We Engineer Excellence

User Facilities & MakeRspaces

Facilities and MakeRspaces

Build. Test. Iterate. Engineer What Comes Next.

 

BCOE facilities and MakeRspaces help students, faculty and partners move ideas from concept to reality through design, fabrication, testing and iteration.

Explore advanced user facilities, machine shops, electronics spaces, design labs and creative fabrication resources built to support hands-on learning and research with real-world impact.

 

Project Workflow

01

Request access

02

Choose tools

03

Prototype safely

01

Design

Turn ideas, requirements and sketches into buildable project plans.

02

Fabricate

Use machine tools, electronics stations, 3D printers and digital fabrication equipment.

03

Characterize

Analyze materials, structures, surfaces, devices and systems through user facilities.

04

Iterate

Test, refine and improve prototypes through hands-on learning and research.

Facilities Tour

Step inside BCOE’s spaces for discovery and design

 

Take a closer look at the facilities and MakeRspaces that support hands-on learning, research, fabrication, testing and student innovation across BCOE.

The tour helps students, faculty and partners understand how these spaces support the full engineering process, from early ideas to working prototypes.

Explore MakeRspaces

Watch the facilities tour to see how BCOE spaces support design, fabrication, testing and innovation.

User Facilities

Advanced spaces for research, testing and analysis

 

BCOE connects researchers and project teams with specialized user facilities for materials analysis, nanofabrication, machining, microscopy and microanalysis.

Materials Characterization

MSE User Facility

Fee-for-service and fixed-fee-for-service equipment for materials testing and characterization.

  • XRD
  • SEM
  • TGA
  • DSC
  • FT-IR
  • Raman
Learn More →
Micro and Nano

Nanofabrication Cleanroom

Cleanroom capabilities for fabrication, metrology and advanced nanoscale device research.

  • Class 100/1000 Cleanrooms
  • Fabrication Processes
  • Metrology
  • EBL
  • FIB Instruments
Learn More →
Machining

Machine Shop

A 4,300-square-foot space organized for engine and assembly work, sheet metal and heavy machine tools.

  • Engine and Assembly
  • Sheet Metal
  • Heavy Machine Tools
  • Project Fabrication
Learn More →
Imaging and Microanalysis

CFAMM

Central Facility for Advanced Microscopy and Microanalysis equipment for high-resolution analysis.

  • 3 SEMs
  • 2 TEMs
  • Dual Beam FIB/ESEM
  • Microanalysis
Learn More →
MakeRspaces and Equipment

Hands-on spaces for prototypes, circuits, devices and creative builds

 

These spaces help BCOE students and collaborators build confidence with tools, equipment and design processes through guided, safe and applied making.

EE

Electrical Engineering MakeRspace

Electronics, instrumentation, PCB work and prototyping support.

A space for students working with circuits, embedded systems, electronics and electrical prototypes.

Available tools and supplies

  • Conventional soldering
  • Hot-air soldering
  • PCB milling
  • Drill press
  • 3D printers
  • Oscilloscope
  • LCR meter
  • Function generator
  • Power supply
  • Digital multimeter
  • Resistors
  • Capacitors
  • Inductors
  • Diodes
  • Transistors
  • LEDs
  • ICs
  • Wire and connectors
Request Access →
ME

Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop

Manufacturing, machining, fabrication and inspection support.

A high-capability fabrication environment for mechanical design, manufacturing and project development.

Available tools and services

  • Design assistance
  • Sheet metal
  • Plastic structures
  • Wood structures
  • Product development
  • Manual lathes
  • CNC lathes
  • Manual milling
  • CNC milling
  • Precision grinding
  • Measurement
  • CMM inspection
  • MIG welding
  • TIG welding
  • Wire-EDM
Visit Machine Shop →
MD

Mechanical Engineering Design and Development Laboratory

MEDDL supports design, development, prototyping and interdisciplinary innovation.

MEDDL helps UCR students, staff and faculty bring ideas to life through hands-on training, fabrication tools and project support.

Available equipment

  • 3D printer
  • Belt and disc sanders
  • CNC lathe
  • CNC router
  • Haas desktop mill
  • Industrial sewing machine
  • SLS printer
  • Vacuum former
  • Vertical bandsaw
  • WARD WaterJet
Visit MEDDL →
CR

UCR Creat’R Lab

A campus makerspace for digital fabrication, media, textiles and creative prototyping.

Creat’R Lab supports students working across disciplines, from fabrication and electronics to media-rich creative projects.

Available tools and areas

  • 3D printers
  • 3D scanners
  • Digital fabrication
  • Hand tools
  • Electronics
  • Sewing and textiles
  • Paper cutting
  • Zine-making
  • Photography
  • Videography
  • Music
  • Virtual reality
Ask About Access →
Capability Finder

Start with what you need to do

 

Not sure which space fits your project? Use these capability groups to quickly identify the kind of support, tools or facility you may need.

MAT

Materials Analysis

XRD, SEM, TGA, DSC, FT-IR, Raman and other materials characterization capabilities.

NANO

Micro/Nano Fabrication

Cleanroom fabrication, metrology, electron beam lithography and focused ion beam instruments.

ELEC

Electronics Prototyping

Soldering, PCB milling, instrumentation, circuit components and electrical testing equipment.

MECH

Mechanical Fabrication

Machining, CNC tools, welding, grinding, sheet metal, inspection and design support.

MAKE

Digital Making

3D printing, scanning, sewing, textiles, paper fabrication, photography, video and virtual reality.

Access Protocol

Need access to a MakeRspace?

 

To request access to a MakeRspace, email meddl@ucr.edu. Include your project needs, preferred space, equipment request and any relevant deadline.

Many tools require safety steps, training or supervised use before independent access. Start early so your project timeline has room for training, fabrication and iteration.

01

Describe Your Project

Share what you are building, testing or analyzing and what equipment you think you need.

02

Confirm the Right Space

BCOE staff can help route your request to the right MakeRspace, lab or user facility.

03

Complete Training

Finish required safety documentation, written training or supervised hands-on training.

04

Build Responsibly

Use the space safely, document your process and plan enough time to test and iterate.

Project Dock

Helpful links for researchers, students and builders

 

Connect with related BCOE resources for research, entrepreneurship, undergraduate discovery and partnerships.

Research Areas

Explore BCOE’s key areas of impact across health, sustainability, computing, robotics, energy and more.

Explore Impact →

Research Centers

Find BCOE research centers and institutes supporting interdisciplinary discovery.

View Centers →

Undergraduate Research

Learn how students can join labs, explore research and build hands-on experience.

Explore Research →

Entrepreneurship

Turn promising ideas and prototypes into opportunities for innovation and impact.

Explore Entrepreneurship →
We Engineer Excellence

Ready to move your idea from concept to reality?

Start with the right space, the right tools and the right training. BCOE facilities and MakeRspaces help students and researchers build, test and improve solutions with purpose.