The College of Engineering has developed a variety of highly-functional work areas for students to complete course- and research-related projects in all engineering disciplines. These workspaces range from being completely open-access to highly restricted, requiring intensive training for access. The areas listed below are structured to provide students the tools necessary to complete successively more complicated projects as they progress through the curriculum in the College.

Design and Discovery Lab

The Design and Discovery Lab in Driftmier 1350 is an open-access space for all students to utilize for collaborative class projects, Capstone projects, and research projects. Resources in the Lab include presentation tools, graphics workstations, a large collaborative space, vented soldering stations, and 3D printing and digitizing (2D and 3D) capabilities. Presentation tools include wireless-enabled projection, a smart podium, and markerboards.

Student Fabrication Center

The Student Fabrication Center is a collection of work areas comprising rooms 1500, 1503, 1505, 1506, and 1520 in Driftmier Engineering Center. Managed on the ground by a team of student workers, the Student Fabrication Center provides students space, tools, and training to work on almost any project and gain hands-on experience using state of the art tools and equipment.

The College developed these areas for students working on a wide variety of project types – class projects, Capstone projects, and research project from design all the way to prototyping, fabrication, and testing. The Fabrication Center’s areas are access-restricted. Students must attend an Orientation and Safety Training session to learn the basics to gain access to the two main areas, the Design Workshop and the Digital Prototyping Lab. Within both spaces, access-restricted sub-areas containing specialized tools and equipment require additional training for access.

Design Workshop

The Design Workshop offers space, tools, and equipment for the initial stages of design projects. The workspace includes workbenches, storage areas, 3D printing capabilities, hand tools, electronics fabrication tools and more to support student projects. The Design Workshop is also home to the College’s Technology Lending Program, a program that offers a variety of tools, sensors, and equipment for students to check-out on a limited-term basis.

Digital Prototyping Lab

The Digital Prototyping Lab advances fabrication capabilities beyond what is possible in the Design Workspace. Bigger, more powerful tools and equipment are available to transform digital designs to prototypes and products. The Prototyping Lab offers many wood-, plastic-, and metal-working tools (saws, drill presses, welders, benders) and digital fabrication tools (3D printers, laser cutters, Shopbot, PCB mill, 4-axis mill, waterjet). Most of these tools are in controlled-access cages for which additional training is required to gain access. In addition to these tools are all manner of hand and power tools. Storage carts and work surfaces abound. If you can dream it, you can build it here.

Fabrication / Machine Shop

The Fabrication Shop expands on the tools and capabilities of the Student Fabrication Center. The Shop is managed by expert fabricator, George Haynie, who is assisted by student workers. The Shop supports student and faculty (research) projects. The Shop offers both manual and CNC options for fabricating with metals, plastics, and wood.

People and Support

The College’s Design and Fabrication labs are staffed and supported by an experienced Research and Instructional Support team. Our Team strives to support students, faculty, and staff to the best of our abilities. Our Team brings many years of experience to support all manner of requests. We accept support requests in person at our help desk in rm 1520 or in the Machine or through our central support request ticketing system at labsupport@engr.uga.edu.


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