Innovation Library
At Blinn's Innovation Center, you can explore new technologies and gain hands-on skills using equipment, such as virtual reality, coding robots, 3D printers, vinyl cutters, and more. We welcome you to view our equipment list below or stop by the center to see it in person.
Our Equipment
Virtual Reality Stations
Using gyroscopic sensors, accelerators, and magnetometers in the headsets to determine how you move and track your interactions with a virtual space, the virtual reality game or simulator replaces your perceived surroundings. The center houses Oculus Rift S and Vive Cosmos.
Dobot Magician Coding Robot
The Dobot Magician is a lightweight intelligent training robotic arm that includes an all-in-one STEAM Educational Platform. Through multi-robot collaboration, two robots can work together on the conveyor belt to stack blocks, collect colored blocks, and more. The equipment is controlled by programming, APP, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and mouse+. End tools include writing, drawing and grip, and suction cup ends. Additional supported accessories include a conveyor belt and sliding rail systems.
3D Printers
The center houses a range of 3D and resin printers. Our printers include FlashForge Creator Max 3D Printer, LulzBot Taz Pro 3D Printer, LulzBot Taz Workhorse 3D Printer, Forms Lab Form 3 SLA Resin Printer, FlashForge Dreamer 3D Printer, and our newest edition, the Bambu Lab P1 Printer with AMS. Our printers use multiple types of filaments and filament colors that are provided free of charge in the center. Our printers connect via USB cord, SD card, or Microchip. You are more than welcome to use your personal connectors, or the ones provided in the center. Please remember that the printers require an STL or OBJ file.
CNC Milling Machine
Bantam CNC Milling is great for learning the basics of CNC routing. The machine can engrave or mill multiple materials to be used in metalworking, circuitry, and robotics.
Laser Cutting
Our Glowforge Plus uses a powerful laser to cut, score, or engrave a series of different materials. Some of these materials include wood, acrylic, draft board, leather, recycled cardboard, and food! Simply create a design, save it as a JPG, PNG, SVG, or PDF file, upload it to the Glowforge software, turn on the fan, and print.
Cricut Vinyl Cutter
With ourCricut Explore 3, you can cut, draw, and score hundreds of different material types. Some materials include, but are not limited to cardstock, vinyl decal, iron-on, kraft board, leather, and felt. Simply download the Circuit Maker Software, create your design, and print. As the Circuit is not Bluetooth compatible, you must connect your computer to the printer via USB. This must be done for the entirety of the print.
Soldering
Soldering is a technique for joining metal parts together. The metal is heated to 350-370 degrees, and when the solder cools and hardens, it forms a permanent connection between parts. Soldering is widely used in the electronics industry for electrical connections, such as joining wires to circuit boards. Stained glass artists use soldering to join the metal shapes for their artwork and soldering is also used in orthodontics to create many dental appliances.
Plotter Printing
The center’s two HP DesignJet T125 prints maps, technical drawings, posters, and blueprints with precise, accurate line quality.
Laminators
The center houses two types of lamination options. Our Scotch Thermal Laminator laminates items up to 9 inches wide, while our GBC Ultima 65 Thermal Laminator laminates items up to 27 inches wide. Both of our laminators offer 3mil and 5mil lamination thickness.