Maker Experience? 3D Printing?...Solved at Nowon Makers One

Daily 'Saturday Maker Experience' and '3D Printing Workshop' for Casual Enjoyment... Various Equipment Rentals and 3D Printing Services for Maker Activities... Support for Employment and Startups through 4th Industrial Revolution Equipment and Software Training

Saturday Maker Workshop

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok)’s ‘Nowon Makers One’ is gaining attention as a new hotspot for maker culture where people can experience 3D printing without burden.

A ‘maker’ refers to a person who imagines, assembles, and develops things independently using various tools such as 3D printers based on imagination and creativity.

The maker movement, which goes beyond simply making things to sharing methods online and creating better things, is spreading worldwide.

In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, 3D printing, which is increasingly being utilized, plays a very important role in maker culture. However, despite high interest, it is still difficult for the general public to access due to reasons such as time and cost.

Nowon Makers One is solving these concerns. Since its opening, Nowon Makers One, located in Gongneung-dong (74, Dongil-ro 192-gil, 7th floor, U-eun Building), has welcomed a cumulative total of 5,439 visitors.

It was established in November 2018 to build educational infrastructure for the 4th Industrial Revolution, support startups and employment, and provide an open space for makers. Currently, it supports maker education including 3D printing, equipment rental, and prototype production.

Education includes ‘mandatory equipment training’ and ‘software training’ for utilizing 3D printing. The monthly ‘mandatory equipment training’ teaches how to use 3D printers, laser cutters, and UV printers. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 5 people in mid-month. The course is free of charge.

‘Software training’ includes ZBrush, which allows making character figures from animated movies using 3D printing; Fusion 360, which is highly regarded for being easy to learn even for beginners in design; and Arduino education, known as a small computer famous for open-source hardware that anyone can use without copyright issues. Since opening, 1,152 people have completed these two courses.

Beyond simple education, efforts are being made to build a job platform through training and corporate support. Last year, a total of 55 people found employment or started businesses through education, and this year, plans are in place to provide career support including employment through education for people with disabilities.

Anyone who completes the mandatory equipment training and becomes a member can use the 3D printers, laser cutters, UV printers, and other equipment here. Last year, 2,717 3D prints and 363 laser cutter outputs were supported, and prototype production was supported for 615 cases from 28 companies.

Among the programs, the most popular are the one-day experiences ‘Saturday Experience’ and ‘3D Printing Workshop.’

‘Saturday Experience’ is a time for children and parents to feel the maker culture using various tools according to the day’s theme. The first Saturday Experience theme of this year is ‘Making a Mood Lamp.’ One elementary school student or older and one parent form a pair to make a mood lamp using various tools. The capacity is up to 5 families (10 people), and the participation fee is 20,000 KRW for two people.

Another program, the ‘3D Printing Workshop,’ is designed for beginners who are new to 3D printing. The target audience is general public aged middle school and above. Participants can directly experience everything from modeling to printing with 3D printing, which is unfamiliar due to limited exposure. The fee is 30,000 KRW per person.

Mandatory Equipment Training

Since the one-day experience programs were not yet popularized, they were operated irregularly with small groups of about 5 teams of 2 people each until last year. This year, based on the positive response, the number of courses will be increased. Courses are announced through the district office newsletter and website, so consistent interest is needed to seize the opportunity to enroll.

Registration for the one-day experience programs starting on February 25 (3D Printing Workshop) and February 29 (Saturday Experience) is open on a first-come, first-served basis from the 20th of this month on the Nowon Makers One website (www.nowonmakers1.or.kr).

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Maker culture, which may seem somewhat abstract, can be concretely experienced at Nowon Makers One,” adding, “Especially, this is a great opportunity to receive 3D printing education, which is emerging as a key role in future industries, without burden, so I hope many people actively utilize it.”

Nowon Makers One 070-7718-2462

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.