Introduction :-
Establishing Fab Labs for Appropriate technologies for innovations and training in tribal areas a project of Department of Science and technologies under SEED Division.
A fab lab (fabrication laboratory) is a small-scale workshop offering (personal) digital fabrication. A fab lab is typically equipped with an array of flexible computer-controlled tools that cover several different length scales and various materials, with the aim to make “almost anything”. This includes technology-enabled products generally perceived as limited to mass production.
Fab Lab is a Global network of digital fabrication labs. It is said that ‘You can make almost anything’ using these tools. Fab lab conceived by Dr.Neil Greshenfeld of MIT,USA and it is promoted by Fab foundation https//fabfoundation.org/ . There are more than 1600 fab labs in the world and Vigyan Ashram is ‘Fab Lab 0’ i.e first fab lab.Fab lab tool comprises of Laser cutting machine, 3D printing machine, vinyl cutting machine, PCB making machine, electronics and sensors facility, softwares etc.
Govt of India has given a call for ‘AatmanirbharBharat’. To achieve self-reliant India, we need to have self sufficient
communities. Tribal communities are most deprived community in terms of technologies, infrastructure and access to modern tools. This initiative in field of technological advancement would give a scope to enhance skill development and generate new employment in rural areas.
Objective :-
- To introduce new digital fabrication technologies through youth in SC/ST communities.
- To create facility of ‘Makers Space’ in the remote tribal areas. Thereby creating ‘access’ for modern tools.
- Provide ‘prototyping’ and ‘designing’ services to community of artisans and entrepreneurs. Thereby providing value addition.
About Beneficiary Organisation :-
Nimar Abhyudaya Rural Management And Development Association (N.A.R.M.A.D.A.) is a spiritually oriented service mission. It was founded in October 2010 by Bharati Tai Thakur after she completed Narmada Parikrama. It runs free pre-school to high school level educational centres at Lepa Punarvas (Bairagarh), Bhattyan and Chhoti Khargone specially for the children of economically weaker section of the society in the Khargone District of Nimar Region of Madhya Pradesh.
Set up on the banks of river Narmada by a group of dedicated people to extend helping hand to the deprived villagers in the Nimar Region of Madhya Pradesh. Focuses on providing free non-formal education programs covering 15 villages.
The education programs adopt an innovative approach of training and empowering local village women as educators. Additional initiatives are planned in the areas of vocational training, health and environmental awareness initiatives to provide a holistic approach towards ensuring the future well-being of children and help people to earn their livelihood.
Project Work Flow :-
- Delivery of all required machinery, equipment and material from Technoventor dealer -3/07/2022.
- Vigyan Ashram team Suhas Labade (Principal Investigator), Sumit Thakare (Service Engineer) and Rohit Mankar (FabLab Manager, Palghar) reached on site Lepa -6/07/2022.
- Site visit and design of floor plan.
- Understand the present situation, available resources and facilities.
- List down the work to be completed.
- Making good electrical connection and checking voltage limits.
- Installation of machinery and equipment.
- Training and testing of machines installed by Technoventor service engineer.
- Designing and Decoration of Lab.
- Creative models on 3D printer, Laser Cutter.
- Furnishing and finishing setup of lab.
Installation:-
We have an initial shipment from Technoventor company which includes 3D printer, Laser Cutter, Mechanical Workbench, Electronics workstation, mechanical tools, electronics components, UPS and batteries. On day 1 we open all boxes and check the material from the checklist. We make necessary arrangement for placing machine and tools at proper space. As per the 2-D floor plan we set all the tables and machines at proper place.
Designs and Models made:-
After installation and testing of machine we made some design and model some of them are Narmadalaya Fablab Nameplate, Led Lampshade, Celling Lampshade, acrylic designs, 3D printed objects, section nameplate etc.
Issues and Challenges faced:-
- Due to the uneven electricity distribution, voltage fluctuation it was difficult to connect the machines on direct load.
- Because of a higher P.D across earthing (about 7 volts) our 6.5Kva UPS was damaged.
- In such remote areas due to poor connectivity of road infrastructure its difficult to ship all the heavy machine in proper condition.
Learnings and Experience from this projects:-
It was a wonderful experience of Installation of FabLab in Rural area like Narmadalaya, me and my team got to learn many new things and technology, we learn to solve real life engineering problems promptly. I met new people discuss with them on future goals and their vision with this lab, all the people in the management committee are very simple and down to earth, the organization work for rural development and skilled education of tribal and economically backward classes. We met new people who are connected with this organisation.
Technically we learn new designs and utilizing fullest of all machines from our Project head Suhas sir, we learn time management, plannning and execution from him. The team we met at narmadalaya was very creative and hardworking.
Conclusion:-
We have successfully completed the installation and arrangement of Narmadalaya Fablab, we have setup a makerspace in rural area which is first in central Indian state Madhya Pradesh. The lab will be inaugurated on 23rd Aug under the guidance of Vigyan Ashram, with the support of Department of Science and Technology. The lab is a home of manufacturing for young brilliant and creative minds. We have clear goals and objective of 1 year for this project for better execution and implementation of strategies.
