Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping

Amplify your prototyping and development.

CNC machining, additive manufacturing, and rapid prototyping under one roof. From first concept to functional hardware, built with precision in Fayetteville, AR.

Our manufacturing wing brings together CNC machining, metal and ceramic 3D printing, wire EDM, water jet cutting, and a fully equipped maker space. Every capability you need to go from napkin sketch to functional prototype.

For information about facility access, training opportunities or project support, email Jeff Jouett at i3rproto@uark.edu

What We Build

End-to-end prototyping and manufacturing capabilities for medical devices, hardware products, and precision components.

CNC Machining

5-axis and 3-axis CNC milling, CNC turning, and manual machining for metals, plastics, and composites. Our Haas UMC-500 handles complex multi-axis geometries. The Haas ST-15 lathe covers precision turned parts. Full manual mill and lathe available for quick-turn work and secondary operations.

Additive Manufacturing

Metal, ceramic, polymer, and biocompatible 3D printing across six distinct systems. Print functional metal prototypes with One Click Metal powder bed fusion. Produce ceramic components on the Admatec 130 with integrated sintering. Run engineering-grade nylon parts on the Formlabs Fuse 1+ SLS system. Biocompatible resin printing available for medical device applications.

Wire EDM & Water Jet

Precision wire EDM for intricate cuts in hardened materials and conductive metals. Water jet cutting for sheet stock, composites, and materials that cannot take heat. Both processes deliver tight tolerances without thermal distortion.

Rapid Prototyping & Maker Space

FDM printing on Bambu Lab X1-Carbon for fast concept models. Open maker space with ample room for assembly, testing, and iteration. Sandblasting for surface finishing. Full range of hand tools, measurement instruments, and inspection equipment.

Electronics & Assembly

Electronics shop for PCB prototyping, soldering, and electromechanical assembly. Integration support for devices that combine mechanical, electronic, and software components.

Design & Engineering Support

CAD/CAM programming, DFM feedback, fixture design, and material selection guidance. We work with your engineering team or supplement it. Bring a concept or bring a full drawing set.

Our Equipment

Production-grade machines. Not desktop tools.

Precision Machining

  • Haas UMC-500 5-Axis CNC Mill
  • Haas ST-15 CNC Lathe
  • Manual Mill
  • Manual Lathe

Multi-axis milling, turning, and manual operations for metals, plastics, and composites.

Additive Manufacturing

  • One Click Metal MPrint + MPure
  • Admatec 130 Entry Ceramic Printer
  • Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W SLS
  • Formlabs Form 3+
  • Formlabs Form 3B+
  • Bambu Lab X1-Carbon

Metal, ceramic, engineering polymer, biocompatible resin, and FDM printing systems.

Cutting & Finishing

  • EDM Performance Wire EDM
  • Water Jet Cutter
  • Sandblaster
  • Vertical Bandsaw
  • Horizontal Bandsaw
  • Laser Cutting/Engraving

Precision cutting for hardened metals, composites, and heat-sensitive materials.

Inspection & Tooling

  • Measurement & inspection instruments
  • Full range of hand tools
  • Safety equipment

Comprehensive tooling, measurement, and quality inspection resources on hand.

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