Open Workshop FabLab Freising (Bach8) | Directions & Address

The Open Workshop of FabLab Freising e.V., known in the Vötting district as "Bach8", is the place in Freising where ideas, materials, and people come together. Located at Bachstraße 8, 85354 Freising, the non-profit association operates a workshop accessible to everyone, where modern machines like laser cutters and 3D printers coexist with traditional hand tools and soldering stations. Anyone looking to implement a personal project, repair something, build prototypes, or simply get creative will find a well-structured environment, expert guidance, and an inviting community here. Regular formats such as the open workshop offering on Tuesday evenings, the MakerKids meetings for young tinkerers, and the monthly Repair Café in cooperation with Freischenk e.V. ensure that both beginners and advanced users can find suitable offerings. As a non-profit association, FabLab Freising places value on fair, transparent fees that enable ongoing operations while ensuring low-threshold access. The journey is comfortable thanks to the city bus stop "Bachstraße"; those arriving by car should consider the limited parking situation in the residential area and may need to use municipal parking garages in downtown Freising and continue by bus. Contact can be made by phone and email, and the association publishes the most important key data and dates on its website.

Directions to Bachstraße 8 (Bach8), Public Transport and Parking

The Open Workshop is located in Freising-Vötting, a district west of the old town. The address is Bachstraße 8, 85354 Freising. Traveling by public transport is particularly convenient: The city's tourism information refers to city bus lines that serve the stop "Bachstraße"; depending on the schedule, these include lines 636 and 656. Additionally, schedule documents from the Freising city utilities confirm that connections on line 638 also stop at Bachstraße. This makes Bach8 quickly accessible from many parts of the city and from Freising train station. Those traveling from Munich can take the S-Bahn line S1 to Freising train station; from there, they can continue with the mentioned city bus lines to the stop "Bachstraße". For cyclists, the location is also attractive: Vötting is connected via local bike paths and quiet neighborhood streets, and Bachstraße itself is a residential street. For drivers: There are only limited parking options available around Bachstraße in the residential area, especially in the evenings and on event days. The city of Freising provides information about municipal parking spaces and centrally located parking garages, including the parking garage Untere Altstadt at Dr.-von-Daller-Straße 9 (open 24 hours). A sensible option is therefore to park in one of the central parking garages and cover the last stretch by city bus – especially if you want to reach workshop appointments like briefings or the Repair Café without time pressure. For larger events in the vicinity of Vötting, the city generally recommends arriving by public transport or bicycle to relieve the residential streets. Thus, Bach8 is well-connected without needing a large parking area of its own. Those needing to transport workpieces can briefly drive up to unload; afterwards, re-parking is recommended. Detailed schedules and up-to-date information are provided online by the city or the city utilities, allowing visitors to check which line serves the "Bachstraße" stop at the desired time.

Opening Hours, Dates and Formats: Open Lab, MakerKids and Repair Café

A central feature of Bach8 is its clear, recurring schedule. The "Open FabLab" takes place on Tuesdays from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. During this time frame, the workshop is open to all who wish to pursue their own projects or get to know the FabLab. This format is particularly suitable for first steps, networking with other members, and for smaller working phases on projects that do not require complex machine setups. Additionally, the association organizes MakerKids – an offering for children from about ten years old, which takes place every two weeks on Fridays starting at 2:30 PM. The content alternates between creative, technical, and playful themes, from crafting with paper to initial experiences with electronics and microcontrollers. For families, this format provides a low-threshold access to the workshop world and gives children confidence in handling tools. A third established format is the Repair Café in cooperation with Freischenk e.V., which is usually held on the second Saturday of the month at Bach8. Here, everything revolves around communal repairing: defective household appliances, electronics, or small mechanical items are jointly assessed, typical error patterns are investigated, and one learns how to significantly extend the lifespan and utility of many items through simple interventions. The focus is on help for self-help – visitors receive support in repairing instead of simply disposing of devices. Since individual dates may vary, the association publishes all events in the online calendar. Those specifically needing a machine briefing (e.g., for the laser cutter or 3D printer) can also find dates for workshops there and can register online. For all formats, inquiries can be easily clarified via email or phone, especially if coming with groups or wanting to use special materials. The combination of open workshop evenings, youth offerings, and repair initiatives makes the program diverse and ensures that there is activity at almost every monthly appointment at Bach8.

Equipment and Work Areas: Laser & 3D Printing, Electronics & Repair, PC/Crafting, Wood and Metal

The technical infrastructure of Bach8 meets the typical needs of a modern makerspace and is continuously being developed. In the focus area "Laser & 3D Printing", users work with two types of laser cutters and several 3D printers: A powerful Rayjet R400 with CO2 laser allows for large-scale engravings and precise cuts; a compact Mr Beam with diode laser is suitable for smaller projects, intricate shapes, and fine engravings. Among the 3D printers, there is an Ultimaker 2 with fine layer resolution for detailed components as well as a German RepRap for robust prints. Proven workflows are available for beginners: From preparing the print file to slicing to starting the print job, supervisors provide tips on material choice, temperature, or component orientation. A CNC milling machine based on the popular "Volksfräse" concept by Uncle Phil is in development – a project that also involves experienced members, for example, in trimming the mechanics, selecting the spindle, and commissioning the control system. In addition to digital manufacturing, the Electronics & Repair workshop on the first floor is a centerpiece of Bach8. There, measuring devices for diagnosis and troubleshooting, two fully equipped soldering workstations with separate solder wire systems (lead and lead-free), component assortments, breadboards, jumper cables, and microcontrollers like Arduino boards and Raspberry Pi with accessories are available. This allows for repairs on small devices, prototyping from sensors to actuators, or soldering new circuits directly on site. The PC, crafting & creative area offers computer workstations and tools for lighter work with paper, cardboard, foils, and other decorative materials – ideal for first CAD steps, vectorizing motifs for the laser cutter, or creating labels. Additional workshop areas for wood as well as metal & bicycle are being gradually expanded. The goal is to represent basic woodworking (sawing, drilling, sanding) and simple metalworking (e.g., filing, drilling, assembly) in the workshop in the medium term. The interplay of the areas promotes interdisciplinary work: Wood projects can be enhanced with laser-cut inlays, electronics projects receive custom housings from the 3D printer, and repair projects benefit from precisely laser-cut spare parts. The team emphasizes safe operation: Briefings are mandatory for specialized machines, and occupational safety and material compatibility are taught. First-time visitors receive orientation on which process and material fit their task.

Prices, Briefings and Use: Fair, Transparent and Non-Profit

As a non-profit association, FabLab Freising e.V. finances the workshop operation through membership fees, donations, and usage fees. The pricing structure is intentionally kept low-threshold and clearly displayed. General use of the workshop costs 3 euros per hour – this includes room usage, basic service, the provision of PC workstations, and the use of hand tools as well as common electrical devices like drills or soldering stations. Additional usage-based fees apply for specialized equipment: For 3D printing, 0.25 euros per 30 minutes of machine usage and 0.05 euros per gram of filament are charged. For the laser cutter, the fee is 0.70 euros per minute. This structure ensures that extensive machine times and material consumption are priced according to the cause, while simple tasks like disassembly, filing, preparation, or assembly remain cost-effective. For recurring users, long-term usage is possible; for example, a half-year usage for 35 euros per month is mentioned. Before working with the laser, 3D printer, or CNC, a briefing or workshop is mandatory. Introductions convey safe operation, show material limits, and teach best practices – a prerequisite that ensures both the safety of all and the longevity of the machines. The dates for briefings are published online; registrations are easily possible. For groups, school classes, or special projects, early coordination via email or phone is recommended to plan care resources and material needs. It is practical to bring structured data (e.g., vector or STL files) in advance and, if available, to have material specifications (wood type, acrylic thickness, filament type) ready. For repair projects, the following applies: Descriptions of faults, device data, and possibly circuit diagrams increase the chances of success; volunteers at the Repair Café support according to the principle of help for self-help. Overall, the modalities of Bach8 combine commitment and flexibility – with a clear focus on enabling as many people as possible to participate without raising financial barriers.

Address Clarified: Bachstraße 8 instead of Fabrikstraße – what lies behind "Bach8"

Around inquiries about the Open Workshop in Freising, occasionally differing addresses appear, including "Fabrikstraße 6" or "Fabrikstraße 8". However, these references concern other facilities or stem from contexts that are not identical to FabLab Freising e.V. The official imprint of the association, which clearly states Bachstraße 8, 85354 Freising, is decisive for the Open Workshop. The name "Bach8" is derived directly from this address and has established itself as a shorthand for the open workshop. Events from cooperation partners like Freischenk e.V. – such as the monthly Repair Café – are also announced at the location Bachstraße 8. For directions, this means: Those navigating should enter "Bachstraße 8, 85354 Freising (Vötting)" and when searching for stops, select "Bachstraße" in the Freising city bus network. Since Vötting is a developed residential area with partly narrower streets, it is advisable for drivers to plan ahead – for example, by parking in a downtown parking garage with a subsequent short bus ride. For pedestrians and cyclists, orientation is simple: Bachstraße runs in Vötting not far from the Moosach and is easily accessible via side streets. Those coming to Bach8 for the first time benefit from planning a few minutes of buffer time to orient themselves on site, sort materials, and possibly consult supervisors. In the case of group visits or when moving larger workpieces, a brief prior agreement helps to unload in front of the house and then park the vehicle properly. Overall, clear address communication builds trust and avoids detours – an important service to ensure that visitors can quickly get to making.

Community, Learning Curve and Typical Projects – Why a Visit is Worthwhile

In addition to the machine park and fair prices, it is the learning and maker community that makes Bach8 special. In the open Tuesday evening format, beginners, hobbyists, engineers, designers, students, and families meet to tinker together. Newcomers quickly receive orientation: Which software is suitable for creating vector graphics for the laser cutter? How do you set up the layers for engraving and cutting? Which filament is robust enough for functional prototypes, and when is PLA the better choice for decorative prints? In the Electronics & Repair workshop, one can proceed step by step: from visual checks to measurements at typical problem areas to component or solder joint testing. Many projects arise from everyday needs: personalized engravings for gifts, holders and clips, housings for sensors, repairs on kitchen appliances or toys. Educational projects also play a role – MakerKids workshops teach children how to translate ideas into hardware, why polarity and current limitation are important, and what a first programming cycle looks like. Advanced users help beginners, and vice versa, fresh perspectives bring new impulses. This culture of learning from each other is part of the self-understanding of open workshops and extends far beyond the workshop: It promotes repairability, resource conservation, and local problem-solving. As a member of the Association of Open Workshops e.V., the association is also regionally networked, exchanges knowledge, and benefits from best practices of comparable places. Those with specific goals – such as preparing for a CNC milling briefing, creating a club logo from wood, or debugging a microcontroller project – will find a competent contact point at Bach8. In summary, a learning place emerges that makes technology accessible, fosters creativity, and delivers tangible results – from the first engraving to the repaired everyday device.

Sources:

• FabLab Freising e.V. – Official Website (Address, Opening Hours, Formats)
• FabLab Freising – Laser & 3D Printing (Machines & Areas)
• FabLab Freising – Prices & Workshop Use (Fees & Briefings)
• FabLab Freising – Electronics & Repair (Equipment on the 1st Floor)
• City of Freising – Directions & Parking (Public Transport, Parking Garages, Line 636/656)
• Freising City Utilities – Schedule Line 638 (Stop Bachstraße)
• Freischenk e.V. – Repair Café at Bach8 (Dates & Cooperation)
• FabLab Freising – Imprint (Bachstraße 8, 85354 Freising, Contact)