Experiential Launches Community Manufacturing Initiative (CMI) to Empower Local Innovation
Are you interested in bringing an advanced manufacturing program to your school, college, or community? Or maybe your company is looking for ways to get involved? CMI is a volunteer-led effort to teach students advanced manufacturing that serves their local community
Through the XRP project, SparkFun has had the opportunity to serve as an Experiential consortium member, a group of educators, industry leaders, and orgs dedicated to preparing young people for the future by creating open learning resources to support STEM, workforce development, and career pathways. Experiential has launched the Community Manufacturing Initiative (CMI), which is led by consortium members David Tobin (Audiojack, 3D Printing Nerd) and Joel Telling (3D Printing Nerd); this initative offers the transformative vision to give local communities the ability to foster their own economic growth through advanced manufacturing.
What is the CMI?
The Community Manufacturing Initiative is a model that leverages local enterprise-ready 3D print farms and other manufacturing capabilities that produce parts to meet local needs. Although the model looks different based on community resources, a good example was recently implemented statewide in New Hampshire where the community colleges 3D print parts to supply middle and high schools across the state with the plastics in the XRP Kit, significantly decreasing the cost of the kit and directly connecting the community colleges with the local schools. This model provides real-world manufacturing and distribution experience for the community colleges while supporting the development of STEM and robotics skills in schools.
According to Experiential, "CMI is a coordinated effort to integrate manufacturing into the community by fostering partnerships between local businesses, educational institutions, and local government that aim to boost economic development, create jobs, and inspire innovation." The initiative includes:
- Vocational training programs via community colleges and makerspaces
- Marketing and education resources to help small producers grow
- Open-source tools and file libraries to support product design and prototyping
- 360° media and storytelling assets so communities can share and celebrate their work
If you interested in bringing an advanced manufacturing program to your school, college, or community, or if your company is looking for ways to get involved, you can apply on the Experiential site.
Learn MoreLeading the CMI and Forthcoming Resources
David Tobin (Audiojack, 3D Printing Nerd) and Joel Telling (3D Printing Nerd) are at the helm of this effort, and their collective experience, advanced manufacturing logistical knowledge, and connections and partnerships make them the perfect pair to do so. They have long been committed to putting out free content that has been an important contribution to the collective available information online about 3D Printing; many of our customers are familiar their open-source ethos. Take this video for example: recently released, it details the data-heavy process that goes into 3D printing the parts of an XRP. Just one video in a planned series that will go into depth about how to set up an efficient and operational print farm, these videos will prove useful to the audience of the CMI and anyone interested in what this will concretely look like. Additionally, a large repository of open-source files are available and planned CMI courses that will teach skills like supply chain management, quality control, CAD, and preventative maintenance.
Tobin goes into detail on the CMI's genesis in a recent interview with ALL3DP. He explains, “We want everyone to have access to everything. When the pandemic hit, we really saw how we could be a part of that. We helped make face shields – helped coordinate groups all over the US and other countries. We’ve got to start letting these communities know these amazing resources exist and amplify that.”
By opening up access to manufacturing technology, CMI invites everyone to participate, regardless of experience level or time commitment. Whether you're a student, entrepreneur, or skilled tradesperson, the door is open.
Learn more at www.Experiential.bot/CMI
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