CAP Fab Labs · Design-Build Lab

Design-Build Lab

Training Required for Every Machine · Design-Build Lab & Madjax · Industrial & Advanced Fabrication Hub

The Design-Build Lab is CAP’s industrial fabrication hub, covering everything past the intro labs — pen plotting, mechanisms, microcontrollers, robotics, CNC routing, a full metal shop, and CNC plasma & waterjet cutting. No matter which machine you’re after, the rule is the same: training with Makercorps staff or approved faculty comes first. There are no walk-up exceptions.

Seven Areas · All Training Required

What’s in the Lab

Every one of these requires certification before independent use. Most modules build on each other — Mechanisms feeds into Microcontrollers, and Wood CNC/Metal Shop feed into Plasma & Waterjet — so plan your training sequence accordingly.

Training Required Module 01

Pen Plotter

The Axidraw XY pen plotter in AB 031 — hand drawing, scanning, converting raster art to vector linework, then plotting it. Foundational Cartesian/CNC concepts that carry into every other module.

Module Info →

Training Required Module 04

Mechanisms

Simple machines and kinetic design — paper mechanisms, a motion study, and a complex machine assignment that becomes the base for later motorization.

Module Info →

Training Required Module 05

Microcontrollers

Arduino electronics — circuits, sensors, and motor control, used to power and automate the mechanism built in Module 4, plus an intro to coding.

Module Info →

Training Required Module 06

Robotics

Industrial robot arms — RoboDK programming and KUKA orientation, working from a desktop arm up to the KUKA in the Robot/CNC Room.

Module Info →

Training Required Module 08

Wood CNC

CNC routing — Carbide Create/Motion, RhinoCAM, and VCarve Pro toolpath programming on the routers in the DBL. See firm scheduling requirements below.

Module Info →

Training Required Module 09

Metal Shop

Cutting, grinding, forming, and welding — band saw, chop saw, grinders, sandblaster, break, shears, and TIG / arc / oxy-acetylene welding.

Module Info →

Training Required Module 10

Plasma & Waterjet

CNC metal cutting — SheetCam and Fire Control for the plasma table, plus Protomax layout and operation for the abrasive waterjet.

Module Info →

Firm Scheduling · CNC Router

Training Is Required

Any student planning to use the CNC routers at CAP must complete required training with Makercorps staff or approved faculty.

The full training process typically takes about three weeks to complete.
Using the CNC router for a class project? Begin training at least three weeks before any deadlines.
Basic CNC training requires a minimum of six hours.

Go to Training →

How We Train · Applies to Every Machine in This Lab

Training Philosophy

Makercorps training is designed to help students become independent, capable machine operators — whether that machine is a soldering iron or a plasma table. Our goal is to teach you how to safely prepare files, set up materials, operate the equipment, and troubleshoot basic issues yourself.

Staff are here to guide, coach, and support learning — but we do not run jobs on behalf of students or complete projects for them. Students are expected to actively participate in every stage of the process, from design through fabrication, on every machine listed above.

What to Expect

Training Overview

Every capability above — Mechanisms through Plasma & Waterjet — requires its own certification before independent use.
Sessions take place in the Design-Build Lab or at Madjax.
Training is led by Makercorps team members or approved faculty.
Duration varies by machine and by trainer availability — CNC Router timelines are firm (see above); others are confirmed at sign-up.

For questions about any training track in this lab, contact Colby Gray. Additional information on procedures, policies, and any potential costs will be provided during your first training session.