How to get your class project approved:
In order to run class projects through the FabLab, we require instructors to first meet with FabLab student management to discuss the scope of the project, required resources, and timelines. This meeting will be quick, but it will greatly improve efficiency and project output quality from the FabLab. To schedule this meeting please email the FabLab at fablab@uvm.edu where you will be put in touch with management to schedule a meeting.
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 3-4 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, taking responsibility for seeing their ideas to completion, and for managing unexpected outcomes that result from communication issues. If you have any questions about this process, feel free to reach out to fablab@uvm.edu or stop by and talk to one of us!
The FabLab provides 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, which are posted on our website and door. The team is also available over Teams for chat or remote consulting.
Materials and Size Guidance:
Materials:
Please plan to use PLA for your class 3d printing projects. PLA is compostable and one of the better priced filaments. The FabLab will supply the PLA.
If you plan to use the laser cutter, we have cardboard and pressed ⅛” Brich wood. For more seasoned projects acrylic is an option, however acrylic costs 3x more than wood and is not affordable for large projects.
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 of ⅛” laser-cut material. Larger projects are manageable if your class has under 20 students. Senior capstone projects are assessed case-by-case.
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.
We require a base amount of information from the students for each ticket submitted. This information can be found on our website and should be included in the email submission each time.
The student is responsible for submitting the correct file type in the email submission. Information on what file type to use for each project can be found on our website. If a student needs help with file conversions, they can reach out to FabLab staff for help.
If there is an issue with a student’s submission, the FabLab will email back to try to correct the issue. The ticket will then be placed on hold until the student responds, and the issue is resolved.
Special Projects:
Materials such as acrylic for the laser cutter, and resin or carbon fiber for the 3d printers are expensive. For special projects, students may fabricate using these materials only after their 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 at 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.