Enschede Library makes technology accessible with Maakplaats053
At the library, children and adults discover what they can create using modern technology, from 3D printing to laser cutting.
Enschede Library has long since ceased to be just a place where you borrow books. At Maakplaats053, visitors can get to grips with technologies they don’t usually have at home, such as 3D printing, vinyl cutting and laser cutting. Makersspace staff members Sebastian and Wicky explain how makersspace works, what visitors learn there and what role the equipment plays in this.
Why have a ‘Maakplaats’ in the library?
The ‘Maakplaats’ organises technical workshops in which children are introduced to new technologies. That fits in well with a library. “The equipment is often expensive and bulky, so they don’t usually have it at home,” explains Sebastian. “And the library is a lovely place to introduce them to it, and also to show that there’s more going on in the library than just reading books.”
It’s very accessible. Using the Maker Space is free. On the last Friday of the month, there’s an open drop-in session from 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm. Visitors work on their own ideas under supervision. As well as the laser cutter, the space is equipped with a 3D printer, a cutting plotter and an electric embroidery machine, amongst other things.
From getting to know it to coming up with your own ideas with the BRM laser cutter
The BRM Lasers laser cutter is one of the machines that surprises visitors the most. “When they come here, they’ve actually no idea that laser cutters exist or what they can do,” says Wicky. The first projects are therefore deliberately simple. “They’re actually always very simple, and they think that’s really cool.” At first, people are mainly amazed by what the machine can do and how fast it works.
Anyone who comes back or takes part in a workshop starts to think differently. Many children look up what’s possible at home. “Then they start to think more in terms of the machine’s potential,” says Sebastian. For example, they work out how to combine the parts they take from the BRM laser cutter to make a little tower or a small bridge. “That’s when you really start to see much more 3D potential.” They no longer focus on the laser itself, but on what they can create with it.
Learning to use the machine step by step
De Maakplaats explains how to use the laser cutter in small steps. “If it’s your first time, we mainly just let you create the design,” explains Wicky. After that, they help with the choices: do you want the design engraved, cut out or as a line drawing? They’re also right there to help you set the speed and power, so that the result matches the design and the material.
Anyone who wants to know more can attend the special workshops. There, the BRM laser cutter is explained ‘from A to Z’. This way, everyone can learn at their own pace, from their first introduction to working independently with the machine.
Reliable equipment and good service
For a venue that welcomes a lot of visitors, reliable equipment is essential. De Maakplaats is pleased with the service provided by BRM Lasers. “I’ve phoned them quite often, and it’s actually quite straightforward,” says Wicky. Recently, something had knocked the laser, causing it to be out of alignment. “They walked me through fixing it step by step over the phone.”
The laser cutter is also serviced every year. “I think it’s good that it’s serviced every year,” says Sebastian. The machine is used regularly, but not every day. This takes place after the summer holidays, when things have quietened down again after a busy period. That way, the machine is ready for the new season.
