UMakers is a makerspace that has adopted the guidelines developed under the Fab Lab Foundation.  Your can learn more about the Fab Lab Foundation on their site at: http://www.fabfoundation.org/.  The following information presented the Fab Charter in a question and answer format.  

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Fab Labs are located around the world and may be in your neighborhood.  Visit https://www.fablabs.io/ to learn more.

 

The Fab Charter

 

What is a fab lab?

 

Fab labs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access to tools for digital fabrication

 

What's in a fab lab?

 

Fab labs share an evolving inventory of core capabilities to make (almost) anything, allowing people and projects to be shared

 

What does the fab lab network provide?

 

Operational, educational, technical, financial, and logistical assistance beyond what's available within one lab

 

Who can use a fab lab?

 

Fab labs are available as a community resource, offering open access for individuals as well as scheduled access for programs

 

What are your responsibilities?

 

safety: not hurting people or machines
operations: assisting with cleaning, maintaining, and improving the lab
knowledge: contributing to documentation and instruction

 

Who owns fab lab inventions?

 

Designs and processes developed in fab labs can be protected and sold however an inventor chooses, but should remain available for individuals to use and learn from

 

How can businesses use a fab lab?

 

Commercial activities can be prototyped and incubated in a fab lab, but they must not conflict with other uses, they should grow beyond rather than within the lab, and they are expected to benefit the inventors, labs, and networks that contribute to their success

 

draft: October 20, 2012