Open Source Microfactory STEM Camp

Overview

The Open Source Microfactory STEM Camp is an immersion learning experience for gaining hands on skills in designing and building real things of economic significance.

Goals

The goal is to expeose participants to a wide range of design and prototyping skills. We will use OSE's open source Universal Axis Construction Set as a scalable and modular cartesian robotics motion system - which allows anyone to build a wide range of automation and CNC machines from scratch - easily and inexpensively. By using the Universal Axis - and combining it with various tool heads - one can build 3D printers, CNC mills, printers that print in metal, and any other

How It Works

The first 4 days will in general focus on skills learning, and the following 5 days will focus on projects for applying the skills learned. However, at all times we shift between the classroom and builds in the workshop, so this is a blended experience. About half the time will be in the workshop, and half in the classroom.

We include a build of a 3D printer from scratch in the first 4 days. Participants are welcome to take finished printer home with them (not included in the cost of the workshop). We will have a 3D printers cluster of 8 OSE printers available throughout the workshop for prototyping, and we expect about a dozen more to be built by the participants. The goal is to build and use the tools that we built to further bootstrap our ability to make things throughout the workshop.

Audience

Anyone interested in open source appropriate technology, with a focus on applied machine design and the skill set necessary to fabricated the machines..

Overview Schedule

The Open Source Microfactory STEM Camp is a 9 day immersion education experience with hands on projects. We will teach participants about design, and the hands on skills necessary to build the designs efficiently and effectively. We focus on fully open source tool chains for design and build, where we build the production machines for use within the workshop.

Detailed Schedule

The first 4 days will cover a crash course on design, and participants will