USKA at “FabLab Zug” vernissage
Deutsche Version: USKA an Vernissage «FabLab Zug»
Version française: USKA au Vernissage du «FabLab Zoug»
Versione italiana: USKA al vernissage “FabLab Zugo”
the USKA President attended the opening of the “FabLab Zug” on 25 November.
What are “FabLabs”? Quote Wikipedia: A FabLab (fabrication laboratory), sometimes also called MakerSpace, is an open workshop with the aim of giving private individuals and small business owners access to modern manufacturing processes for one-off items. Typical equipment includes 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, presses for deep drawing or milling to be able to process different materials and workpieces (“make almost everything”). The first FabLab was initiated by Neil Gershenfeld at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002 and founded the rapidly growing Maker movement worldwide. (end quote)
There are currently around 25 FabLabs in Switzerland (see fablab.ch). Many radio amateur projects require mechanical work (in addition to the electronics and programming part), for which we often lack the expensive machine shop tools and equipment. So it makes sense to use already existing and accessible infrastructures. In return, many FabLabs are interested in the electronics and ICT know-how of us radio amateurs – a classic win-win situation.
Heinz HB9BPH is a member of the FabLab Zug team. As part of a construction project carried out with the Lucerne section, parts of the “Magnetic Loop Antenna” were manufactured by the project members at FabLab Zug (see downloads). The finished antenna is now part of the exhibition and was explained in detail by Heinz to the guests at the opening – effective public relations for our hobby!
We are striving for partnerships with FabLabs throughout Switzerland to give radio amateurs access to the FabLabs, especially in the context of USKA projects. We are looking for radio amateurs who already have relationships with FabLabs or would like to establish such relationships for radio amateurs. Please get in touch with us!
Willi HB9AMC
Downloads
