Equipment & Resources

The MakerSpace offered a wide range of equipment, materials, and resources for our members to use, spread across three clearance levels, gated by our bespoke RFID lockout system - the first in the nation of its kind!

Tool Clearance Levels

Each tool, machine, and piece of equipment within the MakerSpace was given a clearance level of Green, Yellow, or Red; the 'Space was physically laid out into corresponding "zones" within which most (but not all) equipment requires the corresponding clearance level.

Green clearance equipment usually poses little to no risk to the user or others, requires the wearing of only basic or no PPE, and can be used with minimal experience.
Yellow and Red clearance equipment poses a significant risk to the user without proper PPE and careful use, and often has non-obvious functionality and/or safety precautions that require additional training and experience to safely use. These levels are further differentiated by the materials being worked with - Yellow equipment is mostly used on wood and plastic, while Red equipment mostly works with metal, sometimes at extreme temperatures.

All members were granted Green clearance upon completing orientation; to unlock higher clearance requires a proficiency test administered by qualified staff.

Tools and Equipment

- Main Area Tool Carts
  - Corded and battery drills
    
    Screwdrivers, chisels, pry bars, punches
    
    Hammers and mallets
    
    Hand and bow saws
    
    Clamps
    
    Glue guns, many types of glue
    
    Cutting oil and other lubricants
    
    Tape, string, foil, butcher paper
  - Hot air gun
    
    Levels, T-squares, triangles etc
    
    Calipers, rulers, measuring tapes
    
    Allen and crescent wrenches, hex keys
    
    Pliers, wire cutters
    
    Files, sandpaper, sanding blocks
    
    Box cutters, utility knives, scissors
    
    Sockets and drivers
- Tool Crib (staff will retrieve upon request)
  - Dremel
    
    Pad sander
    
    Handheld belt sander
    
    Handheld bandsaw
    
    Sawzall
    
    Skilsaw
    
    Miter box
    
    Manual staple gun
    
    Pneumatic nail gun
    
    Pneumatic stapler
    
    Digital height gauge
    
    Riveter
    
    Inflator
    
    Work lights
    
    Vacuum pot
    
    Hydraulic kit
  - Air compressor
    
    Metal punch
    
    Tap and die sets
    
    Pipe threader
    
    Die grinder
    
    Rock tumbler
    
    Handheld polisher
    
    Rotary rasp
    
    Oscillating multitool
    
    Fabric and gromet punch
    
    Biscuit joiner and biscuits
    
    Scales
    
    Temperature sensors
    
    Leatherworking tools
    
    Powder coating system
    
    Etching press
- Digital Arts Room (aka Green Room)
  - Computers
    
    Inkjet and laser printers
    
    3D printers
    
    Laser cutter/engraver
    
    Vinyl cutters
    
    Heat press
    
    Pin button presses
    
    Colored pencils and markers
    
    Rotary paper cutter
    
    Craft knives and picks
  - Multimeters
    
    Soldering iron and solder-sucker
    
    Microscope
    
    Pliers and wire-strippers
    
    Oscilloscope
    
    Waveform generator
    
    Sewing/embroidery machine
    
    Serger
    
    Clothes iron and ironing board
    
    Cutting mats
- Woodworking Area (aka Yellow Zone)
  - Panel saw
    
    Table saw
    
    Planer
    
    Compound miter saw
    
    Table route
  - Belt sanders
    
    CNC router
    
    Drill presses
    
    Vertical and horizontal bandsaws
    
    Juki industrial sewing machine
- Indoor Metalworking Area (aka Indoor Red Zone)
  - Manual mill
    
    CNC Mill
    
    Lathes
    
    Arbor press
  - Hydraulic puncher and notcher
    
    TIG, MIG, and arc welders
    
    CNC plasma cutter
- Outdoor Metalworking Area (aka Outdoor Red Zone)
  - Cold-cut saw
    
    Kilns
    
    Mill w/ tapping arm
    
    Sheet metal bender
    
    Hydraulic press
  - Sandblasting cabinet
    
    Forge
    
    Lathes
    
    Disk grinders

Materials

We offered a supply of filament, paper, wood, acrylic, metal, paints, and other materials for use with our equipment to the best of our ability and supply, but we couldn't guarantee the availability of a particular material or color of paint.

You were welcome to bring in your own supplies, but had to be aware that depending on the kind of project you were working on we may have needed to check that your materials were safe to use with our equipment. This was of particular concern when it comes to 3D printing filament and laser cutting/engraving.
As of last we were open, we only 3D printed in PLA and PETG plastics.
As of last we were open, we only laser cut paper, cardboard, wood, and acrylic; we only laser engraved wood, acrylic, metal, and stone.