Space
Polifactory is a 300-square-meter space located in the heart of the Bovisa Durando Campus of the Politecnico di Milano, next to the School of Design. The makerspace has two areas equipped for making and digital fabrication, a co-working area with a large communal table for its community of researchers and designers, and a reconfigurable space for organizing workshops, hackathons, events, and cultural initiatives.
Photo credits: Polifactory
Network
Since 2016, Polifactory has been part of the global fablabs.io network, a collaborative platform for activities developed by over 1,700 Fab Labs worldwide and an international community of makers, artists, scientists and researchers, engineers and designers, students, amateurs, and professionals. This is complemented by networking with other university labs and makerspaces in Italy and abroad that focus on making and digital fabrication, as well as participation in programs and events such as ManifatturaMilano and Milano Circolare.
Polifactory is one of the 390 Technology Centers mapped in the European Monitor of Industrial Ecosystems (EMI), accredited by the European Commission. Technology Centers are public or private organizations that conduct applied research and near-market innovation (technology readiness levels TRL 3 to 8, not necessarily the entire range) in the fields of digital, green, and other advanced technologies. They help SMEs create and produce innovative technology-based products by providing services such as demonstrator development, proof-of-concept, prototype development, and testing.
Since 2025, the Circular Food System Lab has been operating within Polifactory. This new multidisciplinary Living Lab at the Politecnico di Milano will design the Twin Transition of urban food systems and will be part of the emerging European Food Lab Network.
To learn more, contact us at circularfoodsystemlab-design@polimi.it
Machines and tools
Polifactory is equipped with analog and digital machines and tools that meet Fab Lab standards. Constantly abreast of technological innovations, with the opportunity to explore the use and application of new tools in digital design and manufacturing processes, Polifactory strives to continuously upgrade its equipment.
For specific information on our equipment, please contact us at polifactory@polimi.it
Photo credits: Polifactory
List of equipment supplied to Polifactory
Subtractive manufacturing
Laser Cutter
Manufacturer and Model: Trotec Speedy 300
Working Area: 40 x 70 cm
Processes: 2D cutting and engraving
Materials: paper, cardboard, wood, PMMA, fabrics, leather, stone, ceramic
3 Axys CNC Milling Machine – Big
Manufacturer: FDA Automation
Working Area: 180 x 125 x 5 cm
Processes: 2D and 3D cutting, profiling, engraving
Materials: wood, aluminum, composite materials
3 Axys CNC Milling Machine – Desk
Manufacturer and Model: Roland Monofab SRM20
Working Area: 20 x 15 x 6 cm
Processes: 2D and 3D cutting, profiling, engraving
Materials: wood, aluminum, composite materials
3 Axys CNC Milling Machine – Desk
Manufacturer and Model: Benchtop milling machine for custom circuit boards
Working Area: 20 x 15 cm
Processes: Cutting, 2D engraving
Materials: Copper-coated fiberglass supports
Vinyl Cutter
Manufacturer and model: Roland DG GX-24
Working area: 60 cm theoretical width – 56 cm actual width
Processes: Linear cutting, engraving
Materials: Various types of vinyl, adhesive paper, acetate
Cutting plotter
Manufacturer and model: Cricut Maker 3
Working area: 30 cm wide
Processes: Linear cutting, engraving, stamping, perforation, and folding
Materials: Fabric, paper, rigid cardboard, leather, and basswood
Additive manufacturing
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printers
Wasp Delta 4070 – Industrial 4.0
Print volume: 38 x 38 x 70 cm³
Heated bed
Dual extruder
Materials: 1.75 mm diameter filaments: PLA, ABS, TPE, TPU, PMMA, PC, filled materials, etc.
Wasp Delta 2040
Print volume: 18 x 18 x 40 cm³
Heated bed
Materials: 1.75 mm diameter filaments: PLA, ABS, PMMA, PC, filled materials, etc.
Number of printers: 2
Bambu Lab X1 Carbon with AMS and filament changer
Build volume: 25.6 x 25.6 x 25.6 cm³
Maximum hot-end temperature: 300°C
Maximum print bed temperature: 110°C
Materials: 1.75mm filaments: ABS, TPE, TPU, filled materials, etc.
Number of printers: 2
Prusa XL
Build volume: 36 x 36 x 36 cm³
Maximum hot-end temperature: 290°C
Maximum print bed temperature: 120°C
Five interchangeable print heads
Materials: 1.75mm filaments: ABS, TPE, TPU, filled materials, etc.
Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printers
FormLabs Form2
Build volume: 14.5 x 14.5 x 17.5 cm
Materials: FormLabs white, black, and transparent resins
FormLabs Form4B
Build volume: 20 x 12.5 x 21 cm
Materials: FormLabs white, black, and transparent resins, BioMed resins
Fluid-dense 3D Printers
Wasp Delta 40100 Clay
Build area: ⌀ 40 cm x 100 cm
Nozzle diameter: 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm
Manual Feeding Extruder system for geopolymers
Fluid-dense materials
Wasp Delta 2040 Clay
Build area: ⌀ 20 cm x 40 cm
Fluid-dense materials, materials Clay-based
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D Printers
Sinterit Lisa Pro
Print area: 90 x 130 x 230 cm
Materials: Flexa TPE, PA
Other tools
Revopoint Miraco Pro 3D Scanner
Technology: Quad-camera Infrared Structured Light
Single-frame accuracy: up to 0.05 mm
Camera: 48 Megapixel RGB
VR Headsets
Meta Quest 2 Headset
Meta Quest Pro Headset
Formech 508DT Thermoforming Machine
Thermoforming area: 482 x 432 mm
Sheet size: 508 x 457 mm
Maximum mold depth: 185 mm
Maximum material thickness: 6 mm
Compatible materials: ABS, Acrylic (PMMA – Polymethylmethacrylate, Plexiglas), HIPS, PVC, PETG, PC, PP, Polyethylene (PE – HDPE/LDPE), PS.
NaberTherm N100 LE Furnace
Chamber furnace for ceramic firing, maximum temperature 1100°C
Microcontrollers and microcomputers
Arduino (Uno, Mega, Mini, Micro), Raspberry Pi, Node MCU
Electronics Workbench
Pen soldering irons, portable gas soldering irons, air soldering iron, multimeter, oscilloscope, benchtop power supplies, basic sensors (starter kit)
Tool Workbench
Bosch power tool set, Beta 700-tool trolley, Dremel handtools kit
Visit Polifactory
Every year, students and graduate students, faculty and researchers, designers, businesses, and institutions visit Polifactory, individually or as delegations. As a makerspace, we also participate in initiatives organized by the City of Milan, such as Manifatture Aperte, which allow residents to book guided tours of our space.
If you’re interested in visiting Polifactory, please email us at polifactory@polimi.it