Community Corner
Stoneham’s Aidan O’Neill Is Engineering Solutions Inside Austin Prep’s Fabrication Lab
Through robotics, rapid prototyping, and machine diagnostics, Austin Prep senior is turning curiosity into real-world engineering skills.
This story was contributed by Austin Prep, a Patch Community Partner. The views shared reflect the author’s perspective and feature real experiences from the Austin Prep community.
Step into the Fabrication Lab at Austin Prep and you quickly realize this is not a typical classroom. It’s a dynamic space, bustling with students moving between computers and machines, diagnosing issues, refining designs, and bringing ideas to life.
For Aidan O’Neill ’26 of Stoneham, the lab has become a space where curiosity evolved into fluency. What began as limited exposure to 3D printing gradually developed into a deeper understanding of both the machines and the systems behind them.
“I hadn’t had much experience with 3D printers before this,” O’Neill said. “But with some of the seniors that were here last year, I really gained that experience. I taught myself a lot too.”
A Space Built for Design, Iteration, and Problem Solving
Developed under the leadership of Amy Foley, Dean of STEM and Science & Technology Innovation Specialist, the Fabrication Lab serves as a hub for collaboration, design, prototyping, and applied engineering.
Outfitted with professional-grade technologies, the lab supports projects ranging from small prototypes to large-format builds. A suite of Prusa 3D printers and a Glowforge Pro laser cutter allow students to move seamlessly from digital designs to physical creations.
The lab brings the process of digital fabrication to life. “Our students move from idea to digital design to physical creation,” Foley explained. “In a world where technology shapes every industry, giving students the confidence and skills to turn their ideas into reality isn't just enriching their education. It's preparing them for the future.'"
The digital fabrication process emphasizes self-editing and iteration. Designs are tested, refined, and frequently reworked, reinforcing that fabrication is rooted in problem-solving rather than simple execution. In doing so, it builds both confidence and resilience in students.
For O’Neill, learning extended well beyond assigned projects. Through independent research and experimentation, he developed a deep familiarity with the lab’s equipment.
Over time, that expertise led him to take on an informal but important role within the lab. When 3D printers malfunctioned, prints failed, or machines needed attention, fellow students frequently turned to him for help.
“You can really diagnose the issue quickly,” he said. “Most of the time, it’s just about figuring out what needs to be adjusted.”
“As time has gone on, I’ve explored the inner workings of the print heads,” O’Neill added. “Most of the time, I just like to look inside and see what’s actually going on.”
Foley sees that curiosity as central to his growth.
“Aidan didn’t just want to use the printers,” Foley said. “He wanted to understand how they worked.”
“He’s constantly diagnosing problems, adjusting machines, and helping other students,” she added. “That kind of thinking is what engineering looks like.”
Where Fabrication Skills Meet Robotics Engineering
O’Neill’s work in the lab is closely tied to his leadership role on Austin Prep’s competitive robotics team. As captain of the school’s First Tech Challenge team, he operates within an environment defined by precision and constraint.
“You build a robot that fits within an 18 by 18 by 18 inch square,” O’Neill said.
Within those limits, every component matters. Design decisions must function cohesively, requiring constant refinement.
That is where the Fabrication Lab becomes essential. Rapid prototyping allows the team to move quickly from concept to testing, producing custom parts and design variations with speed.
Iteration, O’Neill explained, is built into the process.
“We had to completely ditch a main part of our design.”
Rather than disruption, redesign becomes part of engineering itself.
For Foley, that cycle reflects one of the lab’s most important lessons.
“Students quickly learn that design is rarely perfect the first time,” she said. “They adapt. They rethink. They solve problems. An invaluable lesson students carry with them the walls of a school.”
A Resource Supporting Innovation Across Disciplines
In the last year, the Fabrication Lab has supported nearly 300 students across Austin Prep. The diverse projects emerging from the space reflect its interdisciplinary reach, mirroring technology’s pervasiveness in society.
Recent STEM-centered work has included 3D printed bridge models designed by Trigonometry students, laser cutting novel data visualization systems for Marine Sciences students, and building functional engineering systems integrating motors, complex gears systems, and circuitry by Engineering students. Students have also produced tactile learning tools through fabrication technologies as part of a Christian Service initiative, partnering with St. Marks School in Uganda.
The lab’s influence extends beyond STEM disciplines. Humanities-centered projects have included laser-cut theological visual reflections, family shield designs, historical artifact recreations, literary interpretations, and creative writing artifacts brought into physical form.
For O’Neill, the work remains driven by refinement.
“You’re constantly tweaking whatever needs to be tweaked,” he said.
That mindset continues to guide his academic trajectory.
“I’m going to study aerospace engineering in college,” he said. “I want to specialize in aerodynamics and fluid mechanics.”
“My goal is to be the best at whatever I’m doing.”
Foley sees that drive grounded in intellectual curiosity.
“Aidan is motivated by understanding,” she said. “He wants to know how things work.”
For O’Neill, the appeal of the lab remains simple.
“There’s always improvement.”
And always another problem waiting to be solved.
Explore the Austin Prep Fabrication Lab
Interested in attending Austin Prep in Reading, MA and exploring hands-on innovation through experiences like digital fabrication, robotics, and engineering design? Learn more about Austin Prep academic programs, or complete an inquiry form to begin your journey.
