Berlin’s emerging tech start-up Scene gathered at Platoon-Kunsthalle on November 7th and 8th for the first MaketechX Conference. The event considers itself to be a meeting point for thinkers, makers and developers of open source technology involving modern production tools like 3D printers and innovative projects.

Young creatives were given a forum to present their ideas, to connect with networks and to discuss new solutions. Conference founders Lizzy and René Herzer provided a mobile FabLab to demonstrate the potentials of localized Do-It-Yourself production. The event drew considerable media attention from local and national media such as Deutsche Welle and involved multiple lectures, workshops and presentations on open source manufacturing. TU Berlin research engineers Bernd Muschard and Jérémy Bonvoisin represented the collaborative research centre (CRC) 1026 „Sustainable Manufacturing – Shaping Global Value Creation“ in the event and presented their current research.

Bonvoisin talked about his latest project, the Do-It-Yourself bicycle, a bike, that is almost completely made of standard aluminum parts and can be assembled by amateurs. It can be reassembled and recycled entirely and therefore combines local value creation and ecologic sustainability. Muschard drew much attention with his ongoing project, the „CubeFactory“. The roughly 1m x 1m x 1m tall cube is an outright autarkic mini factory that includes almost everything one needs to manufacture products independently. The cube contains a modern 3D printer that produces no waste and requires little energy. The power supply comes from five solar panels in the walls of the cube and is saved in a built-in battery that is able to power the cube for up to eight hours of operation. The materials for 3D printing derive from plastic waste that is shredded within the cube and then reused. It was accompanied by a touchscreen computer which provides knowledge about the different dimensions of sustainability and also served as an instructional tool on how to use the mini factory.
The CRC coined the term „Learnstruments“ for this kind of machines that explain themselves to the user.

The lecture was well received and Muschard went on to exhibit the „CubeFactory“ over the entire weekend and showed the stunned visitors its inner workings. With over 400 participants the MaketechX conference was a success and will be held again next year.

Contact:
Dipl.-Ing. Bernd Muschard
CRC 1026 – Public Awareness
Technische Universität Berlin
Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Fabrikbetrieb (IWF)
Fachgebiet Montagetechnik und Fabrikbetrieb
Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Günther Seliger

TU Berlin, PTZ 2, Room 339
Pascalstr. 8-9, 10587 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0) 30 / 314 – 26865
Email: muschard@mf.tu-berlin.de [4]

MaketechX: http://www.maketechx.com/en/conference-event-berlin-2013/ [5]

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