Tom Okite's trip to India

Tom Okite from ARO Fablab attended a one week workshop in India together with other participants from other Fablabs. Read more about his trip here

After one week or so, lecturers arrived and everything was set for a great beginning. In the meantime, we were familiarizing ourselves with the various application programs and machines that are in the lab. Finally, the lessons began and first and foremost, we were explained for clearly what fablab is all about. We were then issued with the time table for the whole training session.

FABLABS GENERALLY.

So far, there are quite a number of Fablabs distributed across the whole world with African countries Ghana and South African having one and five fablabs respectively. After attending quite a number of lectures, we began to realize that Fablab program has strong connections with the technical outreach activities of a number of partner organizations. Around the emerging possibility of ordinary people to not just learn about science and engineering but actually design machines and make measurements that are relevant to improving their lives. We realized that in order to make exceptional ideas from common people come true is a need for fabrication laboratories all over the world. Product development on site makes creative development interesting and easier.

A Fablab is like a "factory in a box" that makes things automatically from digital data. Fablabs generate three dimensional objects you can hold in your hands, submit for testing or assemble into working mechanisms. Fablabs can be used by local manufacturers around the world for low volume production like furniture, prototyping and even mold mastering. Fablabs can be used by scientists, surgeons for solid imaging and also the local artists for innovative sculpture. Fablabs can be used for training and a place for school children and the younger generation to test their creativity and exposure. Fablab is a pioneering project not only for the local people but also for the rest of the world, it is a paramount support to anyone, anywhere and a big blessing to areas which still lack significant education materials and facilities like many villages in Kenya. Fablabs can also be used as incubators for new ideas and improvement for the old methods and techniques.

Fablab can be grouped according to how the raw material is used, e.g.;

(i) Subtractive:- Material curved away from a solid block like milling.

(ii) Additive:- Material is successively added into place to build up the desired object like curing, sintering and deposition.

(iii) Formative:- Material is neither added nor removed but deformed to make a shape like bending.

(iv) Hybrid:- These are processes from two or more of the above categories.

PEOPLE WHO USE FABLABS TODAY

Fablabs are majorly used by small scale manufactures, professionals like architects, Chemists, Biologists, Surgeons, Local Artists, Students and even consumers when the cost and ease of use become acceptable. Commercial applications of Fablabs are many and according to MIT Fablab chatter, it is acceptable as long as it does not conflict with open access for which they are intended. Designs and processes developed in the lab must remain available for reference.

REMARKS

MIT Fablab training is wonderful and it is truly a remarkable adventure. We have been and still continuing to be a beneficiary of this endeavor not only as students but also as facilitator. May people of Majiwa and its wider community, colleges and schools prepare for the nice things to come to ARO.