While in Atlanta a few weeks ago for the third annual Atlanta Mini Maker Faire, I had the opportunity to return to the Invention Studio, a student-run makerspace where I spent a few years honing my skills and meeting other makers. The Studio is a five-room space full of tools, parts, and students working on academic or personal projects. The space and the 60+ students who run it are providing a service to the school that’s invaluable – the ability to create and learn how to work with your hands.
While I was there, I talked to a lot of current students about their projects and snapped some photos of the space:
I’m welcomed by a glowing, color-changing entry into one of the five rooms.
A well-stocked electronics bench with some new Hakko tools.
Dan Hammer’s combat robot, aptly named “The Hammer”.
Two Dimension machines stand outside the doors.
One thing that there isn’t a shortage of in the Studio are 3d printers. Here’s a Type A Machine Series 1.
All three Replicator 2s are named after Star Wars creatures.
The Afinia is encased in a warm, comfy plastic home.
Lots of filament.
Chad Ramey shows off his Spartan helmet, which was 3d printed and assembled together.
Chad even added a few LEDs on each side, and plans to install a cooling fan inside for Con-going.
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Chad’s also working on a cart, inspired by Charles Guan’s [Chibikart](http://www.instructables.com/id/Chibikart-Rapid-Prototyping-a-Subminiature-Electr/).
Laser Master Billy Allen created this handy guide for choosing a good etching power and speed in acrylic.
Billy cuts gearboxes out of acrylic. He uses 1.5mm 3d printer filament as shafts!
I hope I can afford tool drawers and organizers as gorgeous as these one day.
Oooooh, awwwww
A senior design project in the works, designed the create foam cutouts for tools, similar to the prior photos.
 right around the corner, the Studio was full of lasercut Maker badges.](https://i0.wp.com/makezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/photo-oct-25-1-49-06-pm.jpg?w=209&h=157&ssl=1)
With the [Atlanta Mini Maker Faire](http://makerfaireatl.com/) right around the corner, the Studio was full of lasercut Maker badges.
The machine I miss most — the WaterJet. This beast can cut through inches of steel, foamcore, and everything in between.
This is what your scrap area looks like when you own a WaterJet.
A brand, shiny new CNC Lathe.
A small, student-built quadcopter.
There definitely isn’t a shortage of tools here. A student-built air system adorns the wall.
8 thoughts on “A Look Inside a Student-run Makerspace”
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The world is turning into a great place for students! When I was in college, hands-on meant soldering together a kit or building a circuit on a breadboard. Luckily I was never satisfied with what the school wanted for a minimum passing grade. But now, holy smokes I hope these students don’t take this opportunity for granted. Amazing space!
Yes, totally agree — it’s a fantastic space with plenty of opportunities for students to learn with their hands. I also hope they don’t take it for granted; I sure do miss it now :)
WOW! this student-run makerspace is amazing! I’m chairman for a makerspace in Sweden, I would say the biggest or second biggest one in Sweden in fact, but it’s very hard for us to get such top notch stuff like in this one! i wanna know how they do it! is it tons of funds from the university? or from companies?
Hi Mikael, yes it’s a combination of money from both the University and Companies. The Studio gets a cut of the “Technology Fee”, a semesterly fee that all students pay. And since it was originally created to support the Mechanical Engineering Department’s Design Class, many companies sponsor certain student projects, and therefore give money to the department (which uses that to further improve the Studio).