The essence of mechanical engineering lies in integrating theoretical knowledge with practical problem-solving. At the undergraduate level, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Taiwan University (NTU) designs its curriculum to interconnect theory-based courses with hands-on practice. Through this structured integration, students are encouraged to apply theoretical concepts in real-world contexts, reflect on the challenges encountered during implementation, and deepen their understanding of the core values of engineering.
To provide students with the essential resources and facilities needed for effective practical learning, the department established the Innovative Design and Fabrication Center in 2014, with generous support from the NTU administration, alumni, and corporate sponsors. Serving as the frontline of hands-on engineering education, the center promotes the maker spirit characterized by openness, speed, safety, and innovation. The center was originally located in Room 225 of the YongLin Biomedical Building on Fanglan Road. It later moved to Room 124 in 2017, and in 2023, it was relocated to the Tsung Cho-Chang Building, home of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.Within the Tsung Cho-Chang Building, the Innovative Design and Fabrication Center consists of two main areas:
- Manual Fabrication Zone (Room B113) – Equipped with a wide variety of hand tools, measuring instruments, basic electronic components, and testing equipment. The space also includes high-quality workbenches and small-scale tabletop machines such as drill presses and grinders. This area enables students to quickly transform creative ideas generated during brainstorming into tangible prototypes at any time.
- Digital Manufacturing Zone (Room B109) – Currently houses eight Infinity FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printers, two Formlabs SLA (Stereolithography) 3D printers, two laser cutters, and one desktop CNC milling machine. By engaging with these advanced digital tools, students not only learn the operational principles and techniques behind modern manufacturing but also develop the ability to integrate classroom knowledge into innovative designs. This process allows them to design, fabricate, and verify their ideas through hands-on experimentation—cultivating the curiosity, motivation, and problem-solving skills that define a true engineer.
Figure I : View of the Manual Fabrication Zone — Left: workbenches and storage cabinets; Right: electronic components and tabletop machining equipment.
Figure II : View of the Digital Manufacturing Zone — Left: overall workspace environment; Right: laser cutting machines.