DFLC-USFLN

Fab Lab Development

Discussion Guide

TopicsFab Lab Development

Sponsor Profiles
United States Fab Lab Network (USFLN)
Digital Fabrication Learning Community (DFLC)
Fab Lab (Lifecycle)Development Methodology
Highlights
Lifecycle
Planning by Phase
Lessons Learned
Mentoring Sessions

USFLN Mission & Vision

The United States Fab Lab Network (USFLN) promotes responsible
collaboration in digital fabrication. It evolved in November 2009 from the
regional Midwest Fab Lab Network (MFLN, formed in December 2006).
The mission of the USFLN, in the spirit of the MIT Fab Charter, is to support
digital and personal fabrication in academics, business, and community
outreach:

In academics, the USFLN encourages Fab Labs to engage students

and teachers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
(STEM) disciplines.

In business, it promotes invention, entrepreneurship, and skills

needed for a 21st-century global economy.

In community outreach, it makes resources available to empower

underserved and non-traditional populations.

The USFLN fosters innovation and creativity that contributes to the

nation's well-being. Membership is open to ANY person and any
organization that follows the MIT Fab Charter.

U.S. Fab Lab Network 5 Year Strategic Plan

Our Core Values:
Experimentation
We believe experimentation is the key to invention and overall economic sustainability for the U.S.
Hands-On Learning
We strongly value and support hands-on learning.
Open Access
People of all ages and backgrounds should have open access to space, equipment, and technology among people of all
ages and backgrounds.
Collaboration
We believe collectively, we can do more than any one can accomplish alone.
Problem Solving
We believe all people can help solve real world problems.
Empowerment
We strive to empower businesses, entrepreneurs, and the general public.
Creativity
We believe that all people have creative talent.
Achievement
We believe Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education can be fun and attainable for all, not just
engineers and scientists.

U.S. Fab Lab Network 5 Year Strategic Plan

5 Year Strategic Priorities
Establish a Robust Clearinghouse of Information to Support Fab Lab Growth &
Development
Develop Educational Support Materials
Strengthen Communication & Interaction Among Fab Labs
Cultivate Collaborative Projects
Increase Visibility at Local, Regional, & National Levels
Research & Document Impact of Fab Labs
Grow Resources & Strengthen Network Administration

DFLC Project Goals & Objectives

The Digital Fabrication Learning

Community (DFLC) NSF ATE
Project (#1104199) will establish a
pilot learning community that
leverages digital and personal
fabrications proven enrichment of
STEM competencies and attitudes
with learners and educators, while
driving advanced technician
development throughout the USA.

To accomplish this goal, the

project will integrate multiple
networks of Community College &
Educational Fab Labs, Digital
Fabrication Experts, STEM
Learning Specialists, and NextGeneration Manufacturing (NSF
ATE) Centers into a USA Digital
Fabrication Learning Community .

DFLC Project Goals & Objectives

The objectives for the project are to:

Establish the infrastructure and

offerings for a pilot Digital
Fabrication Learning Community
that integrates Next Generation
Manufacturing technician
development.

Develop a technology blueprint and

test portal for a Digital Fabrication
Learning Community to share digital
fabrication curriculum and
resources.

Define a Digital Fabrication STEM

Learning Model and evaluate
ongoing impacts of digital and
personal fabrication experiences on
STEM learners in the pilot Digital
Fabrication Learning Community.

FabLabLearning Spiral

DFLC Resources & Offerings

Fab Lab
Lifecycle
Planning &
Development
Specials

Underrepresented
Students
Outreach
Program

Regional
Workshops

Webinars

Interim Portal
& Projects
Repository

Mentoring
Program

DFLC Resources & Offerings

Fab Lab Lifecycle

Planning &
Development

Highlights

Based on proven technology implementation best practices and early fab lab
experiences

Structured and comprehensive approach for successful fab lab planning,

implementation and mentoring throughout fab lab lifecyle

Virtual workshops piloted with several USFLN member organizations to support

their implementation

Formal DFLC Offering available to prospective fab lab organizations

Fab Lab Development Process (Lifecycle)

Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Planning

Commitment

Installation

Training

Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

DFLC Resources & Offerings

Webinars

Past Webinars- Fab Lab Lifecycle Planning:

May 20, 2011:
http://elluminate.mesacc.edu/play_recording.html?recordingId=1
305309479130_1305896449359
Dec 9, 2011:
http://elluminate.mesacc.edu/play_recording.html?recordingId=1
321314118460_1323443909484
The Recording password for both is: networks

DFLC Resources & Offerings

Interim Portal &

Projects Repository

DFLC Resources & Offerings

DFLC Mentoring
Mentoring
Program

Digital Fab Mentoring TeamGurus

Register Mentoring RequestsCandidates
Mentor Matching
Initial Mentoring Session
Ongoing Support
Fab Lab Tours
Boot Camp

DFLC Resources & Offerings

DFLC Resources & Offerings

Fab Lab Lifecycle
Planning &
Development

Interim Portal &

Projects Repository

Specials

Underrepresented
Students Outreach
Program

Mentoring
Program

Regional
Workshops

DFLC-USFLN
Fab Lab Development Methodology
Highlights
Based on proven technology implementation best practices
and early fab lab experiences
Avoids common mistakes with technology implementations
(lets just install the stuff and well figure it out later)
Installation does NOT equal implementation
Must focus on convergence of people, processes and
technology to ensure success
Structured and comprehensive approach for successful fab
lab planning, implementation and mentoring throughout fab
lab lifecyle
Virtual workshops piloted with several USFLN member
organizations to support their implementation
Formal DFLC Offering- Inquiries should be sent to:
info@dflc-us.org

DFLC-USFLN
Fab Lab Development Methodology
Fab Lab Development Process (Lifecycle)
Research
Interest Generation
Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance
Sustainability

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation

Planning Guide for each

Lifecycle Phase:

Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance
Sustainability

Key Questions
Critical Considerations
Resources

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Key Questions & Considerations

What do we know about Fab Labs?

What Fab Labs exist or are prospective?

Justification

Where and how do we discover more?

Planning

Interest
Generation

Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance
Sustainability

What do we know about our (present, future)

needs?
What resources are available?
How do Fab Labs, needs, and resources
intersect?

READ Neils Book

Define THE problem(s) to create the vision
Qualify organization interest in next phase

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation
Justification

Resources Master List

MIT Fab Lab Central
USFLN Website & Portal
DFLC Grant Guides

Planning

DFLC Start-up Kit

Commitment

Others IN-PROCESS
Past Webinars:

Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance

May 20, 2011:

http://elluminate.mesacc.edu/play_recording.html?recordingId=13053
09479130_1305896449359
Dec 9, 2011:
http://elluminate.mesacc.edu/play_recording.html?recordingId=13213
14118460_1323443909484

Sustainability
The Recording password for both is: networks

DFLC Resources- Guides

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation
Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation

Key Questions & Considerations

Identify and confirm Fab Lab Champion
Identify and confirm Fab Lab Executive
Sponsor
Visit established Fab Lab(s) that model your
vision
Understand MIT Fab Lab Model & Charter
Join USFLN
Communicate findings to internal team

Enhancement

Differentiate between having a fabrication

laboratory and a Fab Lab

Maintenance

What is the best way to create interest?

Sustainability

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Key Questions & Considerations

What would be the purpose of our Fab Lab?

Interest
Generation

education/curriculum

entrepreneurship/business

Justification

community outreach

Planning

technology research/application

Commitment

Who are the users?

Age (children, youth, adult, seniors)

Installation

Location (local, regional, national,)

Training

Gender

Implementation

Minorities (racial, ethnic,

Enhancement

Special interests (disabled, economic,

professions

Maintenance

Financials

Sustainability

Creativity

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation

Key Questions & Considerations

Vision & Mission
Goals & Objectives
Curriculum emphasis

Justification
Planning
Commitment

Outreach strategy
Candidates for Fab Lab team?
Staffing- Roles & Responsibilities (Appx. 2.5 FTE)

Installation

Champion-Coordinator

Training

Lead Technician-Lab Manager

Implementation

Interns-Volunteers

Enhancement

Candidates for Executive Sponsors?

Maintenance

Industry Supporters?

Sustainability

High-level Timeline?
Site selection or Platform options & criteria

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation
Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation

Key Questions & Considerations

EXECUTIVE SPONSORSHIP & COMMITMENT
Fab Lab Champion has the authority,
availability and resources to succeed
Who is really committed to this Fab Lab?
Whose backing is critical for its launch and
success?
What additional support is needed?
How can we qualify & formalize internal &
external commitments?

Enhancement

Starter program

Maintenance

Soft launch

Sustainability

Grand Opening with media

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation

Key Questions & Considerations

Order MIT Equipment (If from scratch)
Incremental Equipment?

Justification

Hardware?

Planning

Software?

Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation

Materials & supplies?

Safety?
Final staffing?
Pilot phase?

Enhancement

Learning projects?

Maintenance

Shopbot Realities

Sustainability

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation
Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance
Sustainability

Key Questions & Considerations

People & Equipment Safety
What relevant skills do we already have?
What new skills do we need to develop?
Must rely on Informal Training (Can you
teach yourself?)
Leverage Train the Trainer Strategy
MIT Sponsored Boot Camps?
Training plan & schedule

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation
Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance
Sustainability

Key Questions & Considerations

How will our Fab Lab REALLY be integrated
into our organization?
How will the equipment really be put to use?
How will we ensure that the Fab Lab serves
our purposes?
Grand Opening?
Portfolio of Offerings?
Special Stakeholder Briefings?
Marketing & Media Plan?

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation
Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance
Sustainability

Key Questions & Considerations

Outreach Plan
Scaling & Growth Plan
Who will monitor Fab Lab use to keep it
current?
How will we show that the Fab Lab needs to be
enhanced?
What resources are needed for enhancement?
Where will we find support for enhancement?
MIT Fab Lab Version 2.0

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation
Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance
Sustainability

Key Questions & Considerations

What human, technical, and financial
resources are needed?
Who will monitor and assess conditions?
Ongoing equipment expenses?
Ongoing hardware expenses?
Ongoing software expenses?
Ongoing people expenses?
Ongoing safety considerations

Fab Lab Development Process

Research

Interest
Generation
Justification
Planning
Commitment
Installation
Training
Implementation
Enhancement
Maintenance
Sustainability

Key Questions & Considerations

What level of sustainability is necessary for
the Fab Lab in your environment?
What human, technical, and financial
resources are needed to sustain the Fab Lab?
What is the source(s) of resources to address
needs?
Cost recovery plans?
Revenue & Expense Planning?
Fab Lab Functional enhancements?
ASSUME Turnover in Technical Staff WILL
occur

USFLN
LESSONS
LEARNED

Lorain County Community College

Lessons Learned - Benefits
High tech equipment available to everyone
Fosters creativity and innovation it is contagious!
JIT instead of JIC education
Fosters collaboration, sharing, synergy, and team work within the lab and among
labs
Collaboration with MIT and other Fab Labs around the world cultural and
technical
Availability of MIT and global network created circuits, designs, projects,
processes,
best practices, ideas, files, etc.
Midwest Fab Lab Network (USFLN)
Crosses boundaries of disciplines, age, race, gender, knowledge, talent, skills, etc.
Supports STEM initiatives (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
Allows manufacturing of products for a market of one
Creation of fab-based business models (e.g. Fab Fund)
Supports Entrepreneurship

Lorain County Community College

Lessons Learned - Benefits
Need a critical mass of users
Define the Fab Lab Mission within Institutions Mission
Internal projects for college tread lightly!
Plan for staffing
Materials management seek donations, scrap box
Provide faculty from various disciplines across campus
opportunities to collaborate seek grants
Tool for recruitment: schools bring classes to the lab for handson STEM related activities plan for funding and resources
Plan for integrating experiences and infusion into capstone
classes

Century College Lessons Learned

Implement the MIT Fab Lab Model
Sell the idea to top administration early
Tour a successful Fab Lab
Involve more than the techies- STEM
Involve your Geek students.early on
Secure a large enough space..interest grows quickly
External Advisory Committee/Partnerships
Programmatically Driven Initiatives
Dedicated Laboratory Technician because of interest and growth
Money was never the issue
Join the USFLN

FVTC Fab Lab Perspectives

Lessons Learned

Assume 100% Self-sufficiency with best efforts assistance

Use structured process to investigate and deploy

Executive Sponsorship

Team Buy-In

Fab Labs are NOT a $50K proposition

INSTALLATION DOES NOT EQUAL IMPLEMENTATION

Inquiries about DFLC

Fab Lab Development
Mentoring should be sent to
info@dflc-us.org