Innovation Hub & Makerspace
The Langford Makerspace is an open-use and general working area meant for students, faculty, and staff.
The Makerspace is a place for creatively making a project of almost any kind. We provide 3D printing services and equipment, including:
- FDM, SLA, and SLS 3D Printers
- Laser Cutting (see Laser Lounge for template)
- Workbenches with non-power tools
- Design Computer Stations
Location
Langford B Room 111
Hours
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
3D Printing
How to make a 3D print
- Step 1: Submit your .STL or .OBJ file(s) to us in person, or email them to makerspace@arch.tamu.edu.
- Step 2: Our team will process your file(s) and send a preview along with a price estimate.
- Step 3: Once payment is received and the customer enters their contact information to our printing queue, your print will be started. (Files must be submitted between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday).
- Step 4: Once your print is completed, our team will collect your print and email you a bin location to locate your print for pickup. (Our pickup bins are located just outside the Makerspace doors with an alphanumeric label visible on the front.)
Pricing
Pricing is determined by print time ($1/hr) + cost of material in weight (g/mL). College of Architecture students are not charged for printing time, only cost of materials. Materials costs vary for Students, Staff, Faculty, and the General Public.
Additional fees cover file review, preparation, post-proceeding and slicing services provided by student employees.
Our Machines
Ultimaker S5 FDM: build area – X: 300mm (11.8″) Y: 240mm (9.4″) Z: 330mm (12.9″)
Formlabs Form3 SLA: build area – X: 145mm (5.7″) Y: 145mm (5.7″) Z: 185mm (7.3″)
Formlabs Fuse1 SLS: build area – X: 165mm (6.5″) Y: 165mm (6.5″) Z: 300mm (11.8″)
Other Services
Paper Cutting
You can cut down stacks and sheets of paper by using the paper cutters right outside of the Technology Services office next to the printers in Langford Building A. Please make sure you discard of your scrap paper when you are done using the cutters.
Laser Cutting Procedures
The Makerspace has laser cutters available that can be used to precisely cut out designs our of a variety of materials. Use of the laser cutters for College of Architecture students is free of charge for academic, course-related purposes and projects. Personal project will require additional payment. All non-architecture students, faculty and staff will require additional payment as well.
How To Laser Cut
- Download our AutoCAD template and place your designs into the designated RED boxes, these boxes reference the lasers cut area so that you can see if your designs will fit the machines.
- Please your email to us at makerspace@arch.tamu.edu, so we obtain your file and so that we can keep your file on record.
- Note: We accept files for laser cutting between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No files will be accepted for cutting after 4:30 p.m.
- You will visit us in the Makerspace to bring us your material or purchase materials from us. You must have an approved material required to laser cut. There are some materials we DO NOT approve to cut, please check with us before purchasing any materials yourself to verify if that material is safe to cut.
- We will evaluate your files to find any errors or corrections that will need to be made in order to cut efficiently and improve the outcome of your cutting.
- Once your file is approved and necessary payments have been received, we will run your cut.
- When your cut is complete, you will be notified via your TAMU email with a location to pick up your order.
- If you need any assistance setting up a file, choosing a material, using AutoCAD and the AutoCAD template, please drop by the shop or email us at makerspace@arch.tamu.edu to schedule an appointment to help you get started laser cutting.
Laser Cutter Template
We have six laser cutters in two of our on-campus locations, Langford and ILSQ, where you can purchase materials to laser cut, etch and engrave. Materials safe for laser cutting and etching include various wood, chipboard, taskboard, paper, and plastic acrylic sheets. You can also etch on materials like glass and coated metals. Foams are not safe to laser cut and engrave but can be used for hand cutting or milled on a CNC.
FAQ
3D Printing Materials:
FDM – We offer PLA in various colors, TPU, and Clear PETG
SLA Resin – white, black, grey, clear resins as well as high temp and castable wax SLS Printing – Nylon12 Powder
Is laser cutting free?
Laser cutting requires you to either buy an approved material from us or a customer can provide an approved material.
If you are an Architecture student, laser cutting or engraving materials for a class project, outside of the material purchase, there are no additional charges for laser cutting.
All architecture students “Personal” projects, (things not related to course work), will pay additional laser cutting rates.
All non-architecture students, staff, and faculty will pay additional laser cutting rates.
What materials are safe to laser cut?
APPROVED/SAFE materials include: various hard woods, MDF, acrylic, chipboard, taskboard, cardboard, leather, cork, and paper. Other materials like coated metals, ceramics, and glass can be etched on but not cut.
UNAPPROVED/UNSAFE materials include: various foams, OBS or particle wood, PVC, HDPE, ABS, silicone and food. These items while being etched and/or cut produce toxic gases when melted that are not safe to breath and thus will not be laser cut.
Does the Makerspace sell filament? Can you use your own filament?
The Makerspace DOES NOT sell spools of filament and you cannot use your own filament. We keep plenty of good quality filament in stock in case of material runouts or failures.
