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Digital fabrication has progressed enormously in recent years. Print precision and material quality have increased –not only ABS plastic, but also ceramic – and prices have decreased. Alongside Maker Boot’s “self-generative” model there is now the Galileo machine of the company Kent’s Strapper. 

Mobile Fab Labs have been available already for some years, as well as mini Fab Labs. Now both concepts have given birth to the Mobile Mini Fab Lab. It happened at Keio University in Japan, where Hiroaki Umezawa, a student of Hiroya Tanaka developed a prototype. The Mobile Mini Fab Lab fits in a case on wheels and has a weight of slightly less than 20 kgs. It costs about USD 2000. The left side of the kit (see picture) contains a green solar desk lamp, the iModela 3D milling machine, a CraftRobo cutting plotter and a powerfilm, a roll-able solar charger that generates enough power to let the machines work wherever you are (in the sun). The right part houses electronics, tools, materials, etc. Of course, the Fab Lab Kamakra will document the whole project as soon as possible.

For further details and information, please contact: Hiroya Tanaka : htanaka[at]sfc.keio.ac.jp; fablabjapan.org.