The Weissman Foundry

The Weissman Foundry is a hands-on prototyping space where ideas come to life. Designed for experimentation and early-stage innovation, our studios support a wide range of materials and making techniques—whether you’re laser cutting a rough concept, 3D printing a product iteration, or sketching ideas in foam and cardboard. Every corner of the Foundry is built to encourage function over form: rapid testing, physical problem-solving, and visible learning. This is not a craft studio—it’s a launchpad for ideas, open to all students who want to build something real.

 
 
 

Our Collaborative Spaces

Collaboration is at the heart of the Foundry. Our shared spaces are designed to bring people together—whether you're brainstorming, teaching, meeting over a meal, or building side by side. From the open energy of the Workroom to the welcoming Ideation Lounge, the Social Kitchen, and the flexible Teaching Studio, these areas support connection, creativity, and community. They’re where ideas are sparked, refined, and shared — often before a single tool is picked up.

 

The Workroom

The Workroom

The Workroom is the heart of hands-on collaboration—an open table space surrounded by tools, materials, and active projects. It’s where ideas get messy and momentum builds. Reserve part of this space here for use during our normal hours of operation.

Materials

  • Low Fidelity Prototyping Materials

Equipment

  • Mayku Vacuum Former

  • Hot Wire Foam Cutter

  • Low-Fidelity Prototyping Tools


The Ideation Lounge

The Ideation Lounge

The Ideation Lounge welcomes you into the space. Located near the entrance and adjacent to the kitchen and studio, it’s a comfortable zone for gathering, chatting, and getting your bearings—whether you're here for a meeting, a brainstorm, or just to see what’s happening.

Equipment

  • Our “Maker’s Library”


The Teaching Studio

The Teaching Studio

The Teaching Studio is our flexible classroom space—ideal for trainings, presentations, and team-based project work. It is the primary class space, and is used throughout most days. While not in use, it can be reserved here.

Materials

  • General Classroom Supplies

Equipment

  • Teaching Podium

  • Pull-down Photography Backdrops


The Kitchen

The Kitchen


The Kitchen supports edible prototyping, sustainable packaging concepts, and early-stage food ventures. With equipment for cooking, testing, and refining recipes or presentation, this space helps students move from food idea to physical outcome. Whether you're prototyping for taste, experience, or production process, this is where culinary meets entrepreneurship. Reserve this space here for use during our normal hours of operation.

Equipment

  • Gas Stovetop Range

  • Microwave

  • Convection Oven

  • Hand Mixer

  • KitchenAid Stand Mixer

  • Immersion Blender

  • Electric Hot Plates

  • Ice Cream Machine

  • Waffle Maker

  • Commercial Coffee Machines

  • Air Fryer

  • Electric Ooni Pizza Oven

Materials

Most materials are not provided in the Kitchen due to health concerns, but some may be left from previous users, this generally includes:

  • Baking Ingredients (Limited)

  • Cooking Ingredients (Limited)

  • Spices (Limited)

  • Cooking Oils (Limited)

 

Fabrication Studios

The Foundry’s fabrication studios are where ideas take physical form. Each studio is purpose-built to support hands-on experimentation—from precision cutting and digital design to woodworking, electronics, textiles, and food ventures. We stock core materials to help you get started quickly, but if your project requires something we don’t offer, you're welcome to bring your own—just check in with us first. Whether you’re building your first prototype or refining a functional product, these spaces are equipped to help you move from concept to creation—quickly, safely, and with support at every step.

 
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3D Printing & Electronics Studio

3D Printing & Electronics Studio


The 3D Printing & Electronics Studio is your launchpad for form and function. It’s where you can print mechanical enclosures, snap-fit prototypes, or aesthetic models—and combine them with working circuits and sensors. This space supports students exploring how their ideas look, move, and interact with the world. From CAD to code, it’s built for iteration.

Materials

  • PLA Filament (FDM Printers)

  • Draft Resin (SLA Printers)

  • Various Sensors (Arduino/RaspPI)

  • Various Components (Arduino/RaspPi)

  • Arduino & Raspberry PI Boards

  • Spray Paint

Equipment

  • Formlabs Stereolithography 3D Printers

  • Bambulabs X1C FDM 3D Printers

  • Fume Hood

  • Soldering Station

  • 3D CAD Design Station



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The Woodshop

The Woodshop


The Woodshop is our most tool-intensive studio—ideal for building large-scale, structural, or refined prototypes. Whether you’re making furniture, testing product enclosures, or learning basic fabrication, the shop provides hands-on experience with materials that matter. This space is about testing ideas in wood, foam, and physical structure, not crafting the next family heirloom.

General Equipment

  • Miter Saw

  • Band Saws

  • Drill Press

  • Belt/Disk Sander

  • Hand Drills and Drivers

  • SawStop Tablesaw

Materials

  • Dimensional Lumber (Limited Stock)

  • Plywood (Limited Stock)

  • Various Bolts, Nuts Screws, and Other Hardware

Specialty Tools

  • X-Carve Pro CNC (24”x48”)

  • Shaper Origin CNC

  • Reciprocating Saw

  • Circular Saw

  • Jig Saw

  • Oscillating Multi-Tool

  • Orbital Sander

  • Dremel Rotary Tool

  • Heat Gun

  • Pneumatic Nail Gun & Stapler


Laser & Digital Design Studio

Laser & Digital Design Studio


This is where precision meets speed. The Laser & Digital Design Studio is home to our laser cutters, vinyl cutter, and digital fabrication tools—perfect for bringing flat designs to life fast. Whether you're etching packaging prototypes, cutting parts for a model, or experimenting with signage and branding, this studio supports rapid iteration and clean, accurate results. Ideal for those working in 2D-to-3D transitions or testing layout and function at scale.

Materials

  • 1/8" & 1/4" MDF

  • 1/8" & 1/4" Plywood

  • Quickboard (Colored)

  • Cardboard (1-ply & 2-ply)

  • Chipboard

  • 1/8" & 1/4" Acrylic (Colored)

  • Exterior Grade Vinyl (Various Colors)

Equipment

  • Epilog Fusion Pro 80W Laser Cutter (36”x48”)

  • Epilog Zing 50W Laser Cutter (12”x24”)

  • Graphtech Vinyl Cutter (24”)




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Fashion & Textiles

Studio

Fashion & Textiles Studio


The Fashion Studio blends fabric and function. Whether you're sewing wearable tech, creating soft prototypes, or developing retail concepts, this space supports textile experimentation at every stage. With industrial machines, cutting tools, and space to drape, pin, and piece together ideas, it’s a studio for more than fashion—it's for wearable solutions.

Materials

  • Felt

  • Muslin

  • Broadcloth

  • Canvas

  • Donated Scrap Fabrics

  • Buttons

  • Zippers

  • Iron-On Vinyl (Various Colors)

Equipment

  • Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine

  • Sailrite Industrial Sewing Machine

  • Edge Serger

  • Digital Embroidery Machine

  • Cricut Cutter

  • Hand Sewing Tools