digital fabrication

Digital modeling and fabrication is a process that joins design with production through the use of 3D modeling software or computer-aided design (CAD) and additive and subtractive manufacturing processes. 3D printing falls under additive, while machining falls under subtractive. These tools allow designers to produce material digitally, which is something greater than an image on screen, and actually tests the accuracy of the software and computer lines.

Digital fabrication is the process used in a Fab Lab (Fabrication Laboratory) to create things.

 

Article

12-10-2020

Fab Academy 2021: apply now!

It's time to apply for Fab Academy 2021. In 20 weeks, learn how to make (almost) everything! Join the worldwide Fab Lab Network now.

 

Event

22-09-2020

Exposition: Craft in Abundance

Artist in residence Charlotte Bakkenes' exposition in Waag's Theatrum Anatomicum focuses on innovation within traditional craftsmanship techniques.

 

Article

12-09-2020

Apply now: Fabricademy 2020

It is time to apply for Fabricademy 2020! Join us at Waag's TextileLab Amsterdam for this 6-month research journey. Deadline extended!

 

Article

13-08-2020

Fab Academy final presentations

Hyejin Ahn, Harm van Vugt, Nathan Harris and Tessel Renzenbrink all graduated successfully from Fab Academy at Waag! Check out their final projects.

 

Event

28-05-2020

FABxLive

The yearly worldwide Fab Lab Network conference is taking place online! Join to talk about the answers of the maker movement to COVID-19.

 

Article

29-04-2020

Fabricademy participants share their journey

As the Fabricademy class of 2019 is nearing its end, our participants present themselves and their work.

 

Event

25-04-2020

Prospects on biological, computational and sustainable fashion and textile design

A public online lecture by Cecilia Raspanti and Ista Boszhard from Waag's TextileLab Amsterdam, for the Kyoto Design Lab (D-Lab) in Japan.

 

Article

22-04-2020

Plan C: digital fabrication as civic response to COVID-19

MIT's Neil Gershenfeld and Sherry Lassiter of FabFoundation discussed how decentralized digital manufacturing shapes civic response to COVID-19.

 

Article

26-03-2020

Let's start fabricating! Call to action by Waags FabLab

Currently, there's a big shortage of many supplies in healthcare. FabLabs worldwide are trying to fill this gap.

 

Article

3-03-2020

FabAcademy in full swing at Waag

It's week 4 of FabAcademy at Waag. An update from the FabLab in Amsterdam.

 

Project

6-01-2020

HOPE CHEST 2090

On the newly emerged Wadden island of Zaankogerland, historian Stientje Molenaar is researching worn and household textiles from after the Great Flood. It is the year 2090. Textile is the most precious possession in a person’s lifetime.

 

Event

2-01-2020

Fab Academy 2020

The Fab Academy edition of 2020 will start in January 2020. Applications for 2020 cycle will start in September 2019.

 

Article

1-11-2019

Apply now: Fab Academy 2020

The 2020 edition of Fab Academy will start in January 2020. Applications are now open.

 

Event

1-09-2019

Open Thursday FabLab Amsterdam

FabLab Amsterdam is open to the public on Thursday afternoon (12:00-17:00 hrs).

 

Article

28-08-2019

Fab Academy in Elektor Magazine

A nice article by Tessel Renzenbrink in Elektor Magazine clearly captures the essence of the Fab Academy. Now downloadable as pdf!

 

Event

8-07-2019

Fabricademy 2019

Fabricademy is a transdisciplinary course that focuses on new technologies applied to the textile field. Applications are now open.

 

Event

7-06-2019

Fab Academy finals 2019

The Fab Academy of 2019 is coming to an end. On June 19th, you can visit Fablab Amsterdam to follow their presentations.

 

Article

24-05-2019

Machine design @ Fab Academy 2019

As part of the group assignment of this year's Fab Academy at Waag, a Marble Calender Machine was made.

 

Event

25-01-2019

Exploring new paths in the textile industry

Talks & exhibition on creative research, speculative design, sustainability and social innovation in the field of fashion, textiles and materials.

 

Article

15-11-2018

Follow the Fab Academy in Amsterdam

In 2019 it is again possible to follow the Fab Academy for five months at Fablab Amsterdam in the Waag. The deadline for applications for Fab Academy 2019 is December 25th 2018.

 

Event

22-10-2018

Fab Academy 2019

The Fab Academy edition of 2019 will start mid-January 2019. Fablab Amsterdam will be one of the nodes in the Fablab network offering the course.

 

Article

3-08-2018

Seven future healthcare solutions

What kind of prototype for an open healthcare solution can you develop in eight weeks? We look back at the projects of the first series MakeHealth Prototyping.

 

Article

25-06-2018

Fab Academy final presentations 2018

All participants of the Fab Academy 2018 have presented their projects. An overview of the graduates from Amsterdam.

 

Event

9-02-2018

BioHack Academy #6

Interested in DIYBio but don’t know where to start? Come and join the next BioHack Academy!

 

Event

8-02-2018

Global Fab City Summit 2017

Fab City Global Summit 2017 in Copenhagen. Fab City is a global push to promote the development of locally productive and globally connected cities.

 

Event

8-02-2018

Fab Academy 2018

The Fab Academy edition of 2018 will start in January 2018. Fablab Amsterdam will be one of the nodes in the Fablab network offering the course. All information about the academy can be found at fabacademy.org.

 

Event

8-02-2018

From FabLabs to self-sufficient FabCities

Marleen Stikker and Pieter van Boheemen of Waag will be present at a meeting at Pakhuis de Zwijger on November 16th about self-sufficient FabCities.

 

Event

7-02-2018

FabCity Summit

Marleen Stikker of Waag is one of the speakers at the public dialogue programme of the FabCity Summit, at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam on 20 April 2016. Earlier on the same day, Frank Kresin (research director) will attend the expert meeting at the FabCity Campus.

 

Event

7-02-2018

European Makerweek

There is a lot to discover during the European Maker Week! Amazing events will be held around Europe and you are invited you to join them, because everyone can be a maker. Fablab Amsterdam will be open on Saturday 4 June for all makers. Come in and create your own project, use our makers guild to finish your design or hire one of our digital machines.

 

Event

6-02-2018

FAB 12 Shenzhen

Each year, members of the more than 1,000 worldwide Fab Labs gather to share, collaborate, explore and, of course, fabricate.

 

Event

4-02-2018

D/F Lab: the future of architecture

Digital Fabrication is radically changing the way we design, build and live (in) our cities. Since digital designs can be created, shared and materialized at the touch of a button, the ancient art of building is rapidly opening up to vastly more people and organizations than ever before.

 

Event

4-02-2018

Fab Academy finals 2015

The Fab Academy of 2015 is coming to an end and the Full Certificate students of this year in Amsterdam have been very busy working at their final presentations. On June 10th, you can visit the Fablab Amsterdam to see their presentations. In a live video connection, all students wordwide will present their projects!

 

Event

4-02-2018

Design/Fabrication Symposium, San Francisco

Waag is collaborating with One Architecture and Filson and Rohrbacher to conceptualize a future Design/Fabrication Laboratory in Amsterdam. We’ll be joined by Testa & Weiser Inc, Jelle Ferenga, DUS Architects, and many fabrication industry leaders, to develop a blueprint for a D/F Lab that will advance Amsterdam’s architecture, construction and development-ecology.

 

Event

4-02-2018

Shapeways User Meetup

A Shapeways User meeting will take place on August 24th at Fablab Amsterdam, which is an awesome location in the heart of Amsterdam full of 3D printers, laser cutters, a HUGE milling machine and all kinds of user-created models.

 

Article

6-12-2017

Campaign to rebuild Fab Lab 'La Casemate'

After Fab Lab 'La Casemate' in Grenoble was set on fire as an anti-technology protest, a crowdfunding campaign now helps to rebuild the lab.

 

Article

4-11-2017

Waag celebrates a decade of Fablab Amsterdam

Ten years ago Waag opened one of the first Fablabs of Europe in Amsterdam. On 4 November 2017 we celebrate this anniversary with a Talkshow and Makerfest in the Waag.

 

Event

13-10-2017

Museumnight: The Big Maker Fest

During the annual Museum night in Amsterdam on November 4th, we will redesign our Fablab into a futuristic playground for makers.

 

Event

26-09-2017

Celebrating a decade of Fablab Amsterdam

On 4 November 2017, we're raising our glass to celebrate ten inspiring years of maker culture at Fablab Amsterdam, the first Fablab in The Netherlands!

 

Article

13-07-2017

From neighbourhoods to MakerHoods

Imagine vibrant communities of people, working together in an open, transparent, fair way, building their cities, their living and learning environments together. Imagine a Society 4.0.

 

Article

6-07-2017

80 OBA employees trained in maker education and digital fabrication

A 'Maakplaats' is a maker space at one of the Amsterdam public libraries (OBA), containing a similar set of machines as a Fablab. Not so visible for the public is the training programme for employees of the municipal public libraries we organise. We are training a whole new team of coaches that will run the maker spaces at the OBA libraries.

 

Article

15-06-2017

Fab Academy final presentations 2017

For the 8th year in a row, a group of skilled students graduated from the Fab Academy at Waag. Students from 39 countries came together via a video conference to present their final projects to each other. In this 6 month-course students broaden their (mechanical) knowledge and learn how to work with the tools and machines that you find in a Fab Lab.

 

Event

2-06-2017

FAB 13 Fabricating Society

Each year, members of the more than 1,000 worldwide Fab Labs gather to share, discuss, collaborate and create communities around the different local and global interests regarding digital manufacturing, innovation and technology.

 

Event

14-02-2017

Teacher Maker Camp 2017

 

Article

8-09-2016

The future of toy design

What started from a very personal interest in small wooden playthings, evolved to become a quest to find the right bend between wood and digital technology. Recent TU/e graduate Ismael Velo Feijo explains his graduation project MISC. Magic Toys.

 

Article

8-09-2016

TextileLab Amsterdam officially opened

Amsterdam has e new creative workspace. After its official opening TextileLab Amsterdam—located on the Nieuwmarkt—will be open to those who want to experiment with new forms of textiles, clothing, materials, and digital fabrication.

 

Article

12-08-2016

Landscape milling at the Fablab

Architect Christopher de Vries (of Rademacher & de Vries), maybe familiar to some of you working on the Amsteldecks project, is milling an art work showing four beautiful reliefs of an old mine in Southern Limburg.

 

Event

19-07-2016

Textile Academy #1

The Textile Academy focuses on combining the knowledge of traditional, current, and future craftsmanship to work towards new, relevant ways of producing, making, and designing for the slowly changing textile and fashion-industry. We will investigate how the textile and fashion industry can benefit from new technologies, processes and business models. And you can be part of it!

 

Article

1-07-2016

Turn street patterns into objects

For Maptime, developer Bert Spaan created a nifty online tool to extract the data of a street pattern, and turn it into an object. You can simply choose your favourite part of the city and create a vector image (svg) of it. This svg can be used at digital machines, like they have at a Fablab or other makerspace, to fabricate a sticker (with the vinyl cutter) or laser it from wood.

 

Article

21-03-2016

Video Crossover Experience

Seven students from three different educational programmes of the ROC of Amsterdam collaborated in the project Crossover Experience.

 

Article

18-03-2016

Recycled 3D printer filament?

3D printers, like the Ultimakers we have in our Fablab, use a kind of plastic to create objects, usually PLA, which is biodegradable and is derived from renewable resources.

 

Article

15-03-2016

Fablab as engine for transformation

What can a large industrial multinational learn from a Fablab, that makes new digital technologies accessible for the public? Saint-Gobain came to the Waag last year, to experiment with other ways of thinking, working and making.

 

Event

25-01-2016

Zelfgemaakt (Homemade)

Every Saturday at 10 am there will be a new episode of the series Zelfgemaakt (Homemade) online! In this series, our Pieter van Boheemen explains how you can make things. In Dutch, yes.

 

Article

11-12-2015

Report on Design/Fabrication Lab

As an outcome of the Design/Fabrication lab project, we have put together a report, that is now available as a free download.

 

Article

9-11-2015

Towards the future architect

To explore the fascinating (though sometimes tumultuous) landscape of modern architecture, Waag recently hosted an evening of presentations from five architectural experts within the Design/Fabrication Lab project to discuss their current work in the context of their changing profession.

 

Article

25-09-2015

Fablab observations

The last years I wondered about the buzz around digital fabrication. While studying architecture at the Technical University of Delft (2003 - 2010), I experimented with this technology to create architectural models. As design and education professional in the cultural field (2010 - present) I used this technology in practice. It took me years to learn how to use these tools within my design process.

 

Article

3-09-2015

New kid on the block

The users of our Fablab that visit the Open Day will now find a giant new laser cutter in the space, dwarfing our previous machine.

 

Article

18-08-2015

The low cost prosthesis goes to Barcelona

Over the years, students and interns from Fablab Amsterdam have created several low-cost prosthesis prototypes using various materials (like pineapple fibres and recycled plastic). Recently, intern Angelika Grundmann worked in our Fablab at a pvc prosthetic foot and a so-called "kneewalker" to test the prosthesis. Earlier results from 2014 can be found in the documentation here.

 

Project

13-08-2015

Textile and Clothing Business Labs

TCBL develops transformative business models for the textile and clothing sector in Europe.

 

Project

20-04-2015

Design/Fabrication Lab

The Design/Fabrication Lab was an initiative to build an urban digital fabrication laboratory, school, and factory for the future.

 

Article

9-04-2015

3D printing in paramedical care

3D printing is a hot topic in the news at the moment and everyone seems to be interested when you’re talking about it. Seven paramedical care students of the minor Care Technology (at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences) had the opportunity to work with it. Twan van Dam and Felix van Balgooi investigated the possibilities of 3D printing in the paramedical care at Waag's Fablab.

 

Project

26-02-2015

BioHack Academy: BioFactory

After completing this first BioHack Academy you can grow your own fuel, food, filaments, farmaceuticals, fragances, fungi and much more funky bio stuff at home

 

Article

23-01-2015

Low-cost prosthesis: using recycled plastic

Bo Reurings recently continued the research for a low-cost, self-adjustable prosthesis at Fablab Amsterdam.

 

Article

7-11-2014

Digital fabrication for architecture

One Architecture and Waag both are researching how digital (fabrication) technologies can change the field of architecture. 3D design, scanning, printing and milling, social networking, all these and other technologies are changing how we make things, fitting to our local contexts and personal needs.

 

Article

29-10-2014

How sustainable is digital fabrication?

How attached are makers to their objects and what are the effects of digital DIY on the environment?

 

Article

23-06-2014

Fab Night #2 - Designing and making your own sketchbook

After the first Fab Night making kalimbas, this time we focused on bookbinding with a machine to make your own beautiful sketchbooks.

 

Article

12-06-2014

Making kalimbas at Fab Night

At the first Fab Night we organized on the 5 June 2014, we started with an amazing workshop: building your own kalimba in just one evening!

 

Article

10-06-2014

Fab Academy final presentations 2014

On June 4th, students of the Waag's Fab Academy (as well as several guests from other Fab Labs around Europe) presented their final projects to a global audience through a live video conference.

 

Event

20-05-2014

Fab Night #4

Not interested in the World Cup? In June we experiment with an evening opening of the Fablab - on the Thursday nights of 5, 12, 19 and 26 June you can visit our Fablab at the Waag after work hours, use the machines or have a drink.

 

Event

20-05-2014

Fab Night #3

Not interested in the World Cup? In June we experiment with an evening opening of the Fablab - on the Thursday nights of 5, 12, 19 and 26 June you can visit our Fablab at the Waag after work hours, use the machines or have a drink.

 

Event

15-05-2014

Amsterdam Maker Festival

At the Kromhouthal in Amsterdam-North from 30 May till 1 June 2014 the Amsterdam Maker Festival will take place. Fablab Amsterdam will be present at the festival together with dozens of other makers with a new fashion line by Cecilia Raspanti of Fablab Amsterdam, live photoshoots and much more.

 

Article

9-05-2014

Paola Antonelli visits the Waag

For the event 'What design can do', senior curator of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, Paola Antonelli, came to The Netherlands. On the day before the event she visited three top design locations, one of them being Waag. She made a tour guided by Sabine Wildevuur of our Creative Care Lab and was showed the Fablab Amsterdam on the first floor of the building.

 

Event

4-02-2014

Network event for self-employed media specialists

On 12 March 2014, a network event for self-employed media specialists will be organized at the Waag with an innovation workshop at Fablab Amsterdam.

 

Event

11-10-2013

Careful Designs @ Waag Open Space

Smart textiles are fabrics that enable digital components and electronics to be embedded in them: intelligent clothing or wearable technology for instance. What can smart textiles mean for well-being? How can they help caregivers and patients?

 

Event

20-08-2013

Amsterdam Urban Innovation Week 2013

From 15-21 September 2013 the Amsterdam Urban Innovation Week 2013 will be held, initiated by Pakhuis de Zwijger in collaboration with PICNIC, Waag, the Amsterdam City Council and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

 

Project

17-07-2013

WEAVE - ZigZag

With the project ZigZag we stimulated children, their families and teachers to learn more about cultural and historical topics. Our main tool for this? The art of Textile.

 

Event

24-06-2013

BioFab Bootcamp: Balancing with Nature

Curious about biotechnology and interested in fabrication and design? The BioFab Bootcamp is an intense 5-day workshop on biotechnology and digital fabrication. During this event we will learn how to improve our balance with nature through design practices. The bootcamp puts bio back into your hands and extents your professional skills as a maker, designer, artist or scientist.

 

Article

6-06-2013

More space for makers

On 21 June 2013 we launched the Makers Guild at the Waag in Amsterdam.

 

Event

30-05-2013

Meet the Fablab: the laser cutter/vinyl cutter (13/7)

Meet our lasercutter, a machine that cuts the most delicate forms and shapes in a broad variety of materials and our vinyl cutter. Whether you go for a tight sleeve for your laptop or a photo portrait made of wood, the laser cutter is ready to go.

 

Event

30-05-2013

Meet the Fablab: Advanced Shopbot 3D milling (6/7)

Discover the Shopbot for advanced users. The Shopbot is a large milling machine that enables you to make anything from furniture to large scale models or carvings. With the machine you can cut and carve wood, plastic, styrofoam and many more materials. This course is for people who already have some experience with the machine, but want to explore it further.

 

Event

30-05-2013

Meet the Fablab: the laser cutter/vinyl cutter (22/6)

Meet our lasercutter, a machine that cuts the most delicate forms and shapes in a broad variety of materials and our vinyl cutter. Whether you go for a tight sleeve for your laptop or a photo portrait made of wood, the laser cutter is ready to go.

 

Project

28-05-2013

Makers Guild

The Makers Guild connected craftsmanship, digital personal fabrication and biotechnology.

 

Event

15-05-2013

Meet the Fablab: the Shopbot
 (15/6)

Meet our Shopbot: a large milling machine that enables you to make anything from furniture to large scale models or carvings. With the machine you can cut and carve wood, plastic, styrofoam and many more materials. Whether you want to make your own chairs, skateboard or wooden portraits: the Shopbot makes it possible!

 

Article

6-05-2013

Visit to the Salone Milan

Alex Schaub visited the Salone at Milan on invitation of Carmine Deganello.

 

Article

15-03-2013

The Sample Book makes textile innovation tangible

The Sample Book made at Fablab Amsterdam includes samples of materials and new technologies to communicate the potentials to textile and fashion designers working at our Fablab.

 

Article

1-03-2013

Prototyping for the Low Cost Prosthesis

For the project ‘Low Cost Prosthesis’, our designer Mickael Boulay is currently working on an adjustable connection part and a foot. To get relevant feedback and to be able to make the next steps, he gathered experts in the Waag for a meetup.

 

Article

26-02-2013

What? A 4D printer?

We just started learning the amazing things that can be done with 3D printing, and now reseachers of the Self-Assembly Lab at MIT are presenting a 4D printer. A what?

 

Event

22-01-2013

Fabschool Kids 2: Bristlebots

So you think you can dance? Build a robot from your toothbrush and join the battle!

 

Article

17-01-2013

Fab the Golden Age

On Saturday, January 12th, our Fablab was all about the Golden Age. Visitors made personal art based on our history and on the work of the old masters.

 

Project

8-01-2013

Meet the Fablab

'Meet the Fablab': a workshop series to introduce the different machines of the Fablab.

 

Article

20-11-2012

Rijksstudio at the Bijenkorf

At the end of October 2012, the Rijksmuseum launched Rijksstudio, an open collection of 125.000 works of the museum. We showed people what you can do with this collection at the Bijenkorf stores in Amsterdam and Eindhoven.

 

Event

28-08-2012

Fab Academy 2013

Fab Academy is the distributed educational platform of the worldwide network of Fab Labs. Fablab Amsterdam is one of the participating labs, the 2013 programme starts January 23rd, 2013.

 

Event

24-05-2012

Nacht van de Kunst & Wetenschap

Op 2 juni vindt de Nacht van Kunst & Wetenschap in Groningen weer plaats. Tijdens De Nacht kun je op 14 locaties in de binnenstad van Groningen kennismaken met nieuwe muziek, theater, dans, wetenschap, kunst, cabaret en bijzondere experimenten. Waag is te vinden in het Academiegebouw met de Low Cost Prosthesis.

 

Article

18-05-2012

Remaking and Re-using

Belgrade has been burned down 19 times in history, including the recent bombings 13 years ago. It is a city, which has been rebuilt and reused over and over. The historical layer cake won’t go unnoticed when walking around the streets of Belgrade. It is like this superficial versioning system showing its revisions and forks like an open source syste

 

Event

15-05-2012

Do It Together Bio: OpenPCR

This session is to gain practical DIY Bio experience. This time we will assemble the OpenPCR for sure! The Fablab will be open, ensuring you can start turning your idea into reality instantly.

 

Article

11-05-2012

Fabbed food

On May 9th our first Waag Open – Get Together was held. We invited about 70 interns and artists who work or have worked at Waag.

 

Project

8-03-2012

Low cost prosthesis

In the Fablab Low Cost Prosthesis programme we developed the technology to produce a 'lower knee' prosthesis in line with the open innovation principles.

 

Project

8-03-2012

Hypermud

During the three days of the PICNIC Festival 2011, the NDSM Wharf saw an exceptional sculpture emerge.

 

Project

8-03-2012

Fablab Yogyakarta Indonesia

Fablab Yogyakarta was a collaboration between Waag and the House of Natural Fiber (HONF), Yogyakarta, Indonesia to set up a Fablab in Indonesia.

 

Project

8-03-2012

FAB6: Industrial [R]evolution

The FAB6 Conference was held from 15-20 August at the Waag in Amsterdam and several locations in The Netherlands.

 

Project

8-03-2012

Open Design Contest

The design of products is no longer reserved for professional designers only. With today's computer-driven prototyping machines, anyone can make designs and print them in 3D.

 

Project

8-03-2012

Fab Academy

The Fab Academy provides instruction and supervises investigation of mechanisms, applications, and implications of digital fabrication.

 

Project

8-03-2012

Amsterdam Living Lab

A Living Lab is about experimentation and co-creation with real users in real life environments, where users together with researchers, firms and public institutions look together for new solutions, new products, new services or new business models.

 

Project

8-03-2012

Snoezel objects

Snoezelen or controlled multisensory stimulation is used for people with mental disabilities, and involves exposing them to a soothing and stimulating environment.

 

Project

8-03-2012

Fablab Amsterdam

At Fablab Amsterdam anyone can realize their ideas, and with the aid of digital equipment transforming those ideas into prototypes and products.

 

Article

8-03-2012

First Fablab in Southeast Asia opens in Yogyakarta

On 29 July 2011, the HONFablab in Yogyakarta, Indonesia was inaugurated.