Sandbox Intern Road Map

This roadmap was created to guide the learning experience for interns learning to use the Singh Sandbox Makerspace. No prior maker skills are assumed.

Let's Start With Lasers

Just to be different, let's start your maker journey with the laser cutter. Others may suggest you start with a different tool, maybe a 3D printer, Vinyl Cutter, or even that you start with Electronics or Woodworking. If you're making the rules you can do that.

We're going to start at the laser since it's the simplest of all the powerful maker tools. It's powerful because it cuts cleanly and quickly, there's almost a magical power to it. It's simple because it hides much of the complexity you have to understand on tools like the CNC router. We don't have to learn about work holding strategies or choose the best cutting tool.

CAD/CAM Strategy

Computer Aided Design (CAD) is a vital maker skill, it's the method of communicating what you're going to make. Sometimes this communication is only for your own use but that doesn't make it any less important. If you ever want to make another copy of your project having a CAD drawing is important, especially if your re-do involves modifying your original design. Sure, it's a hassle to learn CAD and sometimes it would be more efficient to just sketch your idea on the back of an envelope, but you're probably going to have lost that envelope when the time comes to re-do or improve your project. You're less likely to misplace your CAD file (especially if you store it in the cloud) and redesign is much simpler when you have that CAD file to start with.