A high-precision laser engraving machine can produce functional and beautiful products, making it one of the most commonly used tools in a Fab Lab. It can cut and engrave dozens of materials in the shortest time. Anyone who can touch one material can quickly put into production and realize any design they dream of. Laser engraving machine will be an indispensable tool for your a Fab Lab!

What is a Fab Lab ?

Fab Lab, or digital fabrication laboratory, is a place to play, create, guide and invent: a place to learn and innovate. Fab labs provides access to the environment, skills, materials and advanced technology to allow anyone to make (almost) anything anywhere. At Fab Lab, anyone can make (almost) anything using digital design, 3D printers, laser cutting and other advanced technologies. Fab Lab essentially turns ideas into reality. All planning, design, production and manufacturing processes can be completed in one place to create unique products. You only need one idea, and Fab Lab provides tools and guidance to implement it.           

In the "old world", production is considered to be something that only professionals can do. For inexperienced people, the factory is regarded as a busy and dangerous place. Most importantly, each product has been copied hundreds or even thousands.            

But at Fab Lab, production is a personal process. Modern tools enable individuals to turn their ideas into reality and even download products from the Internet and personalize them, whether as original gifts to relatives or as prosthetics for people with disabilities. 

Monport is born to bring affordable and outstanding laser engraving system to more general industry workers and makers, assisting them to practice and turn their wonders into reality! Fab Lab was founded with a very similar philosophy to Monport's inception.             

Why Every Fab Lab needs a laser engraver?

The Fab Lab concept is the original idea of Neil Gershenfeld, director of the MIT Center for bits and atoms. After the success of the course "how to make almost anything", Gershenfeld realized the potential of creating a small workshop network, including a series of commercial manufacturing machines run by computers, so that everyone can make "almost anything". Gershenfeld envisions an international network of open seminars in which people can collaborate, interact and share tools, materials and software, with the common goal of making anything previously designed using software from scratch. His view goes beyond "making almost anything", but "making manufacturing technology available to almost anyone, so that people can create their own technological future"            

Compared with other types of maker space, the biggest difference of Fab Lab lies in its organizational structure. Fab Lab has a centralized organization, which is now coordinated by the Fab foundation. The foundation was established in 2009 to promote and support the development of the international Fab Lab network by “using tools, knowledge and financial means to educate, innovate and invent”. The Fab foundation has made a request that a space should be considered a Fab Lab and therefore considered part of the network. The Fab Lab must be equipped with at least one set of core equipment and tools, which includes:            

• Basic electronic equipment            
• Laser cutting machine            
• Vinyl cutter            
• CNC precision milling machine            
• CNC engraving machine            
• 3D printer 

Fab Lab enables anyone of any age to try to turn ideas into tangible reality. Fab Lab is looking for "makers" - for them, "do it yourself" is their motto: they come from curious children, and they take things apart just to reassemble them; Enthusiasts who love robots, model planes, model making, photography, etc; Professionals who like to do it yourself; artist; Spiritual and professional innovators and anyone else, young and old, who is willing to "create" and share their experience. Whether concept artists or "technology geeks", school-age children or college students, men, women, young and old - Fab Lab can be used by anyone with a passion for "make".

Many schools, Fab Labs and universities are already using laser engravers as one of their digital tools.

Fab Lab has a growing global educational digital manufacturing space network. Many laboratories are developed in cooperation with international K12 school and university partners to teach middle school and high school students digital manufacturing and other cutting-edge technologies for design and construction.

Fab Lab Locations and Affiliates include the following:

• Stanford University campus (California, USA)
• Moscow (Russia) / Experimentarium 1502 MEI
• Bangkok (Thailand) / Darunsikkhalai School for Innovative Learning
• Palo Alto (California, USA) / Castilleja School
• Barcelona (Spain) / Liceu Politecnic
• Melbourne (Australia) / Lauriston Girls School
• Guadalajara (Mexico) / University of Guadalajara
• Aarhus (Denmark) / Aarhus University
• East Palo Alto (California, USA) / East Palo Alto Academy and the Ravenswood Schools District
• Warsaw (Poland) / Copernicus Science Centre
• Helsinki (Finland) / University of Helsinki, Innokas Network

How do you turn product ideas into prototypes in several steps? Using laser cutting machines,  students can quickly create their first scale model: whether it's model making, design or fashion. Many schools, Fab Labs and universities are already using lasers as one of their digital tools.            

The school's laser cutting machine project conveys the working methods of digital manufacturing safely and quickly. Modifications to prototypes are fast, simple, and require little time or money. The whole process from conception to finished work is mapped digitally. Laser cutting machine quickly becomes the main force of any Fab Lab. It can be used to produce the following educational projects, including:             

• Laser etching hieroglyphs to understand ancient civilization (humanistic research).            

• Laser cutting environment-friendly intelligent house：The children design a plan of an environmentally friendly house, then laser cut walls, roofs, floors, furniture and fixtures and build prototypes (Science and Engineering).            

• Laser cutting automobile model：Students understand the internal structure of the car and establish three-dimensional thinking through laser cutting gear auto parts and assembly process.            

• Laser cut glider, students design and manufacture gliders as part of aerospace units (Science and Engineering).            

• Laser engravetrophies for chess competitions and make signs for school gardens and other school citizenship projects. 

Why using a Monport in your Fab Lab ?   

Fabrication Lab laser engraving & cutting services are available to the campus community. Laser engravers and cutters can engrave or cut soft materials such as plastic, paper, wood, cloth or leather, as well as the surfaces of harder materials such as glass or stone. 

Laser engraving machine ensures educational innovation. Due to the speed and accuracy of Monport laser, the project is easy to implement and use. The Monport laser engraving machine is equipped with an intelligent safety sensor. The safety closing sensor helps to stop the machine when the transparent window cover is opened. Students will actively participate in the course and operate safely. The thinking process is triggered in different ways; The laser machine can be a tool in a large project or a separate theme. Monport laser have many possibilities and can be used in any school, university or factory. 

Easy to use             

Monport Laser engraving and cutting machines are suitable for students of all ages. Our mid-range CO2 laser engraving machine is famous for its high speed and powerful laser cutting ability. This makes it easy to send digital designs to the laser, allowing students to start quickly and independently. This can be done through various software programs, such as CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD, open source programs, etc. You can also set up the laser as a wireless network printer to make it easier to use. 

High quality           

Monport is a professional CNC supplier, focusing on customer service and industrial laser cutting and engraving machines. The manufacturers cooperating with Monport laser have decades of experience in the design and production of CO2 and fiber laser machines, and provide the highest quality laser engraving system. From desktop models to industrial models, the laser engraving machine we provide has the highest performance and the deepest cutting ability, so the cutting and engraving quality is first-class. Therefore, our high-quality laser cutting and engraving machines can be widely used in schools, universities and factories. 

Versatility             

Fab Labs and graphic, architectural and technical training programs account for only a small part of the locations where lasers are used. Because our laser system can engrave and / or cut such a wide range of materials, it can be used in a variety of applications. Think about cutting plastic parts for prototypes, carpentry for model houses, or creating detailed designs on paper. The convenience and accuracy of Monport laser engraving machine stimulate more creativity and possibilities!

The following materials can be cut with the Monport Co2 laser engraver: 

• Acrylic
• Wood
• Leather
• Plastics
• Fabrics
• MDF
• Cardboard
• Paper
• Corian
• Foam
• Fiberglass
• Rubber 

The following materials can be engraved with the Monport Co2 laser engraver:

• Acrylic
• Wood
• Leather
• Plastics
• Fabrics
• Glass
• Rubber
• Cork
• Brick
• Granite
• Marble
• Tile
• River Rock

Our mid-range CO2 laser engraving machines are purposed for cutting and engraving plastics, papers and fabrics. Laser engravers are commonly the first machine introduced to students and quickly become a strong companion to any design development. 

Final thoughts             

If you are looking for a nearby Fab Lab, you can visit Fab Labs map, which is the best place to start. There are more than 120 factory laboratories in the United States. There must be one near you!  

If your Fab Lab needs a powerful laser engraving and cutting machine, please visit our official website. If you want to set up a cooperation relationship with us and be our partners, please contact us via this email.