The Fab-in-a-Box Lesson Collection serves as an excellent starting point for introducing the Fab-in-a-Box cart to both learners and educators. This collection of engaging lessons is designed to get everyone started with digital fabrication, using the cart’s 3D printer, laser cutter, and vinyl cutter. For xDesign How-To Videos Click Here!
Fab-in-a-Box Automata: Deep Dive
This lesson introduces learners to the fascinating world of automata; kinetic sculptures powered by simple mechanical systems. Through hands-on fabrication using laser cutters, vinyl cutters, and 3D printers, learners will…
Fab-in-a-Box Casting & Molding: Deep Dive
Learners will design a two-part, two-step mold from scratch using a blank xDesign template.
Fab-in-a-Box 3D Printed Trick Dice: Deep Dive
Learners will be designing dice that roll unfairly, on purpose! They’ll be using xDesign to engineer internal features that shift the weight of a die, affecting how it rolls.
Fab-in-a-Box Spinning Tops: Deep Dive
Learners will experiment with physics while designing and fabricating a custom modular spinning top with interchangeable parts.
about Fab-in-a-box
Fab-in-a-Box provides an affordable, turnkey solution that includes all necessary tools, materials, and comprehensive teacher guides. Optimized for various settings—classrooms, after school programs, clubs, scouting groups, summer camps, museums, libraries, and community centers—this curriculum empowers users to dive into the world of digital fabrication with confidence and ease.
IN THIS COLLECTION
The Fab-in-a-Box Lesson Collection offers three distinct engagement levels, making it adaptable across various formal and informal contexts, regardless of the audience’s age. Each level is designed to cater to different time constraints and ability levels, with handouts generally provided for all. The Exposure level requires the lightest effort and shortest time, with many pre-supplied files and materials. The Engagement level involves a medium effort, longer duration, or more advanced concepts, with adjustable files for parametric design. The Deep Dive level demands the most effort and longest duration, often spanning multiple sessions with minimal or no pre-supplied files, and may include multiple parts. Activities include vinyl cutting for stickers and paper pop-ups, laser cutting for invention kits, stamps, and botanical presses, and 3D printing for spinning tops, dice, and casting & molding projects. Some activities, like automata and gliders, utilize a combination of tools, ensuring a comprehensive hands-on learning experience.
xDesign how-to videos
Explore our collection of concise how-to videos on designing in SOLIDWORKS xDesign for the Fab-in-a-Box cart. These videos, which can be paired with the Fab-in-a-Box lessons, provide practical guidance for both learners and instructors. Watch the videos here.
Eco Spectroscope – See Quantum Fingerprints of Light
Participants will learn about spectroscopy and the significance of spectra in understanding light and matter. They will observe how different light sources such as natural light, LEDs, and oil lamp…
September 22, 2025
Recycling Paper into Art & Decoration
In this lesson, students explore sustainability by recycling paper into art and decoration. They begin by discussing the importance of recycling and selecting paper as their focus, then practice sorting,…
September 22, 2025
Bag Tags with Inkscape and xTool
Students will create a bag tag. Students will use Inkscape to create a design to engrave on a 3×3 shape of their choice. Students will make provision for a hole…
September 19, 2025
FCH – Clayprinting
The “Clayprinting” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which supports young women to build skills, get inspired, and find opportunities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and maths). In…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Earring bottle caps
The “Earring bottle caps” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which helps young women get inspired, learn new skills, and find opportunities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Floating Light
The “Floating Light” is part of the FabConnectHer project, which supports young women in learning new skills in science, technology, engineering, art, and maths (STEAM). In this lesson, students make…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Glass Laser Engraving
The “Glass Laser Engraving” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which helps young women learn new skills in science, technology, engineering, art, and maths (STEAM). In this lesson, students…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Ozo and Dash bot plans
The “Ozo and Dash bot plans” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which helps young women learn skills in science, technology, engineering, art, and maths (STEAM). In this…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Perry the Platypus
The “Creating Perry the Platypus from MDF Wood” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which supports young women in learning new skills in science, technology, engineering, art, and maths…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Sticker
The “Sticker” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which helps young women build creativity and confidence in science, technology, engineering, art, and maths (STEAM). In this lesson, students design…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Design your own Tiny House
The “Design Your Own Tiny House” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which helps young women learn skills in science, technology, engineering, art, and maths (STEAM). In this lesson,…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Rocket Launching
The “Building and Launching Water Rockets” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which helps young women explore creativity and technology through fun, hands-on projects in STEAM (science, technology, engineering,…
September 17, 2025
FCH – Scanning and routing a human face
The “Scanning a Human Face and CNC Machining a 3D Model” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which encourages young women to explore creativity and technology through STEAM (science,…
September 17, 2025
Recreating the Past: Using 3D Printing to Explore the Legacy of Tiridates III the Great
This lesson bridges history and technology by using a 3D-printed replica of the crown of King Tiridates III the Great, the Armenian king who made Christianity the official religion of…
August 29, 2025
Fab-in-a-Box Automata: Deep Dive
This lesson introduces learners to the fascinating world of automata; kinetic sculptures powered by simple mechanical systems. Through hands-on fabrication using laser cutters, vinyl cutters, and 3D printers, learners will…
August 25, 2025
Fab-in-a-Box Casting & Molding: Deep Dive
Learners will design a two-part, two-step mold from scratch using a blank xDesign template.
August 25, 2025STANDARDS-ALIGNED
Community contributed lessons aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) offer formal educators innovative pathways to teaching content knowledge. The Fab I Can Statements are a resource to develop technology-literate learning progressions to align with content standards.
FAB TESTED
Periodically lessons are adapted and tested by the Fab Foundation team based on a call for submissions from fabbers, educators, and makers. Our inaugural set of lessons for the SCOPES-DF project were Fab Tested in 2016 and are tagged Fab Tested on the website.
OPEN-SOURCE VALUES
Lessons are distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC license, that permits free use and re-purposing by others.