Rochester Makerspace

Machine Shop

Shape metal with lathes, mills, and precision cutting tools.

Maker operating the controls of a blue metal lathe

Shape the metal

The machine shop shapes metal with lathes, mills, and related tools—removing material with precision instead of forming it by hand alone.

A spinning workpiece meets a cutting tool; dials and handwheels control depth and feed. The work is slower than woodworking, but the tolerances can be much tighter.

Typical projects include custom shafts, brackets, fixtures, repair parts, and prototypes that need true metal strength.

At Rochester Makerspace, members train in the machine shop, then reserve lathes, mills, and related equipment when they’re ready to run a job.

Close-up of a metal lathe cutting a spinning workpiece with curling shavings

More facilities

Come to an open house

Thursdays at 6pm · Saturdays at 11am

A guided tour of the building, tools, and community — plus the safety overview required to join.

Become a member