Learn more about our Studios!
The Frank Innovation Zone (FIZ) is located on the ground floor of Dana Hall. Along with other professional shops and active student club and research areas, the FIZ offers training and access to the fabrication studios and coordinates with other Voiland College and WSU programs to foster student access and safe use of the other available resources. The FIZ studios are shared spaces made available to students for individual, club, and academic use.
To access these studios, proper trainings and safety orientation are required for all studios at the FIZ. FIZ community members who have completed the necessary training will earn an extended Cougar Card access for the respective studio. To get trained, check out our training schedule and come in at the allocated time!
Specific studios are also available to be reserved for small group training on equipment use or skill development. (Note: You have to be certified to be in the studio and authorized by management to train other users beforehand.)
FIZ Service Center / FIZ Welcome Desk (Dana 15)
The FIZ Service Center and Welcome Desk serve as the central hub of the entire fabrication space, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for all users. It is the first point of contact for makers, students, and professionals, offering essential services such as tool rentals, project pickups, payments, and general inquiries. Whether you need guidance on equipment usage, assistance with material selection, or help troubleshooting a project, the knowledgeable staff at the Welcome Desk are ready to provide support. This space not only facilitates smooth operations but also fosters a collaborative and innovative environment where creativity thrives.
Community Studio (Dana 15)
The Community Studio is the centerpiece of the FIZ. It includes the Service Center which houses hand tools, power tools, and other general equipment for check-out. The 1000 sq.ft Community Studio is dedicated to student use. It is open from Monday to Saturday for all students with extended Cougar Card access for the FIZ Community members. Intended uses include impromptu use for individuals and groups; scheduled use for club and team meetings; and reserved use for club and team events, competitions, and faculty or industry presentations.
The Community Studio features:
- 9 large study and work tables with available power for computer and other hardware that requires electricity.
- 3 large whiteboards for collaboration work with team members or individual use.
- 3 Desktop computers equipped with latest engineering softwares to create or work on projects.
- A basic mobile tools cart for in-house use only.
- Lockers which are available to store personal items. (Register at the Service Center, you can either bring your own lock, or check-out a lock from us.)
Metal Studio (Dana 22)
The Metal Studio has a space of 500 sq.ft and it is the primary space for metal fabrication. Primary uses of the studio include fabrication assembly, and testing of projects.
The space may also be reserved for small group training on equipment use or skill development (Note: Before reserving the space, you have to be certified to use the space and authorized by management to train other users).
The Metal Studio features:
- Standing Band Saw
- Heavy Duty Shear
- Tapping machine
- Drill Press
- Combination Belt/Disk Sander
- Lathe (Lathe access is restricted to students who have passed one on one training)
- Tormach CNC Milling Centre (The Tormach is not immediately available for hands on student use. To become an operator a student must submit a minimum of 2 jobs that showcase good foundational CAD before qualifying for training. Students will then work with a trained FIZ CNC operator to learn the machine.)
Electrical Studio (Dana 18)
The Electrical Studio is a 250 sq.ft area and it is the primary space for electrical testing and fabrication. This studio represents the most recent effort for adding resources and new equipment to support individual and club needs in circuit board prototype development. The available resources and equipment will continue to expand. The primary use of the studio include fabrication, assembly, and testing of projects.
The Electrical Studio also houses the Voltera V-One that brings quick turn PCBs to your desktop. Import your Gerber file into the Voltera software, press print, and the V-One will bring your board to life. Use the solder paste dispensing and reflow features to mount components onto your printed board, or mount components on a prefabricated board with ease.
The space may also be reserved for small group training on equipment use or skill development (Note: Before reserving the space, you have to be certified to use the space and authorized by management to train other users).
The Electrical Studio features:
- A wide variety of available materials donated by local companies.
- 4 Rigol Oscilloscope and Signal Generator, Digilent Explorer and Analog Discovery boards for circuit development and testing.
- Voltera V-One (PCB Printer)
- Soldering Stations
- Fume Extractors (For Soldering)
Wood Studio (Dana 14)
The Wood Studio comprises of a 500 sq.ft area and it is the primary space for woodworking and wood-related projects. The primary use of the studio include fabrication, assembly, and testing of projects.
The Wood Studio features:
- Laguna Band Saw
- Combination Belt/Disk Sander
- Sliding Compound Mitre Saw
- Scroll Saw
- Router Table
- Panel Saw
- Drum Sander
- Drill Press
- AVID CNC Router (The AVID CNC is not immediately available for hands on student use. To become an operator a student must submit a minimum of 2 jobs that showcase good foundational CAD before qualifying for training. Students will then work with a trained FIZ CNC operator to learn the machine.)
Welding Studio (Dana 8)
The Welding Studio is a 500 sq.ft space and it is the primary space for welding and sandblasting projects. This studio requires specialized training by a certified FIZ employee and extra practice. When entering the Welding Studio, you are required to wear natural fiber clothing (cotton, leather, wool, etc.), and close-toed shoes (avoid clothes are synthetic).
The Welding Studio features:
- Mobile welding stations
- MIG Welding
- TIG Welding
- Sand-Blaster
- Plasma CNC Cutter
Cutting/Finishing Studio (Dana 6)
The Cutting/Finishing Studio is a 300 sq.ft space and it is the primary space for precision waterjet cuts and painting.
The Cutting/Finishing Studio features:
- Painting Booth
- ProtoMAX Waterjet (Waterjet usage is by job submission via services tab only.)
- Thunder Laser
Safety is paramount at the FIZ
- Consistent with the FIZ Participation Agreement, all community members will promote high safety standards and expectations and encourage the same from visitors and other members.
- Safety Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) are required for use of some equipment (but not limited to) in this space.
- Use ONLY equipment for which you have acquired proper safety orientation by a FIZ employee and training documented with the FIZ Service Center.
- Clean and safe floors and surfaces will be maintained. Contribute to and reinforce expectations for individual responsibility for leaving spaces clean and safe.