3 Indian Makerspaces all young techies should know about

Makerspaces are community-based workshops to promote innovation. People can access machines and tools required to design or make things here and also share knowledge on making things. These tools range from high-tech fabrication machines such as 3D printers, to workstations having latest software to sewing machines and cardboard. All makerspaces encourage and invite working on team projects, and most have hands-on tech training according to the age of participants. Let’s look at 3 Indian makerspaces today  

Makers Asylum  
Makers Asylum is one of the earliest makerspace ventures in India. The Mumbai based makers community recently developed the M-19 face shield for frontline workers such as hospital staff and cleaning personnel. Boston University alumnus Vaibhav Chhabra had founded Maker’s Asylum as a space to turn ideas into tangible products. The lab has 3D printers, laser cutters, textile and wood work related equipment, welding, and electronics equipment, and experienced trainers to guide students.   

Maker’s Loft 
A strongly youth centric makerspace in Kolkata, they also have special hands on courses for very young children. However, Maker’s Loft is now concentrating on online innovation programmes, with a lot of choices on coding and hardware based programmes. Maker’s Loft has LEGO and Google Cardboard, a type of VR software to aid in these hybrid programmes. Once they reopen fully, students and innovators would again get a chance to work shoulder to shoulder on everything from fabricating toys and video games to working on traditional art forms such as block printing.   

Nutz and Bolts  
This huge 1,800 square foot makerspace in New Delhi welcomes all kinds of creative people from all age groups. It has its own workstations, conference rooms, display galleries, dining areas, work benches – everything needed to make successful projects. They also have an online and physical store from where electronic supplies, tools, hardware and software can be bought and rented. Nutz and Boltz encourages diversity and thinking out of the box, so engineers and film makers might be working on the same project together, with the project being designed by a bunch of school kids!