Inventables founder gives back to MechSE through CNC donation

2/3/2023 Helen Chang

MechSE alumnus Zach Kaplan has gifted a 4' x 4' X-Carve Pro CNC machine for student use in the MechSE MakerWorks labs, along with a five-year subscription to Easel Pro software.

Written by Helen Chang

Alumnus Zach Kaplan
MechSE alumnus Zach Kaplan

MechSE MakerWorks, the group of instructional labs in Sidney Lu MEB, has welcomed a CNC machine through a generous donation from alumnus Zach Kaplan (BSME ’01). The Inventables founder gifted a 4’ x 4’ X-Carve Pro CNC machine accompanied by the Easel Pro software.

Kaplan, who also serves on the MechSE Alumni Board, hopes that his donation will provide students the opportunity for hands-on CNC experience.

X-Carve Pro CNC Machine
The X-Carve Pro CNC Machine

“I've been passionate about expanding project-based learning and giving undergraduate mechanical engineers access to the machine shop since I was a student at U of I,” Kaplan said. “During my own academic career the open-ended engineering projects I worked on were the most rewarding and engaging. They helped me integrate the concepts we learned in class better than problem sets.”

Kaplan said his own experience from high school physics and machine shop classes encouraged him to use the manual machine shop and digital manufacturing tools. “I wanted to bring that same type of access to MechSE,” he said.

His passion for accessible fabrication also inspired Inventables. Founded in 2002, the Chicago-based company envisions bringing manufacturing technology to millions of people. Kaplan reflects that incorporating his startup his work in VC funded startups felt similar to the project-based academic learning format he experienced in classes during his time at Illinois. “I hope [the gift] will help students prepare for a wider variety of career opportunities and accommodate more learning styles than in the past.”

With the new CNC and software, students will be able to carve wood, plastic, and soft metals in the Wood Maker Studio, as well as enjoy a free five-year subscription to Easel Pro. The CNC adds to a plethora of maker machinery in the MakerWorks labs, including drill presses, belt sanders, and a variety of benchtop saws.


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This story was published February 3, 2023.