IDEA Lab Spaces

3D Printing Room

The 3D printing room is equipped with multiple 3D printers. The main system is 12 Prusa MK3S 3D printers that are connected to a network (using OctoPrint) that allows students to send the print job from their laptops. Two desktop computers are also available to start 3D printing jobs and utilize 3D printing preparation (i.e., slicing). There are other types of 3D printers in this room for larger prints (Ultimaker and Gigabot). Supplies (filaments) and cleaning tools are available in the room, which has a stronger filtration system to allow better ventilation. Students are advised not to spend more than 10 minutes in the room due to potential safety concerns of melting filament odors.

Club/Capstone Room

This room is provides space for student club meetings and senior capstone design groups. The SHU Innovate student club meets here and uses the room for its planning purposes. Video conferencing and collaboration capabilities allow students to host remote meetings with alumni and others.

Conference Rooms

The IDEA Lab has two conference rooms adjacent to the studio space. With video conferencing and projection capabilities, these two spaces can accommodate 10 people for meetings. These rooms can be used by faculty members for small meetings and by students for events.

Digital Arts & Textiles Rooms

The textile room and the digital arts room offer various tools for merchandise design and fabrication for the SHU community. An iron, embroidery machine, sewing machine, vinyl cutter, heat presses, sublimation pigment printers and color printer are available for student use.

Engineering Classroom

There is one dedicated classroom within the lab that can accommodate 30 students. The instructor’s podium area is equipped with a desktop computer, overhead projector and cabling for external devices (e.g. instructor laptop) to be projected on the screen. The classroom also has a ceiling camera for remote student access, online guest speaker presentations and lecture recording/capturing.

The classroom is equipped with nine desktop computers for students to utilize engineering software (MATLAB, ORCAD, drone simulator, Virtuoso) and six electronic workbench equipment sets (a triple-channel DC power supply, a digital multimeter, an arbitrary function generator and a 2-channel oscilloscope) for lab sessions.

Machine Shop

The machine shop contains the lab’s digital manufacturing and prototyping equipment. Metal, wood and acrylic manipulation are all possible in the lab. This room has thicker windows and insulated walls to reduce heavy equipment noise and lab filtration and in-house sawdust collection equipment are designed to reduce dust in the room.

Equipment here includes: Epilog laser cutters/engravers, CNC mill and lathe, CNC ShopBot, Waterjet cutter, wood lathe, wood cutting equipment and metal cutting/bending equipment. The machine shop also includes a variety of manual power tools and other manufacturing supplies, such as tapes, caulk guns, pencils, glue, wood filler, zip ties, rags, oil, grease, pliers, hammers, cutters, clamps, wire brushes, tape measures and spatulas.

Soldering/Electronic Testing Area

This space provides soldering capabilities with six soldering stations and fume extractors, along with the components that are required for soldering (stranded solder, wick, hand tools, helping hands, etc.). There are two stations of testing equipment that include a digit multimeter, power supply, function generator and digital oscilloscope.

Studio Space

The spacious studio at the entrance of the IDEA Lab is used for project-based classes that require the space to build and test prototypes. This space can accommodate 40 students. Seven desktop computers are located around the peripheral walls for student use. Three TV screens may be used for instruction or speaker presentations. The studio space also has an audio-visual area and storage space for student projects.

Wet Lab/Characterization Lab Area

Chemicals such as Isopropyl Alcohol and 3D print wash liquid are stored in the chemical storage cabinet. The room has an emergency shower, an eye wash safety station and a fume hood used to protect users from contact with hazardous gases and vapors. Racks hold ultrasonic cleaners, beakers, jars, Erlenmeyer flasks, funnels, balances, metalware sets, glassware, wash bottles and gloves. The room also includes two inspection microscopes.