
VISIONARIES WELCOME
A makerspace is an open place with tools and supplies where anyone can go to work on a creative project of his or her own choosing. Projects can include endeavors in the fields of art, music, technology, small business, authorship, science to name a few. At the Idea Factory, we have everything you need in one creative space to explore 3D printing, to work with many types of digital media, to hold collaborative meetings, to learn from skilled professionals and to get going on your own projects!
Introduction
- Briefly introduce you to the technology available in the Idea Factory at the Rawlings Library.
- Provide some important safety reminders for using Idea Factory technology.
- Do not report equipment-related injuries immediately.
- Do not report damage to the equipment immediately.
- Cause damage to the equipment or injury to yourself (or someone else) becasue you were not properly careful.
- Fail to abide by the “General Rules” in the next section.
General Rules
- Do not use machinery while tired or under the influence of a perception altering substance (such as alcohol or cannabis).
- Dress appropriately
- Do not wear loose-fitting clothing or accessories while using machinery.
- Remove ties, neck scarves, jewelry, etc. while using machinery.
- Tie back or cover long hair while using machinery.
- Wear only closed-toed shoes while using machinery.
- Report any injuries or equipment damage to a librarian immediately. If you experience an injury that you believe is life threatening or requires emergency care, call 911.
- If you do not remember how to use a machine or are not sure, ask a librarian for assistance.
- If the machines are not operating as expected, do not attempt to fix them yourself, ask for assistance.
- Clean up after yourself.
Review each training module tab here and then complete the assessment:
- A vinyl cutter cuts designs out of vinyl and other supported materials.
- Although vinyl cutters often behave like desktop printers, they use a blade to cut the designs into the material instead of printing the design on the material.
- The vinyl cutter is attached to a computer and a computer program tells the cutter how to cut the design into the material.
- The program that comes with our vinyl cutter, VinylMaster, can be used to prepare your design or selected image to cut.
- The vinyl cutter uses a sharp blade to cut. Keep body parts, clothing and other personal items away from the space where the carriage arm operates.
- Do not leave the vinyl cutter unattended while it is cutting your image.
- When you have finished using the vinyl cutter, turn it off.
- Only the Idea Factory librarian is allowed to change the cutting blade and the cutting pressure on the vinyl cutter.
USCutter MH 871 - MK 2
- Watch Video: Vectorize an image
- Watch Video: VinylMaster webinar
- Watch Video: Load and cut vinyl
- Read: USCutter MH Series Manual
- Prepare your cut in VinylMaster
- Before cutting, have the librarian approve your cut.
- If using a material other than the vinyl provided by the library, ask the librarian to approve your material.
- Make sure the material you’ve selected is loaded between the pinch rollers, the pinch rollers are locked, and the blade origin is set properly.
- Start the cut.
- Monitor the entire cutting process.
- If the cut is failing, stop the cutter.
- Notify the librarian when you have finished using the vinyl cutter.
- A laser cutter is a prototyping and manufacturing tool used to cut and etch into flat material.
- Laser cutters use a thin, focused laser beam to pierce and cut shapes out of materials or etch designs into the surface of materials.
- The material that is being used (wood, cardboard, acrylic etc.) is placed in the print bed.
- The design to be cut and/or etched must be an .svg file created in a program like Adobe Illustrator, Corel Paint, or Inkscape. Again, existing designs can be found on Thingiverse.
- A program, called K40 Whisperer, is used to tell the laser cutter how to etch or cut the design into the material.
- For safety reasons, this machine can only be operated under the direct supervision of a librarian.
- Watch Video: K40 Safety Questions
- Never turn on the laser (laser switch or test switch) while the cover is open.
- Always use safety goggles when observing the laser through the glass. Looking directly at the laser without eye protection will damage your eyes.
- Never leave the laser cutter unattended while it is operating.
- When you have finished using the laser cutter, turn it off.
- Make an appointment to use the laser cutter.
- Before your scheduled appointment, select or create your design in Inkscape or another vector based design program. Be sure your design follows the specifications described in the K40 Whisperer and Inkscape Tutorial
- Arrive before your appointment with enough time to prepare your design for cutting.
- Sign in for your appointment with the librarian.
- Digital Cameras
- Video Camera
- Green Screen
Presentation
- Large video screen
- Whiteboard
- Easel
Misc.
- Sewing Machines
- Knitting Needles
- Crochet Needles
- Embroidery Machine
- Various Craft Supplies
- Various Tools
Give us a call at 719-562-5600 or submit a question below.