FabLab UDLA (Fabrication Laboratory) is a facility located at Granados campus in Universidad de Las Americas in Quito, Ecuador. Our workshop allows the creation of physical objects using power tools and also digital manufacturing machines, which can materialize models from digital designs. Actually it's being used by students and professors of Architecture, Interior Design, Product Design and form the Master in Advanced Architectural Design, who want to move quickly from an idea or concept to a physical object or prototype, and who want to experiment and improve their practical knowledge of analog manufacturing, CAD and CAM, but we have an open collaboration scheme with faculty from other careers and alumni contributing to our lines of research.

Our methodology is based on “Design Thinking” and on the DIY culture of the “Maker Movement”. Design Thinking is a method of innovation that applies a proper design mindset to solve complex problems, thus generating new opportunities for collaboration. The Maker Movement is based on Makers, people who believe that if you can imagine it, you can build it. This approach seeks to guide students and teachers towards critical and informed thinking, mediated within the local context but taking advantage of a globalized world.

FabLab UDLA seeks to encourage not only thinking about the aesthetic or functional part of a design, but rather to focus on the I+D on how it is going to be manufactured, the use of materials, assembly, etc., getting much closer to the integral design.

For these reasons, Fab Lab UDLA is focused on four lines of research:

Computational Design: Research of geometry and 3D modeling through the use of Rhinoceros3D and Grasshopper3D for graphical programming form finding.

Design to production: Bridging the gap between designer and fabricators, DtP the use of analog and digital manufacturing tools, guiding education towards a profile of designers, manufacturers and builders who generate prototypes.
Materials research: Bio-materials and recycling.
Robotic construction: Collaborative work between humans and machines.

Machinery and spaces available:

The space has six work areas:
Fablab coordination: the 3D printing area includes two Flash Forge Creator Pro 3D printers (volume 1500 high X 227 long 148 depth mm) and 4 computers with Rhinoceros 7, Fusion 360 and Rhinocam2023 licenses.
Laser cutting laboratory:
equipped with a Rayjet r500 laser cutter (cutting area 1200 X 900 mm).

Milling laboratory:
equipped with a Polycom 360 camera for virtual classes, an X - CARVE CNC (cutting area 749.3 X 749.3mm) and a Blue Elephant ELECNC-1325 (1220 X 1440 mm).

GR-001 model making classroom:
capacity for 15 students.
GR-002 computer lab:
Equipped with a camera for virtual classes and 17 desktop computers.
FabLab workshop (dirty space of carpentry, locksmith, machines and tools)
among the main tools are:
Telescopic miter saw.
Endless Band Saw Jigsaw Machine.
Bench/pedestal drill.
Detail jigsaw.
Belt sander.
Bench brush.
Wood lathe.
* If you wish to make use of any machine or space in the laboratory, you must fill out the corresponding Reservation Form.