Tech Spark is the cornerstone of the College of Engineering’s maker ecosystem, an integrated set of resources where faculty and students create and develop new ideas, concepts, and products for courses and research.
The space houses a simulation cluster, 3D printers, laser machines, electronic fabrication facilities, and traditional manual and CNC machining to allow students and faculty to design and prototype at the nano, micro, and macro scales.
Safety procedure requires that no food can be in the Tech Spark makerspace. Priority for facility reservations will be given in th orer of courses, research, and extracurriculars. Tech Spark is a communal facility, and reservations will always leave at least one of each piece of equipment available for walk-in use.
The map and descriptions below define the various sections of Tech Spark.
Description: project storage, 30 computers with CAD, ANSYS
Policies: excludes food; excludes project assembly; use crates in C101
Detailed equipment list (link to Google Doc)
Description: project storage, power tools, assorted hand tools
Policies: excludes food; power tools used at designated stations; when using power tools, all people within 5 feet are wearing PPE
Required training: Hand Power Tool Quiz
Optional training: 24-104 Maker Series: Intro to Modern Making
Detailed equipment list (link to Google Doc)
Description: 3D printers, laser machines, and electronics stations
Policies: excludes food; power tools used at designated stations; when using power tools, all people within 5 feet are wearing PPE
Required training: Fire Extinguisher Use Part 1and Soldering Safety Quiz
Optional training: 24-104 Maker Series: Intro to Modern Making
Detailed equipment list (link to Google Doc)
Description: manual knee mills, manual lathes, CNC mills, and various other metal working equipment
Policies: excludes food; full PPE must be work to enter shops, machining equipment is used as independent stations that can be checked in and out
Required training: 24-200: Machine Shop Practice or 24-203: Special Topics: Maker Series: Intro to Manual & CNC Machining and Hand Power Tool Quiz and Shop Safety Quiz
Detailed equipment list (link to Google Doc)
Description: professional staff running a recharge center to support prototyping efforts across the university; walk-in consultations welcome
Policies: excludes food; full PPE must be work to enter shops, upon receiving special permission some machining equipment can be used as independent stations checked in and out
Detailed equipment list (link to Google Doc)
Tech Spark Contact information