B.E. & W.R. Miller Fabrication Lab

U-SoA’s modeling and fabrication facilities provide students the opportunity to turn their conceptual design projects into physical representations, allowing them to elaborate on the techniques learned in design courses. The fabrication facilities serve as an augmented area for exploration, prototyping, and design thinking through making. Studio assignments and research projects are pursued during the staffed lab hours under the supervision of a full time Fabrication Director and Student Lab Monitors.

Immediately adjacent to the design studios, the modeling and fabrication facilities occupy approximately 3,300 square feet and include both digital and analog fabrication equipment. Along with traditional woodworking tools and machinery, students have access to 3D printers, powder printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters and CNC milling.

General Resources

The Fabrication Lab at the Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building (TPMDSB), has a series of machines for rapid prototyping and design experimentation. These machines allow students to quickly transfer ideas from the digital realm into physical objects. These resources include:

A KUKA KR240 7 Axis robotic arm and rotary table.The robotic arm offers a tremendous amount of versatility in fabrication processes such as cutting, moving, milling, machining, and printing. The specific robotic arm at the U_SoA can lift up to 500 lbs of material within an 8' working diameter and is capable of manufacturing parts made out of a variety of mediums. The current configuration allows students to use a spindle to mill architectural projects out of plastics, wood and foam with a variety of cutters. Additionally students have access to a 48 inch hot wire cutter that allows them to carve large blocks of foam. 

Four Universal Laser machines. These machines include higher watt, large format machines that have cutting beds (24” x 36”) and two with a smaller 24” x 18” cutting bed. 

Four new Ultimaker F.D.M. 3D printers. Two are Ultimaker 3 Extended and two are Ultimaker S5, the largest FDM printer-to-date by Ultimaker. All have dual extruders and will have white PLA as printing material and PVA as support material. 

Six Sindoh single extrusion 3D printers located in the Murphy Cafe and Tecnoglass Computer Lab. These printers are available to students 24/7 on a first come first serve basis and the students must provide their own filament. Filament can be purchased on Amazon or through the Fabrication Lab directly.

For fine grain resolution models students will also have access to the Z-350 powder printer and a FormLabs 3B at the Miller Fab Lab. The ZCorp 350 Powder Printer uses a fine powder in combination with a binder to create models of extreme precision and detail. The FormLabs 3B Printer uses resin that is cured in layers to create extremely precise and strong models. 

There is also a 53” vinyl cutter that allows students to cut vinyl, adhesives, papers, and circuit boards out of spools of material without a machine limit in length.

Instructional Materials

The Fabrication Lab Team has assembled a series of instructional manuals for student use to help encourage the use and exploration of all of its equipment. 

Downloadable Instructional Manual
YouTube Instructional Videos

Model Shop Hours

People

Director: Max Jarosz, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, MBA
mjarosz@miami.edu
305-284-1559

Manager: Michael Cannon, B. Arch
msc55@miami.edu
305-284-5904

Lead Lab Assistants

Lilly Acosta
Conor Quigley
Nicholas Ingold

Lab Assistants

Andrea Bassaun
Keely Brunkow
George Elliot
Antonio Del Toro
Mahlia Jenkins
Ashley Lee
Deigo Macias
Danielle Natale
Laura Petrillo
Andrew Price
Shea Stuyvesant
Grace Mirkut
Jack Chazotte
Ian Ondek
Roland Stafford
Catherine Calhoun
Brianna Frank
Shari Soavi
Sophia Palomino

Follow us on Social Media

Instagram: @UM_SoA_Fab
Youtube: @UM_SoA FabLab