Let your creativity show at the Atwood Innovation Plaza Makerspace, where students have access to a variety of machines to prototype their concepts, personalize clothing and explore 3D printing.
The makerspace was opened to help people create and make their ideas a reality.
“The whole plaza was built as a place just to innovate,” Bailey Larkin, manager at the makerspace, said. “It was just a place where people could bring their ideas and come and bring them to life.”
Students from different departments of the university receive help from the makerspace to start their businesses, make a successful project or promote their social media, Larkin said.
The makerspace operates Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. and offers different types of machines that students can use during open hours.
- Laser cutters: Available in one large size and two medium sizes to make usage of the machines more convenient.
- Different types of printers: These include 3D printers, large printers for making posters, Bambu Lab printers, direct-to-film printer and fabric printers.
- A wood shop machine: This equipment can be used to create shapes or sculptures from wood.
- Sewing station with embroidery: With the help of the machine, visitors can sew or patch up clothes.
Some resources, such as training at the makerspace, are free, while usage of machines needs to be paid.
Use of the machines costs between $2 to $5 for 30 minutes. A 12-hour block of 3D printing time is $5. The cost of lasers depends on the size and can be up to $5. Larkin said the makerspace is funded through the university, and the price cost only covers the maintenance of the machines.
Students have the opportunity to buy the materials for their ideas or to bring their own materials to the makerspace and work with them. For example, students can bring their own fabric they want to use for the sewing station, or paper that will be used for printing.
The makerspace employees recommend that visitors book the machines in advance to avoid the wait time.
“It is helpful to book in advance, especially on some of our popular machines, like our Roland printers, which do the stickers and posters, or our laser cutters,” Larkin said. “So, if you do not book in advance, a lot of times, there is not a time slot open for you when you come in.”
For students who want to come to the makerspace for the first time, the faculty offers tours during which students will have the opportunity to get acquainted with all the machines.
“I think this is a great place to either just be creative,” Larkin said. “If you are a crafty person and you want to come in and do some crafts, whether or not you are wanting to sell those products or whether you are just wanting to do them for yourself.”
Sadie Sorenson, a senior integrated studies major from Richfield, who has experience with the makerspace, said it is a great place to visit.
“Mostly, I have made lots of birthday presents, lots of party decor stuff for other small businesses,” she said. “It has so many resources for any project.”
Jamie Cox, a parent of teens who come to the makerspace to craft by themselves, said they have visited a few times and are designing their own shirts.
“I like it [the place] because my teenagers who have gone through training can come and 3D print,” Cox said. “The possibilities are endless and there is always people here to help them, so I do not have to figure it out at all.”
Larkin said in the near future, the makerspace faculty plan to bring more machines that students can use without waiting. Visitors can suggest new machines they would like to see, and the faculty will add them to the list of things to buy.
Beyond the equipment and possibilities to create, there is another feature that makes the makerspace special.
“I think the people do [make the makerspace special],” Larkin said. “[It’s] the amount of people [who] come in with amazing ideas that they are wanting to use.”
