NextFab

I went here last night for the Science Festival Kickoff party.
So. Cool.
It’s a pretty big space, with lots of different machines and tools. They were giving demonstrations on all their 3D printing machines, and were super friendly about explaining the process (if you don’t know what that is, google it. It’ll blow your mind).
If I needed a space to do occasional work, I’d look into here. They had all kinds of other wood working tools, saws, and equipment.
The only thing I wasn’t thrilled about was the parking… but I think that might have just been from the party, and not the usual situation.

Holy crap. I’m still reeling from my tour on Friday, but I’m pretty confident that this is the coolest place EVER.
They have a ton of fancy machinery like 3D printers/​scanners, laser cutters, large format printers, things that can cut steel, etc.; as well as more run-​of-​the-​mill woodshop type stuff (saws, hand tools etc.) and smaller-​scale tools for embroidery and t-​shirt printing. For a monthly fee, you can use their equipment to make pretty much anything you can dream up. Or, you can just hire them to build your design for you. Or, you can hire them to design something AND build it for you.
For members, they offer classes on how to use all the equipment and software. The staff could not be friendlier.
I’m not an artist, designer, engineer, architect or anything similar, but as soon as there is room in my budget, I want to become a member and make cool stuff for my apartment– or just hang out there and bask in the gloriously nerdy and creative atmosphere.
SO. COOL.

I needed a place to build my project, and I knew that there were maker spaces which had tools. I needed a space which specifically had a CNC mill, and NextFab was the only one I could find that had one, but they also have other machines: two 3D printers, a 3D scanner, some large-​format printer/​cutters, a laser cutter, a Shop Bot, a lathe, a vertical mill, a CNC plasma cutter, a bandsaw, a table saw, all sorts of other wood-​working equipment, power tools, welding equipment, electronics equipment, a microscope, and so on. They also have software: Solidworks, the Adobe Suite, and some others. There is also a wet lab for chemical-​type stuff.
I went to tour their facility, and it blew me away! They have all the tools I needed, which means I don’t have to buy the tools myself. Also, they have expert and friendly engineers on staff who know all about the tools and software, so I don’t have to figure them out by myself. They also have classes for each of the machines, taught by the experts, and these classes are required to use them.
You can pay a monthly or yearly fee to become a member. Many machines are then free to use, but some cost a small amount per hour. For nonmembers, the prices are higher.
This place is awesome:
* All the tools you need.
* You don’t have to buy the tools yourself.
* Experts in all the tools.
* You don’t have to learn the tools on your own.
* Expert help for your project when you need it.
* Creative people and surroundings get the juices flowing!
* Everyone is so friendly!