What Can Your MakerSpace do for You?
What is the MakerSpace?
The MakerSpace, opened in 2016, is a collaborative Library space offering modern tools and student volunteer support for university-wide exploration and creation, accessible to all regardless of discipline or experience.
MakerSpace volunteers share their projects with visitors from Denmark
How We Support Students, Lecturers and Researchers
Students: Students can use the MakerSpace for any aspect of their coursework from video assignments to 3D printing.
Lecturers: MakerSpace workshops can be included as guest lectures in modules. Workshops delivered in the past include: Mobile Phone Video Production, 360 Degree Video Production, Rapid Prototyping, Basic 3D Design and Printing, Drone Safety, Academic Poster Design.
Researchers: We have introduced a new Researcher Consultation and Assistance programme! If you require a custom 3D printed part or a coding solution for your research, please complete the Researcher Consultation Form. You will be partnered with a student volunteer, or group of volunteers who will work with you to find solutions. It’s also possible to use this service if you just have a good idea you’d like to explore! Current projects include:
- Opera Cuffs: A 3D printed wearable device to improve hearing of unamplified live music. Students are currently working to prototype the wearables. They have conducted research on similar devices from the golden age of opera and conducted field research at an orchestra.
- Methane Production: Help create a device to simulate stomach conditions of a cow to measure methane production, and another device to read Ph and oxygenation reduction.
- Algae Camera: A custom solution to reduce glare while documenting algae growth. Researcher feedback: “It was perfect. I was sincerely impressed and I am grateful to the brilliant volunteers Matthieu and Xiao.”
- Artefact Scanning: 3D Scanning and printing the University’s teaching collection of artefacts.
Our Equipment and Tools
- 3D Printers: 3D printing is free! We have several FDM and one SLA printer. They may only be operated by the MakerSpace student volunteers or MakerSpace staff. You can submit an item for print through the Library website and we’ll print it as soon as possible. We always prioritise prints for course work, so unfortunately this means you may have a long wait for prints which are not connected to studies.
- Laser Cutter: Before using the laser cutter, you should attend a laser cutter safety workshop or connect with a student volunteer to receive training (email Eileen to organise.) Once trained, you can use the laser cutter to cut and engrave wood, acrylic, or leather. There is a limited amount of scrap wood available, so be sure to bring your own materials for larger projects.
- Cricut Machine: The Cricut Maker 3 is for making custom vinyl stickers or paper cut-outs. Some vinyl is available in a box beside the machine. No training required and you don’t need to book the machine. Just come in!
- Sewing Machine: Like the Cricut, there is no need for training ahead of using the sewing machine and no need to book. Limited thread and scrap material is available.
- Electronics and Prototyping Equipment: A soldering iron, LEDs, Raspberry Pis and Arduino boards may all be used in the MakerSpace. If you would like to borrow any of the equipment for long term projects, just ask.
- Equipment to borrow: Lots of different items are available to check out and take home for up to a week including 360 Degree Cameras, a DSLR, tripods, microphones, VR headsets and even drones. Take a look at our full equipment catalogue.
Join the MakerSpace Community Today!
If anything in this blog piqued your interest, please reach out to the MakerSpace manager (and author of this blog!) Eileen Kennedy: eileen.kennedy@universityofgalway.ie We always welcome anyone who may want to deliver a training session, pitch a project idea, or just hang out in the space and chat through ideas.
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