If you are not familiar with the Fab Lab network you might wonder what this is all about… Here you’ll find more information about the Fab Lab network and the related initiatives.
The Fab Lab
A Fab Lab, or digital fabrication laboratory, is a place to play, to create, to mentor and to invent: a place for learning and innovation. Fab Labs provide access to the environment, the skills, the materials and the advanced technology to allow anyone anywhere to make (almost) anything. more info - Fab Lab.io
The Fab Foundation
The Fab Foundation mission is to provide access to the tools, the knowledge and the financial means to educate, innovate and invent using technology and digital fabrication to allow anyone to make (almost) anything, and thereby create opportunities to improve lives and livelihoods around the world. We facilitate and support the growth of the international fab lab network as well as the development of regional capacity-building organizations. Community organizations, educational institutions and non-profit concerns are our primary beneficiaries.
The Foundation’s programs focus on: education (.edu), organizational capacity building and services (.org), and business opportunity (.com). more info - fabfoundation.org
The Fab Lab where I’m attending Fab Academy is called Crunchlab. It is in San Donà di Piave, near Venice, Italy. more info - crunchlab.org
The Fab Academy
The Fab Academy is a fast-paced, hands-on learning experience where students learn rapid prototyping by planning and executing a new project each week, resulting in a personal portfolio of technical accomplishments. more info - fabacademy.org
The Fab Charter
Just like the Mandalorians, members of the Fab Lab network observe the "sacred" rules of the Fab Charter. Here is our creed:
What is a fab lab?
Fab labs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access to tools for digital fabrication
What's in a fab lab?
Fab labs share an evolving inventory of core capabilities to make (almost) anything, allowing people and projects to be shared
What does the fab lab network provide?
Operational, educational, technical, financial, and logistical assistance beyond what's available
within one lab
Who can use a fab lab?
Fab labs are available as a community resource, offering open access for individuals as well as scheduled access for programs
What are your responsibilities?
safety: not hurting people or machines
operations: assisting with cleaning, maintaining, and improving the lab
knowledge: contributing to documentation and instruction
Who owns fab lab inventions?
Designs and processes developed in fab labs can be protected and sold however an inventor chooses, but should remain available for individuals to use and learn from
How can businesses use a fab lab?
Commercial activities can be prototyped and incubated in a fab lab, but they must not conflict with other uses, they should grow beyond rather than within the lab, and they are expected to benefit the inventors, labs, and networks that contribute to their success