Babbage Building – Facilities Tour

Explore our new state-of-the-art facilities
Exterior of Babbage Building

  • Babbage Building, University of Plymouth

  • Babbage Building, University of Plymouth

  • Babbage Building, University of Plymouth

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Dedicated to teaching and research, the £63 million Babbage Building brings STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subjects together to support academic collaboration and innovation.
In response to regional employer enquiries, Enterprise Solutions is delighted to arrange a free tour of the facilities for those who would be interested in finding out how the University can support their businesses.

PROGRAMME for 6 November 2024

  • 14:30 – Welcome and introductions (Room 410, Babbage Building)
  • 15:00–16:00 – General tour of Babbage specialist labs including: Autonomous Systems • Clean Rooms (Class 100 and Class 100,000) • Composites Engineering • Digital Design, Engineering and Fabrication • Energy and Sustainability (including Wind Tunnel, Vehicle Dyno Cell) • Heavy Structures and Geotechnics • Immersive Visualisation Suite • Materials Analysis and Characterisation • Nanomaterials and Devices • Precision Manufacturing
  • 16:00–17:00 – Networking session and specialist labs deeper insights and discussion
If you are interested in our other facilities (e.g. Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) laboratory , Cyber-SHIP Lab , High Performance Computing (HPC) , Maritime Simulation Laboratory , Robotics) please let us know and we will aim to accommodate broader tours.
Please note that this event is only open to regional employers with limited places available on a first come, first served basis. A wait list will be in operation.

Register your place on Eventbrite

If you cannot make this date, we are planning a further facilities tour on Wednesday 6 November from 14:00.
Contact enterprisesolutions@plymouth.ac.uk for any queries.
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2025 PROGRAMME

  • 14:00 – Welcome and introductions (Room 410, Babbage Building)
  • 14:30–15:30 – General tour of Babbage specialist labs including: Autonomous Systems • Clean Rooms (Class 100 and Class 100,000) • Composites Engineering • Digital Design, Engineering and Fabrication • Energy and Sustainability (including Wind Tunnel, Vehicle Dyno Cell) • Heavy Structures and Geotechnics • Immersive Visualisation Suite • Materials Analysis and Characterisation • Nanomaterials and Devices • Precision Manufacturing
  • 15:30–16:30 – Specialist labs deeper insights and discussion
 

Outstanding state-of-the-art facilities

Students in the STEAM laboratory, Babbage
STEAM laboratories
Offering active learning spaces for students to work together and learn the fundamental principles of engineering systems
Sub-sonic wind tunnel, Energy and Sustainability Laboratory, Babbage Building
Energy and Sustainability Laboratory
Offering businesses access to a 180kph sub-sonic wind tunnel, rolling road dynamometer, and numerous other experimental equipment
Hexapod
Heavy Structures and Geotechnics Laboratory
Providing structural testing of large engineering components
Student in the Wood Fabrication Facility, Babbage Building
Wood Fabrication Facility
Our specialist open-access Wood Fabrication Facility enables designs to be realised in three dimensions
Immersive Visualisation Suite, Babbage Building
Immersive Visualisation Suite
A hybrid, virtual reality enabled visualisation system supporting a diversity of users from across the University and the wider industrial community

DigiFab Laboratory
The DigiFab Laboratory enables the fabrication of functionally robust components from a range of thermoplastic materials. This lab complements the manufacturing processes available in the Precision Manufacturing Laboratory. Together, these labs provide the ability to fabricate engineering components to a high level of precision for use in other specialist and experimental labs in the Babbage Building.

Materials Analysis and Characterisation Laboratory
The Materials Analysis and Characterisation Laboratory uses industry-standard equipment and testing methods. This lab allows you to learn about the micro-structure of technical materials and understand its influence on the overall mechanical properties of the material, which are measured through standardised coupon and small component testing.

Composites Engineering Laboratory
The Composites Engineering Laboratory allows for the manufacturing and evaluating engineering components with thermoset composite materials using industry-standard equipment and testing methods. This lab also provides a facility for the development of novel composite materials and small-scale components for projects and research purposes.

Autonomous Systems Test Laboratory
The Autonomous Systems Test Laboratory supports teaching, learning and research in robotic vehicles and control systems. This lab supports the operatation and evaluation of individual robotic systems working under remote control or autonomously, or several robotic systems operating simultaneously as a single integrated autonomous system. The lab is integrated with other campus facilities, such as the Immersive Visualisation Suite, by the mutual exchange of live data.

Engineering Computing Laboratories
The Engineering Computing Laboratories provides access to specialist software for Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE). This lab allows for the development of essential digital design skills, as well as an understanding of physics-based, numerical simulation software.

Precision Manufacturing Laboratory
The Precision Manufacturing Laboratory enables the fabrication of components in a range of engineering materials using forming, shaping, joining and machining processes. There is direct access to Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines, tools and support from our skilled manufacturing technicians allowing fabrication of engineering components to a high level of precision for use in other specialist and experimental labs in the Babbage Building.

Nanomaterials and Devices Laboratory
The Nanomaterials and Devices Laboratory provides a ‘clean room’-based laboratory for leading-edge research in nano-spintronics, computer memory and data storage technology, nano-functional materials, and biosensors. This lab includes a range of thin film deposition, micro fabrication facilities, and magneto-transport as well as nano-scale metrological characterisation instrumentations. This lab is fully equipped for the exploration of leading-edge science and technology, with a wide range of applications in sectors such as communications, defence, aerospace, security, and photonic surgery to medical and analytical instrumentation. 

Digital Design Fabrication
Blending modern digital design fabrication processes with traditional manufacturing techniques, our Digital Fabrication facility has a CAD-CAM suite with high-spec computers, digital scanning facilities, laser cutters and CNC routers and milling machines. 

Metal Fabrication
Our specialist open-access Metal Fabrication facility allows for hot and cold working to understand how metal as a material is applied and performs. Cold working involves joining and shaping metal using cutting, drilling, folding, bending, turning and milling, using a variety of hand tools. Guided by experienced technicians, users can manipulate materials using heat via our in-house forge and welding equipment.

Lily, BA Product Design - standing in front of machinery in the Babbage Building
A great collaborative space
BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design student Lily shows us how the new Metal Fabrication facility will enhance and enrich her practice.
 

Event photography and video

Please be aware that some of the University of Plymouth's public events (both online and offline) may be attended by University staff, photographers and videographers, for capturing content to be used in University online and offline marketing and promotional materials, for example webpages, brochures or leaflets. If you, or a member of your group, do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please let a member of staff know.