Our Projects
Explore our work at Engineering Open House and our ongoing HackerFab initiative
Engineering Open House
Engineering Open House (EOH) is UIUC's largest student-run event, showcasing cutting-edge engineering projects to the public. Illinois MicroTech proudly participates each year, demonstrating the fascinating world of microtechnology through interactive exhibits and demonstrations.
Shunt Occlusions + Large Scale MEMS
Our debut EOH project explored medical applications of MEMS through shunt occlusion demonstrations, alongside large-scale models of microelectromechanical systems to help visitors visualize the microscale world.
HackerFab Tool Debut
First public presentation of our HackerFab fabrication tool, showcasing open-source micro/nanofabrication capabilities developed by our team.
Le Louvre Heist
An interactive exhibit combining microtechnology with an engaging heist narrative, demonstrating practical applications of MEMS sensors and microsystems in security applications.
HackerFab
HackerFab is an open-source micro/nanofabrication initiative that aims to democratize access to semiconductor fabrication tools and knowledge. Illinois MicroTech is proud to be an active contributor and host to this groundbreaking project.
Our club hosts HackerFab equipment and provides undergraduate students with hands-on experience in microfabrication. We've successfully projected UV light patterns onto wafers and continue to expand our capabilities each semester.
Progress by Semester
Spring 2025
- Project initiation and equipment setup
- First UV light projection of block 'I' onto wafer
- Established foundational processes
Fall 2025
- Accepted first 4 student teams
- Expanded fabrication capabilities
- Conducted KLayout design workshops
Spring 2026
- Received Placid grant funding
- BIOE course integration
- Continued process development
Resources
Acknowledgments
- Placid - Generous $1k grant supporting our fabrication efforts
- BIOE 199/299 Course Integration - Academic partnership bringing HackerFab to the classroom