How Fablabs Revolutionize Personal Manufacturing
Based on “How to make (almost) everything” by Neil Gershenfeld (MIT).
I came across the article “How to make (almost) everything” via waag.org, written by MIT professor Neil Gershenfeld. Gershenfeld is the originator of the Fablab concept.
From Personal Computing to Personal Manufacturing
Gershenfeld draws a parallel with the computer industry. First, there were large, expensive mainframes for organizations. The rise of the personal computer brought computing power to individuals. A similar shift is now occurring with manufacturing.
New technologies enable additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing. Here, material is added layer by layer, rather than subtracted as in milling. These machines have become more affordable. Fablabs, global networks of makerspaces, make them accessible as a shared platform.
From Mass Production to Production for One
This changes a fundamental principle. Previously, mass production was necessary to keep costs low. Now, production for a market of one is possible. Individuals can make products they would otherwise buy, customize them to their own needs, or have them produced locally. This shift from consumer to maker is something I’ve also explored in my hands-on project to repair a classic Sony Walkman.”
Community, Open Source, and Challenges
Gershenfeld also discusses the next phase: digital assemblers at the nano-scale. Furthermore, he points to potential dangers, such as the fabrication of weapons and issues with intellectual property.
His approach to the latter is open source. In Fablabs, as in software, open source has become the norm. Communities, supported by digital communication, can thus respond to local demand. Gershenfeld emphasizes the innovation potential: communities that question existing assumptions drive innovation.
Conclusion
The development of Fablabs turns an existing logic on its head. It makes advanced manufacturing accessible and enables communities to innovate locally. The question of how to deal with the risks of the technology remains complex, as with much technological progress.
The article (paywalled).
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2012-09-27/how-make-almost-anything
The article (non-paywalled)