The Neurotech Lab’s main workshop area (located in Chen B103) has a variety of machining equipment. With appropriate training, you can use most of it yourself.

We are in the process of introducing some usage fees. Click for details.

Equipment you can learn to use today

Laser cutter

The Universal Laser Systems PLS6.75 is a 75-Watt laser cutter with a 32” x 18” processing area (max. part size 37” x 23” x 9”) that can cut a variety of materials, including many plastics, paper, wood, and even coverslip glass. It can also engrave (but not cut) painted or anodized metals. We keep a stock of acrylic in various thickness that you can use for small projects, or you can bring your own material.

Best of all: You can learn how to use it in less than 30 minutes.

Professional filament 3D printer

The MarkForged Mark Two uses nylon with embedded carbon fiber to print parts that are much stronger than anything you could achieve with PLA. It comes with its own on-line slicer software that does all the support calculations for you. Almost any object that is not extremely small can be printed with zero adjustments.

You can learn to use it in 5 minutes and send it print jobs from the comfort of your own office.

SLA resin 3D printer

The FormLabs Form 3 can print in a variety of materials ranging from flexible to very hard. We even have some biocompatible resins in stock. It is a little more effort to use this printer than the MarkForged, because parts need to be washed and cured after printing, but for high-resolution and light-weight parts, the FormLabs is hard to beat. Its slicer software has a bit more of a learning curve if your part needs intricate supports, but one that is well worth climbing.

Training takes less than 30 minutes. And if you need a resin we do not yet stock, there is more space on the shelf.

Small machining equipment

We have a drill press, a belt and disc sander, a grinder, and a full collection of hand tools, including screw drivers in all shapes and sizes. Come check out the collection!

We also stock screws, washers, nuts, etc., in both metric and imperial sizes. If you replenish what you take, it is all available for your use.

Electronics equipment

We have soldering stations and a surface-mount processing station. We have oscilloscopes, multimeters, and breadboards for prototyping and testing.

We stock many common electronic parts.

Optical instruments

We have cameras, laser power meters, photodiode meters, and a spectrophotometer.

Equipment that takes a bit more training

Mill

The Tree UVR-C is a top-notch classic manual mill. We mostly cut aluminum, but the mill is capable of cutting steel as well. We have a large variety of end mills, face mills, drill bits, and taps.

If you have taken ME 13 or a similar class, I can teach you how to use our mill.

Lathe

The Jet BDB-1340A is a 13” x 40” lathe great for cutting aluminum or Delrin. It can also cut steel, but only with great care. We have a variety of tool bits.

If you have taken ME 13 or a similar class, I can teach you how to use our lathe.

Water jet cutter

The Flow Mach 2b water jet cutter is capable of cutting not only through several inches thick stainless steel, but also through 100-μm thick glass without shattering it. By the nature of waterjet cutting, it can only cut two-dimensional shapes, but it has the major advantage that it is very easy to use.

The Flow is somewhat temperamental, but can produce good results when it is in the right mood. Training takes about an hour.

Equipment available with assistance

CNC mill

The HAAS TM-1P CNC mill is a top-notch computer-controlled mill capable of cutting stainless steel as well as aluminum and other materials. We have a HAAS TRT100 rotary installed on the mill for full 5-axis machining. All common tools needed to operate the mill are also present in the lab, including a variety of square and ball end mills, taps, dovetail cutters, and drill chucks.

I am hesitant to let casual users operate it by themselves, but machine can make anything out of metal, so come discuss your needs.