# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussions on Open Manufacturing

• Participants debated the purpose of fablabs (fabrication laboratories), with some arguing they focus too much on tool-building rather than applying technology to solve real community needs, highlighting a fundamental tension in the open manufacturing movement.

• The concept of "technology masturbation" was discussed as a critique of the tendency to pursue advanced technology for its own sake rather than selecting appropriate tools for specific problems, which participants viewed as symptomatic of consumerist culture.

• Various sustainability models for community manufacturing spaces were explored, including consulting services, membership fees, and product sales, with consideration of how to maintain core values through cooperative structures when faced with financial pressures.

• The distinction between open manufacturing (accessible processes and tools) and open hardware (modifiable designs and schematics) was debated, with participants sharing examples of "artful" open manufacturing projects like magnetic acrylic Rubik's cubes.

• Thomas Thwaites' "The Toaster Project" was discussed as an art piece highlighting technological dependency by attempting to build a toaster completely from scratch, including mining raw materials, referencing Douglas Adams' observation about modern humans' inability to recreate basic technology independently.

• Practical DIY projects were shared, including pneumatic launchers using ABS pipes operating at 60-90 psi, with technical discussions about modifications like pilot valves and extended barrels to improve performance.