There are several facilities across campus and off-campus that are available to you for your project needs. Be aware that there are various requirements for using these facilities and there may be costs associated with using the facilities. Students who are interested in using the fabrication shops must complete the required safety and fabrication course for each shop. For UCI fabrication shops, certification stickers on your identification card will provide you with the necessary credentials to enter these shops.
Professor Walter (m.walter@uci.edu) is available to assist you in identifying which facility most suits your needs. As usual, be sure to include your advisor in all discussion and use of fabrication facilities. The following list describes the main hands-on fabrication facilities that are available for your senior design project needs:
FABWorks
- Rapid prototyping facility
- Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing Club, Mold Generation, Laser Cutting, Consulting
- Location: 4th Floor Engineering Tower
- Professional staff available for training, consulting, and re-charge (paid) work. Prices vary.
- Must contact for information, hours, and prices
- Fee-based student 3D Printer Lab is open from 9am-4pm
Click here to visit website.
Rapid Tech
- Rapid prototyping facility
- Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing Club, Mold Generation, Laser Cutting, Consulting
- Location: 4th Floor Engineering Tower
- Must contact for information, hours, and prices (depends on type of manufacturing)
- Student 3D Printer Lab is open from 9am-4pm
Click here to visit website.
UCI School of Engineering Machine Shop
- Metal component manufacturing
- Location: Engineering Tower, ET137
- Primarily subtractive machining: mills, lathes, saws, hand tools
- Must have appropriate training to use the tools
- Professional staff are available to answer your questions, give you suggestions, and perform fee-based work.
- Information on usage, hours, and availability will be posted on the door.
UCI School of Engineering Welding and Sheet Metal Fabrication Labs
- Metal component manufacturing
- Box and pan brake, band saw, MIG welding
- Must have appropriate training to use the tools
- Location: Engineering Tower: ET 141 – Welding Fabrication, ET 155 – Sheet Metal Fabrication
- Information on usage, hours, and availability will be posted on the door.
UCI School of Physical Sciences Machine Shops
- Full-fledged machine shops, primarily for subtractive manufacturing
- Professionally-staffed, fee-based main shop
- Student shop with limited staffing and open-lab hours
- Access to the student shop requires demonstrating proficiency through a hands-on test or paying a nominal fee to take a short course in machining essentials
Click here to visit website.
Urban Workshop
- Membership-based, off-campus maker facility (follow the link for information about Urban Workshop)
- The School of Engineering will pay for monthly memberships (access) and/or one training class at Urban Workshop provided that the necessary facilities are not available on campus.
- When a membership is approved, the student must make at least 5 visits during their membership month(s).
- Click here to request approval.
External Machine Shops
Project students have used external shops for machining specialty parts and/or in order to accelerate their project work. In past years, students have worked with some of the following shops:
(Shops to be listed)