Makerspaces
The Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering Makerspaces encompass Maker Garage, the Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Innovation Lab, and Maker Studio (Engineering Research Building, ERB). These facilities provide students, staff, and faculty with state-of-the-art advanced additive and subtractive manufacturing capabilities such as design, fabrication, prototyping, and testing.
Mission Statement
The Makerspace environment at the College of Engineering was established to support our community of students. We provide exemplary knowledge and resources in a hands-on learning environment to encouraging student collaboration while fostering practical creativity.
Services
The Makerspaces provide a wide range of services for the College of Engineering and other departments across the entire university community, including:
- Advising in computer aided design for rapid prototyping
- Assistance in converting CAD files into .STL files for rapid prototyping
- Printing or assisting students in rapid prototyping processes
- Providing finishing operations
- Manual and CNC machining
- Sheet Metal Fabrication
- Brazing, Soldering, and Welding
- Painting
- Basic Woodworking Projects
- Rapid Prototyping
- Project Management
- Assistance in design for manufacturing
- Training students in machining fundamentals
- Consultation on design and construction of mechanical devices
- Repair and Fabrication
- Perform standard machine shop functions (turning, milling, grinding, and cutting material as well as CNC machining).
It is our goal to support all projects, no matter the scope. All levels of experience are welcome and will be given appropriate training. In addition to providing students with access to industry standard equipment, having access to an on-campus makerspace environment allows students to take what they have learned and apply it to practical applications.