From Raw Materials to Real-World Skills: Warren Almeida Finds His Place in the FabLab

Warren Almeida knows the satisfaction of taking an idea and turning it into something real. 

After nearly three years in the FabLab’s Shop Room, the mechanical engineering graduate student has grown from someone learning the basics of woodworking into a mentor who helps other students build, troubleshoot and bring their own projects to life. 

As a student employee, Warren works with students using the Shop Room’s woodworking and metalworking tools for academic and personal projects. Along the way, he has developed technical skills, confidence and a deeper understanding of what it takes to turn a design into a finished product. 

“I feel really satisfied whenever I make something from start to finish,” Warren said. “The people that I make it for; they end up using it and really loving it.” 

That feeling has become a defining part of his experience at UTA. 

Finding a passion for making 

Warren came to The University of Texas at Arlington because of his interest in the university’s Formula SAE racing team, which designs and builds race cars to compete against other universities. He originally planned to focus on automotive engineering, but his interests have since shifted toward manufacturing, particularly controls and automation. 

His interest in making things started long before college. 

Growing up, Warren watched “How It’s Made” with his dad, an electrical engineer. He was fascinated by the process of taking raw materials and turning them into finished, functional products. 

Years later, he found himself drawn to that same process at UTA. 

Warren first spent time in the FabLab using 3D printers and laser cutters. As he got to know the space and its staff, Josh and Mustafa introduced him to woodworking in the Shop Room. 

His first project was simple: a coaster for his parents. 

“I remember really enjoying that process,” Warren said. “Over time, I just started hanging out with them more often and learning about the space and learning the different machinery and equipment and how they make things.” 

Before coming to the FabLab, Warren had virtually no woodworking experience. Today, he is comfortable using equipment and materials that were once completely unfamiliar. 

His experience shows that students do not need to arrive at the FabLab already knowing how to make something. They can start with an idea and learn along the way. 

Learning by doing 

The Shop Room gives students access to woodworking and metalworking tools, along with manual and CAD/CAM, or computer-aided design and manufacturing, technologies. Students complete general shop safety and equipment-specific training before using the tools. 

For Warren, the Shop Room has taught him more than technical skills. It has changed the way he approaches problems. 

Now a graduate research assistant, Warren helps students who come into the Shop Room with questions about their projects. Many are engineering students working on assignments for MAE 1351, a course Warren previously completed. He also works with architecture students as they move through the fabrication process. 

Rather than designing projects for them, Warren helps students understand the tools, processes and practical limitations that can affect their work. 

“Most of our engineering classes are all theoretical,” Warren said. “It’s really useful to see the things that you’re making actually being produced.” 

A design may look perfect on a computer screen, but working with real materials can reveal problems that are difficult to anticipate. In the Shop Room, students can test their ideas, make adjustments and learn through the process. 

From learner to mentor 

One of the biggest changes Warren has experienced at UTA is moving from being the student who needed help to someone other students turn to for guidance. 

He now trains new employees and helps them learn the processes and equipment used in the Shop Room. 

Teaching, he said, can be unpredictable. 

“It’s like a roller coaster,” Warren said. 

There is the excitement of helping someone learn something new, followed by the frustration when a skill does not immediately click. But once they get past that hurdle, the experience changes. 

“I feel happy for them,” he said. “I feel excited that they’re able to get it right.” 

His responsibilities also include maintaining the Shop Room, from draining pumps and condensers to cleaning equipment and organizing the space. While much of that work happens behind the scenes, it helps keep the Shop Room ready for the next student. 

The experience has helped Warren grow as both a student and future professional. 

Start small, then keep building 

For students intimidated by the equipment or unsure where to begin, Warren has simple advice: start small. 

“You definitely can,” he said when asked whether someone without woodworking or metalworking experience could learn in the Shop Room. 

He recommends beginning with a manageable project that uses only a few pieces of equipment. From there, students can build confidence and take on more complicated work. 

“Start with something really simple to make,” Warren said. “Get really good at making that, and then after that, you can move on to the more complex stuff.” 

That is exactly how Warren started. 

After making coasters and cutting boards, he began taking on larger projects. One of his most recent is a Japanese-style coffee table with an integrated bookshelf, made entirely from walnut. 

“I just wanted to test my skills and see if I could make something on a larger scale,” he said. 

The project required him to break down a large walnut plank, glue panels together and cut the components for the legs. He plans to finish it with a clear polyurethane protective coat that allows the walnut to remain the focus. 

It is a long way from the coaster he made for his parents.

Building a future 

Warren graduated from UTA with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in fall 2025 and is now pursuing a master’s degree, with plans to graduate in fall 2027. 

He hopes to build a career in manufacturing, particularly in controls and automation, helping oversee the systems and technology that keep manufacturing operations running. 

Someday, he also hopes to own his own shop. 

Woodworking has become more than a skill Warren picked up at the FabLab. It is something he plans to carry with him long after graduation. 

“When it works, it’s just really rewarding,” he said. 

Warren’s journey in the Shop Room began with little experience and a simple coaster. Nearly three years later, he is helping other students learn, solve problems and gain confidence in their own abilities. 

Along the way, he has developed skills that reach beyond engineering and fabrication. He is learning how to communicate, teach, solve problems under pressure and help others work through challenges. 

Those experiences are shaping the professional he hopes to become. 

And sometimes, the best part is simply stepping back and looking at something you built. 

“It’s euphoric,” Warren said. “It really is euphoric.”