The Fablab
FabLab Cardiff is located in Cardiff Metropolitan University's School of Art and Design. It is an open access digital workshop where you can use a range of fabrication technologies to turn your ideas into reality. We are a professional design and make service offering bespoke manufacturing and prototyping capabilities to commercial clients and small businesses.
Want a space to explore your ideas and tinker with desktop manufacturing technologies?
FabLab Cardiff is an open access workshop. That’s right. Open access. All you have to do is attend inductions for the machines you intend to use to make sure that you know what you’re doing, and then you’re free to come in during our opening times and use the machines at your leisure. All machines have an hourly rate, and require booking here. Interested? Pop in during our opening hours! Any questions drop us an email or give us a ring.
Or do you have a project that requires professional manufacturing expertise?
Thanks to our capable staff, we’re able to offer a range of professional services, from CAD work to prototype manufacture. We’ve created shop fit-outs, kitchens, staircases, moulds, sensors, trophies, and a lot more. Check out some key projects here.
We also offer..
Workshops, 1-on-1 training and events.
Got a project in mind? Get in touch here.
The staff
Martin Lane
Fablab Manager
Specialist Skills
Digital manufacturing
Furniture and domestic lighting designer/maker
Timber material specialist
Carving
Model making
Welding
FDM printing
SLA Printing
Illustrator
Lightroom
3D scanning
Laser Cutting
CNC Machining
Direct Email
Gemma Wilde
FabLab Administrator
Specialist Skills
General Ceramics:
Introduction to Ceramics Workshop
Guidance on working with clay
Ceramics health and safety
Plaster work for Ceramics:
Beginners Skills:
Basic use of the plaster room.
Mixing plaster
Plaster batts/textured batts/ sprig moulds
Drop – out moulds
Intermediate Skills:
Multi-part mould making
Advance Skills:
Plaster lathe –Plaster model making
Slip casting:
Slip casting techniques – cutting and joining casts and additions to casts
Kilns:
Electric Kiln packing and firing
Combustible firings and paper clay preparation
Direct Email
Ben Wheeler
Technical Specialist
Specialist Skills
CAD Packages: Fusion 360, Rhino
CNC Machining
Laser Cutting
3D Printing: SLA, SLS and FDM
Coding: Arduino, Basic Python
Video/Photo Editing
PC Modding
Product Design
Product Finishing
Model Making
Direct Email
Sophie Jemma
Technical Specialist
Specialist Skills
Marquetry Specialist
Digital manufacturing
General designer/maker
Carving
Fusion 360
FDM printing
SLA Printing
Illustrator
Lightroom
Photoshop
3D scanning
Laser Cutting
CimCad
Model making
Direct Email
Fablab faq
Do I need a membership?
Nope! The lab is now open access which means that you can come and use the machines without having to pay an annual/quarterly membership fee, all you have to do is book inductions for the machines you want to use here.
I already know how to use a machine, do I still need an induction?
If you've already been using our machines then you don't need to worry about getting an induction, but if you've used the machines elsewhere, we will need to run few a few things through with you for health and safety reasons! If this is you, then get in touch here.
I don't want to use the machines, but I would like something to be made for me, can you help?
Not a problem! Our staff are skilled in a variety of design and manufacturing disciplines and can provide a professional service tailored to you.
