As the excitement builds for another Make48 season, ShopBot Tools commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators has taken a leap. ShopBot's partnership with Make48 began in 2015, and it remains one of the organization's most dedicated and long-standing supporters.
Since its founding in 1996 by Ted Hall, ShopBot has been a trailblazer in the world of CNC routers. Renowned as a leading manufacturer and distributor of CNC routers, ShopBot is a driving force behind Make48's success. Headquartered in Durham, NC, the company generously provides state-of-the-art equipment and expert technicians, enabling Make48 teams to turn their creative visions into reality.
In 2024, ShopBot's skilled technicians –Alex Hardison, Aaron Brown, Ryan Patterson and Nate Zanavich – once again played a crucial role in helping students transform their concepts into prototypes. We had the opportunity to connect with the techs and ask them to share a highlight or impactful moment from their experience at this year's event.
Nate Z:
I love being the CNC Tech at Make48. My favorite part is seeing how a couple basic (or complex) parts can come together to create amazing ideas. I really like our team of tool techs. We all have individual skills that allow us to help the teams create wonderful ideas. There’s nothing that we can’t accomplish together.
I’m most looking forward to meeting new people and fostering relationships that I made at last year’s event. The amount of knowledge that we can all share with each other is outstanding and I’m always learning – whether that’s from tool techs or participants. I’m looking forward to the excitement and determination that each team has when creating their new products. I like hearing their creative ideas and getting to be a part of their creative process.
I’m not sure if other folks view it this way, but I feel like my own entrepreneur when running the machine. I have to prioritize who needs what first, which jobs will take the longest, and how to make the most amount of customers (teams) happy.
Alex H.
One of the moments that really stuck with me this season was in Wilson, Arkansas. After the long weekend wrapped (and every evening during the event) the school principal was outside, collecting all the trash in his suit. It struck me at that moment that this was someone who cared deeply, not only for the appearance of the school and the grounds, but also the people that used it.
I had the chance to chat with Mr. Podoll about how he ended up working at the Delta School and if he knew the history of the town. He shared the history of Wilson, a tale woven with glacial floods, fertile soil and how one person changed the history of Wilson and its inhabitants (for better or worse). As he spoke, I realized I was in the presence of a rare individual, one who embodied the spirit of the place and shared its story with genuine passion.
Every day I saw his dedication shine bright and early. At the event he was helping every team he could and jumped right in. Later that afternoon, when his wife and son stopped by, he made sure to connect with them. He had the same level of energy and effort in every interaction.
Make48 has somehow managed to gather and find these extraordinary folks, and unite them in a shared mission that pushes boundaries and gives opportunities that few have a chance to get. It is this spirit that keeps me returning to volunteer year after year. For that, I am truly grateful.
Aaron B.
Honestly, the whole event is always such a blast that it's hard to pick just one standout moment. But a couple of things linger.
There was the "Not Fast, Just Furious" team at the 2023 Purdue event, figuring out how to create a handle for their rolling couch/cooler contraption. Fifty ideas flew around before someone simply said, "What if we just grab the handle off of a suitcase?" Witnessing that spark of inspiration was amazing! Taking a spitball of an idea and developing it over the course of three minutes into an actionable plan was something that I was not expecting.
Then there's the image of Brooks (Gray). Not a competing team member, but tirelessly sanding the heck out of the new Make48 letters we'd thrown together. His willingness to jump in and contribute epitomizes what makes Make48 so special.
These moments are threads in the rich tapestry of Make48. They are the reason I can't help but come back for more.
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