makerspace

A makerspace is a community center that provides technology, manufacturing equipment and educational opportunities to the public. 

Makerspaces allow community members to design, prototype and manufacture items using tools that would otherwise be  inaccessible or unaffordable such as  3-D printers, digital fabrication machines and computer-aided design (CAD) software. Makerspaces are typically funded by membership fees or through affiliations with external organizations, such as universities, for-profit companies, non-profit organizations and libraries.

The free exchange of ideas and resources is a central tenet of makerspaces. Often, members of different makerspaces will collaborate on projects and share knowledge at gatherings known as build nights or open-house days.