Charlotte Digital Fabrication Collective Kick Off Meeting

Description:
Kick off your journey with fellow makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the Charlotte area at the inaugural gathering of the Charlotte Digital Fabrication Collective. Whether you’ve got a basement 3D–printer setup or a full CNC shop, this is your chance to connect, collaborate, and turn passion projects into possibilities.
What to Expect:

1. Welcome & Quick Overview
   – Brief intro to the Collective’s mission: sharing knowledge, tools, and business opportunities in DIY manufacturing, 3D modeling, CNC, and 3D printing.
2. Member Introductions
   – Go around the room (or Zoom): name, background, and what drew you to digital fabrication.
3. Show & Tell: Your Setup
   – Share the hardware and software you use (e.g., Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, Ender 3, Shapeoko CNC), plus any special capabilities (multi-material printing, laser engraving, large-format CNC).
4. Resource-Sharing Framework
   – Introduce how we’ll catalog and lend out tools, materials, and expertise (e.g., filament swaps, shared slicer profiles, joint orders for supplies).
5. Job-Shop Network
   – Discuss building a “maker marketplace”—trade or contract small jobs within the group, set fair rates, and support one another’s side hustles.
6. Next Steps & Wrap-Up
   – Set up our Slack/Discord channel, schedule the first workshop/demo (e.g., “Intro to Resin Printing”), and invite volunteers to host.

Why Attend?

• Build your network of local fabricators
• Learn new techniques and optimize your workflow
• Turn excess capacity on your machines into income or bartered services
• Help shape the Collective’s future events and resources

Come ready to share, learn, and collaborate—let’s make Charlotte the go-to hub for digital fabrication!