Have you ever wondered what happens in a makerspace? Here’s how Appleton area makers stay busy

APPLETON — Running a makerspace is Cheyenne Fritsch’s passion.

Cheyenne, 28, was elected president of the nonprofit Appleton Makerspace this summer.

Under her leadership, the community workshop has experienced a dramatic increase in membership, from 10 to 55 – a fivefold increase in membership when it moved to its current location, 121R N. Douglas St., a decade ago.

Cheyenne said her love of tools and crafts, along with her dedication to the workshop, propelled her into the leadership role.

“I wanted to solve problems,” she said. “I wanted the makerspace to continue to grow exponentially. I didn’t want us to stagnate.”

The nonprofit organization offers members unlimited, 24/7 access to a 3D printing lab, wood shop, welding shop and craft studio, stocked with an assortment of high-quality 3D printers, a laser cutter, computerized cutting machines, sewing machines and more.

It also provides guidance on how to use tools, with dedicated trainers available for training online or on-site.

“It’s where community and tools have a space.”

Cheyenne developed a strong interest in robotics after joining a robotics team during her high school years in the Twin Cities area of ​​Minnesota, but she often noticed that girls lacked opportunities to pursue their dreams.

After moving to Milwaukee to pursue higher education at the Milwaukee Engineering School, she toured the Milwaukee Makerspace many times and found it inspiring. At school she met Austin Fritsch of Little Chute, her future husband, who shared the mentality of her creators.

Together, the duo moved back to the Fox Valley in 2021 and joined Appleton Makerspace the following year. They ended up spending a lot of time in the workshop, making wood and doing pottery projects.

The idea of ​​makerspace is not new.

The nationwide makerspace movement, which was deeply rooted in do-it-yourself (DIY) culture, became popular in the 1950s and 1960s, especially in hobbies such as woodworking, electronics, and crafts.

The movement also benefited from the adoption of reliable and affordable 3D printers for small organizations and communities. It has gained popularity in Madison, Milwaukee and other cities across the state – Appleton is no exception.

According to Austin Fritsch, Appleton Makerspace was founded in 2011 by a group of computer engineers who met in coffee shops and talked about 3D printing projects. The idea emerged in 2014, driven by the mission: “It’s where community and tools have a space.”

“We want to connect everyone in the community to a space where they can be creative and use tools they wouldn’t otherwise have access to,” he said.

Membership fees help fund new equipment, including a laser machine and a pottery room

Membership to the makerspace costs $80 per household, but students and members 65 and older can participate at a reduced monthly rate of $40. However, students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent.

There are also three studio spaces available for members to rent at a rate of $200 per month.

So far, membership fees are its main source of income, with about $20,000 in the bank – double the amount it had when the Fritsches joined three years ago.

While most members are young engineers and technicians, Cheyenne sees a diverse group of members, including Lawrence University students, retirees who can get a senior discount, and women.

She said she was the only girl when she joined, and now five or six women have joined.

“I don’t want to say it’s all on me, but we certainly haven’t made it so much of a men’s club,” she said.

As sales increased, the nonprofit purchased a new laser machine, costing $3,000, and added a pottery studio, with an estimated cost of $2,000.

The space has attracted a number of small business owners, although Cheyenne said her organization wants to help these owners acquire new skills, especially if they are just starting their business. However, she does not want these owners to use the tools for profit as they are intended for community members and hobbyists.

Regular open days help prospective members to determine whether it is a good match

For those who want to tour the space and see what is possible, the organization is organizing an open house on Thursday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The workshop offers approximately 50 square meters of wood workshop, 200 square meters of welding workshop and 40 square meters of craft shop, plus storage space and a kitchenette.

The 1,979-square-foot common area is convenient for working on projects. Daven Schwenke, a programmer from Pella, in rural Shawano County, said this is the makerspace closest to him. He loves space, where he has created 3D printables and even sewed a giant Halloween costume based on the cartoon character Groot.

Schwenke, who joined a month ago, said he will be making YouTube videos here to showcase his creations.

Amanda Conner, Appleton resident and former chief engineer who improved Huggies diapers for Kimberly-Clark, just completed a half-hour tutorial on how to use the CNC machine. Conner uses the tool to experiment with a small kangaroo head design, hoping it will later be carved into a piece of wood.

She said she signed up a week ago and is exploring fun ways to play with the things she learned at Fox Valley Technical College.

“It’s a hobby,” she said. “It’s a fun place to try things out.”

On a recent Thursday evening, the Fritsches attended an open house. Austin taught Conner how to use the CNC machine, while Cheyenne checked it with two new pieces of equipment that came into the workshop.

Once everything was organized, she looked around with a warm, beaming smile.

“I wanted the makerspace to function well, and I wanted it to follow my vision of what I wanted to see as a makerspace team,” she said.

Cheyenne, a child of immigrant parents from Laos who grew up in poverty, said she also hopes to be an inspiration to young women who look like her.

“I want them to know that they can do anything they put their minds to,” she added.

Zhen Wang is a business reporter for The Post-Crescent. Reach her at zwang@gannett.com or 920-993-7117.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton Makerspace offers opportunities for creative pursuits, DIY