More Information
About the Lux Lab
The Lux Lab is a collection of emerging technology services offered by the UCLA Library. Some of these services are 3D printing, mapping and scanning, as well as laser etching and cutting. Our equipment is available to all UCLA students, organizations, staff and faculty for work related to the university. Using the Lux Lab comes at little or no cost to our patrons.
All service requests and general inquiries can be submitted via the Lux Lab service portal(opens in a new tab). The specifics of our equipment can be found below.
Due to limited resources, we cannot accept personal project proposals. Other on-campus 3D printing resources include the UCLA MakerSpaces in Boelter Hall(opens in a new tab) and Olympic Hall(opens in a new tab), as well as the student organization 3D4E(opens in a new tab).
We are always open to partnering with new clubs, organizations and classes. If you are interested in partnering with us, submit a consultation request through the service portal. You can also email us at LuxLab@library.ucla.edu(opens in a new tab).
Lux Lab Locations
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Powell Lux Lab
Located in 331 Powell, the Powell Lux Lab is home to our laser etcher, as well as our Formlabs and Lulzbot printers. - default
YRL Lux Lab
The YRL Lux Lab, located on the first floor, is home to our fleet of MakerBot printers and our Artec 3D scanners.
Lux Lab Equipment
3D Printers
Makerbot Replicator 5th Generation: Our smallest Makerbot printer. Uses fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing technology. Primary material is PLA (polylactic acid) filament. Build volume is 9.9 inches x 7.8 inches x 5.9 inches L/W/H. Thickness of print is 100 microns (0.004 inches).
Makerbot Replicator+: Our most heavily used and most reliable Makerbot printer. Uses FDM printing technology. Primary material is PLA filament. Build volume is 11.6 inches x 7.6 inches x 6.5 inches L/W/H. Thickness of print is 100 microns (0.004 inches).
Makerbot Replicator Z18: Our largest printer. Uses FDM printing technology with an air-heated print chamber to prevent warping on larger prints. Primary material is PLA filament. Build volume is 11.8 inches x 12 inches x 18 inches L/W/H. Thickness of print is 100 microns (0.004 inches).
Formlabs Form 2: Our highest resolution printer. Utilizes stereolithography (SLA) technology to create prints out of light-reactive resin. Build volume is 5.7 inches x 5.7 inches x 6.9 inches L/W/H. Capable of printing with both flexible and standard Formlabs resin. Thickness of print is 25 microns (0.001 inches). Laser wattage is 250 milliwatts.
Formlabs Form 3: Utilizes low force stereolithography (LFS) technology to create resin-based 3D prints. Build volume is 5.7 inches x 5.7 inches x 6.9 inches L/W/H. Capable of printing with both flexible and standard Formlabs resin. Thickness of print is 25 microns (0.001 inches). Laser wattage is 250 milliwatts.
Laser Etcher/Cutter
Epilog Helix 24: Capable of laser etching and laser cutting a variety of materials, including acrylic, wood, mat board, glass and stainless steel. Engraving area is 24 inches x 18 inches. Maximum etching thickness is 8.5 inches, and maximum cutting thickness is 0.25 inches. Laser wattage is 40 watts, and resolution is 75 to 1200 dots per inch.
3D Scanning
Arctec Space Spider: A highly accurate 3D scanner, perfect for 3D rendering of small to medium-sized objects. 3D point accuracy is 50 microns (0.002 inches). 3D resolution is 100 microns (0.0039 inches). 3D accuracy is 0.03% over 100 centimeters (39.4 inches). Working distance is 0.2 to 0.3 meters (7.9 inches to 11.8 inches). Volume capture zone is 2000 cubic centimeters (122 cubic inches).
Arctec Eva: A step up from the Space Spider, the Eva is capable of 3D rendering larger items at a lower accuracy. 3D point accuracy is 100 microns (0.004 inches). 3D resolution is 500 microns (0.02 inches). 3D accuracy is 0.03% over 100cm (39.4 inches). Working distance is 0.4 to 1.0 meters (1.3 feet to 3.3 feet). Volume capture zone is 610 cubic meters (798 cubic yards).
Past Projects
Lux Lab technologies apply to more than the sciences. Read on for examples of past projects where we worked creatively with our patrons to fulfill their needs.
Students from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television put on a production of Paula Vogel's "The Long Christmas Ride Home(opens in a new tab)" in 2018. The show featured both live actors and custom-built puppets inspired by bunraku, a Japanese puppetry form. To create the heads of the puppets, the Lux Lab worked with the TFT prop master to obtain 3D scans of each principal actor's face. The scans were turned into 3D files and printed, then painted by the TFT props crew to further recreate the physical features of the actors. The puppets helped the audience fully understand the show's emphasis on memory and familial relations.
We also work with several student organizations across campus. The UCLA Rocket Project(opens in a new tab) is a collegiate-level engineering team housed within the UCLA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics(opens in a new tab). The Lux Lab has assisted the students of the Rocket Project with their competitive and educational projects. We routinely 3D-print custom rocket parts designed by the members of the project. The team has won numerous national competitions for rocket design and performance.
Our projects haven't been limited to the boundaries of campus. In 2018, the Lux Lab was asked to travel to Turin, Italy, with Michael Chen(opens in a new tab), who at the time was a doctoral candidate in archaeology. Chen was researching his thesis on Late Period Egyptian healing stones and wanted to create 3D scans of a collection of artifacts housed in the Museo Egizio(opens in a new tab) in Italy. He used 3D-rendered images to put the artifacts through tests and learn more about ancient Egyptian healing rituals.
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