ABINGTON ∞ MAKERSPACE
Reserve!
After Safety Training, click or tap on a shop area below to reserve.
DigitalShop
WorkShop
How to Reserve
Skedda bookings | Our booking system, Skedda, will ask first-time users to create a free account:
- PSU email and phone info will only be used to contact you if a tool goes offline.
- Need Safety Training? First-time tool users should write SAFETY TRAINING in the Notes field to alert staff, and add an hour to include a training session.
- MakerSpace open times are white, closed are gray, and times reserved are time-blocked. Follow the simple on-screen prompts to complete a booking.
- Multiple tools may be reserved simultaneously as workflow requires—alternating Table Saw and Miter Saw on one job is common, for example. Consult with staff if you need help planning a multi-tool reserve.
Planning a booking | It’s annoying to run out of time on a job! Reserves can be extended, but only if there’s no booking behind you. Avoid frustration and use these rules of thumb:
3D Printers | These machines consume time. Sign up for the duration of your job, based on on-screen estimates in software:
- Process jobs under 4 hours early in the day to allow users afternoon access.
- Long jobs may print overnight. To reserve, note the software time estimate, sign up to end of day, and if needed, sign up next morning to complete. Check the schedule—do not start a long overnight job to conflict with someone else's morning reserve the following day.
- Interruptions can happen on overnight jobs. If print stalls, staff can resume the job when they report for shift and contact you with a revised completion time. If print fails, staff will notify you to reschedule the job.
- Resin printers must be cleaned immediately upon job completion. Note software time estimate and plan a reserve to allow a one day print job. You may start a job, leave, and return to finish a pre-planned hour to post-process and clean. You may not leave a resin job unattended overnight or wait to cure or clean later.
- Don't forget post-processing! Reserve a 1 hour WorkShop Space to remove supports, sand and finish your print.
3D Digitizer | Large or small, a scan takes between 9-12 minutes to finish.
- Rule of thumb: Book ½ hour for a simple scan, 1 hour if you are experimenting with multi-scans. No post-processing time required for this device.
Vinyl Cutter | This machine works fast. A clean design file can take less than ½ hour to complete. However, post-processing is a time sink.
- Rule of thumb: Combine a booking of 1 hour on the Vinyl Cutter, followed by 2 hours in a WorkShop Space to weed vinyl and apply transfer tape. Or, you can wait to do post-processing later.
Laser Cutter | You must carefully observe this machine for the entire job. Tool times range from ½ hour for simple vector work to hours for a deep engraving.
- Rule of thumb: Spend ½ hour on a dry run in the driver software to acquire a time estimate, then double that time to estimate your reserve. This allows for a re-do if your material ignites… and you feel awesome getting done early if it doesn't!
- Post-processing depends on the job. A simple engraving requires simple cleanup, ½ hour or less. A complex adhesive job with acrylic plastic may take hours. Consult with staff for advice and sign up for a WorkShop Space accordingly.
CNC Router | Similar to the Laser Cutter, this machine requires baby-sitting, and tool-times vary as a function of job complexity. A 6 in square, 2 in deep carving averages about 90 minutes depending on complexity of the G-code.
- Rule of thumb: Factor about ½ hour to 1 hour to generate satisfactory G-code for a beginner—it sometimes requires several tries. Note the time estimate provided by the G-code software, and use it to estimate your reserve—add ½ hour if you plan to change bits.
- Post-processing is material dependent. Foam is often gessoed or sealed to use as a cast. Wood needs sanding and painting or finishing, sometimes accompanied by time on the Table Saw or Band Saw for edge finishing. Consult with staff to help you plan your use of a WorkShop Tool and/or WorkShop Space for post-processing.
MakerSpace discourages signups in Digital Spaces or WorkShop Spaces that exceed 2 hours in length, in order to meet our goal of serving the whole community. If you need more time than that, or are unsure about how much time you should use, consult with staff.
Designed to Inspire…
Abington MakerSpace is a campus community focused maker and collaborative workspace located on the Penn State Abington campus. If you are a member of the Penn State Abington campus community, you are a member of MakerSpace!
You’ll get support from our staff customized to your skill level and goals. And you’ll meet other members of our community who have a passion for making and collaboration.
- MakerSpace is designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, discovery, and innovation.
- It intentionally blurs the lines between digital and analog fabrication.
- It is a mindful mash-up of art, technology, entrepreneurship, and scholarship.
MakerSpace can help you turn ideas into reality and discover the maker in you!