Makerspaces, labs where hobbyists build things from scratch, are thought to be the new frontier in the entrepreneurial world, and this resource is the perfect gateway for those who have an idea for a product they want to make as well as bring to market. Readers get a sense of what it takes to take that creation and sell it for a profit. What are the costs? How does one get a product into stores? Where are advertising dollars best spent? These are all questions young entrepreneurs must ask and ones that this volume helps to answer.

Makerspaces are community-based, hands-on workshops in which people of all ages and skill levels come together to learn, work together, and create. Using creativity and collaboration, makerspace science projects are both fun and fulfilling. This guide brings science to life with ten easy-to-follow makerspace activities using sewing machines, laser cutters, 3D printers, electronics, woodworking tools, and metalworking equipment. Makers will develop new people and project skills, build confidence by overcoming challenges, and possibly discover innovative ways to address modern-day issues with science.

This text provides readers with an exploratory lens into the general world of the Fab Lab with an in-depth focus on two specific types of machinery: laser cutters and engravers. These machines give users the unique opportunity to create through the removal of material from its source. Included for readers are hands-on tips and tricks for operating laser cutters and engravers, providing a variety of projects for every experience level, all the while connecting these skills to real-world business models and careers. This title tackles the arts and design element of STEAM more than any other Fab Lab machines do.

Makerspaces, labs where hobbyists build things from scratch, are thought to be the new frontier in the entrepreneurial world, and this resource is the perfect gateway for those who have an idea for a product they want to make as well as bring to market. Readers get a sense of what it takes to take that creation and sell it for a profit. What are the costs? How does one get a product into stores? Where are advertising dollars best spent? These are all questions young entrepreneurs must ask and ones that this volume helps to answer.

If makerspaces allow young people to collaborate on building projects, then Arduino allows them to go to the next level. Arduino is a do-it-yourself kit that includes a microcontroller that makes using electronics more accessible. Basically, this means that even those who are not experts in electronics can do amazing things, such as build and program robots. This book opens young people up to the possibilities of this exciting world by explaining exactly what makerspaces and Arduino are and how virtually anyone can use these tools to build programmable devices, a skill that is essential in any STEM field.

3-D printing allows for the creation of nearly any type of object, from an entire house to a human organ. Now with makerspaces, collaborative engineering workspaces, virtually anyone can utilize these printers to make anything they can dream up. This title shows young people just how. With information on where to find makerspaces in their local community to the latest types of 3-D printers available, this resource grabs the interest of engineering-minded students and sets them on course to excel in STEM classes. This book also includes examples of interesting beginner projects to create and print at a makerspace.

The makerspace movement is as nascent and revolutionary as the technology behind unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and this volume introduces readers to both fascinating worlds. UAVs are no longer science fiction. Though their surveillance capabilities are controversial, they’re also being used for more practical purposes. This volume teaches young people how members of the maker movement are producing their own UAVs for productive purposes. Readers learn just what makerspaces are and where to find one in their own community, hopefully piquing their interest in engineering careers.

3D Robotics co-founder and bestselling author Chris Anderson takes you to the front lines of a new industrial revolution as today’s entrepreneurs, using open source design and 3-D printing, bring manufacturing to the desktop. In an age of custom-fabricated, do-it-yourself product design and creation, the collective potential of a million garage tinkerers and enthusiasts is about to be unleashed, driving a resurgence of American manufacturing. A generation of “Makers” using the Web’s innovation model will help drive the next big wave in the global economy, as the new technologies of digital design and rapid prototyping gives everyone the power to invent--creating “the long tail of things”.

Start-to-finish, fun projects for makers of all types, ages, and skill levels! This easy-to-follow guide features dozens of DIY, low-cost projects that will arm you with the skills necessary to dream up and build your own creations. The Big Book of Makerspace Projects: Inspiring Makers to Experiment, Create, and Learn offers practical tips for beginners and open-ended challenges for advanced makers. Each project features non-technical, step-by-step instructions with photos and illustrations to ensure success and expand your imagination. You will learn recyclables hacks, smartphone tweaks, paper circuits, e-textiles, musical instruments, coding and programming, 3-D printing, and much, much more! Discover how to create: • Brushbot warriors, scribble machines, and balloon hovercrafts • Smartphone illusions, holograms, and projections • Paper circuits, origami, greeting cards, and pop-ups • Dodgeball, mazes, and other interesting Scratch games • Organs, guitars, and percussion instruments • Sewed LED bracelets, art cuffs, and Arduino stuffie • Makey Makey and littleBits gadgets • Programs for plug-and-play and Bluetooth-enabled robots • 3D design and printing projects and enhancements

Spaces that have been designed to allow users to create, build, and learn new projects and technologies, makerspaces employ a variety of tools such as 3-D printers, AutoCAD design software, and even open-source hardware like Arduino Kits. Developing a community around shared use of space and equipment, a tenet of the makerspace movement, fits squarely into libraries’ mission. Bagley examines nine makerspaces in public, academic, and school libraries, describing their design and technical decisions in depth and showing how each is doing something unique and different, under a wide range of budgets and project offerings. Enabling readers to quickly gather information about these trailblazing projects, Bagley’s guide Defines the makerspace, and describes why it fits perfectly into the library’s role as community center Answers common questions about implementing a makerspace project, detailing how libraries are addressing issues such as registration, usage policy, noise, software programs in digital workspaces, adapting spaces, funding, and promotion Illustrates approaches libraries are taking to staffing makerspaces, from Anchorage Public Library’s Maker in Residence and Mesa Public Library's THINKspot coordinator, to the library school students involved with University of Michigan and University of Illinois makerspace projects Covers the demographics of makerspace users, from children and teens to hobbyists and job seekers, offering guidance for targeting, marketing, and programming A sourcebook of ideas that readers can apply at their own institutions, this resource also demonstrates how makerspaces can be gathering places for people to learn how to create and build together as a community.