Digital Fabrication Mkfablab

Leo Migdal

-Nov 20, 2025, 2:17 PM

A fab lab (fabrication laboratory) is a small-scale workshop offering (personal) digital fabrication. A fab lab is typically equipped with an array of flexible computer-controlled tools that cover several different length scales and various materials, with the aim to make "almost anything". This includes technology-enabled products generally perceived as limited to mass production. While fab labs have yet to compete with mass production and its associated economies of scale in fabricating widely distributed products, they have already shown the potential to empower individuals to create smart devices... These devices can be tailored to local or personal needs in ways that are not practical or economical using mass production. The fab lab movement is closely aligned with the DIY movement, open-source hardware, maker culture, and the free and open-source movement, and shares philosophy as well as technology with them.

Digital modeling and fabrication is a design and production process that combines 3D modeling or computing-aided design (CAD) with additive and subtractive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing is also known as 3D printing, while subtractive manufacturing may also be referred to as machining, and many other technologies can be exploited to physically produce the designed objects. The maker movement is a trend in which individuals or groups of individuals create and market products that are recreated and assembled using unused, discarded or broken electronic, plastic, silicon or virtually any raw... The maker movement has led to the creation of a number of technology products and solutions by typical individuals working without supportive infrastructure. This is facilitated by the increasing amount of information available to individuals and the decreasing cost of electronic components. Software which interprets 2D vector drawings or 3D models and converts this information to a G-code, which represents specific CNC functions in alphanumeric format which the CNC mill can interpret.

The G-codes drive a machine tool, a powered mechanical device typically used to fabricate components. CNC machines are classified according to the number of axes that they possess, with 3, 4 and 5 axis machines all being common, and industrial robots being described with having as many as 9... CNC machines are specifically successful in milling materials such as plywood, plastics, foam board, and metal at a fast speed. CNC machine beds are typically large enough to allow 4' × 8' (123 cm x 246 cm) sheets of material, including foam several inches thick, to be cut. The laser cutter is a machine that uses a laser to cut materials such as chip board, matte board, felt, wood, and acrylic up to 3/8 inch (1 cm) thickness. The laser cutter is often bundled with a driver software which interprets vector drawings produced by any number of CAD software platforms.

The laser cutter is able to modulate the speed of the laser head, as well as the intensity and resolution of the laser beam, and as such is able in both to cut and... Objects cut out of materials can be used in the fabrication of physical models, which will only require the assembly of the flat parts. 3D printers use a variety of methods and technology to assemble physical versions of digital objects. Typically desktop 3D printers can make small plastic 3D objects. They use a roll of thin plastic filament, melting the plastic and then depositing it precisely to cool and harden. They normally build 3D objects from bottom to top in a series of many very thin plastic horizontal layers.

This process often happens over the course of a several hours. A vinyl cutter is a type of computer-controlled machine. Small vinyl cutters look like a desktop printer. Like a printer controls a nozzle, the computer controls the movement of a sharp blade over the surface of the material. This blade is used to cut out shapes and letters from sheets of thin self-adhesive plastic (vinyl). The vinyl can then be stuck to a variety of surfaces depending on the adhesive and type of material.

Digital Fabrication is a NEW minor offered by Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering to students from all 4 undergraduate schools. The minor was designed for both students in traditional engineering disciplines as well as those who study business, social sciences, public policy, and even musical arts. The Digital Fabrication curriculum teaches students how computer-controlled manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing) is revolutionizing product creation at home and abroad. Most importantly, this minor will allow students to design and realize their product ideas through the different equipment in the Digital Fabrication Lab. If you want to learn how to make or how Digital Fabrication is enabling the 4th industrial revolution then consider completing the requirements for this minor. Students who earn a Digital Fabrication Minor will possess the following skills:

The multidisciplinary Digital Fabrication minor is open to students in all the undergraduate schools at Vanderbilt. The required programming, Rapid Prototyping, and Additive and Polymer-based Manufacturing courses comprise the intellectual foundation of the program, while students are encouraged to tailor the elective course requirements to fit their major program of... Digital Fabrication faculty routinely advise students on which elective courses will best advance their career goals. In addition to hands-on instruction, the Digital Fabrication lab provides opportunities for students to work on undergraduate research, personal projects, or capstone senior design projects. Thus, the collaborative environment in the digital makerspace provides diverse opportunities for project-based learning that employers value. The faculty also work with student-led groups, such as the Maker Club and the Vanderbilt Innovation and Entrepreneurship Society, on Maker Nights and other outreach activities to promote participation and increase the visibility of...

The minor is new for the 2022-23 Academic Year, and elective courses that complement the foundational requirements are being added at the request of students and faculty. We are accepting most classes that meet one or several of the following criteria: Prior to co-founding Bridgewater Studio, Patrick developed a wealth of expertise in the theatre, television and film spaces. When he's not managing complex design and fabrication projects in the studio, he can usually be found in the kitchen, pursuing his passion for all things culinary. How much time, money and material could you save by fully exploring and testing a design concept BEFORE it was built? What if final specifications for an approved design could be delivered digitally to the fabrication tools that will produce it?

And, what if every detail in the final result was exactly the same as the approved concept? Digital fabrication makes it all happen seamlessly. Digital fabrication isn’t new. However, new digital fabrication capabilities continue to expand the scope of modern design and manufacturing. In this article, we’ll explore how digital fabrication works and how numerous industries are leveraging this technology-first workflow to push the boundaries of what is possible. Digital modeling and computer-aided design (CAD) have been used by manufacturers, artists, architects and other design professionals for decades.

Like most technology, however, the capabilities (and speed) of these tools has improved significantly in recent years. Digital fabrication is a workflow where digital data directly drives the manufacturing of parts. Nearly all the equipment in the makerspace uses microcontrollers to move the machine tool in 3D space to make cuts or extrude a thermoplastic. Unlike manual instruments, users do not need muscle memory to create perfect parts. The only barrier to entry to the makerspace is the 3D modeling requirement. Data from the 3D model is the input to the digital fabrication tools.

Mastery of computer aided design (CAD) unlocks all the machines below. Large 300 mm x 300 mm build plate. Fast: 3x print speed. Dual independent extruders for crisp multi-material or color prints. High-resolution (~20 μm) light-based 3D printing. Digital fabrication is a computer-controlled design and manufacturing process where the digital data, in the form of a CAD file, defines the instruction to the fabrication equipment to produce the output.

The CAD data usually becomes the axis coordinates that move the equipment arm. The process can be either subtractive or additive or even robotic automation. Regardless of the type, it allows architects, designers and engineers to create and test prototypes as well as mass production. Though it is not a new technology, it is still being explored and developed for a more controlled and efficient production process. Digital fabrication has long been used in manufacturing industries but now architects and many other professionals are embracing this brilliant technology. While it is unclear when the term first appeared, we know that MIT created the first computer-controlled milling machine in 1952.

Fast forward a few years to 1986, Charles Hull co-founded 3D Systems and commercialized his 3D printing technology, or stereolithography, along with the STL file format that translated CAD data for 3D printing. And it became the first commercial rapid prototyping fabrication technology. Since then, the digital fabrication technology has evolved into a variety of additive and subtractive manufacturing processes. We will talk about these processes later in this guide. A precise CAD drawing is perhaps the most important part about the fabrication process as it is the input data to the equipment. For a simple laser cutting process, a simple 2D drawing may suffice but for other subtractive, and additive, manufacturing processes, 3D components are necessary.

In this case, they will be translated into points and edges that are easy to read by the machine. The CAD file is then converted into a CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) file which will guide the equipment nozzle according to the geometry defined in the file. In some equipment, we can adjust the speed of the nozzle or the robotic arm and the feed rate of the material. For example, in a laser cutting tool, we can adjust the distance between the tip of the nozzle and the surface of the material as well as intensity of the laser to achieve the... After all, cutting is not the only action possible in this process. Once you have the CAD file ready, the next step is to determine the best fabrication technology to use.

Even in 3D printing, there are a number of different methods to shape an object, all dependent on the 3D model, material used and the desired accuracy of the final output. College of Architecture and Construction Management Bldg: 640, Rm 315Email: cacm.digifablab@kennesaw.edu Summer: Mon – Fri; 9am – 6pm (summer enrolled only) The KSU College of Architecture and Construction Management (CACM) Digital Fabrication Lab is located on the Marietta campus on the 3rd floor of the Architecture (640) building. The lab houses professional grade digital manufacturing equipment for small-to-medium scale model and prototype creation, utilizing numerous materials ranging from papers to plastics to composites; All active students and faculty have access to the...

The lab is fully staffed by professional technicians during operational hours and includes the following equipment: Digital fabrication is a design and manufacturing workflow where digital data directly drives manufacturing equipment to form various part geometries. This data most often comes from CAD (computer-aided design), which is then transferred to CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) software. The output of CAM software is data that directs a specific additive and subtractive manufacturing tool, such as an industrial 3D printer or CNC milling machine. A wide variety of digital fabrication tools exist, from hobbyist-level machines to large-scale, specialized industrial equipment used in manufacturing. This guide focuses on the most common tools suitable for professional workspaces, machine shops, and workshops.

Accessible digital fabrication tools bridge the gap between design and manufacturing. As barriers to professional-level tech lowers, it’s easier for anyone with the skills to design a product to also fabricate it, empowering engineers, product designers, and businesses of all sizes to produce anything from... In this definitive guide, learn the ins and outs of digital fabrication from workflows to digital fabrication tools and practical tips for getting started. In this webinar, learn how parts created from various printing technologies differ across functionality and appearance, and how these differences impact product development and production workflows for engineers and manufacturers. Digital fabrication is a revolutionary process that allows for the creation of physical objects directly from digital designs. It combines computer-aided design (CAD) with various manufacturing technologies to automate the production process.

Digital Fabrication Mkfablab

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