Tool Time at UTA Libraries

A single piece of wood or metal might not seem like much to the untrained eye, but in the eyes of a craftsperson, its potential is brought to life. Moments like this occur daily in the FabLab’s Shop Room at the UTA Central Library. 

The Shop Room contains a mixture of hand tools and highly skilled machines that utilize computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing technologies and welding equipment. This free resource is available for students, faculty, staff and library patrons to use. 

Timothy Neill, FabLab Technician, stated that the Shop Room is not just limited to people enrolled in a particular class or who have experience in a shop.  

The Shop Room is open to anyone, no matter their skill level. However, before any nail is driven, a training class is required to keep everyone safe as they create.  

“When somebody comes in, and they have a project that they are working on, we can help guide them to which training they will need to acquire to be able to do their projects,” Timothy said. “If you wanted to come in and use the table saw, we could train you on that. If you want to sand something down, we have wood abrasives training.” 

The Shop Room is able to work with different types of materials, which expands the project possibilities that can happen within the space. These materials include laminates, plywood, hardwoods, medium-density fiberboards and metals. 

The Shop Room offers several workshops throughout the fall, spring and summer semesters. In these workshops, people work with FabLab staff to create a specific item that can be completed over several sessions. These classes range from $15 to $20, which includes materials.  

The Shop Room also has open hours where people can come in and work on a personal project. People can bring their own materials, but they are available to purchase on-site as well. The cost of materials varies from project to project. 

Before the project starts, staff will work with the individual to see how they can take their vision from idea to reality in person or virtually. Staff will also see what equipment training is needed. 

“Often, the feedback we get from workshops is very positive,” Timothy said. “It has inspired many people to come back and do more workshops or just come in and use the shop room because now they feel comfortable.” 

Timothy stated that with the training they receive from the FabLab staff, they feel less intimidated by the equipment and more confident in their abilities. 

The Shop Room provides people with the chance to learn and create. So, when you have a spare moment, stop by to learn a new skill and something new about yourself.  

The open shop hours during the summer are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Workshops are anticipated to start in July; dates will be announced soon. The Shop Room is on the first floor of the UTA Central Library in the FabLab. 

To find out more about the FabLab Shop Room, go to the UTA Libraries website.