Labs & Equipment

Jacobs Hall is home to a wide variety of spaces and tools for prototyping and fabrication, enabling users to move through complete design processes — from initial sketch to refined prototype. A Maker Pass, open to faculty, students, and staff regardless of previous experience, grants semesterly access and safety training.

Jump to: All-Purpose Makerspaces | Electronics Lab | Woodshop | Metal Shop | Advanced Prototyping Lab | A/V Production, Augmented/Virtual Reality

All-Purpose Makerspaces

Photo of the all-purpose makerspace

The all-purpose makerspaces in studios 110 and 120 contain laser-cutters, basic 3D printers, hand tools, and more.

PRUSA 3D PRINTERS

Recently added 3D printers located in the makerspace that uses the same PLA filament as the JPS Ultimakers. There is no cost or training required for use.

View project examples

CONSUMER GRADE SEWING MACHINES

Consumer grade sewing machines are the perfect tool for unleashing your inner fashionista and crafting your own custom creations. With their user-friendly features and versatile capabilities, these machines make it easy to stitch together everything from basic hemlines to intricate designs.

LULZBOT TAZ 6 WITH 1.2 MM NOZZLE

Whether you’re an engineer, artist, or DIY enthusiast, the LulzBot TAZ 6 with a 1.2 mm nozzle is the perfect tool for unleashing your creativity. With its large build volume and precision printing capabilities, you can create everything from functional prototypes to stunning works of art. Its high-quality nozzle ensures that your prints are smooth and accurate, while its easy-to-use software makes it simple to customize and print your designs.

UNIVERSAL SYSTEMS LASER-CUTTERS, 32 X 18 IN (3)

Plywood, acrylic, and similar materials can be cut with our single-beam laser-cutters. For larger projects, use our dual laser-cutter in room 120. View project examples.

JUKI INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINE (1) AND JUKI INDUSTRIAL SERGER (1)

The JUKI industrial sewing machine is a precision powerhouse designed to elevate your sewing game to the next level. With its lightning-fast speed, consistent stitch quality, and durable construction, this machine is perfect for both professional and home use.

Whether you’re hemming, seaming, or creating intricate decorative effects, the JUKI industrial serger will help you achieve professional-quality results every time. With its cutting-edge technology, this machine offers lightning-fast stitching, flawless edge finishing, and exceptional durability.

SPRAY PAINTING BOOTH WITH FUME HOOD

Contained fume space designed for drying and painting any projects that have toxic fumes or spray.

KUKA ROBOTS, “LUCY” AND “ETHEL”

Generously provided by the Student Technology Fund Committee, these industrial robots are located in studio 110 and are available for students, researchers, and courses.

CREAFORM GO!SCAN 3D SCANNER

Introducing the Creoform Go!Scan 3D Scanner, a revolutionary handheld device that brings your wildest imaginations to life. With its cutting-edge technology and lightning-fast speed, the Go!Scan captures intricate details and textures with ease, delivering jaw-droppingly accurate 3D scans in mere minutes.

HAND TOOLS

From screwdrivers and pliers to hammers and wrenches, hand tools are the backbone of any successful project, providing the perfect combination of function and form to get the job done right, every time. These rugged and versatile tools are designed to fit snugly in the palm of your hand, delivering precise and powerful results with every turn, twist, and tap.

EXPERIMENTAL 3D PRINTERS (2)

Experimental 3D printers are like mad scientists in the world of technology. They push the limits of what’s possible, tinkering with new materials and processes to create never-before-seen objects. With these printers, you can bring your wildest ideas to life, from intricate sculptures to functional prototypes.

UNIVERSAL SYSTEMS LASER-CUTTER, 48 X 25 IN

The Universal Systems Laser-Cutter is a precision tool designed for creators who demand nothing but the best. With its impressive 48 x 25 inch cutting area, this machine is capable of crafting intricate designs with laser-sharp accuracy. Whether you’re working with wood or acrylic, its advanced features and intuitive controls make it easy to unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life with unparalleled precision and speed.

4′ X 8′ SHOPBOT PRSALPHA CNC ROUTER

The Shopbot uses computer numerically controlled (CNC) toolpaths created from vector drawings or solid models to cut any shape from simple rectangles and curves arcs, to complex organic shapes. A fast-spinning endmill traverses the toolpath, removing all the material around your desired part(s).

OTHERMILL CNC MILLS (2)

The Othermill is a portable, precise milling machine that allows you to create 2D and 3D objects out of durable materials, such as wood, metal, and plastic, using digital designs. This computer-numerical-controlled (CNC) machine comes with easy-to-use software and all the tools and materials you need to get started.

VACU-FORMER

The vacuum forming machine heats a thin sheet of plastic until it is very pliable, then stretches it over a mold and sucks the air out from between the mold and the plastic, forming the plastic to the mold. The vacuum former can heat and form up to 1/4” thick material.

DIWIRE WIRE BENDER

The DIWire Wire Bender is a futuristic machine that can transform straight wires into any 2D or 3D shape you can imagine. With its precise and customizable bending capabilities, it’s like having a 3D printer for metal wire. Whether you’re creating sculptures, prototypes, or custom-made parts, the DIWire Wire Bender opens up a world of creative possibilities for makers, artists, and engineers alike.

OTHER POWER TOOLS: DRILL, FOREDOM ROTARY HAND TOOL, JIGSAW, STAPLE GUN, ORBITAL SANDER

 

Electronics Lab

The electronics lab is located in studio 110 and contains soldering irons, oscilloscopes, multi-meters, and more.

SOLDERING IRONS

Soldering irons are hand tools used to heat up solder to very high melting temperatures in order to connect workpieces for electrical projects. These are located in the electronics stations and solder is provided.

PCB SHEAR

Provides a sharp and clean edge when cutting individual circuits. This should not be used to cut other materials.

OSCILLOSCOPES AND POWER SUPPLIES

The oscilloscope is like a high-tech microscope, allowing you to see and analyze the intricate signals and waveforms of electronic systems. Meanwhile, the power supply is the trusted workhorse that provides the energy to bring those systems to life. Together, they enable engineers to design and test the technologies that shape our world, from smartphones to spacecraft.

MULTI-METERS

Multi-meters are like super-powered detectives for electronics. With their ability to measure voltage, current, and resistance, they can unravel the mysteries of even the most complex circuits. They’re like a Swiss Army Knife for electrical testing, packing multiple tools into one compact device.

SALEAE LOGIC ANALYZER

Saleae Logic Analyzer is a compact and powerful tool that lets you peek under the hood of your digital circuits. It captures and displays the logic signals in real-time, allowing you to debug and optimize your designs with ease.

HEAT GUNS

Similar to a hair dryer, these guns exert extremely hot air to shrink heat tube material around a workpiece. These are extremely helpful when cleaning up a complicated circuit that has a lot of wires.

STEREO MICROSCOPE

A stereo microscope allows you to gain a closer perspective of a “larger” 3D piece like small mechanical parts.

Woodshop

The woodshop is located in studio 120 and contains various saws, a disc sander, and a drill press.

SAWSTOP 10” TABLE SAW

The SawStop consists of a bed and a spinning blade that allows you to cut wood, plastic, foam, cardboard, and other materials. It is equipped with an amazing feature that can help keep you from accidentally injuring yourself by stopping the machine in 5 milliseconds if a finger is detected.

LAGUNA 18 3000 SERIES VERTICAL BAND SAW

Overall, the Laguna 18 3000 Series Vertical Band Saw is a reliable and versatile tool that is well-suited for both professional woodworkers and hobbyists. The table can be tilted up to 45 degrees to accommodate angled cuts, and it has a large work surface with a cast iron trunnion for stability.

DISK/BELT SANDER COMBO

A disk/belt sander combo is a power tool that combines a disk sander and a belt sander in one machine. The disk sander is a circular sanding surface mounted on a table, while the belt sander uses a continuous loop of sandpaper to sand materials. This combination allows for a wider range of sanding capabilities, including precision sanding with the disk sander and fast material removal with the belt sander.

BOSCH SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW

The Bosch Sliding Compound Miter Saw is a precision cutting tool that effortlessly glides through wood, metal, and plastic with ease. Its unique sliding mechanism enables users to make precise angled cuts while its powerful motor delivers smooth and consistent performance every time.

DELTA VARIABLE SPEED DRILL PRESS

A Delta variable speed drill press is a power tool used for drilling precise holes in various materials. Delta drill presses typically have a motor that powers the spindle, which holds the drill bit, and a table that can be adjusted for height and angle. This allows for greater flexibility in the types of holes that can be drilled and the size of the materials being drilled.

Metal Shop

Photo of the all-purpose makerspace

The metal shop is located on the basement level and contains a waterjet cutter and a range of tools for work with metal.

OMAX 2626 WATERJET CUTTER

A waterjet cutter uses highly pressurized water to erode and cut basically anything but tempered glass. The OMAX 2626 is small (26″x26″) yet a very efficient machine capable of incredible accuracy (~0.001″).

BAILEIGH COMBINATION SHEAR/BRAKE/ROLL

This 3-in-1 tool is able to make clean shear cuts of metal. It’s also capable of braking metal bands to 90° and rolling metal bands into different diameters.

BAILEIGH 20-TON PRESS

This is a very handy hydraulic metal press with a wide variety of applications. Primarily it’s used to bend or straighten metal.

ELLIS HORIZONTAL BANDSAW

It’s similar to a miter saw but instead the table is stationary while the blade is able to rotate to make 45° and 90° cuts. You’re able to also turn this into a vertical bandsaw as well.

16″ SOUTH BEND VERTICAL BANDSAW

With a vertical bandsaw, you’re able to make cuts along and across any metal panel. Most importantly though, with a vertical bandsaw you can make curved cuts while turning the material manually around the blade.

CLAUSING DRILL PRESS

The Clausing Drill press has the ability to change into a variety of different speeds to accurately cut large and small holes onto a metal panel.

KALAMAZOO BELT SANDERS (2)

Belt sanders can help you remove sharp edges and round the corners of your work fast. Just be safe, the sparks that result can cause serious pain. Ask a Design Specialist for more information regarding grit size for your material.

TIG WELDING AREA

TIG Welding is a very useful area in the metalshop, the process is used for bike frames, fenders, doors handles, and other types of hardware. It’s a very high quality welding process that looks very clean.

TORMACH MODULE

The Tormach 440 PCNC is a general purpose CNC that offers a higher degree of automation than a typical Bridgeport Mill. Typically, the Tormach is used for creating parts in aluminum and steel, as well as rigid plastics. In addition to normal CNC programming, this tool has canned cycles to automate programming, includes automatic coolant, and has the ability to run conversational milling cycles.

FABLIGHT

The FabLight is a laser cutter manufactured by 3D Fab Light, Inc., and is designed to safely cut both metal sheets and tubes in a compact footprint. It can also engrave steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, and titanium. The FabLight uses a Fiber Laser, which can output pulses between 1,500W to 4,500W. The cutting area is 50″ x 25″

SHARP MANUAL KNEE MILL

Similar to a bed mill, removes material through a drill bit, but with more flexibility through the table’s vertical movement in the Z axis.

HAND TOOLS

A variety of hand tools to create or prototype your design. A few examples include a hammer, balance ruler, measuring tape, allen wrench, pliers, etc.

Advanced Prototyping Lab

Photo of the advanced prototyping lab

The advanced prototyping lab is located in room 332 and contains high-end 3D printers.

STRATASYS FORTUS 380MC 3D PRINTER

The Fortus 380MC is known for its high precision and accuracy, as well as its ability to print in a variety of materials, including engineering-grade thermoplastics. It has a large build volume, which allows for the creation of larger parts, and can produce parts with complex geometries and intricate details.

OBJET260 CONNEX3 MULTI-MATERIAL COLOR 3D PRINTER

The Objet260 Connex3 Multi-Material Color 3D printer is a professional-grade 3D printer that uses PolyJet technology to create 3D objects. This printer is often used in engineering and design settings for rapid prototyping and product development, as well as for producing high-quality models for presentations and trade shows.

FORM 3 SLA PRINTER (4)

Perfect for prototyping, model-making, and artistry, the Form 3 SLA Printer is the ultimate tool for bringing your vision to life in stunning 3D. Its advanced laser technology and intelligent software create flawless models with a smooth finish that rival even the most intricate designs.

MARKFORGED X7 3D PRINTER

The MARKFORGED X7 3D Printer is a game-changing innovation that blends industrial-grade strength with advanced printing technology. With its cutting-edge carbon fiber reinforcement, the X7 produces parts that are stronger and more durable than anything else on the market. From aerospace to automotive, from medical to manufacturing, the MARKFORGED X7 is the ultimate solution for creating robust and reliable parts that stand the test of time.

FUNCTION GENERATORS

With the ability to produce precise and repeatable waveforms of varying frequencies, amplitudes, and shapes, these versatile tools are essential for testing and designing circuits, analyzing signals, and exploring the limits of electrical systems. Whether you need a sine wave for audio applications, a square wave for digital logic testing, or a ramp wave for waveform shaping, a function generator is a must-have for any serious electronics enthusiast.

FUME EXTRACTORS

Available at all the stations in the electronics station to extract toxic fumes released when soldering.

VIRTUALBENCH

VirtualBench brings simplicity and efficiency to your electronics projects. VirtualBench is like having a fully-equipped electronics lab in the palm of your hand. With just one compact device, you can measure, visualize, and control your circuits with ease.

A/V Production, Augmented/Virtual Reality

A/V and AR/VR equipment are located in rooms 120A and 310A. Some tools are resources for instructor use only, while others are open to all users.

Resources for instructor and GSI use:

36″ CANON IPF785 LARGE-FORMAT PRINTER

Templates that fit 30″ x 40″ poster boards (the standard size used in Jacobs Design Showcases and other events at Jacobs Hall) can be downloaded here.

ELMO DOCUMENT CAMERA

Instructors can contact Amy Dinh to learn how to check out the document camera.

The ELMO document camera is a sleek and innovative device that brings learning and presentations to life. With its high-resolution camera and easy-to-use interface, you can capture and display images and text in vivid detail, making it perfect for classroom instruction, conference rooms, and remote meetings.

CANON EOS 5D MARK III WITH 24-105MM LENS

With a powerful 22.3 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and advanced DIGIC 5+ image processor, this camera delivers stunning image quality and speed. The included 24-105mm lens is perfect for a wide range of shooting scenarios, from stunning landscapes to intimate portraits.

TRIPODS AND MONOPODS

These versatile tools offer the stability and flexibility needed to capture stunning images and footage, allowing you to adjust your angle and perspective with ease. A tripod or monopod can be your steady hand, helping you to compose the perfect shot and tell your visual story with precision and creativity.

General resources:

PHOTO BACKDROP WITH BESCOR LED-700 LIGHTING

This backdrop is available for use by UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty and does not require a Maker Pass for use. Maker Pass holders can check out a DSLR camera, tripods, and other camera equipment in the all-purpose makerspace.

HIGH-RESOLUTION SCANNER

This scanner is available for use by UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty and does not require a Maker Pass for use.

HTC VIVE AR/VR HEADSET AND CONTROLLERS

The HTC VIVE AR/VR headset and controllers transport you to a world beyond your wildest dreams. With breathtaking clarity and precise motion tracking, you’ll forget you’re even wearing a headset. The ergonomic controllers allow for seamless interactions, as you reach out and touch the virtual world around you.