Digital Fabrication Lab (Fab Lab)
The Department of Art and Art History’s Digital Fabrication Lab houses the newest means of computer visualization and fabrication. Lab resources include 3D modeling software, 3D scanners, a vinyl cutter, a laser cutter, two CNC machines that cut and carve a variety of materials from scanned or modeled data, a water jet cutter (Wazer), 3D printers that additively create objects, and a UV printer that can print on almost any material. Studio Art, Art History, and Design students use the lab to create a range of class assignments, and faculty utilize the lab to supplement their existing studio practice and research.
Fab Lab Manager
Eric McMaster, Associate Professor of Practice
Fab Lab Tech / Assistant Lab Manager / Fab Lab To-Go
Rachel De Guzman
Lab Hours
TDB
Training
Only trained Grad Students, Staff, and Faculty associated with the Department of Art and Art History, or the School of Design and Creative Technologies are permitted to use the lab facilities after hours.
If interested in receiving specific machine training for after hours use, contact Fab Lab Manager Eric McMaster or Fab Lab Tech Rachel De Guzman for further details.
Conduct
The lab is only available for school related projects.
It is expected that all users of the lab act in a safe manner.
The lab must be kept clean for the safety of machines and other users.
While operating machines, students should secure loose fitting clothing, long hair, or jewelry that could get caught in the machines.
Eye and ear protection must be worn at all times in the CNC Router room.
All sanding, painting and finishing should be done outside of the lab. The patio is available during lab hours. Spray paint is not permitted on the patio, please use the spray booth located outside in the sculpture yard.
Fab Lab To-Go
Fab Lab To-Go offers limited services for undergraduate and graduate students within the Department of Art and Art History and Department of Design. Submissions will only be accepted through the online service request form below. After your submission has been approved, you will receive a confirmation email with payment and pickup information. The Fab Lab will contact you about any issues with your submission files or Bevo Pay payment.
To request a Fab Lab To-Go service you must:
Be enrolled in AAH or Design courses
Only submit files that are part of your course work
Have files ready at the time of submission
Submit one request for each needed service
Submit Bevo Pay payment info with your initial request
Follow all UT Austin, AAH and Fab Lab safety procedures at the time of pickup
Pricing
Vinyl Cutting – $2 per linear foot
3D Printing – $0.05 per gram of filament (PLA)
3D Printing – $0.07 per gram of flexible filament (TPU)
3D Printing – $0.12 per mL of resin
Fab Lab Technologies
3D Scanners
3D scanning is the process of collecting three-dimensional data of an object’s shape, texture, and scale. The collected data can then be used to construct digital 3D models.
Wazer
The Fab Lab has new material cutting capabilities. Checkout what materials and their thicknesses the Wazer can cut here. The use of the Wazer is by appointment only during open lab hours.
Vinyl Cutting
The Roland GS – 24 is a vinyl cutter that uses 24″ rolls of vinyl. Adobe Illustrator art boards should be no wider than 22″ and no longer than 48″. The lab provides masking at no additional cost. Payment is required via Bevo Bucks. To use the vinyl cutter, prepare an Adobe Illustrator file to submit using the service, Fab Lab To-Go.
Laser Cutting
The Universal PLS 6.150D laser cutter can etch into the surface of and cut through certain materials. The laser cutter can accommodate materials up to 32 inches by 18 inches. Etched materials can be up to 7 inches thick, while cutting is usually limited to materials with thicknesses of .25″ or less. Laser cutter use is first come, first served during lab hours.
Laser Cutter training / assistance can be provided by any of our Lab Proctors
Acceptable Materials
paper
vellum
fabric
leather
chipboard
museum Board
Masonite
corrugated cardboard
wood + plywood
acrylic (i.e. Plexiglass and Lucite) – up to 1/4″ thick
polyethylene terephthalate
polyethylene
acetate
3D Printing
The 3D Digital Fabrication Lab houses the following 3D printers: one Bambu Lab X1-Carbon, two Bambu Lab P1S, and one Formlabs Form 3.
To 3D print, students must submit a closed 3D model to the Fab Lab To-Go Service. All potential prints must be to scale in inches. Binary Stereolithography files (.stl) are required for all machines.
Max Dimensions (l x w x h)
Bambu Lab X1-Carbon (FDM) 10.08″ x 10.08″ x 10.08″
Bambu Lab P1S (FDM) 10.08″ x 10.08″ x 10.08″
Formlabs Form 3 (SLA): 5.7″ x 5.7″ x 7.3″
4-Axis Milling
The Roland MDX-540 is one of the fastest, most accurate and accessible devices on the market, ideal for producing everything from functional and snap-fit parts and prototypes to light metal molds and custom jewelry. MDX-540 benchtop milling machines offer advanced CNC milling at an affordable price.
Operation of the machine is limited to Fab Lab class instructors, Fab Lab Tech, and the Fab Lab Manager.
Milling area is 14.6″(L) x 7.0″ (Dia.)
Acceptable Materials
wood
wood composites
plastics
foams
wax
aluminum
brass
soap stone
alabaster
CNC Routing
The Shopbot PRS Alpha CNC Router can cut wood, plastics, and foam. Maximum size for wood and plastics is 4 feet by 8 feet and up to 5 inches thick. This is the same for foam. The CNC router can create 2D cuts with variable depths and can also perform 3D relief carvings.
Users are to bring in their own materials to cut on the router. Cutting times must be reserved through course instructors or the Fab Lab Technician.
Acceptable Materials
wood (pressure treated woods are not permitted)
wood composites
plastics
foams