[hackerspaces] Differences between hackerspaces and fablabs

[Daniel Harmsworth]

As someone who has been involved in the founding of both a hackerspace and
a fablab (Artifactory and FabLab WA respectively), there is a major
difference between the two and it does basically come down to a hackerspace
being bottom up (We started with a space, 8 people and a single soldering
iron) and a FabLab being based on having a minimum entry requirement of
tools (Roughly $100k worth).

The FabLab concept revolves around the idea of having a minimum capability
in terms of tools and sharing resources (particularly learning resources)
based on that common baseline, the 'brand' is quasi-administered by the Fab
Foundation that basically asks for a lab to be vouched for and confirmed as
something real before being added to the 'official' list (fablabs.io).
There is no trademark in most places (I think someone trademarked it in
Europe for some obscure legal reason) but it's never been policed and I
suspect likely never will.

I got involved in setting one up because I was involved heavily in the
hackerspaces world (I am that weird bearded Australian that keeps appearing
in various European hackerspaces around C3 time) and actually encountered
some people involved with institutional FabLabs at the 29c3, I worked in
engineering education and figured that bringing a bit of hackerspace-esque
hands on awesomeness to engineering education would be awesome and so I
yelled and screamed until I was begrudgingly given some money and have set
up the FabLab which is now at about 18 months old (Nearly 5 years for the
hackerspace).

The FabLab has staff, a budget and a specific purpose (education) in mind,
the hackerspace has volunteers, just enough $$ to pay rent and whatever the
frack we want to do. The FabLab has the ability to maintain and purchase
large, expensive and complex tools that most hackerspaces would find
difficult to buy or maintain, I personally have found the two to be
complimentary at least in this far flung corner of the globe.

Happy Hacking All and see you at FAB10, HOPE X or 31c3 :D


On 13 May 2014 15:17, hadez <hadez.hso at nrrd.de> wrote:

> to screw a bit with the futile endeavor to find clear-cut terms for
> fuzzy concepts, take this: at shackspace (a hackerspace) the room with
> the lasercutter and 3d printers is called fablab.
> name your child whatever you want, just don't embarrass yourself (or
> the child, see: chantalism).
> if i lost you with that last bit, come over to shackspace or any other
> german hackermakerspacefablabtechshop and people will explain ;)
> --
> hadez
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>



-- 
Daniel Harmsworth
Deputy Chairmonkey, The Perth Artifactory Inc.
http://www.artifactory.org.au
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