Esp
Coordinator of the Bachelor’s Program in Industrial Design
asanchezs@correo.xoc.uam.mx
• Instagram
Prototyping and Fabrication
The Industrial Design Workshop supports the development of prototypes and functional products by providing access to advanced manufacturing technologies, including various types of 3D printers, CNC cutters, laser engraving equipment, and modeling systems for materials such as wood, plastic, and metal. This service enables students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to life, validate design concepts, make functional adjustments, and accelerate innovation through rapid, accessible iterations.
Academic Support
The Industrial Design Workshops serve as a platform for supporting undergraduate and graduate academic projects. Users can work on professional internships, capstone projects, theses, and research focused on industrial design and related fields, such as architecture, engineering, digital arts, and biotechnology, by utilizing the resources available in the Industrial Design building. Access to high-tech tools strengthens hands-on learning and encourages an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
Community Engagement
With a strong commitment to social responsibility, the Workshop fosters active engagement with the external community. It organizes workshops, training programs, collaborative design events, and open innovation projects to promote technological entrepreneurship, creative skill development, and social innovation. The lab also builds strategic partnerships with public institutions, private companies, and civil organizations to drive technological development and expand equitable access to digital fabrication tools.
Skills Development
The Industrial Design Workshops provide ongoing technical training for both internal and external users in the safe and efficient use of digital and manual fabrication tools. Through courses, certificate programs, and personalized guidance, participants develop skills in computer-aided design (CAD), 3D printing, laser cutting and engraving, additive and subtractive manufacturing, prototype modeling, and product assembly. These skills enhance users’ professional profiles and expand their opportunities in fields such as design, engineering, advanced manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
• Wood Workshop
The Wood Workshop helps students develop skills in designing, cutting, assembling, and finishing structures made of wood and wood-based materials. It plays a key role for Industrial Design and Architecture students, who create everything from small functional objects to furniture prototypes.
The Workshop includes a VISHAY BT-1000 universal testing machine (106140), EMCO Compact 5 CNC lathes (106640), FAMERSA 01-102 (106646), and UNIMAT PC (106651), ideal for turning cylindrical parts. It also features tools such as the OMGA RN450 radial saw (106512), the DAMBROZ 413 A8 band saw (106501), and the DANCKERT vertical router (106668). The Workshop integrates digital technologies, including RAPMAN 3.2 (106151), Adventurer 3 (158483), and OBJECTSPOT OBJ3CT1.0 (133705) 3D printers, as well as the Sense 3D scanner (151639). Although part of the CAD-CAM area, these tools support hybrid design processes in this space. A metal cabinet (82118) safely stores tools and materials.
Additional equipment includes edge banders, mortisers, bench drills, sanders, miter saws, lathes, planers, and dust collectors. The SILVERLINE DC-DS26 drum sander (159320) ensures smooth finishes on large surfaces, helping students understand surface quality and manufacturing standards in furniture design. This environment supports the integration of traditional techniques with modern methods, encouraging interdisciplinary experiences in woodworking.
• Sheet Metal and Welding Workshop
This Workshop focuses on shaping, cutting, and assembling metal structures. Its equipment supports the development of essential manufacturing skills, beneficial for Architecture and Industrial Design students.
Key equipment includes the Delfabro 80-ton hydraulic jack (106279), the PELOPLAS PEI 25 TON punch press (106670), and the CNC SIDECO POWERMAX 45 XP SIP-1530HP plasma cutter (156772), featuring a 1500 × 3000 mm table, automatic height control, a water bed, and Servoloop Yakotec motors. The Workshop also features a LEON WEILL column drill (106564), COR-MEX-30 (106681) and GERVER GP-2 (106436) punch presses. For welding, it includes TIG and MIG equipment such as the MILLER CP-3000 (106318) and CHAMPION HOBART KOBRA (106320). The EPSON DX7 Ecoprint projector (148405) helps document processes and results.
Students work on metal benches and safe, efficient stations. The Workshop encourages learning about structural strength, scaling, and metal part assembly. It also offers rollers, sheet benders, spot welders, grinders, shears, angle cutters, jigsaws, sandblasters, pipe benders, hydraulic presses, MIG welders, and shielded metal arc welding machines. These tools help students build and evaluate structural elements from a practical perspective, understanding material behavior and manufacturing workflows in real or simulated production settings.
• Metalworking Workshop
The Metalworking Workshop supports high-precision manufacturing through processes such as turning, milling, threading, and drilling. It plays a vital role in Industrial Design by enabling the creation of functional parts, mechanisms, and assemblies.
The space includes a computer (95032) with CAD/CAM software for simulating toolpaths and programming machining operations. Noteworthy equipment includes two universal parallel lathes: the PINACHO S-90/165 (106652) with 335 mm swing and 1000 mm between centers, and the FI-900AE/G (106648), which features a three-phase motor, tool holders, cooling systems, and auxiliary carriages. These machines provide high-dimensional accuracy and flexibility in metal production.
The Workshop also features a power hacksaw, multiple milling machines, a surface grinder, bench grinders, bench drills, a slotting machine, and a band saw. While it doesn’t specialize in welding, it works alongside the Sheet Metal Workshop to support mechanical assembly. Students gain experience in semi-industrial manufacturing environments, focusing on precision, safety, and the execution of high-demand processes.
This space helps students develop skills in industrial processes used to design functional objects, mechanisms, or devices. It strengthens project logic by translating digital or conceptual models into physical components through technically and mechanically rigorous methods.
• Ceramics Workshop
This Workshop provides a space for experimenting with malleable materials, such as clay, slip, and plaster. Industrial Design and Architecture students often use it to create items ranging from tableware to sculptural installations and structural components.
Leading equipment includes a 200-liter ceramic paste mixer (107313), electric lathes for plaster (106642 and 106644), a Makita 9404 sander (106130), and All Star G8 polishers (106720 and 106721). Precision scales (100945–100950) ensure accurate material preparation. Metal and wood tables (84183 and 84193) resist moisture and high temperatures, providing a stable work surface for handling paste and mold. The FELDER MVP 300 press (149937) applies pressures of up to 9,000 kg/m², making it suitable for laminating or molding with rubber membranes.
The Workshop also features electric and gas kilns, a turbo fan, slab roller, filter press, mill, mixers, a mixing tank, bench grinder, and additional lathes. Students learn about thermal and mechanical behavior in ceramic materials and how to shape and transform them.
Practice in this space enhances tactile sensitivity, volumetric control, and finishing techniques. Through ceramics, students explore the relationship between process and material, producing expressive or functional designs through manual and sensory-driven methods, often complementing the industrial or digital processes used elsewhere in the Workshop.
• Modeling and Plastics Workshop
This Workshop specializes in building models, prototypes, and functional mockups using materials like acrylic, styrene, ABS, foams, acetates, and other polymers. It’s geared toward Industrial and Graphic Design students who develop packaging, interfaces, devices, and 3D representations.
Leading equipment includes the AFISA Matic thermoformer (106630), Skin Packaging Machine (104602), Rockwell/Delta (106502) and Lobo BS0181 (106507) band saws, an OMGA RN450 radial saw (106513), and computers (89928 and 90791) for modeling and simulation. Metal tables (84186 to 84189) are designed to withstand thermal tools, adhesives, and abrasive materials.
The Workshop also provides drills, jigsaws, sanders, foam cutters, trim saws, acrylic benders, a compressor, plastic injectors, various thermoformers, combination sanders, and grinders.
Students use this space to transform concepts into prototypes and validate their designs early in the process. They work on cutting, assembling, polishing, and molding plastic materials, understanding both their limitations and their potential in lightweight manufacturing. This Workshop supports rapid iterations between ideas and objects, playing a crucial role in the ideation, formal validation, and product presentation stages.
• CNC-CADCAM Laboratory
This lab combines digital and automated manufacturing processes using computer numerical control technologies. Students from all three CyAD undergraduate programs use it to develop furniture, functional prototypes, and complex systems.
Key equipment includes the SIDECO SIC-BX1390W110 CO₂ laser cutter (170613), featuring 110-watt power and a 1250 × 890 mm work area. It is equipped with a CCD camera, rotary engraving, a smoke extractor, and a cooling system. It also features a SIDECO SIR-1325VI-ATC CNC router (170609) with a 12 HP HSD spindle, automatic tool changer, Yaskawa servomotors, and a six-zone vacuum table.
Other equipment includes the WAZER waterjet cutter (170514), Raise3D Pro-3 Plus 3D printer (170496), and SIDECO Powermax plasma cutter (156772). The lab uses a KAESER Aircenter SM 7.5 compressed air system (146184) with a Sigma SAM 4.0 controller (148055). Documentation tools include the Canon EOS Rebel T8i camera (163392), Epson FH52 projector (171826), and Hisense 43H8E display (150027). For presentations and blueprint production, students use the Epson L555 printer (92794) and Epson X39 projector (149836). Metal cabinets (82118) provide secure storage for tools and materials.
This lab encourages students to integrate design, engineering, and technology through the use of CNC and additive manufacturing. They perform precise cutting, engraving, 3D modeling, and advanced prototyping—turning digital designs into tangible, functional solutions.
Students and faculty from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, as well as members of the external community interested in design, technological innovation, and digital fabrication, can access the Industrial Design building. Students and faculty may use the facilities to develop academic projects, research, theses, or pursue professional internships, provided they submit a request and receive the necessary authorization.
The Industrial Design building plays a key role in technical and material learning, supporting the modular educational model of the undergraduate programs in Industrial Design, Graphic Communication Design, and Architecture—programs offered by the Division of Sciences and Arts for Design (CyAD). This complex of specialized workshops and experimental laboratories provides access to tools, materials, and technologies that bridge theoretical knowledge with hands-on design, technical, and production practice.
Through interdisciplinary collaboration and material experimentation, students build essential skills to create innovative, functional, and contextually relevant solutions. The available infrastructure supports both traditional and digital processes, enabling the design, prototyping, manufacturing, and validation of objects, structures, models, and construction systems. The following sections describe the main areas that comprise the Industrial Workshop, their equipment, and their significance in professional training and institutional development.
In addition, the Industrial Design building welcomes external participants through institutional collaboration programs, specialized workshops, training courses, and creative residencies organized by the lab. This openness fosters knowledge exchange, supports interdisciplinary innovation, and enhances the lab’s social impact by strengthening technological and creative skills.
• Workshop Access
To enter and work in the Industrial Design Workshops, students must be enrolled in the Bachelor’s Program in Industrial Design. While the workshops also support other areas, they only do so upon prior request directed to the Program Coordinator and the Workshop Head.
Students must wear the required safety gear when entering the workshop. This includes, among other items, a coverall, safety boots, and tied-back hair. If these requirements are not met, access will be denied. Each workshop has specific guidelines, so safety gear may vary depending on the activity.
Please review the general guidelines for the Industrial Design Workshops to learn about the specific requirements for each space.
• Operating Hours
The Industrial Design Workshop is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During this time, both internal and external users can access the workspaces, receive training on equipment use, and work on prototyping and fabrication projects.
Access Request Procedure
To use the services of the Industrial Design Workshop, users must register in advance and schedule an appointment through the lab’s official channels. Interested individuals must submit a proposal or brief description of the project they want to develop. The team will review the request and assign workspaces, equipment, and appropriate guidance accordingly.
All users must also complete a safety and equipment operation induction to ensure proper and safe use of the facilities.
Access is available to students, faculty, and researchers from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, as well as to external participants involved in institutional collaboration programs, specialized workshops, or creative residencies organized by the lab.
• Location
The Industrial Design Workshop is located in the Industrial Hall of Building S at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus.
Address: Calzada del Hueso 1100, Colonia Villa Quietud, Coyoacán, C.P. 04960, Mexico City.
• Contact and Additional Information
For more information about services, courses, workshops, or to reserve equipment, visit the official page:
https://productosyservicios.xoc.uam.mx/inicio/servicios/fab_lab_dix/
• Tool Lending Terms of Use
When requesting tools from the Industrial Design Workshop Booth, the user agrees to the following conditions:
1. Return the tool on the same day it was borrowed.
2. Return it clean and without any modifications.
3. Check its condition and functionality when receiving and returning it.
4. Use it properly and only for tasks authorized within the corresponding workshop.
5. Replace any lost tool with one of the same brand and model or an equivalent new one.
6. Immediately report any misuse or damage caused by others.
7. The person who signs for the tool is fully responsible for its use and care, even if others use it or if it is used in a group.
8. Failing to comply with these terms will result in penalties according to the workshop’s regulations.
Industrial Design Workshop
Facility Location
Xochimilco Campus
Division of Communication Sciences and Design
S Building
Contact Information
M. Sc. Ana Karina Sánchez SaucedoCoordinator of the Bachelor’s Program in Industrial Design
asanchezs@correo.xoc.uam.mx
Additional Details
• ServicesIntroduction
The Industrial Design Workshop at the Xochimilco Campus (DIX) of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana is an academic and technological space dedicated to experimentation, design, prototyping, functional model fabrication, and digital production, utilizing both traditional tools and state-of-the-art technologies. Located in the industrial hall of Building S at the Xochimilco Campus, this lab encourages hands-on learning and collaborative creation. Its main goal is to provide students, faculty, researchers, and the broader community with a dynamic environment where ideas can evolve into tangible prototypes and products.
• Technical and Administrative Manager:
LDI. Cecilia Dolores Rivera Gámez
Workshop Head
criverag@correo.xoc.uam.mx
The Industrial Design Workshop at the Xochimilco Campus stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, which combines knowledge from various fields, including design, engineering, architecture, art, social sciences, and sustainability.
Beyond its technical capabilities, the Industrial Design Workshop also functions as a center for training and collaboration. It hosts workshops, courses, creative residencies, and partnerships with companies, collectives, and other educational institutions. The lab is committed to becoming an open, inclusive, and transformative space that fosters learning and technological creativity.
The Industrial Design Workshop houses a series of specialized workshops designed to promote creation, prototyping, and experimentation with various materials and technologies. These spaces integrate traditional and digital tools that allow the university community and external users to design, fabricate, and transform objects from technical, artistic, functional, and industrial perspectives. The available workshops support processes involving wood, metal, plastic, ceramics, glass, and fibers, as well as advanced technologies such as CNC routers and 3D printing, creating an ideal environment for practical learning, innovation, and multidisciplinary project development.
• Wood Workshop
This space is designed for transforming wood into functional or decorative pieces using techniques like cutting, assembling, carving, and finishing. It is equipped with manual and electric tools and machines, enabling the fabrication of furniture, structures, design objects, and models, supporting both academic and entrepreneurial projects.
• Sheet Metal and Welding Workshop
Focused on the fabrication and assembly of metal structures, this workshop supports work with sheets, pipes, and profiles through cutting, bending, and welding processes. It features specialized equipment for building industrial parts, structural components, and functional prototypes, which are key to design, engineering, and architectural projects.
• Metalworking Workshop
This space enables the production of high-precision metal parts using processes like turning, milling, and cutting. Bench tools and specialized machinery support the creation of mechanical components, dies, molds, and articulated systems—essential for industrial solutions and technological experimentation.
• Plastics and Modeling Workshop
This area focuses on producing plastic pieces and prototypes using thermoforming, manual modeling, and mold casting techniques. It supports the creation of presentation models, industrial objects, and artisanal products using equipment suited for thermal and volumetric transformation processes.
• Ceramics Workshop
This space is dedicated to creating clay objects through hand modeling, wheel throwing, and glazing. It includes kilns for firing high- and low-temperature pieces, producing durable and aesthetic finishes for utilitarian, decorative, or sculptural works, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design methods.
• Glass Workshop
Designed for transforming glass using heat and shaping techniques, this workshop supports processes such as glass fusing, casting, thermoforming, and cutting. It includes kilns, molds, and specialized tools for creating artistic, functional, or architectural pieces, exploring the material’s expressiveness and structural potential.
• CNC / CAD-CAM Laboratory
This area is equipped with computer numerical control (CNC) machines for high-precision cutting, engraving, and modeling of materials like wood, acrylic, MDF, and aluminum. Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) tools enable the production of technical parts, molds, structural prototypes, and customized solutions across disciplines.
It also features a 3D printing area focused on additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects by depositing successive layers of plastic filament or photopolymer resin. It uses various types of 3D printers and digital modeling software to rapidly produce functional prototypes, custom components, and conceptual models.
Projects and Activities
Prototyping and Fabrication
The Industrial Design Workshop supports the development of prototypes and functional products by providing access to advanced manufacturing technologies, including various types of 3D printers, CNC cutters, laser engraving equipment, and modeling systems for materials such as wood, plastic, and metal. This service enables students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to life, validate design concepts, make functional adjustments, and accelerate innovation through rapid, accessible iterations.
Academic Support
The Industrial Design Workshops serve as a platform for supporting undergraduate and graduate academic projects. Users can work on professional internships, capstone projects, theses, and research focused on industrial design and related fields, such as architecture, engineering, digital arts, and biotechnology, by utilizing the resources available in the Industrial Design building. Access to high-tech tools strengthens hands-on learning and encourages an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
Community Engagement
With a strong commitment to social responsibility, the Workshop fosters active engagement with the external community. It organizes workshops, training programs, collaborative design events, and open innovation projects to promote technological entrepreneurship, creative skill development, and social innovation. The lab also builds strategic partnerships with public institutions, private companies, and civil organizations to drive technological development and expand equitable access to digital fabrication tools.
Skills Development
The Industrial Design Workshops provide ongoing technical training for both internal and external users in the safe and efficient use of digital and manual fabrication tools. Through courses, certificate programs, and personalized guidance, participants develop skills in computer-aided design (CAD), 3D printing, laser cutting and engraving, additive and subtractive manufacturing, prototype modeling, and product assembly. These skills enhance users’ professional profiles and expand their opportunities in fields such as design, engineering, advanced manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
Key Equipment
SIDECO SIR-1325VI-ATC CNC Router (170609). This professional CNC router features a 12 HP HSD spindle, automatic tool changer, Yaskawa servomotors, and a vacuum table. Its setup enables precise machining of large-format wood, acrylics, and composite materials. As one of the primary tools in the CNC-CADCAM Laboratory, it allows students from all three undergraduate programs to transform digital designs into physical products, develop molds, create engravings, and fabricate high-precision structures.
SIDECO SIC-BX1390W110 CO₂ Laser Cutter (170613). With 110W of power and a 1250 × 890 mm working area, this CO₂ laser cutter performs accurate engraving and cutting on materials such as MDF, acrylic, cardboard, and leather. Students use it across a variety of school projects, from architectural models to packaging prototypes. The equipment supports the development of skills in parametric design, material control, and digital manufacturing.
SIDECO SIC-BX1390W110 CO₂ Laser Cutter (170613). This CNC plasma cutter includes a 1500 × 3000 mm worktable, automatic height control, Servoloop Yakotec motors, a water bed for thermal absorption, and a semi-automatic lubrication system. Its Hypertherm power source enables clean, precise cuts on metal sheets of varying thicknesses. In the context of the Sheet Metal Workshop, it introduces students to industrial automated cutting processes and enhances their applied digital manufacturing skills for complex metal components and structures.
SIDECO SIC-BX1390W110 CO₂ Laser Cutter (170613). This industrial press utilizes a rubber membrane with 700% elasticity, applying up to 9,000 kg/m² of pressure with a Becker vacuum pump. Its ability to mold curved surfaces and apply laminates precisely makes it a valuable tool in the Ceramics Workshop. Students use it to experiment with advanced forming techniques and hybrid processes involving ceramic and composite materials.
SIDECO SIC-BX1390W110 CO₂ Laser Cutter (170613). The EMCO Compact 5 CNC lathe offers high precision and automation for machining cylindrical parts, making it an ideal choice for teaching purposes. At CyAD, students use it to learn the fundamentals of CNC control, tolerances, and the production of functional components.
SIDECO SIC-BX1390W110 CO₂ Laser Cutter (170613). This flat-bed mechanical lathe allows conventional turning of metal parts up to 1000 mm between centers. It is ideal for threading, cylindrical turning, and grooving exercises. Students gain essential training in machining principles and the fabrication of mechanical components.
SILVERLINE DC-DS26 Drum Sander (159320). With a 3 HP motor and 220V single-phase power supply, this drum sander delivers smooth and precise finishes on wood surfaces. In the classroom, it helps students understand surface quality standards and industrial sanding processes.
OMGA RN450 Radial Saw (106513). This high-precision radial saw is capable of performing both cross and rip cuts. Its adjustable swing arm offers versatility in use. It plays a key role in the fabrication of structures and furniture by students in Architecture and Industrial Design.
Skin Packaging Machine (104602). Designed for vacuum thermoforming in skin packaging applications, this machine lets students explore industrial packaging techniques, product presentation, and prototyping. It is instrumental in Industrial Design projects focused on packaging and display.
Available Technologies
• Wood Workshop
The Wood Workshop helps students develop skills in designing, cutting, assembling, and finishing structures made of wood and wood-based materials. It plays a key role for Industrial Design and Architecture students, who create everything from small functional objects to furniture prototypes.
The Workshop includes a VISHAY BT-1000 universal testing machine (106140), EMCO Compact 5 CNC lathes (106640), FAMERSA 01-102 (106646), and UNIMAT PC (106651), ideal for turning cylindrical parts. It also features tools such as the OMGA RN450 radial saw (106512), the DAMBROZ 413 A8 band saw (106501), and the DANCKERT vertical router (106668). The Workshop integrates digital technologies, including RAPMAN 3.2 (106151), Adventurer 3 (158483), and OBJECTSPOT OBJ3CT1.0 (133705) 3D printers, as well as the Sense 3D scanner (151639). Although part of the CAD-CAM area, these tools support hybrid design processes in this space. A metal cabinet (82118) safely stores tools and materials.
Additional equipment includes edge banders, mortisers, bench drills, sanders, miter saws, lathes, planers, and dust collectors. The SILVERLINE DC-DS26 drum sander (159320) ensures smooth finishes on large surfaces, helping students understand surface quality and manufacturing standards in furniture design. This environment supports the integration of traditional techniques with modern methods, encouraging interdisciplinary experiences in woodworking.
• Sheet Metal and Welding Workshop
This Workshop focuses on shaping, cutting, and assembling metal structures. Its equipment supports the development of essential manufacturing skills, beneficial for Architecture and Industrial Design students.
Key equipment includes the Delfabro 80-ton hydraulic jack (106279), the PELOPLAS PEI 25 TON punch press (106670), and the CNC SIDECO POWERMAX 45 XP SIP-1530HP plasma cutter (156772), featuring a 1500 × 3000 mm table, automatic height control, a water bed, and Servoloop Yakotec motors. The Workshop also features a LEON WEILL column drill (106564), COR-MEX-30 (106681) and GERVER GP-2 (106436) punch presses. For welding, it includes TIG and MIG equipment such as the MILLER CP-3000 (106318) and CHAMPION HOBART KOBRA (106320). The EPSON DX7 Ecoprint projector (148405) helps document processes and results.
Students work on metal benches and safe, efficient stations. The Workshop encourages learning about structural strength, scaling, and metal part assembly. It also offers rollers, sheet benders, spot welders, grinders, shears, angle cutters, jigsaws, sandblasters, pipe benders, hydraulic presses, MIG welders, and shielded metal arc welding machines. These tools help students build and evaluate structural elements from a practical perspective, understanding material behavior and manufacturing workflows in real or simulated production settings.
• Metalworking Workshop
The Metalworking Workshop supports high-precision manufacturing through processes such as turning, milling, threading, and drilling. It plays a vital role in Industrial Design by enabling the creation of functional parts, mechanisms, and assemblies.
The space includes a computer (95032) with CAD/CAM software for simulating toolpaths and programming machining operations. Noteworthy equipment includes two universal parallel lathes: the PINACHO S-90/165 (106652) with 335 mm swing and 1000 mm between centers, and the FI-900AE/G (106648), which features a three-phase motor, tool holders, cooling systems, and auxiliary carriages. These machines provide high-dimensional accuracy and flexibility in metal production.
The Workshop also features a power hacksaw, multiple milling machines, a surface grinder, bench grinders, bench drills, a slotting machine, and a band saw. While it doesn’t specialize in welding, it works alongside the Sheet Metal Workshop to support mechanical assembly. Students gain experience in semi-industrial manufacturing environments, focusing on precision, safety, and the execution of high-demand processes.
This space helps students develop skills in industrial processes used to design functional objects, mechanisms, or devices. It strengthens project logic by translating digital or conceptual models into physical components through technically and mechanically rigorous methods.
• Ceramics Workshop
This Workshop provides a space for experimenting with malleable materials, such as clay, slip, and plaster. Industrial Design and Architecture students often use it to create items ranging from tableware to sculptural installations and structural components.
Leading equipment includes a 200-liter ceramic paste mixer (107313), electric lathes for plaster (106642 and 106644), a Makita 9404 sander (106130), and All Star G8 polishers (106720 and 106721). Precision scales (100945–100950) ensure accurate material preparation. Metal and wood tables (84183 and 84193) resist moisture and high temperatures, providing a stable work surface for handling paste and mold. The FELDER MVP 300 press (149937) applies pressures of up to 9,000 kg/m², making it suitable for laminating or molding with rubber membranes.
The Workshop also features electric and gas kilns, a turbo fan, slab roller, filter press, mill, mixers, a mixing tank, bench grinder, and additional lathes. Students learn about thermal and mechanical behavior in ceramic materials and how to shape and transform them.
Practice in this space enhances tactile sensitivity, volumetric control, and finishing techniques. Through ceramics, students explore the relationship between process and material, producing expressive or functional designs through manual and sensory-driven methods, often complementing the industrial or digital processes used elsewhere in the Workshop.
• Modeling and Plastics Workshop
This Workshop specializes in building models, prototypes, and functional mockups using materials like acrylic, styrene, ABS, foams, acetates, and other polymers. It’s geared toward Industrial and Graphic Design students who develop packaging, interfaces, devices, and 3D representations.
Leading equipment includes the AFISA Matic thermoformer (106630), Skin Packaging Machine (104602), Rockwell/Delta (106502) and Lobo BS0181 (106507) band saws, an OMGA RN450 radial saw (106513), and computers (89928 and 90791) for modeling and simulation. Metal tables (84186 to 84189) are designed to withstand thermal tools, adhesives, and abrasive materials.
The Workshop also provides drills, jigsaws, sanders, foam cutters, trim saws, acrylic benders, a compressor, plastic injectors, various thermoformers, combination sanders, and grinders.
Students use this space to transform concepts into prototypes and validate their designs early in the process. They work on cutting, assembling, polishing, and molding plastic materials, understanding both their limitations and their potential in lightweight manufacturing. This Workshop supports rapid iterations between ideas and objects, playing a crucial role in the ideation, formal validation, and product presentation stages.
• CNC-CADCAM Laboratory
This lab combines digital and automated manufacturing processes using computer numerical control technologies. Students from all three CyAD undergraduate programs use it to develop furniture, functional prototypes, and complex systems.
Key equipment includes the SIDECO SIC-BX1390W110 CO₂ laser cutter (170613), featuring 110-watt power and a 1250 × 890 mm work area. It is equipped with a CCD camera, rotary engraving, a smoke extractor, and a cooling system. It also features a SIDECO SIR-1325VI-ATC CNC router (170609) with a 12 HP HSD spindle, automatic tool changer, Yaskawa servomotors, and a six-zone vacuum table.
Other equipment includes the WAZER waterjet cutter (170514), Raise3D Pro-3 Plus 3D printer (170496), and SIDECO Powermax plasma cutter (156772). The lab uses a KAESER Aircenter SM 7.5 compressed air system (146184) with a Sigma SAM 4.0 controller (148055). Documentation tools include the Canon EOS Rebel T8i camera (163392), Epson FH52 projector (171826), and Hisense 43H8E display (150027). For presentations and blueprint production, students use the Epson L555 printer (92794) and Epson X39 projector (149836). Metal cabinets (82118) provide secure storage for tools and materials.
This lab encourages students to integrate design, engineering, and technology through the use of CNC and additive manufacturing. They perform precise cutting, engraving, 3D modeling, and advanced prototyping—turning digital designs into tangible, functional solutions.
Primary User Groups
Students and faculty from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, as well as members of the external community interested in design, technological innovation, and digital fabrication, can access the Industrial Design building. Students and faculty may use the facilities to develop academic projects, research, theses, or pursue professional internships, provided they submit a request and receive the necessary authorization.
The Industrial Design building plays a key role in technical and material learning, supporting the modular educational model of the undergraduate programs in Industrial Design, Graphic Communication Design, and Architecture—programs offered by the Division of Sciences and Arts for Design (CyAD). This complex of specialized workshops and experimental laboratories provides access to tools, materials, and technologies that bridge theoretical knowledge with hands-on design, technical, and production practice.
Through interdisciplinary collaboration and material experimentation, students build essential skills to create innovative, functional, and contextually relevant solutions. The available infrastructure supports both traditional and digital processes, enabling the design, prototyping, manufacturing, and validation of objects, structures, models, and construction systems. The following sections describe the main areas that comprise the Industrial Workshop, their equipment, and their significance in professional training and institutional development.
In addition, the Industrial Design building welcomes external participants through institutional collaboration programs, specialized workshops, training courses, and creative residencies organized by the lab. This openness fosters knowledge exchange, supports interdisciplinary innovation, and enhances the lab’s social impact by strengthening technological and creative skills.
Access Policies and Guidelines
• Workshop Access
To enter and work in the Industrial Design Workshops, students must be enrolled in the Bachelor’s Program in Industrial Design. While the workshops also support other areas, they only do so upon prior request directed to the Program Coordinator and the Workshop Head.
Students must wear the required safety gear when entering the workshop. This includes, among other items, a coverall, safety boots, and tied-back hair. If these requirements are not met, access will be denied. Each workshop has specific guidelines, so safety gear may vary depending on the activity.
Please review the general guidelines for the Industrial Design Workshops to learn about the specific requirements for each space.
• Operating Hours
The Industrial Design Workshop is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During this time, both internal and external users can access the workspaces, receive training on equipment use, and work on prototyping and fabrication projects.
Access Request Procedure
To use the services of the Industrial Design Workshop, users must register in advance and schedule an appointment through the lab’s official channels. Interested individuals must submit a proposal or brief description of the project they want to develop. The team will review the request and assign workspaces, equipment, and appropriate guidance accordingly.
All users must also complete a safety and equipment operation induction to ensure proper and safe use of the facilities.
Access is available to students, faculty, and researchers from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, as well as to external participants involved in institutional collaboration programs, specialized workshops, or creative residencies organized by the lab.
• Location
The Industrial Design Workshop is located in the Industrial Hall of Building S at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus.
Address: Calzada del Hueso 1100, Colonia Villa Quietud, Coyoacán, C.P. 04960, Mexico City.
• Contact and Additional Information
For more information about services, courses, workshops, or to reserve equipment, visit the official page:
https://productosyservicios.xoc.uam.mx/inicio/servicios/fab_lab_dix/
• Tool Lending Terms of Use
When requesting tools from the Industrial Design Workshop Booth, the user agrees to the following conditions:
1. Return the tool on the same day it was borrowed.
2. Return it clean and without any modifications.
3. Check its condition and functionality when receiving and returning it.
4. Use it properly and only for tasks authorized within the corresponding workshop.
5. Replace any lost tool with one of the same brand and model or an equivalent new one.
6. Immediately report any misuse or damage caused by others.
7. The person who signs for the tool is fully responsible for its use and care, even if others use it or if it is used in a group.
8. Failing to comply with these terms will result in penalties according to the workshop’s regulations.
Information Provided by the Division of Communication Sciences and Design