Maker Series courses

This course teaches the safe operation of the laser engraver machine through structured hands-on activities. Students learn about job setup, laser control settings, color mapping, and material selection for prototyping.

This course familiarizes students with the operation and safety of machine tools. This gives students knowledge of what goes into engineering designs in building a prototype and also enables them to operate shop machinery as a part of future courses.

A student operates a manual lathe.

A student operates a manual knee mill.

Shop Instructor Tom Rusu and a student work at a manual milling machine.

Safety first! Ed Wojciechowski guides students on the proper technique for using a manual lathe.

Students are all smiles after a job well done.

This course teaches introductory level metal jewelry fabrication. Students will learn to safely use various tools and metal working techniques including cold forging, investment casting, bezel settings, soldering, and patinas. These skills are taught in class and reinforced through structured activities in which students create their own personal jewelry, such as earrings, pendants, and rings.

Students learn simple stone setting in 24-204.

A student uses a torch to melt metal for lost wax casting.

A student works on their project at the bench.

An example of the projects students create in 24-206.

A student preps their project for soldering.

An example of the projects students create in 24-206 using cold forging.

This course teaches the safe operation of MIG welding equipment through structured hands-on activities. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to learning workpiece setup, material selection, and quality assessment for building structures.

Students learn various weld techniques.

Students learn layout and other pre/post-operations to welding.

This course teaches the safe operation of wood working equipment, including table saw, miter saw, jointer, planer, and more through structured hands-on activities. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to learning optimal workflow, tool selection, and equipment selection for building projects.

Students learn to safely operate woodworking equipment, like the table saw, to make accurate precision cuts.

Instructor Ryan Bates, gives a lecture and tool demonstration during 24-206.

This folding stool is one example of the projects made in 24-206.

Students working in the woodshop on their projects.

Students learn to use a variety of woodworking equipment, including the miter saw.

This course teaches the safe operation of a CNC router machine through structured hands-on activities. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to software for fabrication of 2D and 3D parts.

This course supports students in pursuing a self-defined project. Students will apply their preexisting access to equipment towards prototyping an inventive project, either as an individual or a group member. Students will receive weekly one-on-one consultations with the instructor to conduct project planning, design for fabrication, prototype testing, and more. This course is useful for students interested in initiating, progressing, and/or completing a prototyping project for research, student orgs, entrepreneurship, hobbies, or other interests.

This course teaches safe operation of CNC machining equipment through structured hands-on activities. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to learning CAM software for fabrication of 2D and 3D parts. The skills learned in this course can be applied to fabricate durable components for design projects, research equipment, and extracurricular activities.

A student operates a computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling machine.