Digital Makerspaces and Launch of the AMPLE Brochure

Strengthening Innovation Through Digital Makerspaces

Within the AMPLE project, we are exploring how digitalisation can strengthen the process of moving from idea to prototype, and from prototype to pilot production and scaling.

But what does digitalisation mean in this context?

In AMPLE, digitalisation is about integrating data and digital tools into the makerspace workflow - from early design stages through to pilot production.

This includes:

• Using simulation tools to test design before physical production
• Collecting data from machines and processes during prototyping
• Decision making at the edge system layer
• Connecting cloud and edge systems to monitor and improve performance
• Support better and more confident future decision making 
• Tracking and studying the sustainability of makerspace technologies, and helping to reduce waste

By using digital tools, innovators working in makerspaces can move forward with greater confidence when developing their ideas.

Digitalisation plays a key role in addressing the societal challenge of sustainability. At the University of Galway makerspace, AMPLE is exploring how a digital twin of the makerspace can be developed. This includes simulating embodied carbon and energy use in creating products using real data from the makerspace.

This work is also being studied to help understand how a makerspace can be scaled and moved towards pilot production by finding bottle necks, effective tool layouts, and more.

We have launched a new brochure outlining some of the work AMPLE is doing.

Stay tuned to learn more about the AMPLE team’s recent face-to-face meeting in Ireland!!