NYU Tandon Cuts Ribbon on New Makerspace
On September 20, the New York University Tandon School of Engineering formally opened its new MakerSpace.
The
10,000 square foot, bi-level space includes equipment typically found
in a university makerspace — 3D printers, laser cutters, computer
numerical control (CNC) machines and a 3D scanner — as well as more
advanced, commercial-grade equipment not typically available to
undergraduate students.
Commercial-grade equipment available in NYU Tandon's makerspace includes:
- A
water-jet cutter for use on reflective and heat-sensitive materials
such as copper or aluminum that cannot be machined with lasers;
- A high-speed, high-precision pick-and-place machine to place electronic components onto printed circuit boards;
- A
micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) unit that can nondestructively
image the internal structure of objects on an exceptionally fine scale;
- A plastic injection machine used in mass manufacturing; and
- An electrodynamic shaker for testing products or models under varying conditions of motion, acceleration and force.
A full list of the facility's equipment can be found on NYU Tandon's site.
The
school created the makerspace in support of its "core mission of
placing technology in service to society by encouraging an ethos of
invention, innovation and entrepreneurship in even its youngest
students," according to a news release.
The makerspace will support NYU Tandon's participation in the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) consortium, a multi-institutional program that "provides a
multi-year, integrated approach to learning that emphasizes
project-based, interdisciplinary, research-active education," according
to information on the site.
Engineering faculty members will hold
classes in the space, and students will use it for collaborative
learning and design projects. NYU Tandon's Future Labs startup-business incubators, and its Center for K12 STEM Education will host hackathons, guest lectures and special events in the facility.
Further information about the makerspace can be found on NYU Tandon's site.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].