MASLab, led by PI Zhang at The University of Texas at Austin, operates within UT’s Ferguson Laboratory and is developing additional dedicated space at the J. J. Pickle Research Campus. The facility supports both large-scale testing with a strong floor and smaller-scale experiments, enabling MASLab to rapidly prototype and mechanically validate architected metamaterial designs using in-house 3D printing, precision measurement infrastructure, and customized test setups.
Equipment
Stratasys F170 FDM Printer
The Stratasys F170 will be used for rapid prototyping of molds and support structures. Key specifications include:
- Build envelope: 254 × 254 × 254 mm (14 × 14 × 14 in)
- Layer resolution: 0.127–0.330 mm
- Compatible materials: ABS, ASA, TPU (flexible thermoplastic polyurethane), and PLA
Prusa XL Assembled Single-toolhead 3D Printer
The Original Prusa XL has five-head tool changer, high precision, large build volume, and zero-waste multi-material printing.
- Build envelope: 360 × 360 ×360 mm (10 × 10 × 10 in)
- Layer resolution: 0.10 mm
- Compatible materials: ABS, ASA, TPU (flexible thermoplastic polyurethane), and PLA
ARAMIS Optical Strain System (DIC)
The ARAMIS Optical Strain system utilizes 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and photogrammetry for full-field deformation measurement of soft materials during mechanical testing. This non-contact measurement system is essential for characterizing the complex deformation behavior of prosthesis materials.
- Nova S20 single sensor head
- Photron NOVA S20 high-speed camera (18,750 fps at full 1024 × 1024 resolution)
- 6-DOF point tracking for quasi-static and dynamic applications
Instron 9450 Drop Tower
A drop-weight impact testing machine is used to determine the energy required to break or damage a material by allowing a defined weight to fall onto a specimen or component from a specific height and with a specific impact energy and velocity.
- 0.59–1800 J energy range
- 0.77–24 m/s impact velocity
- 2–70 kg mass range for dynamic impact characterization
CleanTop Optical Table
Optical Tables feature a spill-proof, all-steel construction that adds structural integrity, thermal stability, and vacuum compatibility for laboratory or industrial environments.
- 4’x8’x8″
- Flatness (inches): ±0.005