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MakerSpace Charlotte

6 months ago

At first glance, this aluminum frame might not look like much but it's actually part of a prototype for a new manufacturing station that can be operated by the blind. Lions Services, a local non-profit operating in Charlotte since 1932, reached out to us to see if we could help them fabricate this prototype as we have access to equipment that they do not. Once our members learned about the project, they were eager to donate their time. Lions Services has a mandate that at least 75% of their workforce must be legally blind. Over the years they have developed impressive sewing/textile based processes for the blind and most of their contract work is for the U.S. military. Odds are that each member of the military has probably used at least one if not several items manufactured by Lions Services (helmet chinstraps, back packs, water hydration systems, pants, shirts, to name a just a few items). The challenge for Lions is that if there is a hold up of funding or a downturn in demand for military apparel, they inevitably have to layoff employees. For all intents and purposes, being laid off probably means no job for that employee as the unemployment rate for the blind is upwards of 70%. This prototype is the first of more than a dozen different work stations that Lions would like to develop in order to diversify their manufacturing capabilities and thereby expand the types of contracts that they can take on. It's a daunting task as they have a very lean operation and a lean budget to go with it. If they could afford it, the machine that this prototype is designed to replace could be purchased for about $60,000. The replacement that we are helping them to build will cost less than $2,000! MakerSpace Charlotte and its volunteer community look forward to collaborating with Lions Services to help them help others. ... See MoreSee Less

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