Overview
U of T has numerous design spaces that help you produce physical prototypes for your design courses, extracurricular activities, and personal projects. These facilities offer 3-D printing, software/app development, and laser cutting services. Expert staff can help you work with the tools and machinery. We recommend visiting these spaces when creating prototypes for Praxis I and Praxis II.
Myhal Light Fabrication Facility (LFF)
For operating hours, please refer to the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship website. This space is commonly used for Praxis I, II, and III, where you will prototype the designs you and your team create!
To access the LFF (often called MyFab), you’ll first have to attend two safety training sessions. There is a Tier-1 safety training with an online component, and a Tier-2 safety training with both an online and an in-person component. Both are required to work in the LFF. The facility has lots of tools and machines for wood and metal working, including (but not limited to) drills, saws, drill presses, and band saws.
The staff is extremely helpful and skilled. They have extensive knowledge and practical experience prototyping and constructing designs, so ask them for help when designing and building your prototypes. You can also buy a variety of materials here, and there is always scrap material available for free use. Additionally, the LFF has 3-D printing and laser cutting services.
Robarts Library 3-D printing
For operating hours, please refer to the Robarts Digital Studio website.
Several places on campus have affordable 3-D printing services, including the Robarts Library. To access a printer, simply reserve one ahead of time. You can learn more about the service on the Robarts Digital Studio website.
MADLab (VR, 3-D printing, and mobile app development)
For operating hours, please refer to the Gerstein Library’s MADLab website.
The MADLab is a mobile application development facility in the Gerstein Library. The space is free to students, but you must book an appointment in advance. The facility has test devices for Android and iOS, as well as computers with mobile app development software. It has both 3-D printing tools and a 3-D scanner.
The MADLab is one of the most underrated facilities at the university, and many engineering students don’t even know it exists. Try and take advantage of the MADLab if you want to develop any mobile software – perhaps even for Praxis!
Useful Links:
Robarts UX Lab (User Interface Design)
Photo by UX Indonesia on Unsplash
For operating hours, please refer to the Robarts UX Lab website.
If you’re working on software applications, one of the most important parts of design to consider is the user interface. The UX Lab at Robarts Library is a facility with staff and devices that help improve your user experience (UX) development. The real benefit of this space is the staff. They can provide consultation to ensure your UX development is going smoothly, guidance on how to conduct usability testing, and instruction on how to use usability testing tools. The UX lab also holds workshops from time to time. These can be useful to attend if you want to further improve the usability of your system. The UX lab website has more information on how to book appointments and join workshops.