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Hardware

Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

By Lyndsey Gilpin July 24, 2014, 12:14 PM PDT

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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

FirstBuild opens

FirstBuild opens

GE launched FirstBuild, a makerspace to create the next generation of appliances, in Louisville, Kentucky. The microfactory is in partnership with the University of Louisville and Local Motors, an open source hardware platform.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis

Bre Pettis is the CEO of MakerBot, which is owned by Stratasys.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

MakerBot 3D printer

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

MakerBot 3D printer

MakerBot is the leading desktop 3D printer manufacturer. The company just started selling their products in certain Home Depot.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

MakerBot 3D printer

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

MakerBot 3D printer

MakerBot’s printers are FDM, which means they use plastic to create 3D models and products.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

Bre Pettis' autograph

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

Bre Pettis' autograph

Bre Pettis spoke to the audience at the opening about the future of 3D printing and how it will help the process of micro-manufacturing that will take place at FirstBuild.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

More autographs

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

More autographs

“Never stop making,” Bre Pettis wrote on the MakerBot that he signed.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

FirstBuild ideas

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

FirstBuild ideas

FirstBuild will be a home for the community, which includes students, makers, enthusiasts, and engineers. They can come with their ideas for smart home appliances and work on making them a reality.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

FirstBuild lab

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

FirstBuild lab

The FirstBuild lab is full of 3D printers and power tools so that the community can actually start to build working prototypes of their ideas.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

FirstBuild's microfactory

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

FirstBuild's microfactory

People can pitch their ideas through the FirstBuild website, which is open to people all around the world. Users can vote on the ideas they like, and the winners can utilize the FirstBuild facilities and hopefully get their products to market.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

Water jet

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

Water jet

This water jet machine is used to cut six-inch thick steel for the projects made at FirstBuild.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

Micro-kitchen

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

Micro-kitchen

GE held a challenge to build a micro-kitchen. There were several winners from around the world, who pitched ideas to build a kitchen that will work in small spaces because of our crowded, growing cities.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

3D printed objects

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

3D printed objects

These were 3D printed using a Stratasys computer, which was running throughout the event.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

More 3D printed goodies

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

More 3D printed goodies

These objects were 3D printed for the event as well.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic
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Photos: GE’s FirstBuild launches industrial makerspace to advance co-creation

FirstBuild is open to the public

Image: Jason HinerTechRepublic

FirstBuild is open to the public

The FirstBuild office was almost completely finished, with the exception of a few areas. It will be open to the public from now on, and students at U of L will utilize the space in the fall when school starts.

SEE: GE’s FirstBuild facility opens its doors (CNET)

Image: Jason HinerTechRepublic
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By Lyndsey Gilpin
Lyndsey Gilpin is a former Staff Writer for TechRepublic, covering sustainability and entrepreneurship. She's co-author of the book Follow the Geeks.
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