FabLab.iMAL
![Lumisokea & Legoman: "Selva" vinyl album covers](https://legacy.imal.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/feature/feature/lumisokeafeaturedcontent.jpg "Lumisokea & Legoman: "Selva" vinyl album covers")
Equipment
Our equipment is composed of CNC and digital fabrication machines as well as standard DIY tools (drills, saws, hammers,...) and electronics components: the fablab is indeed a Maker Space.
Our machines
The Lasercutter
Our lasercutter is a Cyborg LS-1080-K (from Ketele) with a working area of 100x80cm and powered by a 130W CO2 laser. It can cut through wood, acrylic/plexiglas, fabrics,... but no metal or glass. Although the machine can be used for engraving, the model we have (without a z axis but with a powerful laser) is more suited for cutting.
The control software, SmartCarve, can import DXF 2D vectors files (that can be exported from Illustrator or Inkscape) and bitmap images (BMP, JPG, GIF,..).
The CNC Mill
iMAL CNC routing/milling/engraving machine is a High-Z S-720 from German manufacturer cnc-step.
It's a 3 axis machine with a working area of 720x420mm (and 110mm in height). It is equipped with a Kress 1050W (10.000-30.000 rpm) spindle. We have a first set of tools (mills, drills) to cut and sculpt wood, plastic or soft metal (e.g. aluminium) and engrave PCB. The machine can be expanded to 4 axis and equipped with more powerful spindle for working harder material.
A dedicated PC is configured with various softwares to generate tool paths (machine gcode instructions) from 2d and 2.5d designs. Besides the basic softwares supplied by the manufacturer (Win-PC NC and ConstructCAM), we are using Deskproto and Galaad softwares.
There is also the PocketNC, is a little 5 axis CNC milling machine. More info here.
3D printers
We have some Fused Filament Fabrication (aka FDM) printers using ABS or PLA plastic:
- Ultimaker 2+
Extruder: 0.6mm (min layer: 0.1mm)
Printing volume: 23x23x20,5cm, heating bed (PLA only) - Stacker S2
Extruder: 0.4mm (min layer: 0.1mm)
Printing volume: 39x31,5x52,5cm (PLA only)
2 extruders for parallel or different materials printing
- Markforged 2
2 extruders: 1 nylon, 1 fiber glass (min layer: 0.1mm)
Printing volume: 32x13,2x15,4cm, heating bed
- Mendel 90
Extruder: 0.4mm (min layer: 0.1mm)
Printing volume: 20x20x20cm, heating bed (ABS uniquement)
- Ultimaker 2 GO
Extruder: 0.6mm (min layer: 0.1mm)
Printing volume: 10x10x10cm (PLA only)
All 3D printers can import 3D models in the STL format.
More info on Wikimak about the Ultimaker 2+, Ultimaker 2 Go, Stacker, Mendel et Markforged.
Thermoforming
iMAL's vacumm forming machine is a Formech 508FS. The machine is melting a sheet of plastic in order to be cast by a mold (an object, a 3D print etc).
Thermoforming is usefull for making molds, packaging or modelism.
Material size must be 508 x 457mm, thickness up to 6mm.
The baseboard size is 482mm on 432mm. The maximum depth of draw is 290mm.
The fablab can sell you some plastic sheets, more info here.
More infos on Wikimal about this machine.
Vinyl cutter
iMAL's vinyl cutter is a Silhouette Cameo 3, an affordable and accessible machine but it still a powerful one.
It can cut stickers and you can use a transfert film to make signages. It can also replace the cutter with markers and transform the machine into a plotter.
More info about materials here.
More info about this machine on Wikimal.
Wood and metal tools
- Cut off/mitre saw Proxxon KGS 80
Can cut up to 25mm with a precise angle. Cut wood, plastics and aluminium.
- Jigsaw
- Proxxon Table Saw FET
Cut a width up to 22mm. The height of the blade can be adjusted precisely. The blade tilt precisely up to 45 °. Cut wood, Plexiglas, fiber glass ..., non-ferrous metals.
- Drill press Bosh PBD 40
- Mini-lathe Axminster SC2 300, with all the accessories
Mini-lathe for wood and metal. Max length 300mm, diameter max 160mm. 100 to 2500 RPM. Resolution up to 0,025mm. Automatic feed and the ability to change the speed ratio.
Purchased with the support of Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Loterie Nationale, Fondation Orange and projet ERDF CASTII.
