Ask Slashdot: How Should I Build a Maker Space For a Liberal Arts College?

XxtraLarGe writes: I work for a small liberal arts college, and have been asked to research makerspaces. I have done a bunch of initial research which tells me a lot about equipment being used, as well as location, etc., but what I'm not finding are what to know before you start, or what it takes to make the effort worthwhile.

I'd be interested in hearing from other educators, staff, students and other maker community members on Slashdot that had makerspaces at their schools or community — can be any level — and what was the experience like? 3D printer, 3D scanner & Laser cutting machines seem to be a given, so I'd like to hear what kinds of think-outside-the-box equipment/materials did you have? We are considering putting it in our library, which seems to be a popular choice with most schools. There's also the possibility of having it somewhere in town that it could be more accessible to members of the community, maybe even as a co-op.

Comments

Makerspace....

[Brett Buck]

It's been called a WORKSHOP or some close equivalent in various languages for something like 2000 years now! Why the heck do we need to make up a stupid name for it?

People, not tools

[inzy]

I've been involved with my local makerspace, Tangle Ball in Auckland NZ, for about five years now. The most important thing we have done has been to focus on the social aspect: we're mostly interested in how members and guests behave and relate to each other. So, obviously no discrimination, abuse or other bad behaviour is allowed. We do not focus on any particular technology or tools or activity, but instead think about how we run the place, who gets to make decisions (anybody can take part in debates, no committee with any real power) and who has access or doesn't. We don't exclude any particular activity, anything is permitted so long as it doesn't monopolise any of the resources, discriminate or exclude others.

That said, there are a wide range of activities, mostly around physically making things:
* Sewing
* Boat building
* Electronics
* Robotics
* Art
* Debate of social issues such as democracy, privacy, capitalism, urban development
* Software development
* Car painting
* Tool tutorials and safety
* A co-housing group
* A cycle repair group - tumekecyclespace.org.nz
* Cooking and baking
* Collectivism

There is a 3D printer, but suggesting a makerspace must have one is an odd and rather arbitrary decision: why would you focus on that one technology, it's terribly limiting? Why not sewing or brass casting or something else?

The question is this: what are you trying to achieve, and why? In our case it was to provide a social space for members, who then provided whatever resources were required. The tools or whatever will follow from there; trying to predict what members and users want will straight away close down what can and can't be done.

Fine tipped permanent markers

[Antique Geekmeister]

I'll offer a list of components I dearly missed when last using a shop.

      0.01" permanent markers, very useful for drawing fine lines to cut or marking places to drill.
      Thread gauge, because people will drop bolts and screws and get confused about which bin they go in.
      Hot knife for cutting plastics, especially if it's hut enough to cut Teflon.
      Velcro ty-wraps, especially those that come in the cheap big pre-perforated rolls.
      Furniture clamps, for gluing bulky items.
      Ziploc bags for keeping components together when people leave the workshop.
      Voltmeter, one that can safely measure 120 Volt, and fuses for it when unskilled people misuse it.
      Good pair of diagonal wire cutters.
      Dremel tool.
      Bins to put different projects in, rather than leaving them out on the bench.