The Bella Coola Makerspace aims to provide the community access to high-tech, low-tolerance fabrication tools and can serve as a local microfactory for small production runs of a wide variety of goods.
The Makerspace integrates several technologies into a fabrication platform that can create a vast variety of items, providing significant new capacities addressing different community needs:
Education – the space will be a remote instruction site available to local schools where students can come and gain competency in the many aspects of digital manufacturing (3D modelling/printing/cutting/scanning, coding, electrical systems).
Fabrication – the most basic and essential purpose of the makerspace will be makers making; custom 3D printing, grinding and cutting capacities, combined with software via a microcontroller bridge (ie. Arduino), which potentially allows members to make, replace or repair nearly anything.
Construction – one exciting near-term use of the the makerspace is CNC production and replication of artistic motifs on doors, cabinetry and windows; we have already received some interest in developing this local capacity, as a component of local housing and construction initiatives.
Innovation – prototyping, local manufacturing – the space can serve as an research and development platform for entrepreneurs, allowing potential products to be locally designed and prototyped. The Bella Coola Makerspace project is a collaboration with the Central Coast Communications Society.