Fab Academy 2026: Where Global Minds and Bold Ideas Converge

There’s something electric about the beginning of a Fab Academy cycle. It’s not just the hum of machines warming up across continents, it’s the quiet anticipation of ideas about to take shape. In 2026, that energy feels even more dynamic, fueled by a growing global network and a new generation of faculty stepping into the spotlight.

This year’s classes didn’t just begin, they unfolded like a story, one that connects students, instructors, and labs from every corner of the world into a single, evolving narrative of creation.

Meet the New Faculty Shaping the Experience

The spotlight these past months shines on the faculty who are not just teaching, but actively redefining how digital fabrication is learned.

Danielle Ingrassia, a leader in open-source hardware, brings real-world innovation into the lab. His work on replicable machines and laser systems grounds the class in practical, scalable fabrication.

Debabrata Goswami (Debu) dives deep into the science of laser technologies, from ultra-fast lasers to precision machining, bridging theory with industrial application.

WEEK 3: Laser & Blade: The Art of Precision Making

WEEK 4: Tiny Chips, Big Ideas

Adrian Bowyer, presence during 3D printing week connected student experiments to a much larger legacy, one where additive manufacturing is not just a tool for prototypes, but a gateway to self-replicating systems, local production, and radically accessible innovation.

WEEK 5: Digital to Physical: Additive Manufacturing

WEEK 6: The Brain Behind the Build

Tony Schmitz dives deep into CNC mechanics, toolpaths, and machining physics

Tom Bodett brings a woodworker’s intuition, showing how material behavior matters just as much as code.

WEEK 7: CNC Mastery: Making at Scale

Learning Through Doing: A Week-by-Week Journey

Each class builds like a chapter, layering skills, tools, and confidence.

From Code to Creation: Students begin with the fundamentals: version control with Git and GitLab, building personal websites and documenting every step of their journey. But quickly, the focus shifts from digital to physical.

Designing with Purpose: In early design sessions, students explore parametric modeling, CAD tools like FreeCAD, Fusion 360, and OnShape, plus the importance of choosing the right tool for the job and then comes the real test: making something tangible.

Parametric Thinking: They don’t just learn how to use machines, they learn how to think like designers: how kerf affects fit, why parametric design matters and how to prototype efficiently using materials like cardboard. Assignments challenge them to create press-fit construction kits, balancing precision with creativity.

A Global Stage for Student Innovation

What makes Fab Academy special isn’t just the curriculum, it’s the constant sharing. Every week becomes a stage where students present, share, iterate, and improve. A couple of highlights final project visions:

• William from Germany (opens new window): A smart lock system, tracking room usage and energy efficiency

• Jeff from USA (opens new window): Geodesic Dome, Immersive structure with LEDs and sound

• Rafael from Mexico (opens new window): Wearable Health Device, Monitors movement for muscular dystrophy

• Arati from India (opens new window): Milk Dispensing Machine, Solves real-world rural challenges

• Youssef from Portugal and Japan (opens new window): Neural Visualization System, Merges biology with electronics

Each project starts rough, often overly ambitious, but that’s part of the process. As Neil often emphasizes: Start simple. Add complexity later.

More Than a Class

Fab Academy is not just about learning to use machines or write code. It’s about:

Thinking critically, Building responsibly, Collaborating globally, And turning ideas into impact

With new faculty guiding the way and students pushing boundaries every week, this year’s journey is already shaping into something remarkable. And if the first classes are any indication, this is only the beginning.