The Central Illinois Maker Network

Connecting Entrepreneurs, Makers, and Innovators

Last updated: September 2025

About This Resource

I've created this comprehensive directory to help entrepreneurs, makers, and innovators find the resources they need to bring their ideas to life. This curated collection of makerspaces, machine shops, and maker organizations represents the rich ecosystem of fabrication and innovation resources available in our region.

Whether you're a startup founder, a student, or an entrepreneur anywhere in Central Illinois, this resource is designed to connect you with the tools, facilities, and expertise you need to prototype, build, and scale your innovations.

Why This Matters

Discover

Find the right makerspace, machine shop, or facility for your specific project needs

Accelerate

Skip the research phase and get straight to building with verified, up-to-date information

Connect

Access the full spectrum of Central Illinois maker resources in one comprehensive directory

Scale

From prototyping to production, find resources that grow with your project's needs

How to Use This Resource

  • Search by Need: Use the search function to find facilities with specific equipment or capabilities
  • Filter by Category: Browse university makerspaces, community labs, commercial machine shops, or campus facilities
  • Check Access Requirements: Each resource lists target audiences and access models to help you find the right fit
  • Contact Directly: Use the provided contact information to reach out to facilities about your specific needs
  • Plan Your Project: Review hours, specialties, and equipment lists to plan your prototyping or production timeline
  • Stay Updated: This directory is regularly updated with new information and resources

Central Illinois Maker Resources Directory

Discover the comprehensive network of 20+ makerspaces, machine shops, and maker organizations available to entrepreneurs and makers in Central Illinois. From university labs to community spaces, find the resources you need to bring your ideas to life. This directory includes:

  • University Makerspaces: UIUC facilities including Siebel Center for Design, Grainger IDEA Lab, Illinois MakerLab, and the EnterpriseWorks Makerspace
  • Community Makerspaces: Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab and Makerspace Urbana
  • Machine Shops: Commercial and campus machine shops with CNC machining, waterjet cutting, and precision fabrication
  • Regional Resources: The Petrick Idea Center at Illinois Wesleyan University
  • Library Makerspaces: Public access facilities at Champaign and Urbana libraries

Showing 21 of 21 resources

Siebel Center for Design - The Shop

University MakerspaceComprehensive Makerspace

Multi-disciplinary makerspace with comprehensive fabrication facilities

📍 Address: Siebel Center for Design, UIUC Campus, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: All UIUC students, faculty, staff - all disciplines welcome
🔓 Access: Priority to first-time learners, trained users welcome as space allows

Grainger IDEA Lab

University MakerspaceTechnology & Innovation Lab

Innovation and Discovery in Engineering & the Arts Lab with emerging technologies

📍 Address: Lower-level West Wing, Grainger Engineering Library, UIUC Campus, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: All UIUC faculty, staff, and students - all majors welcome
🔓 Access: Access must be approved, space/equipment reservation required
🕒 Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am-10pm, Saturday & Sunday: 1pm-10pm

Illinois MakerLab

University MakerspaceBusiness School Lab

World's first business school 3D printing lab focusing on design, manufacturing, and marketing

📍 Address: Business Instructional Facility, Room #3030, 515 E. Gregory Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
🎯 Target Audience: Business students, faculty, entrepreneurs
🔓 Access: Course-based and approved access

EnterpriseWorks Makerspace

University MakerspaceStartup Incubator Lab

Shared makerspace for startups and Research Park tenants

📍 Address: EnterpriseWorks, Room #143, 60 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820
🎯 Target Audience: EnterpriseWorks community and affiliates
🔓 Access: 24/7 access for EnterpriseWorks community
📞 Contact: ✉️ research-park@illinois.edu

Health Maker Lab

University MakerspaceMedical Innovation Lab

Medical student entrepreneur hub for healthcare innovation

📍 Address: Carle Illinois College of Medicine, UIUC Campus, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: Medical students collaborating with engineering, business, and science students
🔓 Access: Student collaboration projects

Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab

Community MakerspaceMIT Fab Lab Network

Open collaborative workshop space for computer-driven innovation, design and fabrication

📍 Address: 1301 South Goodwin Avenue Art E Annex, Studio 2, Urbana, IL 61801
🎯 Target Audience: UIUC campus and community members, all ages
🔓 Access: Completely free access, very low cost materials
🕒 Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5-9pm, Sunday: 1-6pm

Makerspace Urbana

Community MakerspaceCommunity Lab

Open community lab blending arts, humanities, science and technology

📍 Address: 202 S. Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL (Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center basement)
🎯 Target Audience: People of diverse backgrounds for learning, teaching, tinkering, collaboration
🔓 Access: Open community access

Maker Network RSO

Student OrganizationRegistered Student Organization (RSO)

RSO focused on making makerspaces more sustainable and connecting students with campus resources

📍 Address: Siebel Center for Design, UIUC Campus, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: UIUC students interested in sustainable making
🔓 Access: Student organization membership

The Studio at the Library

Library MakerspacePublic Library Makerspace

8,000 square foot innovative space with makerspace, recording booths, computer lab, and gaming area

📍 Address: Champaign Public Library, Main Library, Champaign, IL
🎯 Target Audience: General public, all ages
🔓 Access: Drop-in hours, some equipment requires reservation
🕒 Hours: Drop in Saturdays (9-6) and Sundays (12-6), plus special Thursday and Friday hours (5-8)

Imagine Lab

Library MakerspaceCounty Library Makerspace

Makerspace established in memory of Karen Kerns Dresser offering public access to technology and DIY equipment

📍 Address: Champaign County Library (location TBD)
🎯 Target Audience: Public with valid Champaign County Library card
🔓 Access: Appointment only, signed release form required
🕒 Hours: By appointment, normally 10am to one hour before library closing
📞 Contact: 📞 937-653-3811 • ✉️ imagine@champaigncountylibrary.org

Teen Open Lab

Library MakerspaceTeen-Focused Makerspace

Teen-guided space with makerspace programming and peer instruction

📍 Address: 210 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801 (Urbana Free Library - Lewis Auditorium)
🎯 Target Audience: Teens (middle school and high school age)
🔓 Access: Open teen programming
🕒 Hours: Afternoon hours when Lewis Auditorium not otherwise occupied
📞 Contact: 📞 217-367-4057

MATRICS Inc.

Commercial Machine ShopDesign and Engineering Services

Design and engineering services specializing in CNC machining for startups and small companies

📍 Address: MATRICS Inc., 60 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820
🎯 Target Audience: Startups, small companies, independent creators, entrepreneurs
🔓 Access: Commercial services - contact for quotes
📞 Contact: ✉️ richard.mauge@matrics-inc.com • ✉️ robert.mauge@matrics-inc.com

Wagner Machine Co.

Commercial Machine ShopPrecision CNC Machine Shop

High precision, high tech manufacturing and CNC services

📍 Address: 3200 Farber Dr, Champaign, IL 61822
🎯 Target Audience: Manufacturers, engineers, entrepreneurs needing precision parts
🔓 Access: Commercial services

Illinois Valley Machine

Commercial Machine ShopFull Service CNC and Manual Machine Shop

Established 1986, provides machining services to major manufacturers

📍 Address: 108 N Lincoln St, Ransom, IL 60470
🎯 Target Audience: Manufacturers, industrial clients
🔓 Access: Commercial services, mobile services available nationwide
📞 Contact: 📞 (815) 586-4511 • ✉️ office@illinoisvalleymachine.com

Physics Machine Shop

Campus Machine ShopDepartmental Research Machine Shop

Professional machine shop specializing in special one-of-a-kind research equipment for physics research

📍 Address: 144 Seitz Materials Research Lab (MRL), UIUC Campus, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: Physics faculty, staff, students, researchers
🔓 Access: Professional services ($66/hour + materials), Student training ($30/hour), Student access ($6.50/15 min)
🕒 Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:30pm
📞 Contact: 📞 (217) 333-9377 • ✉️ thorslan@illinois.edu • 👤 Eric Thorsland, Research Lab Shop Supervisor

SCS Machine Shop (Chemistry)

Campus Machine ShopDepartmental Research Machine Shop

School of Chemical Sciences machine shop for building and repairing specialized research equipment

📍 Address: Room B71 Roger Adams Lab, UIUC Campus, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: Chemistry faculty, staff, students, researchers
🔓 Access: Departmental services with consultation
🕒 Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:30am-Noon, 12:30pm-3:30pm (Consultation: 8:00am-Noon, 1:00pm-3:00pm)

Aerospace Engineering Research Machine Shop

Campus Machine ShopDepartmental Research Machine Shop

Serves faculty, staff, and students throughout College of Engineering and across UIUC campus

📍 Address: Room 4 Talbot Laboratory, 104 S. Wright St., Urbana, IL 61801
🎯 Target Audience: Aerospace Engineering faculty, staff, students; College of Engineering; UIUC campus
🔓 Access: Departmental services, student project support
🕒 Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm
📞 Contact: 📞 (217) 333-3515

MechSE Pro Maker Shop

Campus Machine ShopDepartmental Research & Student Machine Shop

Professional machine shop making design plans a reality with advanced fabrication capabilities

📍 Address: 0045 Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building, UIUC Campus, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: MechSE faculty, staff, students, researchers
🔓 Access: Walk-in consultations during regular hours, project-based services
🕒 Hours: Walk-in consultations available during regular hours (afternoons preferred, urgent needs after 8:15am)
📞 Contact: ✉️ mechse-shop@illinois.edu

ECE Machine Shop

Campus Machine ShopDepartmental Machine Shop

Electrical and Computer Engineering departmental machine shop supporting ECE research and projects

📍 Address: Electrical & Computer Engineering Building, Rooms 1047-1048, UIUC Campus, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: ECE faculty, staff, students, researchers
🔓 Access: Departmental services
🕒 Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00am-4:00pm
📞 Contact: 📞 (217) 333-1954

Life Sciences Machine Shop

Campus Machine ShopDepartmental Research Machine Shop

Provides variety of services for School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, School of Integrative Biology, and other campus units

📍 Address: Room 59 Burrill Hall, 407 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL
🎯 Target Audience: School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, School of Integrative Biology faculty, staff, students, other campus units
🔓 Access: Departmental and campus services
🕒 Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:30pm

The Petrick Idea Center

Regional MakerspaceUniversity Innovation Center

State-of-the-art innovation center with fully-equipped makerspaces fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurship

📍 Address: Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL (Connected to Ames School of Art and Design)
🎯 Target Audience: Illinois Wesleyan students from all disciplines interested in innovation and entrepreneurship
🔓 Access: University community access
📞 Contact: ✉️ jquarton@iwu.edu

My Background

With over 15 years of experience in scientific research and having worked for a startup, I understand the challenges entrepreneurs face when trying to find the right resources for their projects. My background includes active participation in the Saint Louis maker and tech startup communities, including The Maker Group, Arch Reactor, and co-founding HAB.education, a STEAM education organization.

Now working to support entrepreneurship at a deep-tech business incubator, I'm passionate about helping startup founders with their resource needs during critical periods of the incubation phase. This resource directory is my way of extending that support to the broader Central Illinois innovation community. I bring the same commitment to research, community building, and excellence to all my work, including my involvement in ethical Great Dane breeding and responsible stewardship of the breed.

Get In Touch

Have questions about these maker resources or need guidance on finding the right facility for your project? I'm here to help entrepreneurs and makers navigate Central Illinois's innovation ecosystem. I'm also happy to discuss Great Dane breeding questions or share insights about our breeding program.

Email: dustin@mayfieldjones.com

Location: Central Illinois

Focus: Supporting entrepreneurship and maker communities