INDIANAPOLIS — Club Cyberia is a three year old non-profit ‘Maker Space’ on the east side of Indianapolis located near 30th and Shadeland. A Maker Space is the modern equivalent of a ‘shop class’ for adults. The club leases industrial space and acquires tools, materials and supplies that members can share. Club Cyberia specializes in woodworking, metal crafts and electronics including ham radio and microcontrollers. They sponsor the Tektonic Ninjas, a youth robotics team. Most members are men, but women are welcome to attend. Just like shop class, members learn from each other and experience the joy of making something with their own hands.
Until recently the club owned two inexpensive 3D printers which had been donated by members. These were useful for making small parts from ABS plastic, like the kind used in Legos. Last month, 3D Parts donated one of their high-end 3D printing machines, an Objet 30 Pro, to Club Cyberia. The system uses Polyjet technology to produce parts from a variety of photopolymer resins at high resolution. The original cost of the system was over $40,000.
“We bought a much larger machine that did the same job as the Objet and found that we just weren’t using it. So we thought it would be a great tool for the members of Club Cyberia to work with. Our hope is that it drives more interest in maker spaces and helps grow Club Cyberia membership,” said Kim Brand, President of 3D Parts Mfg.
“We really appreciate the support of the local business community,” said Piero Madar, Club Cyberia Treasurer. “We know that making is what makes America great.” Madar’s day job is as a Sr. Software Engineer at Exacq Technologies in Fishers. “We offer classes, a variety of tools, project storage space and materials to help anyone learn how to make whatever they want. The best part is that experts in our club freely share what they know. It has become a real community of makers,” he added.
3D Parts has donated over two dozen 3D printers to area schools and to Junior Achievement Biz Town to get students interested in science, technology, engineering and math – and making things. They have also launched First Maker Space, a program that puts shop classes back in schools — this time with 21st century tools like 3D printers and laser cutters.
“We believe hands-on learning is the most effective way to get kids excited about inventing, creating and innovating,” said Brand, “It is actually a rather old-fashioned idea.”
Club Cyberia is doing the same for makers of all ages. Creating a community to share tools and skills, the Club hopes to inspire a new generation of tinkerers. For more information on the program, visit www.clubcyberia.org or follow them on Facebook.
