FAB LABS
The School of Design and Construction Fabrication Labs offers 3500 square feet of makerspace, conveniently located next to Carpenter Hall. Digital fabrication services (CNC milling, laser cutting, 3D printing) are provided by trained shop technicians. Analog machines are available for use by students with appropriate training. Some hand tools and hot-wire foam cutters are available for short-term checkout.
Fab Lab 253 – Woodshop is our 2700-sf full-scale prototyping facility, with loading dock access via an 11’ x 10’ x 16’ 10,000 lb. capacity freight elevator. Digital fabrication includes a 3-axis CNC router capable of milling up to 96” x 48” x 6”, in wood, wood-composites, foam, and plastic. The woodshop has a complete suite of industrial-grade analog machines, for fabricating wood, wood-composites, and plastics. Vacuum forming for plastic, and vacuum pressing for wood is also available.
Fab Lab 254 – Collaboration + Photo is our 650-sf room with photo backdrops & 39” photo cube, whiteboards & collaboration tables, 2 computer stations with design software and two 6” x 6” 3D printers.
Fab Lab 257 – Laser: The Laser Lab is operated by skilled student Lab Technicians who process student files submitted through the Canvas Portal. Digital fabrication services are limited to laser cutting (up to 52” x 37”) and Consultation for proper file submission.
The SDC shop fee (paid by all certified SDC design students) covers the cost of using most of the machines in the Fab Labs. There is a nominal additional charge for 3D printing, which includes materials, and a nominal hourly charge for CNC use, which covers the cost of tooling. Students may be expected to provide their own materials. Plywood, MDF, foam, and other materials for full-scale fabrication can be purchased or ordered through the woodshop with your Cougar Cash Card.
Woodshop access requires student completion of the SDC 300 Introduction to Fabrication Lab Practice course. This 1 credit course lasts 5 weeks and is offered a few times during each semester. Consult with your advisor or the Fab Lab Manager for additional offerings. Additional training for model shop tools is available on an as-needed basis during regular lab hours. Sessions emphasize use of analog tools.
Fab Lab Space Reservations
Faculty who would like to reserve Fab Lab 253 – Woodshop or Fab Lab 254 – Photo for their class projects can now use Outlook calendar scheduling to review open times and send meeting invites to each calendar space to request a reservation. Fab Lab Manager, Terry Olson will contact the faculty to identify options if there is an unforeseen conflict, or to confirm/accept your request. Please provide 3 to 5 workday’s advanced notice of your desired reservation time. .
Students should email the Terry Olson or stop by the Fab Lab to request use of these spaces during available times.
SHOP FEE + GUIDELINES
Students that are a certified major or graduate student in one of the design programs at the SDC are charged a shop fee of $75/semester ($150/year). Fees are applied to student accounts at the beginning of each semester and provide access to high-quality equipment and supplies for both digital and traditional model-making, prototyping, and large-scale fabrications.