Home

Digital fabrication involves translation of a digital design into a physical object. The digital design is used to create a physical object from materials such as cardstock, foam, clay, nylon, or metal. Tools such as the Silhouette die cutting machine can be used to shape cardstock or vinyl to create three-dimensional objects by bending or folding the object along perforated lines. Other tools such as 3D printers can be used to construct objects by printing successive layers of materials to form an object.

A new generation of digital fabrication tools makes creation of tangible products a possibility for teachers and students. The example in the video below illustrates how a Silhouette die cutting system can be used to create a rack-and-pinion gear.

Look for more examples like the one featured in this video on the Innovative Examples page.

FabLab: Ideas for Teachers & Educators

This website supports teachers and educators in their efforts to engage in the digital fabrication process. This is accomplished through freely sharing shapes and digital designs, providing examples from schools, creating a networked community, and giving assistance in the form of immediate help and tutorials. To understand how this website addresses these goals, please visit: