A² Fab Lab now available for all UF students, faculty and staff

October 18, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The A² Fab Lab, a collaboration between the College of Design, Construction and Planning and College of Fine Arts, will now be accessible to all University of Florida students, faculty and staff. To showcase the lab’s capabilities, the Fab Lab is hosting an open house at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 with live demonstrations and opportunities to witness unique and creative processes.

“We are really excited to have so many new users from across the campus in such a wide array of different disciplines,” said Mat Chandler, lab manager. “The A² Fab Lab is a unique research, learning and digital fabrication facility and with some of today’s most cutting edge technology, anyone can begin to create and fabricate in ways like never before. An entrepreneurship student can rapid-prototype a design for a product, an engineering student can make parts for a thesis, or an English major might just create some really cool laser-cut greeting cards; it’s great because the possibilities are endless and anyone can learn.”

Chandler said Fab Lab memberships will be available at the open house for a discounted fee of $75 instead of the regular fee of $110 per semester. This offer is valid until Nov. 1.

Home to four cutting, printing and scanning technologies, the Fab Lab provides different ways of bridging the physical and digital realms and creates unique opportunities to explore new ways of thinking and making.

The two laser cutters produce precision cut products from materials such as wood, Plexiglas and paper. The laser cutter can etch a family image or create uniquely styled business cards. The 3D printer is used for making three-dimensional objects from a computer model that would be very difficult to do by hand, such as a 3D model of a favorite video-game character or even one’s self. The 3D scanner brings physical objects from the real world to the digital realm as three-dimensional workable computer models. The CNC router can be used to create large complex items such as furniture.

The open house will include demonstrations of the machines, handmade door prizes and student work on display. The winner of the “Imagination, Innovation and Insanity, “competition will be announced. The competition is open to all UF students, faculty and staff and the objective is to build an awe-inspiring 3D model that will be chosen for print. The winner will receive a $1,000 3D print prize and one free semester of Fab Lab membership. The deadline to turn in submissions is Oct. 22. For more information, please visit
http://www.arts.ufl.edu/aafablab/.