Equipment

The FORTUS 400mc is the second largest of the Maker Lab’s 3D printers. It holds up to two 92 cubic inch canisters of both support and part material. The 400mc is capable of using a multitude of different plastics and is instrumental in producing parts for senior design projects and many ongoing research projects. The 250mc is smaller, only uses a single type of material, and operates at temperatures lower than those of the 400mc. The 250mc holds approximately a quarter of the total material that the 400 holds. However, what the 250mc lacks in versatility, it makes up for in speed. The additive manufacturing process used by the FORTUS machines can produce parts that would otherwise be impossible to create through conventional processes.  See Fortus 3D printer information for details.

The Maker Lab has one Lulzbot Taz 6 and two Lulzbot Minis available for use. Both printer models can process a variety of different plastic filaments and are open source systems.  These printers are great for larger parts at lower times due to the larger than average nozzle size.  For general use, multiple printers are available at UT’s Innovation and Collaboration Studio (ICS) in Perkins Hall.

The Prusa Mk3s is an entry level printer with surprisingly high resolution.  This printer runs on open source software and filament.  It produces parts with higher quality and resolution than the Lulzbots due to a smaller nozzle and tighter range of build heights.  This printer will soon be equipped with a multiple material upgrade that feeds in 4 filaments and can automatically switch between them.  This allows for multi color or multi material prints.

The Cube Printer Farm will be a set of 14 3D Systems Cube 3 printers converted to RepRap (open source).  This will allow for mass printing small objects or breaking up a large object into many parts to drastically reduce print time.  These printers will run basic PLA and will be hooked into one server.  It is anticipated this project will be completed later this year.

The Projet 1200 is an extremely high resolution SLA printer typically used in the jewelry market.  It has a build size of 1.69″ x 1.06″ x 7.086″ and a layer height of 0.0012″.  This machine features a built-in curing chamber.  For more details see the manual.

The Formlabs Form 3B is a Stereolithographic (SLA) 3D printer that utilizes Digital Laser Projection (DLP) to cure UV sensitive resin. The printer is capable of resolution ranging from 25-100 microns and has a maximum build size of 14.5cm x 14.5cm x 18.5cm.  We also house washing and curing chambers for post-processing.  For general use, multiple printers are available at UT’s Innovation and Collaboration Studio (ICS) in Perkins Hall.

The Artec Spider is a high resolution, hand held, blue light 3D scanner. It has a 3D resolution of 0.1mm and 18GB of internal memory. Scanned files can be exported in multiple formats optimized for 3D modeling or geometric analysis.

The HAAS TL1 Lathe is a CNC lathe with a 12-horsepower drive and is capable of spindle speeds up to 2000 rpm. The lathe can be operated either manually or from a CNC controller. The lathe can feed at rates up to 450 inches per minute in both the x- and z-axes.

The Maker Lab’s CNC mill is a HAAS VF4 with a 30-horsepower drive. The spindle can reach speeds of up to 8100 rpm. The machine is currently set up to mill in three axes only; however, the machine can be fitted to operate in up to five axes. The mill is operable by a CNC controller only.

The Maker Lab has a HAAS OM2 CNC machine used for high-speed machining. The 5-horsepower drive can produce spindle speed of up to 30,000 rpm and feed rates of up to 757 inches per minute in the x-, y-, and z-axes. The OM2 can be fitted to operate in five axes. The small machining volume and rapid speeds make this machine ideal for small, precise prototype parts.

The OMAX 2626 JetMachining Center is an abrasive water-jet cutter capable of producing water pressures up to 50,000 psi. The water-jet cutter is useful for cutting sheet materials that are up to a thicknesses of more than an inch. Materials that can be cut include plexiglass, acrylic, aluminum, and some kinds of steel. Using the proprietary OMAX software, long and complex series of cuts can be made with exceptional precision.