MARK 6 – Prototyping Centre

We want to support the creativity and innovation by making the building of personal and collaborative projects affordable, by making available equipment and knowledge to make “almost anything”

More than tourism and sport, the Algarve is a region with great potential, but it has been a bit left behind regarding everything that doesn’t involve sun or beach.

Our objective with MARK 6 is to create better conditions innovation.

We need a place, a community, dynamics, equipment and knowledge from several areas. We are missing a hub where innovating is accessible to anyone, where the commitment and excitement for new experiments is a way of life  and where solutions rise up to any challenge.

Because of that, we put together the concepts of FabLab and R&D, a place where people and companies can give their projects a physical form.

What is a FabLab?

The concept is not new in Europe, and we already have some in Portugal.

A FabLab is a place open to the community with production equipment and technicians available, so anyone can make their products or systems with total freedom.

This equipment allows people and companies to work on several materials: metal, acrylic, wood, resin or plastic, several of those eco-friendly.

All you have to do is arrive to MARK 6, explain what you want to make, and we help you with anything you need!

What is R&D?

R&D (Research and Development) is a prototype creating model, involving the identification of the problem and producing a working solution.

Unlike the FabLab, with the I&D service, the client only needs the overall information of what he needs, the client does not need scientific knowledge or technical drawing, we are in charge of the full process of analysis, conception, development and construction of the test prototype/solution.

Why both services in the same place?

Starting the project, we intended to launch only the R&D service, due to its bigger potential impact.

This however implies a considerable investment in machines and material for fast production and testing of prototypes. Besides, we know what it feels like to want to make test models and being unable to because they require thousands and a wait time of several months. Its exactly to create an alternative to this process that we are building MARK 6.

So, we decided to merge both systems, have R&D and ease the access to fast production, lowering the investment required to make a prototype.

We believe that this is an important step to make Algarve more competitive with other regions regarding innovation, and show that we have a lot of unseen potential.

Services

We have a series of equipment, materials and systems to allow you to build anything you want.

Investigation and Development of Systems, Mechanisms and Working Prototypes

Preparation of CAD Files for production (Slicing, CNC Prep.)

Design and Production of Injection Molds

3D Printing         33cm x 33cm x 40cm                      PLA, PETG, ABS

CNC                       60cm x 120cm x 14cm                   Wood, Aluminium, Acrylic, Composites

Vacuum forming 80cm x 80cm                                  Multiple plastics

About the author

We are creating MARK 6 – Prototyping centre because we believe that knowledge and practical experiences should be within everybody’s reach, so that technological development can come with a lot more expression and positive impact in our society. These are the values that drive our team: freedom, sharing and innovation.

Daniel Varela

Aeronautical Engineering - UBI || Design and Fast Prototyping - UAlg

Aeronautical Engineering and Fast Prototyping are the visible part of what I have always done: investigate, experiment, test and evolve.

MARK 6 is the fulfilling of a dream

Joana Pedroso

Publicity and Marketing - IPL   ||   Marketing – UAlg

Ideas are only good if applied to the real world, that is why I developed many different projects: to test what I learned.

MARK 6 is part of the mission of giving others the same chance.

Budget and due dates

|| Budget ||

Our initial goal of 2000€ is what we need to launch this project, and will help us acquire out first equipment:

• 3D printers (including SLA)
• CNC
• Vacuum forming

Anything further than this objective will strengthen our project and allow us to have a better capacity to support innovation in Algarve, by expanding our contact and partnership network, and acquiring other equipment and tools.

|| Time Frame ||

The Crowdfunding campaign is the launch ramp for MARK 6, but we have a lot ahead of us and we can barely wait to make the PROTOTYPING CENTRE a reality for everyone.

Be a part of this journey!

April – The beginning of the adventure!

Crowdfunding, new friends, new experiences! Opportunities everywhere.

June – New chapter

Our space! A door opens to a world of discoveries and innovation at MARK 6

August – Growing up

To where? The centre deserves a matching place! We already have a place in mind, keep an eye out for news

September – Backers Time

In September the rewards are going to start taking off!

|| FAQ’s ||

Here you can find answers to some of the most frequent questions about MARK 6 – PROTOTYPING CENTRE.

Do you want to talk to us about the future of your project? Send us a message by Facebook or email!

Fb.com/MARK6prototyping       mark6.prototyping@gmail.com

- Do I need to have experience or design knowhow to use the centre?

Our team has what it takes to help you an any stage, and that includes technical drawing of the product you want to make. We will talk to you about your idea, see what it is, if it can be build and which is the best way to do so and we move forward when you are happy with the drawing.

- I have the project design, I just need to produce the model, will you do that part?

You can use the centre just for prototype production. We analyse the project to make sure it is ready for production and in no time,  you will be holding your model!

- Do I have to go to the Centre to work with you?

We always prefer a presential contact, to better know and understand your ideas and what you want from the project. That being said, CAD drawing can be done easily without you having to come to MARK 6.

Models that require other fabrication methods might really require a visit from you!

We will soon have more information about the space, but you can always meet us.

- Do you work with ecological materials?

At MARK 6 we work with materials such as PLA (vegetable-based polymer) and PETG (a highly recyclable plastic). Besides the plastic and other materials choice, we try to keep waste to a minimum, by recycling waste supports and leftovers int new Filament spools and recycling CNC leftover cuts for other projects and blocks.

- What makes you different from other centres and universities?

We are specialize in Fast Prototyping, by using several materials and production methods to achieve good results in less time. Our focus is both in the development of new technolgies and new aplications for existing ones, without beeing tied to a single scientific or technological area.
We assist every step of a prototyping project, from the research for a solution to test model production. We are open to new challanges!

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