Mar. 23, 2015 | By Alec
As the current climate of development and manufacturing is changing, it’s no wonder that schools, colleges and businesses are trying to adapt as well. That can be problematic as budgets aren’t always well-equipped for huge alterations and investments, so it’s hardly surprising that many schools and other institutes are slow to adapt to the advent of 3D printing technology. Regardless of how enthusiastic science teachers are.
Fortunately, one group of young ambitious entrepreneurs, who have banded together to found Betaversity, have come up with a temporary solution: the BetaBox, an on-demand mobile prototyping lab that is ingeniously housed in a repurposed shipping container. Thanks to this clever housing solution, this 25 foot lab can be easily delivered to your doorstep or campus. It’s a perfect option for one-off prototyping projects or workshops for students.
As founder of Betaversity Blake Marggraff revealed, the BetaBox concept was first developed in 2014 as a solution for the ongoing manufacturing revolution. ‘The whole maker movement and the idea of learning by doing and design-thinking—all of these concepts were spreading through the higher-education ecosystem, and we positioned ourselves in the forefront of that wave,’ he says. To fully function as an incubator for innovative prototyping, the guys from Betaversity include a 3D printer, a CNC mill and a laser cutter in every Box, as well as a trained employee who can handle all of them. A wide range of hardware and software options are optional as well, such as 3D scanners, Speed of Thought materials, leap motion technology, SolidWorks software, 3D Doodler, Adobe, and of course soldering stations and power tools. In short, everything you might need during a prototyping project.
But perhaps most original is its shipping container housing. As the company’s creative director Nicholas Sailer told reporters, that idea came into existence when one of the company’s cofounders attented an entrepreneur event. ‘He heard of a shipping container that otherwise would have been discarded and he just went out and bought it.’ But Sailer was quick to add that the inside of their BetaBoxes look nothing like a shipping container. ‘We were both really keen on getting a distinct aesthetic for the BetaBox. We wanted it to be very inviting, very clean, and very welcoming, and to take any sort of intimidation away, and I think we’ve done that. All of the walls are white boards, and we put a lot of effort into giving it a very distinct, fresh look,’ he says.
Inside a BetaBox.
What’s more, the BetaBoxes are already available to rent on a weekly basis. While prices depend on where it needs to be shipped to and what options you want to include, it costs about $4000 to $5000 per week to rent. ‘But it’s not just about having the latest rapid prototyping equipment; it’s about creating a culture of creativity and entrepreneurial thinking on your campus. Every rentals includes a Betaversity expert that will help your students bring their ideas to life. We’ll even help you with gaining support from your administrators, preparing a grant proposal or planning your crowdfunding campaign!’ they write on their website.
The BetaBox's PrintrBot 3D printer.
While the concept is still very young, responses from schools and other institutes have been widely enthusiastic so far, convincing its developers to look into increasing their supply and circulation options for the BetaBox. If you or your business are looking towards hosting a temporary 3D printing or manufacturing project, this might just be the ticket. If so, go here for more information.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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This is pretty much a re-hash idea. Not the first do to something like this. http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Factory/
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