Written by Cai Davies, Translated by Iwan Thomas

Did you know that the university has a space for making whatever your heart desires? Well, maybe that’s a little dramatic. But with a 3D printer, a laser cutter, an embroidery machine and a vinyl cutter, you can make quite a lot! 

In 2017, postgraduate students Tom and Sam founded the Aberystwyth University Makerspace. If you wish to craft and construct using machines you don’t have at home, or if you cannot find what you want online, this is the place for you. It is part of the Department of Computer Science, which also provides its funding. Located in the physical sciences building, the Makerspace is open from 9 to 6 on weekdays for undergraduates. It is now run by senior lecturer Dr Hannah Dee, who was kind enough to show me around and even give me a surprise induction.  

The 3D printer uses filament in order to print its materials. A record of filament use next to the 3D printer proves how popular the space is, with entries being written consistently every couple of days. 

I was particularly impressed with the embroidery machine, which works incredibly quickly. It has inbuilt text and decorations you can program on the machine, but you can also load your own designs. It is surprisingly intuitive.  

The space is subject to important health and safety guidelines, and a common-sense approach to the use of its resources. An induction is required before access is allowed. This ensures that the space is used properly. The induction took around 20 minutes, and I really enjoyed it!   

Hannah Dee said: ‘It's good to see people being creative with technology. Sometimes people think of tech, code and engineering as being a bit dull, but places like the Makerspace really put the creative side of computing and technology to the fore and that's great.’ 

Hannah emphasised the importance of ensuring it is a safe space for creators. She also pointed out that the space is not only for computer science students - it is open to anyone with a curious mind.  With a bit of planning, you can create game pieces, signs, patches and so much more.  

Makerspaces are found in universities, libraries and schools around the country. They are inspired by hackerspaces, which are community-operated spaces for people to work on computing projects.  Makerspaces often include the same machines found in Aberystwyth, but one can usually find anything related to crafting or building in them.

Projects created in our own university’s Makerspace include this Warhammer piece printed and painted by Jack Taylor:

Jack said, ‘It’s really cool to have a space and community where I can push an inkling of interest in a geeky hobby into a full-blown obsession.’  

Another example by Hannah uses both the embroidery machine and the laser cutter:  

The Makerspace is looking to expand to a larger room with more making equipment.

If you wish to be inducted into the Makerspace, fill out the following form:  

https://forms.office.com/r/6Btfaq6PN8

The Makerspace also has a Discord server, on which members can help each other out and plan new projects. You can find the server on the Makerspace website, which is linked below. 

For more information on the space, see its website:  

https://makerspace.dcs.aber.ac.uk/en/

Special thanks to Dr Hannah Dee and Jack Taylor for assistance with this article.

Cymraeg

Oeddech chi'n gwybod bod gan y Brifysgol le i greu beth bynnag y mae eich calon yn ei ddymuno? Wel, efallai bod hynny ychydig yn ddramatig. Ond gydag argraffydd 3D, torrwr laser, peiriant brodwaith, a thorrwr finyl, gallwch chi wneud cryn dipyn! 

Yn 2017, sefydlodd y myfyrwyr ôl-raddedig Tom a Sam y Makerspace Prifysgol Aberystwyth. Os ydych chi eisiau crefftio ac adeiladu gan ddefnyddio peiriannau nad oes gennych chi gartref, neu os na allwch chi ddod o hyd i'r hyn rydych chi ei eisiau ar-lein, dyma'r lle i chi. Mae'n rhan o'r Adran Gyfrifiadureg, sydd hefyd yn darparu ei chyllid. Wedi'i leoli yn Adeilad y Gwyddorau Ffisegol, mae'r Makerspace ar agor o 9 tan 6 yn ystod yr wythnos i israddedigion. Bellach mae’n cael ei redeg gan yr uwch ddarlithydd Dr Hannah Dee, a oedd yn ddigon caredig i’m tywys o gwmpas a hyd yn oed roi cyflwyniad syrpreis i mi. 

Mae'r argraffydd 3D yn defnyddio ffilament i argraffu ei ddeunyddiau. Mae cofnod o ddefnydd ffilament wrth ymyl yr argraffydd 3D yn profi pa mor boblogaidd yw'r gofod, gyda chofnodion yn cael eu hysgrifennu'n rheolaidd bob dau ddiwrnod. 

Gwnaeth y peiriant brodwaith argraff arbennig arnaf, sy'n gweithio'n anhygoel o gyflym. Mae ganddo destun ac addurniadau mewnol y gallwch chi eu rhaglennu ar y peiriant, ond gallwch chi hefyd uwchlwytho'ch dyluniadau eich hun. Mae'n rhyfeddol o reddfol.Mae'r gofod yn amodol ar ganllawiau iechyd a diogelwch pwysig, a dull synnwyr cyffredin o ddefnyddio ei adnoddau. Mae angen sesiwn sefydlu cyn y caniateir mynediad. Mae hyn yn sicrhau bod y gofod yn cael ei ddefnyddio'n iawn. Cymerodd yr anwytho tua 20 munud, a mwynheais yn fawr! 

Dywedodd Dr Hannah Dee: 'Mae'n dda gweld pobl yn bod yn greadigol gyda thechnoleg. Weithiau mae pobl yn meddwl bod technoleg, cod a pheirianneg ychydig yn ddiflas, ond mae lleoedd fel y Makerspace yn dod ag ochr greadigol cyfrifiadura a thechnoleg allan ac mae hynny'n wych.'

Pwysleisiodd Hannah bwysigrwydd sicrhau ei fod yn ofod diogel i grewyr. Tynnodd sylw hefyd at y ffaith nad yw'r gofod ar gyfer myfyrwyr cyfrifiadureg yn unig - mae'n agored i unrhyw un sydd â meddwl chwilfrydig. Gyda thipyn o gynllunio, gallwch greu darnau gêm, arwyddion, clytiau a llawer mwy. 

Gellir dod o hyd i Makerspaces mewn prifysgolion, llyfrgelloedd ac ysgolion ledled y wlad. Cânt eu hysbrydoli gan hacwyr, sef gofodau a weithredir gan y gymuned i bobl weithio ar brosiectau cyfrifiadura. Mae makerspaces yn aml yn cynnwys yr un peiriannau ag a geir yn Aberystwyth, ond fel arfer gellir dod o hyd i unrhyw beth sy'n ymwneud â saernïo neu adeiladu ynddynt. 

Mae prosiectau a grëwyd yn ein Makerspace y Brifysgol ein hunain yn cynnwys y darn Warhammer hwn a argraffwyd ac a baentiwyd gan Jack Taylor: 

Mae Hannah yn darparu enghraifft arall o greadigaeth gan ddefnyddio’r peiriant brodwaith a’r torrwr laser:

Mae'r Makerspace yn bwriadu ehangu i ystafell fwy gyda mwy o offer. 

Os hoffech ymuno â Makerspace, llenwch y ffurflen ganlynol: 

https://forms.office.com/r/6Btfaq6PN8

Mae gan y Makerspace weinydd Discord hefyd, lle gall aelodau helpu ei gilydd a chynllunio prosiectau newydd. Gallwch ddod o hyd i'r gweinydd ar wefan Makerspace, sydd wedi'i gysylltu isod. 

Am ragor o wybodaeth am y gofod, gweler ei wefan: 

https://makerspace.dcs.aber.ac.uk/en/

Diolch arbennig i Dr Hannah Dee a Jack Taylor am eu cymorth gyda'r erthygl hon.