On the campus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, the Sears think[box] is the largest open-access makerspace in the U.S., with $2 million worth of equipment across seven floors.
On a recent Monday night, the monthly Fix-It CLE event invited people to help each other repair everything from computer audio jacks to clothes needing hemmed on a sewing machine.
Frequent attendee Verona Gardner of Cleveland brought in a broken electronic garbage lid.
"This is the best-kept secret in Cleveland, because they certainly help out a lot as far as the community is concerned," Gardner said.
![Sears Think[box]'s Jimmy Salgado Juarez is showing member Verona Gardner of Cleveland how to repair a broken electronic garbage lid at the space's Fix-It CLE event. Juarez is Think[box]鈥檚 Assistant Director of Program Development and Implementation at the makerspace.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/72b0b53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6240x4160+0+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6f%2Fa7%2F0403cf7a40f7aebe5abd3043d34a%2Fimg-8913.JPG)
Jimmy Salgado Juarez, think[box]鈥檚 assistant director of program development and implementation, shows her how to use plastic welding to make the repair to her lid.
"We're trying to provide to our community in terms of accessibility, but also trying to encourage them that anything is repairable," said Juarez.
think[box] draws about 70,000 visitors a year, and is one of more than 2,000 makerspaces nationwide 鈥� places where people can work on technology projects or fix broken appliances. , the movement's surge in popularity exists because makerspaces provide affordable access to advanced machinery in a collaborative and inviting space 鈥� and, perhaps, an antidote to the nation's .
Beyond their community benefits, makerspaces can also lead to material rewards. At think[box], there's a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to turn their product ideas into reality, as is the case with Michael Crawford of Cleveland and his laser-engraved wooden shoeboxes. He learned his skills right here.
"You can you use your artistic skills to really get in a room," said Crawford. "It's pretty amazing."
He now boasts rappers Machine Gun Kelly and Missy Elliott as clients.
A space for hobbyists and makers
An hour south in Summit County lies another take on the makerspace concept. The Akron Makerspace is located in a building that used to be a B.F. Goodrich plant.
Robert Hasenyager, president of Akron Makerspace, said the facility primarily serves hobbyists and members.
"We call our different work areas 'labs,'" said Hasenyager. "Labs get added based on what member interest is. Three to four years ago, we didn't have pottery, and now that's one of the busiest areas."
Started in 2011 in a Cuyahoga Falls garage, the space has grown to include spots for woodworking, milling, jewelry making, welding, plastic and electronics.
Member Pat Wise of Medina loads her ceramics into a circular kiln. A retired art teacher, she comes here to stay involved in her craft and sell at local markets.
"It's just fun, it kind of pays for the clay and the glazes and the hobby," Wise said with a laugh. "I'm not making money. (Just) supporting the clay addiction."
Fighting robots
A little further south, CHAMP Makerspace in Canton is housed in a smaller space that used to be a bar. The 13-year-old club has tools for wood- and metalworking, 3D printers and 鈥� on some occasions 鈥� fighting robots.
For an upcoming special event, the main work space will be transformed into a battle arena, with 3D printed weapons adorning the bots.
"We do one and three pound combat robots," said Bill Locke, CHAMP's founder. "If you've ever seen BattleBots on TV, it's that, but smaller size."
When the robots aren鈥檛 fighting, Cantonites make everything from chain-link armor for cosplay to custom woodworking.
Locke said everything in the space is about helping members learn and feel welcome.
"We want everybody to be in here working with everybody else, teaching everybody else," Locke said. "If we hang out together, I'm going to learn it from you and you're going to learn it from me."
It all starts with asking a fellow maker the question: 鈥淪o what are you working on?鈥�
