The TinkerTank staff provides consultations and instruction for all your electronics, crafting, and textiles projects whenever the TinkerTank is open, or by appointment. Please drop in, or send inquiries to slabmakerspace@virginia.edu.
Or schedule a consultation with Ammon, manager of our TinkerTank.
The Scholars’ Lab TinkerTank is strategically situated within the UVA Library to be open, provide a low barrier of entry to making, and be a helpful resource of information, technology and support. The space invites all people, and proactively encourages those in underrepresented academic studies, ethnicities, genders, economic classes and skill levels to come, learn, make, and be empowered to improve their education, research, and community. The TinkerTank is an active participant in academic research through independent and collaborative work with scholars to explore, understand, and report on emerging technologies, methodologies and pedagogies in a variety of disciplines.
All humans are dreamers, creators, and achievers. Our mission is to provide the place, the tools, and the support to empower people to dream, create, and achieve.
Interested in exploring the TinkerTank? Have an idea to use microcontrollers or 3D modeling to enhance your research or differently interrogate your assumptions? Contact us at slabmakerspace@virginia.edu to schedule an appointment with a TinkerTank Technologist or Scholars’ Lab staff to discuss your planned project.
3D Printing
All 3D printing is now available through the 3D Printing Studio in the Robertson Media Center (just across the room). To use the printers, you need to complete an online training, then reserve a 3D printer during their open hours. Email teachlearn@virginia.edu with any questions.
Workshops
Resources to teach a workshop
Tutorials
Resources to learn at your own pace
Sarah Hemler3D Printing, Solidworks and AutoDesk, Electronics, Photoshop Software and Drawing Tablets, Audacity and Musescore
Yejung KimElectronics, CAD
Alexa Luborsky:Digital Humanities, Button Making, Silhouette Cameo
Tingyo Tan:CAD, 3D Printing, Electronics, Photogrammetry
Jordan Phan:Sewing, textiles
Shane Lin:3D Printing, Programming, Digital Humanities
Jeremy Boggs:3D Printing, Electronics, Programming, Digital Humanities
All equipment can be reserved for use in the TinkerTank. Use the Library Equipment Reservation site to reserve equipment.
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Physical Computing and Electronics
- Sparkfun Arduino kits, with Arduino UNO and 101 boards and an assortment of Arduino shields.
- Raspberry Pi version 3, 4 and Zero W
- Soldering irons, solder, helping hands
- Digital multimeters
- Spare parts for basic electronics tinkering (breadboards, wire, switches, sensors)
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Crafting
- Button Maker
- Silhouette Cameo 4 Plus Desktop Cutting Machine
- Laminator
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Textiles & Wearables
- Bernina B 350 sewing machines + Juki MO-644D serger
- Basic supplies for wearables and tactile computing
- Felt
- Sewing needles and thread
- Quilting/cross-stitch frames
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Graphics
- Wacom Cintiq 22HD graphics tablet
- Adobe Creative Suite
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Software
- Agisoft PhotoScan
- ArcGIS, qGIS
- Arduino
- Fusion 360, MeshMixer, Tinkercad, SketchUp, Maya
- Rhinocerous
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Miscellaneous
- Tool box with basic hand tools (wrenches, screwdrivers. etc.)
All equipment is maintained for use in the TinkerTank and is not available for check out at this time. Don’t see the equipment you need here? Visit http://makergrounds.virginia.edu for other shops, labs, and places for making at UVA.
Questions? Hesitant about joining us in the TinkerTank? You belong here, and we're happy to meet with you, answer questions, and give you a tour to help you feel more at home. Email slabmakerspace@virginia.edu to let us know you're curious about our makerspace.