Ob.i LAB: creation at the heart of IUT Montpellier-Sète
Inspired by Anglo-Saxon Fab Labs Ob.i LAB[1],was inaugurated atIUT Montpellier-Sète in September 2017. The IUT opens the doors to this unique facility at the university, and, more broadly, in Montpellier. Take a guided tour.
The Ob.i LAB[1 ] hall recently took up residence on the Montpellier site of theIUT Montpellier-Sète, amidst the pine trees of the Avenue d'Occitanie. In building D of the institute, no less than 300 m2 are now home to the University of Montpellier's first creative and digital space. "Since 2010, Fab Labs have been springing up all over the world. In France, every major city has a digital creation workshop open to the general public, where visitors can use machines originally reserved for the industrial world", explains Alexandre Lalanne, busy in the Ob.i LAB "fabrication" area, making a bright red nut on a 3D printer.
Coworking and conviviality
A year ago, the 25-year-old mechanical engineering graduate was recruited to become the coordinator of the IUT's new high-tech creative hall. Philippe Combette, the institute's project manager, had been working on this project for several years. Open to IUT students and staff, but also to outside professionals, Ob.i LAB aims to be a particularly conducive place for turning ideas into reality. In its friendly, relaxed coworking space, inspiring, locally-made decorative objects sit alongside comfortable sofas. "As the courses offered by the IUTs are particularly compartmentalized, we felt it was necessary to create a place on campus where students from all our courses could meet and work together in a friendly atmosphere. At Ob.i LAB, students can now come together around a common goal: the creation of projects", explains IUT Montpellier-Sète Director Matteo Valenza, who sees Ob.i LAB as the new gateway for companies to the heart of the IUT.
Object design and prototyping
During the busy lunch hour, many IUT students gather in the Ob.i LAB "manufacturing" area to work on their tutored project. In other words, the creation of an object at the request of a specific company, which will be assessed as part of the 2nd year of the DUT. "I encourage each student to share his or her design project with me as freely as possible, and present the technical possibilities offered by Obi. LAB," explains Alexandre. Ensuring visitor safety, the technician also provides training in the use of all the equipment in the hall (oscilloscope, multimeters, generator, laser cutter, mini-milling machine, etc.), which is soon to be equipped with a new area dedicated to video creation. While giving free rein to visitors' creativity, the animator supervises the various stages of creation of the objects (mini rocket, animal trophy, remote-controlled electronic lock...) which, in part, now proudly adorn the walls of this unique space at the university. Co-financed by the Occitanie region and the IUT, the creation of the Ob.i LAB hall is a local first. This innovative concept of a high-tech, open-access digital hall is likely to be duplicated in the future in other parts of the UM, where stimulating students, whether budding or established creators, is a priority.
[1] UOb for object - i for intelligent - LAB for laboratory
+ more info :
the Obi. LAB is open free of charge to students, IUT staff and professionals from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. It is located in Building D of the Montpellier-Sète IUT.
A student's view of the IUT
Hugo Pietri, 19, 2nd year student in a DUT in physical measurements
"I'm currently in my 2nd year of a DUT in physical measurements, and once I've graduated I hope to go to engineering school and then work in aeronautics or, why not, aerospace. I often come to Ob.i LAB in my spare time, and am about to start work with three friends on the creation of an "artificial horizon". This instrument measures the orientation and inclination of aviation aircraft (cargo plane, airliner, helicopter or other) and transmits this essential data to pilots. At the rate of a few hours' work a week, we hope to have our prototype up and running by the end of the academic year.
IUT in figures
- 2,300 students
- 7 university technology diplomas
- 20 professional licenses
- 90% of courses are offered on a sandwich course basis
ISO 9001: 4 pro licenses certified
Since June, the ABF, GASP, GEEB and MMIC professional licenses atIUT Montpellier-Sète have been ISO 9001-v 2015 certified. AFNOR has recognized the quality of the design, implementation and assessment of these courses, as well as the work carried out by the institute's support services (reception, information, communication, student support). " This certification confirms the exemplary commitment shown by the institute's administrative staff and teaching teams, who made a major contribution to the successful completion of this quality initiative, which was launched almost six years ago", said the institute's director. says Institute Director Matteo Valenza, who hopes to obtain certification for at least 3 other IUT professional licenses in 2019.