Fabrication Labs

Developing and deploying small-scale advanced fabrication labs.

Key Impact

Multiple generations of configurations and deployments.

Technologies Used

3D PrintingLaser CNCNetwork EngineeringCADCustom Materials

Project Brief

Deployment and continuous refinement of small-scale, high-density advanced fabrication labs leveraging technologies such as 3D printing and CNC machinery. Notable deployments span diverse industries and operational environments.

Challenges

•Defining the scope of service, production, and logistical challenges are the first step in determining layout, tech investments, and human factors.

•Building within 10x10ft cubes have a unique layout challenge for high density operations.

•General SOP standardization, organization, and documentation that can be followed by a team of 1-to-many or 1-to-distributed nodes.

Solution

In my time, I have designed small to medium scale fabrication labs primarily utilizing 3D printing and small footprint CNC machines in a variety of environments such as universities, libraries, my own production businesses, home-labs, and more. Each deployment has iterated over the previous generation of technologies and operation models.

Notable deployments and engagements:

1. 3DPX | Chicago, 2013 - The world's first retail 3D printing production service with a mixture of 20 machines including FDM, SLA, and industrial SLS equipment.

2. Manulith | Detroit, 2015 - My product development business servicing automotive, medical, and aerospace clients with custom built FDM machines.

3. Studio Roboto | New York, 2022 - An opportunity to work with one of the legends of the 3D printing industry, Rob Steiner, to set up a mid-scale art production studio with 12 Bambu Lab machines, a large industrial one cubic meter FDM machine, laser cutting, and an extensive array of post processing studio space.

4. Homelab | Detroit, New York, Chicago - In every city I have lived in, I have built a micro scale fabrication lab fitted with various tech and layouts. The latest iteration inside of a 10x10 home-office includes x4 custom Bambu Lab machines, x2 DLP machines, custom air filtration, robust high-end networking and computing, adequate work surfaces and tooling, in conjunction with the AI homelab and datacenter.

Future Development

For hard to reach places in the world such as disaster and combat zones, I would like to design and deploy multiple demonstrator configurations for various sized shipping containers, trucks, or bunker deployments. An application layer should be implemented to generatively kit out a configurable solution depending on mission parameters and logistics. My unique experience in deploying small labs, training, documentation, and living in one, would uniquely position me to tackle the challenge.

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