How to set up an Academic Lab or Makerspace.

More and more schools, both in secondary and higher education, are recognizing the value in additive manufacturing. 3D printing is rapidly becoming an industry standard and empowers students of all ages to explore STEAM, seek workforce development opportunities, and collaborate with their communities.

If you’re interested in giving students the opportunity to learn from this powerful technology, you may be considering an academic makerspace. There are several important considerations to make as you begin this process, and we’re here to help you make the best possible choices for your school and your students.

Read on for a list of crucial questions you’ll want to consider as you plan your makerspace.

Consider your audience.

It’s important to know who you intend the space to be used for. If it’s primarily students, they may have varying degrees of experience with 3D printing, and you’ll also need to know which departments and classes will be using the space. Will your space be available for educators, community members, or local business partners to use? Will students be allowed to use the space for personal projects? Consider what you expect the demand to be and whether you have the capacity.

Understand your space.

There are many ways to lay out a makerspace, but depending on your vision and audience, you’ll likely need several key components to operate safely and efficiently:

• Computer-aided design space
• Good ventilation Post-processing area
• Adequate storage
• Space for printers

There will be many more details to consider as you develop your lab or makerspace, but Stratasys is here to help educators as they make this exciting step. To learn more about the process of installing an additive manufacturing lab, access this webinar where you’ll hear from two professors at St. Cloud State University. They’ll discuss their advice for, and experience in, creating an academic lab for 3D printing.