Soap Lab

thingiverse

SoapLab was not created with commercial success in mind but as a project designed to raise awareness about reusing exhaust oil. The value of this initiative lies in its potential to transform a commonly discarded material into something useful, turning waste into soap. To prevent users from disposing of cooking oil down the drain or collecting it for disposal, the kit aims to motivate people to adopt sustainable practices. For widespread adoption, a solution that is easily disseminated, accessible, and affordable was needed. Digital fabrication emerged as an ideal approach due to its growing accessibility over the past decade. This technology has bridged the gap between designers and fabricators, facilitated knowledge sharing, and made projects more accessible. To create SoapLab, our design process focused on developing digital documents compatible with common digital fabrication techniques. When designing the kit, we sought a balance between production cost, speed, and simplicity of use. The kit box is produced through laser cutting of wood panels, while plastic and elastomer components are manufactured using FDM additive production, which are widely available in FabLabs and specialized laboratories. Production time for laser-cut wooden parts takes about two hours, whereas producing plastic parts requires around 11.5 hours. Glass beakers, being readily available in standard sizes similar to French press containers, require minimal additional effort.