldering station(s)
  • Toaster oven (for reflow soldering)
  • Fume extractor(s) for above
  • Bench power supplies (e.g. a mix of 5V, 12V, variable, and multi-rail PSUs)
  • PCB holders or "helping hands"
  • Side cutters
  • Abrasive pen
  • Heatsink tweezers
  • Multimeter(s)
  • Oscilloscope (digital and/or analog)
  • Logic Analyser
  • Signal generator
  • Wire
  • Selection of basic components (res, caps, v-reg, basic digital logic, basic IC's - 555,358, connectors, cable)
  • Some way to order parts (group order to Farnell/RS/Maplin)

NB. PCB etching baths and etch-resist are probably unnecessary because the milling machines would allow PCBs to be milled instead of etched.

Laser Cutter

The bare minimum for me would be something capable of cutting an A3 sheet, which probably means 600x450mm. A 1200x900mm[1] machine from Laserscript comes in at about £6.5K; a used one went on eBay recently for something like £4.5K. The factory gate price for a similar unit from Shenhui, who are a well-regarded Chinese manufacturer, is $4K -sea-freight would come in at $250, and import duty appears to be 4.5%.

Some options are at Laser cutter

3D printing

Flameworking

If we want to be able to make borosilicate glass components at Makespace, we'll need at least the following:

  • MAPP gas torch
  • MAPP gas for torch
  • Torch holder with metal or ceramic heatproof bench plate for rolling
  • Shears
  • Carbon paddle

Textiles

  • Knitting machine
  • Sewing machine

Acrylic working

For bonding, shaping or finishing acrylic in ways that can't be done by machining:

  • Dichloromethane (or Evo-Stik ExtruFix) for bonding acrylic parts
  • Extractor hood/fan to reduce dichloromethane inhalation risk
  • Strip heater or heat gun
  • Acrylic edge scraper
  • Acrylic scorer
  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • Butane or MAPP gas torch for flame polishing (see #glassworking
  • Gas for torch

Materials work

For development of novel materials or layers, or devices such as solar panels

  • Fume hood or cabinet

Bio work

We have no plans at present to support work with recombinant DNA or other bio work :)

Safety equipment

  • Safety glasses
  • Kevlar gloves for cutting
  • Nitrile gloves for handling chemicals
  • Lab coats to keep chemicals/paint off clothes & skin

AV kit

What about providing Audio Visual equipment for creating audio-visual experiences, interactive or not. This can be combined with workshops in animation, film-making, special effects, synthesisers, computer graphics, etc.

Equipment might include: a projector screen (or white wall), a relatively good quality, high-resolution digital projector, amplifier, speakers (with good subwoofer.) Also software for animation, computer graphics, audio synthesis, video editing. Sensors for interactive experience: camera, motion sensors.

One idea is to teach 3D modelling of a character which can be part of a game/video, and also be printed on the 3D printer.

Software tools

LabVIEW

Gimp - www.gimp.org/

Blender - www.blender.org/download/get-blender/

Open office - download.openoffice.org/

Inkscape - www.inkscape.org

Google Sketch up - sketchup.google.com/ with stl plugin

This plugin seems to work quite well www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchup-skp-files-dxf-or-stl

However this program repairs any incomplete stl files www.netfabb.com/

Or this program http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/

Adobe - www.adobe.com/uk/

Qcad - www.qcad.org/qcad.html

Eagle - www.cadsoftusa.com/freeware.htm

MIT Software - http://fab.cba.mit.edu/content/tools/software/cad_cam/

Materials lists

Laser Cutter materials

Max Size 300mmx600mm

  • Acrylic 3mm - Clear 300mm x 600mm
  • Acrylic 3mm - Various colours 300mm x 600mm
  • Acrylic 6mm - Clear 300mm x 600mm
  • Plywood 3mm Various Sizes
  • MDF 3mm (Laserable) Various Sizes
  • Cardboard 3mm 300mm x 600mm
  • Cardboard 5mm 300mm x 600mm
  • Paper 300mm x 600mm
  • Leather
  • Fabric

Modella Milling Machine materials

Max Size 150x200mm

  • Machineable wax 40mm x 90mm x 150mm
  • Circuit boards 1.6mm x 1000mm x 1200mm
  • Wood (Various) 150x200mm

Shopbot CNC Router materials

Max Size 1200mmx 2400mm x 120mm

  • Plywood 3-25mm thick
  • MDF 3-25mm thick
  • Aluminium
  • Cast Iron
  • Acrylic
  • Brass
  • Steel
  • Foam

Vinyl Cutter materials

  • Copper Tape 3M 1126 150mm x 33m
  • Vinyl roll (canary yellow) 380mm wide
  • Vinyl roll (card red) 380mm wide
  • Vinyl roll (royal blue) 380mm wide
  • Vinyl roll (cactus green) 380mm wide
  • Transfer Tape, Permacel 595B 150mmx 55m
  • WHITE Epoxy film 3M 1 150mm x 90m

3D Printer materials

Currently the raw material costs are quite high. Therefore...

  • ABS plus cartridge (white) 1000 cm3
  • soluble support cartridge 1000 cm3

Additional electronics/PCB materials

  • Flux-cored solder (please some 60/40 as well as that silly ROHS, for working with older gear and for ease of use!)
  • USB microscope with monitor?

Painting materials

  • Brushes
  • Water pots
  • Acrylic paints in white, black, red, yellow, blue
  • Clearcoat spray and/or liquid

Air Tools

Can we use the metal air-lines that are already in place? Compressor/air for plasma and other airtools

  • Cutting/drilling/polishing airtools


Very basic stuff

  • Four-wheeled trolley for moving heavyish stuff
    • A sackbarrow (upright trolley) might also be useful
  • Industrial vacuum cleaner

Useful reference lists

IEEE Spectrum: http://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/hands-on/diy-essentials/0

Full fab lab list: http://fab.cba.mit.edu/about/fab/inv.html

workshop in a container: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsejLtLc70nwdG5DeVJmOVA4OUxpcXl6alFaNzh5Unc&hl=en_US#gid=0

A great outline of prototyping kit and space suggestions from Phil Keenan: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwrlF51mx2ojYTQ5MzA1NGItZDBmNi00YmViLWJjODktYzlkM2M1OTAwNmQ0

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