BDI Services
Brandeis Design and Innovation Service Catalog
Brandeis Design and Innovation guides users towards access, autonomy, and mastery. We celebrate Mistake Driven Learning. BDI does not design or make as a service; we train and consult with people on how to design or make on their own.
Read about each space's specialization below.
The MakerLab is a creative and collaborative space designed to foster innovation and hands-on learning. We offer state-of-the-art digital fabrication tools, consultation services, and a range of other resources to support students, faculty, and the community in bringing their ideas to life. Our mission is to inspire experimentation and problem-solving through making, while providing a supportive environment for interdisciplinary projects and skills development. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or new to fabrication, the MakerLab is here to help you realize your vision.
Managed by Greg Buckland (gbuckland@brandeis.edu)
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Training on how to operate a variety of 3D printers, CAD and 3D model acquisition
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Available one on one, as a workshop for a class, or at table or speaking events
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Training on building and maintaining 3D printers: FDM and SLA and Binder Jet
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Training and access to Vinyl cutting, Sewing, and Digital Embroidery
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Recommendations for outside vendors for different materials and geometries
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Facilitate full color prints on Zcorp printer for proteins or complex chemicals
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Experience with molecular visualization (PyMol, Chimera, etc.), archaeology, and museum studies
We provide consultations and support for clubs and other organizations who are interested in refining their visual branding, including logo design for specific media (e.g., shirts, stickers, etc.).
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Training for TinkerCad, OnShape, Fusion360, Solidworks, Blender
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Support (but no training) for OpenScad, Antimony, Rhino
Automation Lab (Robotics and Embedded systems Workspace)
A place where faculty, students, staff, researchers, and other Brandeis community members can come to rapid-prototype electronic for sensor data collection and actuation systems with rentable gear, step-by-step guides, back-end equipment, and weekly trainings.
Managed by Timothy Hebert (thebert@brandeis.edu)
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Microcontrollers - Arduino, Raspberry Pi, beaglebone, mbed
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Shields/Hats/Tops, sensors, actuators
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Protocols, electronics troubleshooting, circuit analysis, hardware hacking
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Actuation, machine vision, indoor/outdoor localization
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Drones, ground vehicles, underwater, telepresence
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Distributed systems/cluster computing
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Pi Cluster, commodity hardware cluster
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Computer hardware, operating systems
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Data collection, Data analysis, Databases and data redundancy
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Data display
- Materials testing, Fluid dynamics, Navigation / SLAM
- Autonomous Robotics Lab
- Digital Fabrication with Robotics
- Computational Thinking, distributed computing, machine learning
- Robotics, Aviation, Bitmap
Digital Scholarship Lab (Humanities & Social Science Digital Project and Research Workspace)
This lab is for projects that require more computational work: crunching data sets, rendering complex geometries, creating virtual experiences, or coding that requires a larger display. Integrate this lab into your work with other BDI spaces (e.g. CAD or VR simulation in the Makerspace). Our tools include matlab, GIS, 3D scanning and 3D rendering, unity, unreal engine; data analysis, coding, or simulation software.
Managed by Dr. Natalie Susmann (nsusmann@brandeis.edu)
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- Support developing custom digital datasets from physical or digital sources
- Recommendations for data formats based on analytical questions
High Performance Workstation
The High Performance Workstation is available for Brandeis students to experiment with machine learning and projects requiring higher computational power than what the Digital Scholarship Lab machines can provide. Students can work in Linux or Windows.
Interested users should complete these steps in sequential order:
- Complete a Digital Scholarship Lab swipe access training
- Complete a Teamviewer training with Natalie Susmann
- Set up an appointment with Tim Hebert
- Field survey design
- GPS data recording
- Remote survey using Google Earth/Maps/digital atlases
- Remote sensing and photogrammetry
- Large scale GIS projects (ArcGIS Pro or GRASS)
- Canopy penetrating LIDAR drone imaging
- BDI staff are experienced operating a wide array of drones, including DJI and Autel models
- Support pursuing drone licensing (overseas or U.S.) and project tasks (insurance, operations, permits)
- Guidance on your project's drone purchase
- Guidance on permits for operating drones at archaeological sites
- BDI staff are FAA certified pilots who can be invited for your drone projects, file flight plans, add appropriate insurance, and operate the vehicle
- BDI staff are available to prototype custom flying robots for specific research or academic uses
- Practice drones available for class use
- Canopy penetrating LIDAR drone imaging
- Support processing drone imagery for photogrammetry models
- Consultations and trainings on how to virtualize a physical object
- Support and equipment to 3D scan objects and spaces (e.g. insects, whole Brandeis campus) for research and learning purposes
- Strategizing 3D scanning methodologies in unique environments (e.g. overseas, sensitive physical materials)
- Consultations for developing a digital humanities / social sciences project methodology
- Project documentation and metadata best practices
- Database schemas
- Expert advice about Digital Archaeology and Digital Cultural history project data, methodology, and analyses
- XRF / elemental analysis training
- Access our Bruker Tracer III (in-lab only)
Clubs who require high-performance computing can book the DS Lab for regular meetings or events. Members are required to complete access training. Currently, we host Brandeis Hack Club and
Brandeis Aviation Club.
Engineering Classroom (Abelson 401): Active Learning Classroom & Design Studio
This lab was created in the summer of 2023 to support Brandeis’s new Engineering Program. It is a joint effort between the Physics Department and the Brandeis MakerLab (The BDI department).
The purpose of this Classroom Lab is to create an Active Learning Classroom to support the Engineering Major at Brandeis University. It contains a strong kit of rapid prototyping machines and materials designed to allow students to build things using CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM Computer Aided Manufacturing) workflows - as well as to enable Design Thinking and ideation.
The space seats 20 students on modular butcher block tables, and is surrounded by whiteboards, including a mock-up/pin-up space in the hallway. There are power and ventilation drops in the ceiling - and strong ventilation and dust collection systems for the machines around their perimeter. In the front of the classroom there is a 10 foot projection screen with a document camera for doing live demonstrations of fine tasks.
Managed by Ian Roy (ianroy@brandeis.edu)
Book a consultation
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Primarily for the Engineering Department
Individual class sessions on things like, as scheduling capacity allows:
- 3D Printing
- Intro to CAD
- 3D Scanning
- Laser Cutting
- Electronics Prototyping
- Soldering
Brandeis Clubs can host Design and Prototyping sessions or talks in the space
Any group across campus can book the space for a Design Thinking session
Research Labs can visit the space for Design, Prototyping, and Fabrication support
Longer projects lasting a semester or more can reserve storage space for their projects
Equipment Services
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- Purchasing or training to use a: 3D printer, CNC mill or router, Laser cutter, engraver
- Choosing the right computer/server/mobile device for your project
- Purchasing or training to use a Drone (including US and EU licensing)
- Embedded systems such as Raspberry Pi or Arduino use based on a described need
- Digital Scholarship Lab loanable inventory
- Leap Motion, Oculus Rift, Kinects, Google Cardboard, Muse headband, 3D printers
- Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and other embedded systems cables, shields and accessories
- 3D-printed molecular models
- Select drone models (depending on licensing and insurance)
BDI does not provide loans for computers, laptops, tablets, or the P-XRF.
BDI Outreach and Collaborations
In addition to Regular workshops at the Brandeis Library, BDI full-time and student-worker staff are available to collaborate at events sponsored by Brandeis or community partners. We've collaborated on events like:
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- The Art of the Pitch: from elevator to pitch deck
- BDI space tours (full BDI suite or individual spaces) customized to your needs. Learn about available tools, potential projects, and access rules. Full tour includes the MakerLab, Automation Lab, Digital Scholarship Lab, Printer Farm, and Engineering Classroom
- Intro to Troubleshooting Theory: Systematic Fault Isolation
- Design Thinking Activity: Wallet or Gifts or Chairs
- How to DIY a Drone: How Racing Drones work
- How to Fly a Drone: Intro to flying Acro/Airmode
- How to get your FAA 107 Pilot’s License or EU license
- Maker Movement Applications in the Medical Field
- Revolutionize your Research for Today’s Digital World
- Digital Tools for Writing Dissertations and Books (that aren’t Zotero/Endnote)
- Designing Digital Datasets for Archaeological Research
- Tech or Maker Demos
- Tabling for events (e.g., Brandeis Orientation Week, Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation)
- Hackathon Planning