A guide for:
- Students and Faculty in the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
- Studio Art Students and Faculty in the College of Arts and Science
- All other members of the UVM community
- Details about equipment, location and usage can be found here.
An incubator for ideas and a place to engage people’s imaginations, the UVM FabLab makes rapid-prototyping tools available to UVM students and faculty. The lab provides the opportunity for interaction in developing and testing innovative products and designs. We encourage projects that support research, innovation and creativity, and student work that is supported by coursework and professors.
We provide digital fabrication technology and services for UVM courses, research, faculty and students. Additionally the facility includes soldering stations and microcontrollers to support student hands-on projects. The lab is staffed daily by student employees who are in undergraduate engineering and STEM programs.
The UVM FabLab is funded by the Dean’s Office of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.
FabLab Ticketing System for CEMS and Studio Art Students:
Notes on Materials:
Students should contact a FabLab Staff member before purchasing material. Our machines only work with a limited number for materials.
Consult with us about your file before you submit a ticket
Before you make a ticket we highly encourage you to come in and talk with us in person and show us the file you want to print or laser cut. This way we can make you aware of any obvious problems with the file that might slow down the process of making your project.
When to submit your project and project time management:
Note that you should submit your project 5-10 business days in advance of when your project is due, this is to account for issues that might come up with your file. If you think you may need to print more than one draft, plan accordingly.
The FabLab does not print weapons or weapon parts. We abide by UVM’s values of Our Common Ground.
Your project and what we need to know about it to start a ticket
The best way to start your project with the FabLab is to come in and talk with one of our technicians. We can look at your file(s) and anticipate any issues that might come up. Once you’ve had this first meeting you can start a ticket by sending us an email. See below for what goes into an email:
Create a separate email for each model request. For example, if your project requires parts cut on the laser and parts 3D printed, send this job in two separate emails. Thank you!
The information described below should be included within an email sent to fablab@uvm.edu. During open hours, you may walk in and fill out a ticket with the assistance of a FabLab employee.
What to put in your email before sending it to fablab@uvm.edu:
Which machine is needed for your project?
Is this for a class or SEED project?
Are there any special instructions for making this part?
Email the file to us at fablab@uvm.edu.
Please name your project file as follows: netId_partName_iteration.fileExtension
(ex: fablab_carwheel_1.stl)
In your email with the attached file, please include:
- First & Last name
- Email address
- NetID (not the 95#)
- Class number (ex. ARTS 144)
- Instructor last name
- Dimensions of your part
- Note that files over 9mb should be sent using UVM File Transfer to fablab@uvm.edu
Acceptable file formats:
- For the laser cutter: .pdf, .dxf, or .dwg (.pdf is preferred)
- For laser engraving: .pdf, .dxf, .jpg, or Adobe Illustrator
- For 3D printing: .stl
Students should only submit 1 or 2 versions of their project at a time. Students should iterate their projects over time, rather than submit several different versions all at once. In most instances we cannot accommodate color requests.
![](http://uvmfablab.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/workingwiththelab.jpg)
For Faculty:
Thank you for your interest in working with the FabLab! We’re excited to work with you and your class. Here are guidelines for how to begin working with the lab, and introduce a new undergraduate class assignment. Different guidelines apply to REU projects and Senior Design projects.
Guidelines for class projects:
Materials:
Please plan to use PLA for your class 3d printing projects. PLA is compostable and one of the better priced filaments. The lab suppplies the PLA
If you plan to use the laser cutter, we have cardboard and pressed Birch ⅛” wood. For more seasoned projects, acrylic is an option. Acrylic costs 3x more than the wood and it not affordable for large projects.
Color:
For reasons of efficiency, the lab does not accommodate filament color requests for 3d printing.
Size:
A rule of thumb when considering size and scale, each student project should be able to fit into a student’s semi-full backpack. On average, we advise that projects use no more than 500 grams of filament per 3D printing project, and 1 12” x 24” sheet ofpressed Birch ⅛” wood. Larger projects are manageable if your class has under 20 students. Senior capstone projects are assessed case-by-case.
How to get your class project approved:
The semester before your class, you must present a prototype for your class project and meet face-to-face with the FabLab student Operations Officers or Dean’s Office representative.
We will assess your project and fabricate a prototype, making you aware of potential issues with your file, and how much machine time it requires. We will estimate the cost of materials and set up a chartstring and budget. The CEMS Dean’s Office needs to sign off on all projects.
How to work with our team:
Your students must submit their projects to the lab using the lab’s ticket system. Faculty may not submit projects for their students.
Depending on the size of your class, we advise you to provide a deadline for students to submit their files to the lab 2-3 weeks before you plan to grade them. This allows them enough time to iterate and correct designs. If your students have never worked with the FabLab before, they will need coaching about how to work with its system; this work with the FabLab prepares students for working with outside contractors, and taking responsibility for seeing their ideas to completion and for managing unexpected outcomes that result from communication issues.
The FabLab models a peer-to-peer learning model. Each student project requires a ticket submission and this process is described on our website. We highly advise that students consult in-person with the student staff when they submit their file, especially if this is their first time using the lab.
Schedule a Tour:
Our student staff can provide a tour and presentation to your class about how to work with the lab and the services we provide. Just send us an email to schedule your tour. (The lab is open during the academic year, Monday – Friday. We are closed during student breaks and holidays).
Everyone in the UVM community is welcome to walk-in to the lab during our open hours. The team is also available over Teams for chat or remote consulting.
Guidelines for student submissions:
Students should only submit 1 or 2 versions of their project at a time. Students should iterate their projects over time, rather than submit several different versions all at once. In most instances we cannot accommodate color requests.
Special Projects:
Materials such as acrylic for the laser cutter, and resin and carbon fiber for the 3d printers are expensive. For special projects, students may fabricate in these materials only after they’re design has proven successful in a basic material like PLA, cardboard, or pressed Birch..
If you want to do a project with wood, and the ⅛ pressed Birch is not sufficient, we encourage you to consult with the Art programs woodshop; we share a wood CNC with them. Contact Paul Decausemacker if you are interested in working with wood cnc pdecause@uvm.edu
Sustainability:
A small project that your students will want to keep, is the best way to limit the amount of waste that results from projects. We are making efforts to compost PLA and reuse ABS filaments. Please let your students know we can recycle or compost some 3d printed projects if they don’t want to keep it. We do not have a way of recycling or composting the pressed Birch used in laser cutting, but if your project can be done in cardboard, this is a great way to keep your class projects more sustainable.
For UVM Students and Faculty outside of CEMS and Studio Art:
Please send a note with a description of your project to fablab@uvm.edu.
We look forward to hearing from you!
![](http://uvmfablab.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_7808_resized.jpg)