Financial Considerations
Perhaps the single most influential factor that will determine the type of space you will be creating, is the amount of money that you have to invest into the development and upkeep of the space. A large part of my role as manager of the MakerLounge is developing and managing a budget for the upkeep and future development of our space. Given that our space is developed within a title 1 public charter school here in San Diego, means that we do not have the largest operating budget available, and that we have to be creative with finding and allocating funding for our space. It is a fact that MakerSpaces cost money to develop and sustain. That being said I have seen successful MakerSpaces developed and run off of budgets ranging in cost from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. As each space has specific limitations, many of which are financially based, this section is broken into three categories based upon the type of budget you have available.
$ - Budget Spaces ($100 - $1000)
If you are a teacher looking to develop a MakerSpace within your class or perhaps interested in developing a small after school maker program chances are you limited to a small budget for tools and materials. Fortunately this doesn't mean you have to have a low quality space. When I first started teaching at High Tech Middle Chula Vista, I knew that I wanted to have making play a central role in the type of learning my students were engaged in within my class. Initially, I was limited only to my standard yearly budget for the development, which meant that I was limited to only a few hundred dollars for the development of my first MakerSpace. With the help of my students we developed a proposal for what would become our very own MakerSpace within a corner of my class room. We ultimately purchased some raw lumber, a few basic, but essential hand tools and a compound miter saw, and from there developed the space you see to your right. Initially, it didn't have quite as many tools as you see now, but those got added through the years as we continued to develop and refine our space. If you are on a tight budget here are a few words of advice:
- Invest in tools rather than materials. With the right tools you can make just about anything...from anything. Tools last, materials are consumed. Raw materials are rather easy to come by if you know where to look, and often times, if you are creative these can often come at little or no cost to you. Call up a local contracting business and ask for scraps or cut offs, talk to local business who use the materials you are looking for. Often times, with a little coercion these business are happy to have you take there scraps off of their hands. If you are a public school or non profit, get your tax id number and use this as a motivating factor. Most business are glad to make a small donation in exchange for a tax write off.
- Request donations - Send out an email to your families or local community members. Most people have an extra tool or two just sitting around in their garage taking up space that they would be happy to see get some use. It doesn't hurt to ask, and often times you might be surprised what you can get. I start each year by sending an email to my families explaining how many of my projects are developed based around donations we receive. I provide a list of tools and materials that I am looking to acquire and let them know that if they have anything else that they think might benefit our class to let me know. I have received everything from LEDs and air compressors to hand tools and hardware this way. We even received our CNC router this way. Follow up with a thank you and few pictures of students using the resources and word will spread.
- Quality over quantity - Having a limited budget can often mean having to decide between one higher cost tool or several lower cost ones. In my 20+ years of experience making just about everything, I can honestly say that when it comes to tools...you get what you pay for. Higher quality tools tend to cost more for a reason - they are built to last. While its true you can pick up a table saw at your local hardware store for around $100 dollars, its going to be mostly plastic and wear out over a couple of years. Whereas, a $500 used cabinet saw is made of cast iron and will last longer than you will. Tools are an investment, so be wise with your money. For more information on tools and recommendations check out the Tools for MakerSpaces section.
- Crowd Source Funding and Grants - I am a huge proponent of the use of crowd source funding and grants for the development of MakerSpaces. Sites such as donors's choose, kickstarter and indigo go allow you to present your project to a larger audience and request funding. I frequently use donor's choose to post dream projects and request tools and materials that are out of my price range. With a little investment in time you can often acquire great results. Over the past five years Making has emerged as a hot topic in progressive education. With many CTE programs being canceled in schools through the 90's there is a growing need for qualified and interested individuals in these fields. As such, many grants are being offered to bring this type of education back into schools. If you are willing to invest the time and effort into reviving programs such as these, funding is becoming easier to come by.
$$ - Mid Range Spaces ($1000 - $30,000)
My first attempt at developing a communal MakerSpace at our school involved me purchasing a mobile contractors tool box and loading it with a few hundred dollars worth of tools. This "mobile MakerSpace" could then be wheeled in and out of classrooms and used to support the projects our students were working on. This Maker Kit is still in use and has served us well. However, as our staff's interest in making has grown, so has our wish list of desired capabilities. About five years ago I took a class on laser cutting with a few of my colleagues and was immediately struck by the potential this tool could have on our school. I immediately met with my director and explained how we had to have one of these machines. After some deliberation, she was on board with the idea. Our biggest challenge was where this machine would be housed and how it would be funded. Ultimately, this conversation led to the initial concept of the MakerLounge. The financing of the space came through some creative budgeting through collaboration with the three schools on our campus. A year later a began on the conversion of an old facilities store room to what is now the Maker Lounge.
A space within this category can allow for the use of higher end and more professional machines and materials such as laser cutters, 3d printers and robotics kits. With an initial budget in this range most likely a physical space will be required to house the tools machines and materials purchased, which ultimately can help determine the type of space you are developing. A dedicated MakerSpace adds a new level of complexity to the plan you are developing. If this is the type of space you plan to develop take the time to work through each section of this guide and plan your project accordingly. The effort you invest now will directly impact the success of the space once developed.
A space within this category can allow for the use of higher end and more professional machines and materials such as laser cutters, 3d printers and robotics kits. With an initial budget in this range most likely a physical space will be required to house the tools machines and materials purchased, which ultimately can help determine the type of space you are developing. A dedicated MakerSpace adds a new level of complexity to the plan you are developing. If this is the type of space you plan to develop take the time to work through each section of this guide and plan your project accordingly. The effort you invest now will directly impact the success of the space once developed.
$$$ - High End Spaces ($30,000+)
Most MakerSpaces are somewhat limited by the amount of funding available for the space. However, If you are developing a MakerSpace from the ground up and have access to a substantial budget, then finances become less of a limit and other factors begin to take precedence. MakerSpaces in this range gain access to multiple high end CNC machines, have the ability to work with a large array of different materials and often have multiples of the same tools to speed up production and provide greater access. While I would argue that every MakerSpace should have a dedicated person running it. A space in this category all but requires it. With an investment as significant as this, you want someone who knows the in's and out's of each of each of the tools and machines, knows how to identify potential issues, as well as fix and maintain them. If this is the type of space you are developing then I highly recommend bringing someone on board early in the design phase of the space who will fill this role in the future.
If you are an administrator leading this type of project and are not familiar with all of these details, it can be worth while to invest in a consultant to help you through this process. A large part of what I do outside of my general role as a teacher is work with schools and organizations to advise the development of spaces. Please feel free to contact me with questions or recommendations if you are interested.
If you have the support and team necessary to develop this type of space, take the time to work through this guide to plan your space and familiarize yourself with the general process of doing so.
If you are an administrator leading this type of project and are not familiar with all of these details, it can be worth while to invest in a consultant to help you through this process. A large part of what I do outside of my general role as a teacher is work with schools and organizations to advise the development of spaces. Please feel free to contact me with questions or recommendations if you are interested.
If you have the support and team necessary to develop this type of space, take the time to work through this guide to plan your space and familiarize yourself with the general process of doing so.
General Recommendations
Developing a fully functional MakerSpace is extensive process that involves a lot of time effort and critical problem solving, regardless of the type of space you wish to produce. When developing your initial budget for your space there are a few financial aspects you should consider, which might not be as apparent. Below are a few things to think about regardless of how much you have to spend.
- MakerSpaces require upkeep and maintenance. Drill bits break, blades get dull, computers need upgrades and so on. It is important to factor these future costs into your proposed budget.
- Many larger machines require dedicated power (often above 120v) and possible infrastructure modifications. For example a laser cutter needs proper ventilation, and many larger power tools require 240v or 3phase power. If your current space does not have these modifications will need to be made, all of which cost $. See the Tools for MakerSpaces for more information on these requirements.
- Safety is a major concern in all MakerSpaces, and can require anything from safety glasses to proper dust collection and air filtration.
- Materials costs - you can have the largest selection of tools and machines, but if you don't have the materials to use them they will just sit dormant. Where will the materials come from and how will they be financed.
- Access to funds - Even the most well planned spaces are going to have unforeseen costs. Who will have access to this funding and how easy will they be able to access it. Having to go through a department chair to replace a sanding belt can be a time consuming and unnecessary hassle. Consider having a dedicated account for your MakerSpace with direct access to funding should it be needed.
- Personel costs - each MakerSpace should have a dedicated person or persons whose job it is to run/maintain the space. As passionate and committed as someone may seem, a little financial motivation can go a long way towards insuring the success of your space.