Makerspace
We are focused on community-level efforts, and seek out individuals who want to make an impact within their local environment. The space is free for anyone in the education community, and we encourage everyone, in the world, to be a part of that!
THE SPACE
SteamHead Makerspace is located in Shenzhen, China and provides a free and open space, tools, advice, and community for maker educators. SteamHead opened the makerspace in 2017 as an equitable, free, and open space that would empower students and educators in the Shenzhen community.
Locals and foreigners alike come to SteamHead for a welcoming space, where English and Chinese are spoken, that can provide tools and advice as well as connect them to a community of experts, teachers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and other services.
The space is funded directly by Carrie and James, out of their own pocket. There is no membership fee, just an encouragement for visitors to volunteer in the community, even if that happens outside of SteamHead.
LOOSE EQUIPMENT LIST
Below is the equipment at SteamHead, there is also a lot of materials. For material usage, inquire on site (generally bringing your own is safest).
Power Tools
- Handheld Jig Saw
- Angle Grinder
- Concrete Drill
- Electric Drills (3)
- Hair Dryers (2)
- Dremel with heads
- Paint Sprayer
- Handheld Sander
- Handheld Wood Planer
- Type A 3D Printer
- Resin 3D Printer
- Mini Vacuum Mold
- XY Plotter
- Sewing Machine (at ISNS on loan)
Hand Tools
- Screwdrivers
- Hammers
- Metal Files
- Tappers
- Rulers
- Clamps
- Wire Cutters
- Pliers
- Handsaws
- Hand Drills
MOAR Tools
- Power Supply
- Soldering Station x2
- USB Soldering Irons for sale (20rmb)
- Projector with Screen
- Spare wires and parts of all varieties
Resident Educator Room
SteamHead Resident Educators are part of our community! We invite educators from out of town and country to be a guest inside our makerspace, in our Resident Room!
Our aim is to aid Maker Embedded learning programs through cultural exchange, bringing international makers to China and establishing lasting connections between our residents and our city’s educational institutions.
OPENSOURCE REPORTING
We want others to start free makerspaces of their own! Here are our basic numbers, and if you want to see more then we would love your help in publishing a report!
SQM
MONTHLY COST RMB
Avg Tool Cost $
Cats
PROJECTS
Maker Events
SteamHead’s space is shared for no cost with education advocates. In 2018 we hosted Global Open Science Hardware; above is one of their free PCB workshops. Over the years we have hosted U.N. programs, the British Research Council, school teachers, and nomad hackers. They come to our space to access the Shenzhen innovation community in pursuit of education and social-benefit projects.
Electronic Kits for Education
Our first electronics kit was a MOSFET touch circuit, used by students to emulate the powers of Greek gods. We open-sourced the list and encouraged teachers around Shenzhen to buy the same components directly from wholesalers in China to bring electronics and design to their classrooms. Today, these kits are shared on the SteamHead website.
In-school Makerspaces
SteamHead members designed, built, and funded Asia’s first school makerspace at the Shenzhen American International School, MakerSAIS. The teacher-members of SteamHead brought citations and learnings from that experience back to their own schools, helping fuel the construction of numerous makerspaces in Asia and USA.