Into the Makerspace at Birmingham

The Makerspace is a facility available to young engineers to let their creativity flow and bring their projects to life, making it one of the many exciting aspects of studying Engineering at Birmingham. It is more than just a workshop; it is a student-focused space designed for experimenting, designing, building and testing ideas in a real engineering environment.

If you are the kind of person who likes turning sketches into prototypes, this is where things get interesting. The Makerspace gives students access to additive and subtractive manufacturing, electronics tools, design visualisation technology and hands-on support, which means your ideas do not have to stay on a screen for long.

One of the main draws to the Makerspace are the 3D printers, from standard FDM machines right through to advanced systems for metal, carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics and high temperature polymers. These printers have been used for anything from fun models (like Batduck!) as well as for components for the Formula Student and Shell Eco Marathon teams.

And it does not stop at 3D printing. Students can use CNC milling and turning machines, laser cutting and engraving, and even a composite oven, giving you access to the kind of tools that make engineering feel real from day one.

There is also a strong digital and electronics side to the space. The Makerspace supports soldering, PCB making, virtual reality, and augmented reality for better visualisation of intricate, large-scale project work.

What makes the space especially appealing for prospective students is how easy it is to get started. With training available from the Makerspace team on the wide range of tools and equipment, even students with no prior practical engineering experience can quickly build confidence and start bringing their ideas to life.

“The Makerspace is a magical place where you can build stuff while being supported by an amazing team. This year I utilised the Makerspace to design and build a robotic waiter that was capable of moving around autonomously and delivering food to tables. I am also using currently using it to prototype for my final year project. Whether it be your hobby pet-project, a team design assignment or your FYP, the Makerspace can help you build some really cool stuff, so make sure you check it out!” – Salvatore (MEng Electrical Engineering)

You can check out a video of the Makerspace on the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences’ Instagram page.