A mini 3-D printer, construction materials, and various craft supplies were only a preview of what will soon be available to students in upcoming weeks through the newly funded college Makerspace.
“It’s a place where anybody can come and create,” said Art Professor Clare Sadnik, coordinator of the campus Makerspace. “It involves an array of different types of equipment and machinery.”
The pop-up Makerspace, that was held last week in the Campus Center, encouraged students to check out the beginning of a multi-hub creative workspace designed to cultivate ideas into objects. It provides a variety of technologies and the appropriate space needed to make anything from simple crafts to extensive projects.
A laser cutter, mill, sewing machine, three MakerBot 3-D printers, woodworking tools, craft supplies, and computers will be installed to complement the new workspaces. Other equipment will also become available as the Makerspace organization assesses the college’s needs.
For Marshall Schweitzer, a 23-year-old Fine Arts major, this is an opportunity to test the 3-D prints he plans to use as molds for future sculptures.
“You’re in normal classes all day and then you have this place to have fun, be creative, do what you’re interested in or find something that interests you,” said Schweitzer.
The 3-D printers used to create Schweitzer’s molds also made Pokémon figurines for James Howell, 20, undecided. Howell used the website thingiverse.com to browse compatible miscellaneous digital designs.
“I just looked on the internet and found a three dimensional model,” said Howell. “It’s really neat to watch something print out a 3-D object when four or five years ago we could only print flat.”
The two small MakerBot printers, located in room AA-132 and the campus center Makerspace, use PLA plastic filament to print objects up to 5 by 6 inches. A large MakerBot that uses harder plastic is available in room COMM-150.
“The bigger it is, the longer it takes,” said Sadnik. “It can take up to over 10 hours depending on its complexity.”
The CCC Maker grant awarded Moorpark College $250,000 for the 2017 to 2018 school year to create and facilitate Makerspace. It is free and open to all students, however, its resources may also become available to the community in the future.
“It’s a part of our work plan with this grant, to open our spaces to the community so that they can come in and use equipment, too,” said Sadnik. “Students are not the only ones who want to make.”
The pop-up Makerspace that was held in CC-114 during September will likely stay into October, Tuesdays through Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Once paperwork is finalized, the Makerspace will move into its permanent locations in COMM-150 and AA-132.
“They have ideas, but they’re not able to realize them because they don’t have access to the equipment,” said Sadnik. “Makerspace allows them to have access to that equipment.”
