Invent Penn State

Rapid prototyping and fabrication space OriginLabs to open during Startup Week

Come visit the space during the open house on March 22

Invent Penn State's all-new rapid prototyping and fabrication space, OriginLabs, is set to officially open its doors to the public on Wednesday, March 22, during Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC. Credit: Penn StateAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Invent Penn State's all-new rapid prototyping and fabrication space, OriginLabs, is set to officially open its doors to the public on Wednesday, March 22, during Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC.

Faculty, staff, students, and community members alike are invited to stop in and visit from 2 to 4 p.m. to chat with technicians, check out equipment and explore the various lab spaces.

OriginLabs, located on the first and mezzanine floors of the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub in downtown State College, is a 7,000-square foot space designed to allow users to design, prototype, and test potential solutions for their startups or ideas.

The well-appointed facilities give users access to a breadth of materials and methodologies for production, with dedicated lab spaces including woodworking, metalworking, surfacing, welding, digital fabrication, and additive manufacturing. 

“We designed and outfitted OriginLabs after carefully assessing resources already in place on campus and in the community,” said OriginLabs Director Ryan Mandell. “Our facilities bring world-class and previously unavailable technologies such as full-color and metal 3D printing or collaborative robotics to folks who wouldn’t otherwise have access.”

OriginLabs offers everyone free services including equipment training, skill building workshops, and one-on-one consultations.

For those interested in getting hands-on experience with lab equipment and tools, OriginLabs offers a paid makerspace membership option providing open access to tools and equipment.

For those who have an idea, want something made, but are not looking to do the hands-on building themselves, OriginLabs offers a no-cost service bureau membership. This membership puts design and production in the hands of OriginLabs’ expert team. Costs for these projects are based on staff hours and materials invested.

"The Service Bureau membership is a great option for individuals who need assistance with a 3D design, or a part 3D printed or fabricated on their behalf,” said Shop Manager Jose Nunez. “The Makerspace membership is a good option if you have a project you want to figure out on your own, or perhaps need access to a tool or resource for a specific idea. We can assist and accommodate an array of projects."

Learn more about OriginLabs and how the rapid prototyping and fabrication space can be a resource for you.

About Invent Penn State

Invent Penn State is a commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. Invent Penn State blends entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training and incubation, funding for commercialization, and university-community-industry collaborations to facilitate the challenging process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services that can benefit Pennsylvanians and humankind.  

This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development.

Last Updated March 20, 2023