Available Services
Services requiring additional information:
Research Technology and Innovation Service Catalog
MakerLab (Digital Fabrication Hub)
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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Offer 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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Offer training on building and maintaining 3D printers: FDM and SLA and Binder Jet
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Can connect to outside vendors for different materials and geometries
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Can facilitate full color prints on Zcorp printer for proteins or complex chemicals
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(anything rendered by a molecular visualizer: PyMol, Chimera, etc)
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(also available to copy objects for archeology, preservation, etc)
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Offers training and access to Vinyl cutting, Sewing, and Digital Embroidery
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Consultations and trainings on Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Reality implementation
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Support use of Head Mounted Displays, Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality devices
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Unity / Unreal dev and training
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Consultations and trainings on Custom PC hardware Specs, builds, mods and upgrades
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Supports basic connectivity on Raspberry Pi Linux system builds
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We will provide FAA certified pilots for drone projects, file flight plans, add appropriate insurance, and operate the vehicle
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Also available to prototype custom flying robots for specific research or academic uses
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TinkerCad, OnShape, Fusion360, Solidworks, Blender
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Supported, no Training: 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 troubleshootings, 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
Public-facing web hosted getting-started guides for each sensor and actuator in our rental catalogue with links to parts and tools used as well as commented example code.
- Electronics
- soldering training
- Dozuki guides, github code
- 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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- Remote sensing and photogrammetry
- Large scale GIS projects
- 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
- Problem solving how to 3D scan 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
- Canopy penetrating LIDAR drone imaging
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
Hardware Related (RTI)
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- Purchasing or training to use a: 3D printer, CNC mill or router, Laser cutter, engraver
- What Laptop, Desktop, Server, Camera, or mobile device to buy for research purposes
- 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
- Most MakerLab Equipment can be negotiated for a loan
- Leap Motion, Oculus Rift, Kinects, Google Cardboard, Muse headband, 3D printers
- Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and other embedded systems cables, shields and accessories
- Molecular models
Other Services
Software Related (BDI), Design Work (BDI), Outreach (BDI), Ethos (BDI)
We do not do design as a service; we train and consult with people on how to design.
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Software configuration or training for Digital Fabrication Workflows
- CAD software: Autodesk Fusion 360, Solidworks, TinkerCAD, Rhino
- CAM software: Cura, Simplify3D, Prusa Slicer, Idea Maker, Light Burn
Other Library Software Services
We do not do design as a service; we train and consult with people on how to design.
- Available for custom 3D design and printing everything from brackets to full prototypes. Useful, ready to go objects as needed by researchers
- Available for custom 2D design and Branding consultations for web and print
- Available for Lasercut design training
- Consultations and Brainstorms on Branding and Logo Design
- Will connect users to resources, but not do design as a service
- Will help build design literacy
- Can help design events, or Market and Promote events
- Tech or Maker Demos
- Tabling for events
- Hackathon Planning
- Workshops and Talks and Presentations
- The Art of the Pitch: from elevator to pitch deck
- MakerLab intro and overview: What tools we have, and how you can use them
- Digital Scholarship Lab Access Orientation
- Engineering Classroom Tour
- Full Design and Innovation Spaces tour: MakerLab, Automation Lab, Digital Scholarship Lab, Printer Farm, and Engineering Classroom
- 3D Printing training - Intro to FDM / FFF 3D Printing with Prusa Mini+
- Advanced 3D Printer training - specifically how one model works
- 3D Scanning Training - Overview of underlying technologies
- 3D Scanning Training - Structured Light scanning with Artec Spider/Eva and Artec Studio Software
- 3D Scanning Training - Intro to Photogrammetry with Agisoft Metashape
- Intro to Soldering Training / Advanced Soldering Training
- Laser Cutter Training with Light Burn
- How to build a Custom PC
- 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)
- Access, Autonomy, MasteryThough Mistake Driven Learning, we encourage our users to Fail Faster & Fail Smarter