Makerspaces

3-D printing allows for the creation of nearly any type of object, from an entire house to a human organ. Now with makerspaces, collaborative engineering workspaces, virtually anyone can utilize these printers to make anything they can dream up. This title shows young people just how. With information on where to find makerspaces in their local community to the latest types of 3-D printers available, this resource grabs the interest of engineering-minded students and sets them on course to excel in STEM classes. This book also includes examples of interesting beginner projects to create and print at a makerspace.

Makerspaces, labs where hobbyists build things from scratch, are thought to be the new frontier in the entrepreneurial world, and this resource is the perfect gateway for those who have an idea for a product they want to make as well as bring to market. Readers get a sense of what it takes to take that creation and sell it for a profit. What are the costs? How does one get a product into stores? Where are advertising dollars best spent? These are all questions young entrepreneurs must ask and ones that this volume helps to answer.

The makerspace movement is as nascent and revolutionary as the technology behind unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and this volume introduces readers to both fascinating worlds. UAVs are no longer science fiction. Though their surveillance capabilities are controversial, they're also being used for more practical purposes. This volume teaches young people how members of the maker movement are producing their own UAVs for productive purposes. Readers learn just what makerspaces are and where to find one in their own community, hopefully piquing their interest in engineering careers.

Robots are at the heart of the makerspaces movement, which aims to bring together like-minded computer experts to build collaborative projects. This book introduces readers to the nascent world of makerspaces and its potential. Readers learn how to find these spaces in their local community or even in the local library. They then learn how to use makerspaces tools such as Arduino microcontrollers or Lego Mindstorms to build full-functioning programmable robots, all to their specifications. Not only does this knowledge inspire a sense of fun, it can also be applied to any number of STEM careers.

If makerspaces allow young people to collaborate on building projects, then Arduino allows them to go to the next level. Arduino is a do-it-yourself kit that includes a microcontroller that makes using electronics more accessible. Basically, this means that even those who are not experts in electronics can do amazing things, such as build and program robots. This book opens young people up to the possibilities of this exciting world by explaining exactly what makerspaces and Arduino are and how virtually anyone can use these tools to build programmable devices, a skill that is essential in any STEM field.

Makerspaces are all about teaching through collaboration. This title grabs the attention of young people who are musically as well as technically inclined by showing them that they can make their own instruments-literally. Recent technologies such as 3-D printing and Arduino microcontrollers allow virtually anyone to make a fully functioning instrument. This resource shows young people exactly how to take advantage of the burgeoning makerspaces phenomenon with expert interviews and information on "meet-ups" where like-minded musicians can share their knowledge.