Acquisition of ProtoMAX Abrasive Waterjet to Support Student Projects, Learning, and Research

Department of Chemistry

Requested:

$28,794

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$28,794

Abstract

This Student Technology Fee (STF) proposal is requesting funds to purchase a compact water jet for use by the Chemistry Department and broader community. This system will improve many aspects of research and education including efficiency, safety, breadth of learning and applications, and precision of machined objects. The addition of a waterjet cutter to the Chemistry Department will enable the production of chemically resistant and durable devices out of virtually any material, a capability that is severely limited by the current facilities. Additionally, this system will facilitate fast and easy production of safety features that may be neglected currently due to time constraints, especially for proof-of-concept experiments. Because waterjet cutting is one of the fastest growing machining techniques, the acquisition of this system will enable undergraduate and graduate students to develop invaluable skills for future employment in industry. The system will be assembled in the chemistry machine shop in Bagley Hall, which is currently being updated and renovated. This system will be an integral component of the University of Washington’s commitment to cutting-edge research and accessibility to innovation; it will provide a space for students and researchers to gain hands-on experience designing and producing devices with a rapidly growing technology which will strengthen student employment opportunities post-graduation and boost the level of research produced by the University of Washington.

Super-Resolution Upgrade for Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope

Department of Physiology and Biophysics

Requested:

$97,561

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$97,561

Abstract

This proposal requests hardware and software upgrades to the Keck Microscopy Center’s most advanced laser scanning confocal microscope to enhance its potential for student research and provide currently unavailable Super-Resolution confocal imaging capability. The W. M. Keck Microscopy Center is a light microscopy imaging facility at the UW that has provided microscopy training and services to hundreds UW students since it was established in 1990; in 2018 alone, 60 trained graduate students and 14 trained undergraduate students utilized Keck Center microscopes for their research. The Keck Center is co-administered by the Department of Physiology and Biophysics and the Department of Pharmacology, but use of the facility is not limited to these departments and is potentially available to all UW students for basic science and biomedical research. The state-of-the-art widefield and laser scanning confocal microscope systems already available at the Keck Center are too costly for the majority of individual labs to maintain and operate, so the microscopy services provided by the Keck Center are vital for many student research projects at the UW that require advanced light microscopy techniques such as confocal. Furthermore, the Keck Center manager provides consultation for student research, both for currently existing projects and for those being planned. For the past 5 years, the Keck Center’s Leica SP8X has been the most advanced scanning confocal microscope system available at any UW imaging facility; technological advances within that time have now made available a variety of impactful upgrades to this system. The requested confocal scan head and workstation upgrades to this system will dramatically improve the speed and operational efficiency of the Leica SP8X for all student users. Importantly, these hardware upgrades and the proposed LASX software upgrades will new provide new Lightning Super-Resolution confocal capability to student users, which is currently unavailable in any UW imaging facility and therefore unavailable to the vast majority of UW students. Dr. Nathaniel Peters, the Keck Center Manager, will train and assist student users with this new technology and will implement and host a monthly UW Student Microscopy Open House at the Keck Center to provide demonstrations of this technology and consultation services.

Request for iro3d Metal 3D printers for Student Use in the MEB

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Requested:

$11,010

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$11,010

Abstract

We are requesting funding to purchase two iro3d metal 3D printers to be housed in the Mechanical Engineering Department and made available for use by UW students. The iro3d represents a new type of additive manufacturing that promises to make metal AM cheaper and safer than ever before. Access to this technology will provide UW students with a time-saving metalworking tool, new design and engineering possibilities to explore, and career-relevant experience in metal AM. Supplementary equipment and space to use the machine is already available in the basement of the MEB, and the consumable parts of the process are low-cost enough to encourage student experimentation and exploration.

HUB Audio Visual Display Upgrade

The HUB

Requested:

$172,225

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$172,225

Abstract

The Husky Union Building is one of the leading Meeting and Event Spaces on the UW Seattle Campus. Being the Student Union, our primary goal is to deliver a dynamic event center in which students, staff/faculty and the UW Community can come engage in meetings and events that advance the Husky Experience and support the technologies that are utilized in their work.

Improving Access to High Performance, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)-Based Resources on Campus

UW-IT Research Computing

Requested:

$57,952

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$57,952

Abstract

The Research Computing Club (RCC, formerly known as the High Performance Computing Club) has been facilitating access to high performance computing (HPC) resources since 2015 for all UW students with the generous support and funding from the UW Student Technology Fee (STF). Traditionally, RCC resources hosted on UW’s supercomputing cluster, Hyak, have been primarily CPU-based. However, the growing utilization of data science and machine learning tools have pushed students towards graphics processing units (GPUs) to significantly accelerate these computationally expensive calculations. The current, but limited, GPU-based resources provided by RCC have seen significantly increased usage since their implementation in spring of 2018. To account for this greater demand, we are proposing to develop and prototype a centralized, GPU-based, supercomputing cluster that is equipped with cost-effective consumer grade GPUs.

3D SCANNING SOFTWARE FOR GEOGRAPHY COLLABORATORY

Department of Geography

Requested:

$4,836

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$4,836

Abstract

The Geography Department computer labs host a wide array of proprietary and open-source GIS, graphic, and statistical software packages. Historically our software collection has included limited options for 3D processing and rendering. The department will include open-source and free-to-use applications to fill this need once we have newer workstations (requested via a separate STF proposal). This proposal deals with a proprietary software package that we’d also like to include on our high-performance workstations.

3+2 axis CNC mill for accurate and fast machining

Department of Chemistry

Requested:

$97,070

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$97,070

Abstract

We are requesting funding to obtain a modern CNC mill for use by students and researchers in various departments at the University of Washington. The mill will be part of the Department of Chemistry’s machine shop, which employs staff members skilled in the operation of machining tools and is also available for use by trained students and researchers. Current access to milling machinery has been limited by cost, long lead times, and outdated machines. By acquiring a new 3+2 axis CNC mill and offering free training courses to students, we hope to mitigate all three of these obstacles and provide students and researchers with the best equipment possible to enhance their learning and ability to conduct innovative research. Overall, this will strengthen the technological position of the University of Washington as compared to peer institutions. Modern milling is a subtractive cutting process used to machine parts from various stock materials with high accuracy. Milling has widespread utility in engineering, electronics, instrument design, and physical sciences that require specialized or customized equipment. Having access to a CNC mill is critical for researchers who iteratively design and fabricate their own tools and instrumentation, like many in the Department of Chemistry and other science and engineering disciplines at the University of Washington. It will also benefit students to have exposure to equipment and skills that are widely used in industry as they prepare themselves for their future careers.

FHL Computer Lab Refresh

College of the Environment

Requested:

$53,290

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$53,290

Abstract

The main student computer lab at FHL was last upgraded 5 years ago using STF funds. The main lab consists of 15 21.5" dual boot (Mac and Windows) computer from late 2013 and one 27” dual boot computer from mid 2010. This equipment should be replaced because they are not meeting the needs of students. The increasing demands on RAM for large data sets, CPU hungry software and GPU intensive 3d image stacks cannot currently be met. We have room for an additional 3 computers in the main lab and need the additional computers to keep up with the increase in students and researchers. We are also requesting 1 27" dual boot iMac to function as both a server for the 18 other computers and an instructional/presentation machine on which the students can practice presentations and take advantage of the additional graphics capability.

COM Equipment Checkout Supplement

Department of Communication

Requested:

$20,799

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$92,680

Abstract

For the past 19 years the Department of Communication, in collaboration with the Communication Leadership Masters program and the Native Voices program, have run an equipment checkout program to provide student access to a pool of video, audio and lighting equipment. Over the years we have steadily grown this program with support from the aforementioned parties and through the generous assistance of the Student Technology Fee program. We are seeking funding to add more equipment to this pool and replace some aging equipment to allow us to continue providing access opportunities to students. ** Experiencing some troubles with the site not correctly saving the budget items. If total is less than $92,679.98, please see full budget sheet here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AVzrJ9xQvwGVxs95O-NTtJEN_e1v9Laa9R-XtZaJaKs/ -- totaling $92,679.98.

3D Printers for Student Innovation Center

Department of Chemistry

Requested:

$72,672

Status:

Funded

Awarded:

$72,672

Abstract

We request funds to purchase 3D printers that will be used to establish the Student Innovation Center in the Department of Chemistry, where students will be able to fabricate objects using a wide range of unique materials. The chief advantage of this center is that is will be housed in a space with ventilation hoods that will enable students to use virtually all materials compatible with the two most common types of 3D printers (FDM/FFF and SLA/DLP, described below). These materials include dozens that are available commercially as well as those that will be produced by students. For comparison, currently, UW students are essentially limited to printing with a single material, poly(lactic acid) (PLA). This is because the existing 3D printers available to students are housed in facilities lacking the ventilation measures necessary to safely use other materials, which may fume or release particulates during printing. At the Student Innovation Center, students will be free to select materials with the properties (e.g., durability, flexibility, conductivity, chemical resistance, etc.) that are best for their specific applications. This will enable a wide range of new student projects and research endeavors. This Student Technology Fee (STF) proposal requests funding to purchase seven commercial-grade 3D printers for use by students across the broader University of Washington Seattle campus. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, refers to a family of manufacturing processes in which materials such as thermoplastics, alloys, resins, and gels are selectively deposited and set, usually in a layer-wise manner, under computer control, in order to construct three-dimensional objects. 3D printing is employed in automotive and aerospace industries; in sporting and recreational equipment industries; in consumer goods prototyping and production; in architecture, art, design, and fashion; in prosthetics and density; in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine; and in many other industries. In academic and industrial research, 3D printing has found wide use in a variety of engineering and biomedical research laboratories. Several research groups at UW are focused on creating new materials for 3D printing and many other research groups use 3D printing on a daily basis. To the best of our knowledge, these 3D printers will be the only ones on campus that will be both available to all students and operated within ventilated hoods. Therefore, they will greatly expand the number of 3D printing materials that can safely be used by students at UW. The proposed Student Innovation Center will be housed on the ground floor of Bagley Hall, in a space that is adjacent to the Department of Chemistry machine shop, which will be renovated for this purpose by the Department of Chemistry. Staff from the Department of Chemistry machine shop will maintain the printers and train students in their operation. The proposed equipment will be used in student education and student research. As the use of 3D printing continues to grow in many industries, it is important to have a space on campus that enables students across various disciplines (e.g., chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, bioengineering, physics, art, and computer science) to acquire experience with this technology. This equipment will further serve the University of Washington’s commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation; it will provide a highly accessible space for students and researchers to turn ideas into reality in a fast and cost-effective manner, which we expect will encourage more industry-driven research and strengthen students’ employment opportunities post-graduation.

Funding Status: Funded