TechLab


Makerspace and emerging technologies lab.

Hours

Location

Spring 2024 Hours

Monday-Friday: noon-8pm

TechLab will be closed for all university breaks and holidays.

Cox Hall, 2nd Floor
(inside Computing Center)
569 Asbury Circle
Atlanta, GA 30322


Resources

Join us, and our partners over at ArtsLab, and just make stuff!

Do-It-Yourself 3D Printing

TechLab supports two options for 3D printing. These options are:

  1. Do-It-Yourself 3D printing following instructions here. DIY 3D printers are currently located in Cox Hall and the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library.
  2. 3D Printing as a Service (more information below).
Please note there is a small fee for the service based printing. There is no fee for DIY 3D printing.

DIY 3D Printer Material

Our DIY 3D printers are stocked with PLA filament. These materials come in black or white.

Printer information

  • The max print size is 255 x 155 x 170 mm.
  • The nozzle size is 0.4mm.
  • A full spool of filament is 500g.

3D Printing as a Service

To have something 3D printed on your behalf, please visit TechLab with either a .stl or a .3mf file. After a quick consultation to determine print attributes (resolution, size, etc.), we will then 3D print your design and email you when it is ready to pick up.

Our Print Service Printers

Prusa MK4

  • Max Print Size: 250 x 210 x 220 mm
  • Materials: Black or white PLA

Prusa MK4 with MMU

  • Available late Spring 2024
  • Max Print Size: 250 x 210 x 220 mm
  • Materials: Black or white PLA
    with soluble support materials

Dremel Digilab 3D45

  • Max Print Size: 255 x 155 x 170 mm
  • Materials: Black or white PLA

Form 3

  • Max Print Size: 145 x 145 x 185 mm
  • Materials: Clear or white resin

Our Prices

PLA prints: $3 per 100 g            Resin prints: $6 per 50 ml             

3D Scanning

We offer the following scanners for use in our space:

NextEngine

  • Size: 2-8" cylinders
  • Color? Yes

iSense for iPad

  • 0.5-9' cube
  • Color? Yes

3D Modeling:

We offer the following applications within TechLab:

  • AutoCAD - a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting tool.
  • Autodesk 3DS Max - a professional 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, games and images.
  • Autodesk Fusion 360 - 3D computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and computer-aided engineering (CAE) tool.
  • Solidworks - a solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) tool.
  • Meshmixer - Sculpting tool useful for editing models, adding supports, blending models together, etc
  • Agisoft Photoscan/Metashape - Photogrammetry tool

Additional Resources:

3D Model Repositories:

If you want to browse what other people have already made, edit a model instead of starting from scratch, or just get ideas, we recommend the following locations:

3D Modeling Tools

The following are freely available online for use on personal devices:

  • Blender - 3D modelling tool
  • Autodesk Fusion 360 - a solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) tool. Free for educational users.
  • Tinkercad - Easy and powerful online 3D modelling tool - iOS and Android option
  • Leopoly - 3D sculpting tool
  • Meshmixer​ - Sculpting tool and tool for editing models, adding supports, blending models together, etc

3D Design Tutorials

Button Making

Our button makers are available for use in our space.

Tecre Model MTD 100

Tecre Model MTD 225


Our Prices

1"  buttons: $1 for 10

2.25" buttons: $1 for 5

Equipment Reservation

If you'd like to reserve one of the button makers for use inside the space, we do not offer reservations for button equipment anymore. We operate on a first-come-first-serve model.

If you'd like to reserve one of the button makers for use outside the space, please see our equipment reservation page.


Helpful Resources

Photoshop template is available here.

See instructions on how to use the button makers at the following links: 1" buttons ; 2.25" buttons.

Our Equipment

We have two Cricut Explore machines for use in our space. With these machines you can make laptop decals, create designs that can be heat pressed onto shirts, and more!

Cricut Maker 3

  • 12" wide
  • 12" and 24" long mats
  • Materials available
    • Heat Transfer vinyl
    • Regular vinyl
    • Transfer tape
    • Printable sticker paper

Heat Press 225

  • 15" by 15"
  • Customizable pressure
  • Customizable temperature 

Our Prices

Vinyl and transfer tape: $2 per sheet

Sticker paper: EaglePrint cost

Helpful Resources

Instructions on making decals.

Instructions on making stickers.

Our Equipment

Microcontrollers for check out

You can come to TechLab during our open hours and speak to our staff to check out the kits for 1 week. You can reserve a kit for checkout to streamline the process here.

Raspberry Pi kits

  • Raspberry Pi 3B+
  • USB to TTL serial cable
  • Breadboard and jumper wire
  • Pi Cobbler+
  • LEDs, resistors, and more
  • Micro-USB power supply

Arduino-like kits

  • Metro 328 microcontroller
  • Protoshield
  • USB to microUSB cable
  • Breadboard and jumper wire
  • LED, resistors, and more
  • Power supply

Soldering Equipment:

Soldering iron with solder, fume extractor, and third hand.

We also have a variety of other tools such as diagonal cutters, wire strippers, and a multimeter.


Other supplies:

While we have some basic electronic components that can be used in our space, such as various resistors, capacitors, and transistors, we do not guarantee anything specific is in stock. If you have a specific project you are looking to work on, please plan on bringing your own materials.


Helpful Resources:

A general overview of working with electronics: Getting Started with Electronics

In depth information on electronics: Basic Electronics by Tayal.

Guides to soldering: How To Solder Guide and Make: Getting Started with Soldering by De Vinck.

We are partnering with ArtsLab to provide access to textile focused equipment. The equipment is housed in ArtsLab, just across the room from us.

Equipment

Sewing machines require you to be trained by our staff members before using. 

  • Hand sewing supplies
  • Embroidery and crosstich supplies
  • Crochet and knitting supplies
  • Brother SE400 Sewing and Embroidering Machine

Software

  • SewArt embroidery digitizer

Materials:

We have some scrap fabric that is leftover from previous people's projects. You are free to use these scraps. If you have a specific project you are looking to work on, please plan on bringing your own supplies.


Helpful Resources:

A guide on hand sewing: How to Sew

A guide on hand embroidery: Embroidery 101

An overview of using sewing machines: Use a Sewing Machine and the manual for our machines.

A series of video guides on using SewArt Embroidery Software (please note, you will need to scroll to the bottom of the page and expand the "Video Tutorials" accordian/dropdown.)

Our Equipment

You can use the laser cutter with any approved materials. You must present proof that the material is that which you claim, either with a label on the material or a receipt showing what it is. We do not guarantee material availability and encourage you to bring your own.

To use the laser you must first complete the Laser Safety training. Please email sdl@emory.edu to get access to our laser safety training. After completing the laser safety training online, you will then complete a skills assessment one on one with our staff. Training consists of helping you acquire beginner laser training skills by engraving a design that you then cut out.

In addition, you must have a trained staff member verify your cut settings before starting a cut, for the first 3 times you use it.

If you would like to design projects for the Muse laser cutter outside of the space, you can use the Virtual RE3 Software Environment. Please note, you will need an account with Full Spectrum Laser to use this software. Once you have designed your project, you can export it as an .re3 file and import the file once you have access to the laser cutter.

Muse Laser Cutter

  • 45W CO2 laser
  • Work area: 20" x 12"
  • Engraving Resolution: 1000 DPI
  • Maximum cut thickness: 1/4"
  • Maximum material height: 2"

Boss 2440 Laser Cutter

  • 155W CO2 laser
  • Work area: 40" x 24"
  • Engraving Resolution: 1000 DPI
  • Maximum cut thickness: 1/2"
  • Maximum material height: 8"

Equipment Reservation

If you'd like to reserve time on the laser cutter, please see our reservation page.


Additional Resources:

Laser 101 Projects- Improve your laser cutting skills with a series of increasingly difficult projects.

Laser Tips- Tips for using the laser cutter.

Laser Projects from FSL - Get inspired with these laser projects from Full Spectrum Lasers, with more added every week!

Laser Project ideas from Instructables - See what other people are making with laser cutters!

Our Equipment

Our CNC mill can cut most materials softer than aluminum such as MDF, plywood, and HDPE. You must be trained by one of our staff members to use the machine.

Inventables Carvey

  • 300W DC spindle with RPM 12,000
  • Work area: 11.6" by 8"
  • Accuracy: 0.003″
  • We offer 1/8 " and 1/16" routing bits.
  • You can provide your own bits fitting in a 1/8" or 1/4" collet

Equipment Reservation

If you'd like to reserve time on the Carvey, please see our reservation page.


Additional Resources:

Easel Projects - See what other people have made with the Carvey and other Inventables CNC machines!

Easel Classes - Watch videos teaching you how to use Easel and the Carvey!

How to Carve a Tile - Learn how to do our training project before using the machine!

Carvey Forum - See what other people are saying about this machine!

Our Equipment

You can come to TechLab during our open hours and access a variety of tools for use within the space. We have a small collection to tools and eqiupment that do not require any training to use. If you would like training, just let us know and someone in the space can demonstrate proper usage.

Hand Tools

Currently in TechLab, we have a few types of manual saws, hammers, pliers, wrenches, socket sets, vises, clamps, screwdrivers, and more.


Power Tools:

TechLab has a Dremel Rotory tool, a power drill and an impact driver for your use.


Materials:

We currently mantain a collection of MDF, acrylic, and hardware for folks to use as needed and within reason. We cannot guarantee any particular size or type of material will be available, nor can we guarantee any particular hardware assets. If you have a specific project you are looking to work on, please plan on bringing your own materials.

The same applies to adhesives, tapes, and other consumable that might be needed for the completion of a project. We might have some, but if you want to guarantee availability, you should plan ahead!


Helpful Resources:

A general overview of Power Drill Usage

The Illustrated Guide to Theater Production provides a good introduction to construction materials and methods.

To learn how to use our equipment, stop by whenever we are open or attend a workshop or event.

TechLab is supported by students for students.  If you’d like to join our team, visit our student employment page.

To report any issues, make service requests, or share your ideas on technologies that could support your work, please contact us: