Innovation Studio | Innovation Co-Lab

Where is it? When can I go? What’s there?

Need a place to build something? We've got you covered.

Over the first few years of the Co-Lab Studio, we provided great resources and support through our single location at the Technology Engagement Center (TEC). But Duke is a large campus, one spot for work just wasn’t enough. In recent years we’ve added two new locations on East and Central Campuses. Maybe three labs will be enough.

The Co-Lab Studio in the Telcom Building

The Co-Lab Studio is located in the Technology Engagement Center on the first floor of the Telcom Building, West Campus. Completely renovated in the summer of 2016 to house the Co-Lab as well as a variety of other IT services, including TEC VR.

Click here for map and directions

Ruby Makerspace

The Ruby Makerspace is located in the back of the Rubenstein Arts Center and purpose built to give arts minded students access to tools that would accelerate their creative works.

Click here for map and directions

Lilly Library

The makerspace located in historic Lilly Library is near the front door on the first floor. This fabrication outpost supports a variety of small tools and fifteen 3D printers. 3D scanning is also available in this space through the front-desk checkout program.

Click here for map and directions

Staffed Hours

TEC Live Schedule

The Co-Lab Studio at the TEC (West Campus) will be staffed 10am-8pm Sunday-Friday for general and specialty equipment usage (laser cutters, water jet cutters, CNC mill and router). Users may pick up 3D prints or access other light tools in our main studio area at the TEC 24/7. If you require staff assistance, please check the live schedule above prior to your visit to account for any schedule variation.

Ruby Live Schedule

The Co-Lab Studio at the Rubenstein Arts Center will be staffed noon- 8pm Sunday- Friday for general and specialty equipment useage (e.g. laser cutters) and will be available for self service use of basic hand tools and for 3D print pickup during any time that the Rubenstein Art Center building is open. User may create a reservation for a staff member to assist with use of the ShopBot CNC routers at this location. If you require staff assistance, please check the live schedule above prior to your visit to account for any schedule variation.

Lilly Live Schedule

The Co-Lab Studio in Lilly Library will be staffed noon- 8pm Sunday- Friday for general equipment useage and will be available for self service use of basic hand tools and for 3D print pickup during any hours that the Lilly library building is open. If you require staff assistance, please check the live schedule above prior to your visit to account for any schedule variation.

Patrons must abide by all considerations in the Duke Compact while making use of our labs, including mask wearing, social distancing, and abiding by maximum occupancy rules as outlined in signage and by staff.

What's in the Lab?

The philosophy behind the Innovation Studio is to have a one-stop shop for anyone, regardless of skill and experience, to come in and be able to make a product through an iterative design process known as Digital Modeling and Fabrication The studio has all the equipment that you need to conceive of, design, and prototype all kinds of products and designs.

Want to learn how to use Co-Lab 3D printers? Check here

3D Printers

The Co-Lab Studio operates around 80 3D Printers, which can print in a variety of materials, sizes, and resolutions:

PLA filament is provided. Printers can be reserved online and loaded with “bring your own” filaments (ABS, PETG, soluble support material, etc).

TEC Co-Lab Studio:

42 Ultimaker printers- currently S3 models.

Lilly Library Makerspace:

15 Ultimaker printers- currently a mix of versions 3, and S3

Ruby Makerspace

16 Ultimaker printers- currently a mix of version 3, S3, and 5

Cloud Service Printing

Our 3D printers are connected to and managed by a cloud system called duke.3dprinteros.com This open platform is licensed by OIT for all of Duke. Any member of the Duke community can use this software to manage their print jobs; even remote printing is possible. Stop into the lab or visit this link to get a quick run down about how to use the system.

Bluesmith 3D Printing Service

In addition to the general-access makerspaces, the Co-Lab operates the Bluesmith 3D Printing Service. This provides cost-recovery access to advanced 3D printing technologies. These printers allow for different materials and higher resolutions. This service is accessed through the Bluesmith Portal.

FormLabs SLA Form 2 and Form 3

SLA (Stereolithography). UV-curing resin with approx 5.5” x 5.5” x 6.5” build area for the Form 2 and slightly taller for the Form 3. Completed print requires both postprocess cleaning as well as 30minute UV curing. Substantially higher resolution prints than the Ultimakers and affording different geometric print possibilities. Layer height of as low as 25 microns with 140 micron laser spot size.

FormLabs SLS Fuse1

Using a selective laser sintering process (SLS), the Fuse 1 prints in a compact powder with the ability to stack the parts in one bulk job. This printer sinters nylon powder allowing for durable parts in prototyping and final-use applications.

3DSystems MJP 3600

An amazingly accurate system with “meltable” supports. This system creates extremely precise parts with crisp edges. The support material uses a heated removal strategy that requires only that we place it in an oven for a few minutes.

Stratasys J750

The king of the hill, state of the art polymer 3D printer. This system allows us to print with a variety of materials...all at once. This lets us mix materials in interesting combinations for full color prints and digital materials that have novel properties. The build size is very large and allows for a two cubic foot build volume.

Stratasys F370

An FDM printer specializing in high precision parts with dissolvable supports. If you've been trying to print a bolt, this is where it turns out right the first time. It has a large print volume of 14" x 10" x 14" and allows a variety of structurally strong infill patterns.

CNC Capabilities

All of our CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines require staff supervision. If you'd like to use these tools, please visit during our staffed hours listed above.

Shopbot Desktop

The Shopbot Desktop is a 3-axis CNC router capable of cutting wood, plastics and soft metals, such as aluminum and brass. It has a movement area of 18” x 24” x 5”.

Shopbot Desktop Max

The Shopbot Desktop is a 3-axis CNC router capable of cutting wood, plastics and soft metals, such as aluminum and brass. It has a movement area of 36 x 24” x 5”.

Tormach 440

The Tormach is a true CNC mill. It is not used for wood or other fibrous materials, however with the correct tooling is capable of cutting plastics, non-ferrous and ferrous metals - up to and including stainless steel and titanium! The Tormach 440 is our only CNC machine to have available coolant misting- critical for cutting hard metals. It features a pneumatic drawbar and removable drill chucks with dedicated bits for rapid and precise hole boring.

Omax Protomax

We are excited to introduce waterjet cutting to the studio this year. This machine lets you cut virtually any material up to an inch thick using only water and sand. It’s working area is 12” x 12” but it can accept material up to 16” x 24”. Like the CNC mill, this machine can easily cut through the hardest metals but unlike, it’s extremely easy to operate. Most of our users will find the experience and learning curve similar to the laser cutters.

Laser Cutting

All of our laser cutters require staff supervision. If you'd like to use these tools, please visit during our staffed hours listed above.

Co-Lab Studio

Two laser cutters; an Epilog Zing, desktop-style 30 watt CO2 laser cutter, and a larger Fusion M2 60w standalone machine. It can operate in two different modes: raster and vector. Raster mode is for engraving into the surface of materials. You can take photographs/images/text/etc and use the software to engrave into a variety of materials, including wood, some plastics, some metals, and acrylic. Vector mode is for cutting custom shapes through thin materials by using a slow moving, high powered laser.

Ruby Makerspace

Our flagship laser, the Trotec Speedy 400 80 watt CO2 system is located there. With closed-loop control, this system lets you get the most of your material. We have seen users easily cut through ½” wood.

Electronics

We have a variety of electronics for use in the Studio, including a few Arduinos, Raspberry Pi's, and an assortment of sensors and accessories. We also have wires, resistors, and a breadboard or two for setting up quick circuitry. Soldering equipment, power supplies, oscilloscopes, multimeters, and a few other items are also available for use.

Digital Modeling Workstations

We have twelve 27" iMac Retina 5k workstations for advanced 3D modeling and rendering spread throughout the three labs. These machines feature maxed out specs for quick work of details operations. These systems are also loaded with the softwares that can control our CNC and laser machines.

Other equipment and Tools

Makerbot 3D Scanner
Vinyl Cutter
Variety of Hand tools (screwdrivers, hammers, sockets, clamps)
Variety of small power tools (drills, circular saw, sanding, oscillating tool)
Soldering Iron
Hardware (screws, nails, etc)
MFT Table
Dremel Rotary Tool

Users of the Co-Lab Studio have the power to make and build amazing things, but must also be responsible and abide by official Duke Policies. This includes, but is not limited to, the production of weapons, real or realistic-looking, drug paraphernalia, and other inappropriate items at the discretion of Duke Staff. Please refer to Duke’s official policies for more information.

Need a place to build something? We've got you covered.

The Co-Lab Studio in the Telcom Building

Ruby Makerspace

Lilly Library

Staffed Hours

What's in the Lab?

Want to learn how to use Co-Lab 3D printers? Check here

3D Printers

TEC Co-Lab Studio:

Lilly Library Makerspace:

Ruby Makerspace

Cloud Service Printing

Bluesmith 3D Printing Service

FormLabs SLA Form 2 and Form 3

FormLabs SLS Fuse1

3DSystems MJP 3600

Stratasys J750

Stratasys F370

CNC Capabilities

Shopbot Desktop

Shopbot Desktop Max

Tormach 440

Omax Protomax

Laser Cutting

Co-Lab Studio

Ruby Makerspace

Electronics

Digital Modeling Workstations

Other equipment and Tools

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