• BeAM Makerspace Network Overview PDF

BeAM@CAROLINA is a network of makerspaces where any UNC student, staff, or faculty member can join the UNC maker community in the design and creation of physical objects for education, research, entrepreneurship, and recreation. Makers can participate in open studios, training sessions, workshops, hosted classes, and group activities. Spaces are equipped with emerging technologies like 3D printing and laser cutting, along with areas dedicated to sewing, woodworking, and metalworking. Since its launch, BeAM has served more than 150 undergraduate courses across the university that integrated making into curricular goals and served over 10,500 unique users through robust workshops and co- curricular offerings. Makerspaces have hosted over 75,500 visits since the fall of 2017, providing over 19,000 trainings during that time.

BeAM is staffed by five permanent positions, including the BeAM Director (Kenny Langley) and the BeAM Education Program Manager (Anna Engelke). The BeAM staff have expertise in design, fabrication, and education. They work closely with UNC faculty to help faculty integrate making into UNC courses, with researchers to support their experimental needs, and with entrepreneurs to enhance their prototyping options. The permanent staff supervise a larger set of more than 50 student staff who conduct the daily operations of the makerspaces.

The BeAM makerspace network at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill consists of three facilities that supply collaborative space, equipment for digital fabrication (3D printing, laser cutting, vinyl cutting) electronics, textiles, wood working, and metal fabrication and machining. Our goal is to empower a community of makers from across the campus, serving learning in courses and informal settings, research through advanced workshops and research networking, entrepreneurship through the support of UNC affiliated companies, and outreach to the local community. We have over 7,000 sq. ft. of space staffed by professional technical staff, serving the entire UNC community. Altogether, these spaces represent an investment by UNC of over $1.5 Million.

BeAM Makerspace Network Facilities Overview PDF

BeAM@Murray Hall (3,100 sq. ft.): This space, built in 2017, was designed and built to the specifications of a comprehensive makerspace featuring a full set of machining tools including a CNC milling machine for scientific instrumentation, metal working and wood working equipment, textiles, electronics, and digital fabrication including 3D printing, laser cutting, and vinyl cutting. The space has a 25-seat project area for project-based courses, and a 500 sq. ft. classroom. All areas have large display screens for instructional presentations in shops and project spaces.

BeAM@Hanes Art Center (1,200 sq. ft.): This space is located in the heart of the Arts section of the UNC campus placed inside the Hanes Art Center, home to the studios of the Art Department. This space features 3D Printing, laser cutting and vinyl cutting as well as wood and plastic machining.

BeAM@Carmichael Residence Hall (800 sq. ft.): This space is located in the Carmichael residence hall as a partnership between BeAM, the Department of Housing and Residential Education, and Kenan-Flagler School of Business. This space features 3D printing and fiber arts, notably an industrial embroidery machine and several advanced sewing tools as well as a digital die cutter and hand tools. The makerspace is located within a mixed-use space that includes a gourmet kitchen as well as lounge and creative ideation space.

Partnership Makerspace at Kenan Science Library (2,000 sq. ft.): This space is home to the first makerspace at UNC opened in 2014, a 400 sq. ft. space with 3D printing (as a service), electronics and textile equipment. The Kenan Science Library has a large area devoted to collaborative space for group work. This space is directly adjacent to the BeAM@Murray Hall.

BeAM Assets by Makerspace Location PDF

BeAM@Murray Hall

Digital Fabrication:

3D printing:

• 1 Formlabs Form 3B Complete
• 2 LulzBot Taz6 3D Printers
• 2 LulzBot Mini 3D Printers
• 18 Ultimaker 3 3D Printers
• 2 Ultimaker 3 Extended 3D Printers
• 1 Ultimaker S3 3D Printer
• 1 PRUSA Mini Printer

Laser Cutting:

• 2 Universal Laser Systems 60 watt Laser Cutters (18” x 32” bed)

Vinyl Cutting:

• Roland 24” vinyl cutter (Camm-1 Servo, GX-24)

Electronics:

• 8 mobile soldering stations complete with: soldering iron, tools, mat, solder
• 2 complete electronics workstation with large, lighted work surface, power supply, function generator, breadboard station, digital oscilloscope, tools, and consumables
• Equipment to outfit 10 more electronics workstations for a class or lab
• 1 Microcontroller cart with Arduino Uno boards

Metalworking:

• Jet 15” Variable Speed Floor Drill Press (model J-A5816)
• Jet 20” Floor Drill Press (model J-2550)
• Grizzly 19” 3HP Extreme Series Bandsaw (model G0514X2)
• Jet 14” Wood/Metal Vertical Bandsaw (model J-8201VS)
• Evolution Rage 3-DB 10” Multipurpose TCT Sliding Miter Saw (model RAGE3DB255)
• Baldor Grinder Buffer 1⁄3 HP
• Eastwood Slip Roll
• Jet Benchtop Belt/Disc Sander(model E-MILL 3VSII)
• Baldor Buffer and Grinder
• Jet 20” Drill Press
• Grizzly 19” Bandsaw
• Arbor Presses
• Turret Punches

Wood Working:

• Grizzly Vacuum Sanding Table (model H2936)
• Grizzly Oscillating Spindle Sander (model G1071)
• Powermatic 18” Variable Speed Drill Press (model PM2800B)
• DeWalt 20” Heavy Duty Variable Speed Scroll Saw (model BD31A)
• Kreg Foreman Semi-Automatic Pocket Hole Machine (model DB210)
• Rikon Combination Belt/Disc Sander (1” Belt/5” Disc, model 50-151)
• Festool Kapex Sliding Compound Miter Saw (model KS 120 EB)
• Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener (model 3000/3000C)
• Festool Dust Collector (model CT-36E)
• Festool Track Saw and Panels (model TS-55REQ)
• Festool Router (model OF1400EQF+)
• Festool Sanders (model RO125FEQ+, RTS400REQ+)
• 1 Shopbot Desktop CNC
• Shaper Origin
• Shaper Workstation
• Microlux Drum Sander
• Grizzly Oscillating Spindle Sander (Model G1071)
• Jet 14” Bandsaw

Textiles:

• 1 Melco EMT16X Commercial Embroidery Machine
• 6 Janome Schoolmate S-3015 Sewing Machines
• 2 complete sewing stations with materials, tools, lighting, and pinnable dress forms
• 1 Juki MO-735 Serger Machine
• 1 Steam Iron w/ table
• Cricut Maker craft cutter
• 3 full sewing stations
• 4 Janome Schoolmate sewing Machines
• 2 dress Forms

Office and Storage:

• Office for the technical supervisor is on-site. Storage for student projects available starting fall 2020. Temporary materials storage appx. 500 sq. ft.

BeAM@Hanes Art Center

Laser Cutting:

• Universal Laser Systems, 2’ x 4’ bed and 18” x 24” bed (Model ILS12.150D)

Vinyl Cutting:

• Roland 24” vinyl cutter (Camm-1 Servo,GX-24)
• Tee shirt press Electronics
• 2 mobile soldering stations

Wood Working:

• Jet 14” Bandsaw (model JWBS-14SF)
• Jet 17” Drill Press (model JDP-17)
• DeWalt 20” Heavy Duty Variable Speed Scroll Saw (model DW788)
• Powermatic Combination Belt/Disc Sander (model BD31A)
• ShopBot (PRS CNC)
• 1 Shopbot Desktop CNCs
• Festool System (Circular Saw, model TS 55 REQ-Plus USA, Accessories set:model FS-SYS/2, CLEANTEX HEPA Dust Extractor:model CT 26 E HEPA)
• Festool Dust Collector (model CT-36E)
• Festool Track Saw and Panels (model TS-55REQ)
• Festool Router (model OF1400EQF+)
• Festool Sanders (model RO125FEQ+, RTS400REQ+)
• Grizzly Oscillating Spindle Sander (model G1071)
• Festool Kapex Sliding Compound Miter Saw (model KS 120 EB)
• 3 Rikon Midi Lathes (model 70-220VSR)
• Baldor Grinder Buffer 1⁄3 HP
• Kreg Foreman Semi-Automatic Pocket Hole Machine (model DB210)
• Rikon 6” Bench Top Jointer Model 20-600H
• DeWalt DW735X Planer

Textiles:

• 2 Janome Schoolmate S-3015 Sewing Machines

Office:

• Office for the technical supervisor is on-site. Storage for equipment and consumables is approximately 300 sq. ft.

BeAM@Carmichael Residence Hall

Digital Fabrication:

3D Printing:

• 24 Ultimaker 3 3D printers
• 6 3Doodler 3D Printing Pens

Vinyl Cutting:

• Roland 24” vinyl cutter (Camm-1 Servo,GX-24)

Digital die cutting:

• 1 Klic-N-Kut Force dual head digital die cutter
• Rotary attachment
• 3 different knife options
• Embossing and punch tools

Electronics:

• 4 Hakko FX-888D mobile soldering stations

Textiles:

• 1 Melco EMT16 Plus Commercial Embroidery Machine
• 3 Janome Schoolmate S-3015 Sewing Machines
• 1 Brother CS6000I Sewing Machine
• 1 Juki MO-735 Serger Machine
• 1 Janome CoverPro 1000 CPX Coverstitch Machine
• 1 Steam Iron w/ table

Button making:

• TBA

Office:

• Office for the technical supervisor is on-site.

Partnership Makerspace at Kenan Science Library

Digital Fabrication:

3D printing: A total of six printers including

• Ultimaker S5
• Fusion3 F306:
• Lulzbot Mini
• uPrint SE Plus
• MakerBot Replicator 2
• MakerBot Replicator 2X
• MakerBot Replicator Mini

Electronics:

• Raspberry Pi, Makey Makey, Little Bits, Arduino Kits, Hakko Soldering Iron

Textiles:

• Janome S-3015 Sewing machine