The Maker-E is one of three makerspaces on campus. We strive to be a fun, inclusive, welcoming environment for all Bucknellians. While we are located in Dana Engineering room 111 we are not just for engineers! We welcome and encourage makers from all across campus to hang out, use tools, make stuff, build friendships, and contribute to our space. Ultimately, makerspaces are about two things: making and community. And making is always more fun in a supportive community.
In the Maker-E you’ll find standard maker tools like 3D printers and laser cutters alongside electronics-specific resources like PCB design software, test and measurement equipment, and a slew of PCB assembly and rework tools. Our friendly Maker-E Assistants staff the space in the evenings during the week and are happy to help take you from an idea to something you can hold.
Location: 111 Dana Engineering
Hours: Open on a 24/7 basis to anyone at Bucknell who has completed the safety orientation to use the space. The Maker-E has full-time staff available from 8am – 5 pm Monday through Friday. Student technicians are available during evenings and weekends.
Available to: all Bucknell students, faculty, and staff
Getting Started
The Maker-E is staffed during working hours so if you want a tour or if you’re curious about what the Maker-E has to offer, you can drop by Dana 111. Additional hours with Maker-E student technicians are are available in the evenings and on weekends during the academic year.
- Read the Bucknell Makerspace User Agreement
- Complete the Bucknell Makerspaces Access Training Module by watching the short video and finishing the quiz with a score of 100%.
- Get trained on specific pieces of equipment:
- Read the online tutorial on how to use the piece of equipment.
- See the Lab Director or a student technician to become certified on that piece of equipment.
The quiz will be graded automatically, you will need to retake the quiz until you score 100%.
Once you pass, you will get 24/7 access to the Mooney Lab and Maker-E using your Bucknell ID card (takes about 1 business day to process). The 7th Street Studio & MakerSpace provides students with a variety of weekday, skills-based workshops and creative fun weekend events. Weekday workshops require a signup through our website but weekend events are first-come, first-serve. Looking to host an event with your organization? Consider reserving our space by clicking the link below! does not require card access to enter.
Using the Equipment
Equipment Tutorials
You must be trained and authorized to use equipment before you are granted equipment access. First, read the tutorial on how to use a piece of equipment. Then see the Lab Director or a student technician to become certified on a piece of equipment.
To see your current certifications and which equipment is available, check the MakerPortal site.
Equipment Authorization
Bucknell’s MakerSpaces use badging boxes to make sure you can only use equipment that you are trained on. Once you’re certified on a piece of equipment, your Makerspace badge will allow you to turn on and use that equipment.
Get authorized by following these steps:
- If you’re new to the MakerSpaces, speak with Maker-E staff to receive a blank RFID card (a “badge”).
- Read the online tutorial on how to use the piece of equipment.
- Come to the Maker-E during staffed hours and the staff will help you to use the equipment to complete the activity in the tutorials.
- See the Lab Director or a student technician to become certified on that piece of equipment.
Available Equipment
Equipment offered in the Maker-E includes:
- Espresso machine
- Vinyl cutter
- Heat press
- 3D printers
- Soldering irons
- PCB mill
- Pick and place
- Reflow oven
- IR rework station
- Table-top laser cutter
- littleBits
- Button Maker
- Various hand tools – drills, desoldering guns, clamps, hand tools, etc.
Software used for making is freely available for use on the Maker-E workstations.
- National Instrument Circuit Design Suite will allow you to put together schematic diagrams, model circuits, and then turn the circuit into printed circuit board files.
- Altium Designer is a professional level design package for circuit layout.
- TI Code Composer Studio is used for writing and compiling C code for embedded processors.
- Energia is a Texas Instruments-compatible Arduino-like interface for working with TI microcontrollers.
- Keysight BenchVue will allow you to communicate with and capture data from test and measurement equipment
- Keysight Command Expert will provide you with full control of test and measurement equipment via the GPIB programming environment
- SolidWorks and AutoCAD provide 2D and 3D mechanical design capabilities for prototyping on 3D printers and laser cutters
- PTC Thingsworx is a web-based software for developing Internet of Things (IoT) applications for mobile devices. To get access to Thingsworx please email Dr. Cheville
Maker Skill Kits will help you learn the basics of technologies that can used in your own custom projects. Each kit will walk you through all the steps of a simple project to learn the basics of using one of the technologies below.
- Electronic Test and Measurement
- Arduino Programming and Interfacing
- TI LaunchPad Programming and Interfacing
Maker-E projectors can be used wirelessly from your computer running Windows, OS X, or your Android or iOS device. Follow these steps to access the projectors:
- Download the EasyMP Projection utility for Windows or OS X. If you are using a mobile device, please check the App Store or Google Play for the Epson iProjection app.
- After installing the utility or app, follow these instructions to connect to the projector wirelessly.
Fabrication: resources for prototyping electronic projects
- seeed in China offers kits, fabrication, and prototyping services
- Advanced Circuits has student special full service boards
- OSHPark offers fast, cheap, high quality PCBs
- OSHStencils will cut solder paste stencils for all of your SMT assembly needs!
Challenges: sites offering prizes for addressing their challenges
- NASA Tournament Lab offers cash prizes to address challenges
- SourceAmerica Design Challenge lets teams partner with nonprofits on projects for people with disabilities.
- The Texas Instruments Innovation Challenge gives free components and prizes up to $10,000
Industry: programs at companies offering support and supplies
- Texas Instruments academic program offers discounts and free components
- Intel Maker resources
Get Materials
The Maker-E stocks a wide variety of electronic components, tools, and supplies. Authorized users can get parts for their projects, reserve equipment for a period of time, or check out kits to learn new skills.
Order electronic components in the Maker-E Catalog for personal projects, classes, or research projects. We do not give out components unless they are ordered through the Catalog. There is no charge for the components, but the prices we pay for them are listed.
Student schedule
Please note that while the Maker-E is open year-round, there are no student technician hours during the summer. The Lab Director will continue to be available Monday – Friday, 7am – 3:30pm.
The Maker-E is for academic use in furtherance of Bucknell’s mission as a residential-based institution of higher education. Such “academic use” is broadly defined and is not limited to activities that are performed directly in connection with coursework, student research or faculty scholarship. Rather, academic use includes activities that allow faculty to explore concepts they believe might be relevant to future teaching or scholarship at Bucknell, that allow students to engage in activities that support their academic growth, and that allow faculty or staff to work with students in a manner that furthers Bucknell’s residential education model. The Maker-E should not be used for commercial endeavors or activities that do not have a stated goal in furtherance of Bucknell’s academic mission.