makerhub - User contributions [en]

Wood Shop

2026-03-12T22:48:56Z

Nsullivan: /* General Knowledge */

[[File:Wood Shop Logo.png|300px|frameless|left]][[File:Wood_Shop.jpg|400px|thumb|right|The Wood Shop]]
The wood shop is a 975-square-foot space. It contains all the equipment listed below as well as many power tools, hand tools, and other woodworking items. It also contains a large CNC router. The shop is equipped with compressed air quick connections for powering tools and machines. There are two air filtration units hanging from the ceiling. When producing wood dust, turn on the filtration units with the white remote control. These do a good job of removing a large percentage of the wood dust from the air. The [[Dust Collector|dust collectors]] are not considered equipment, but you should know how to use them if you are working in the wood shop.

{{#set:
|Is facility=True
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1255
}}

__TOC__

=Schedule=
View the Spring 2026 {{PAGENAME}} schedule [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XZn7_O8HZMRscswja6Vd_iMZEjOkYUAUTzfdbcMKJ4Q/edit#gid=?usp=sharing on this Google Sheet.]

=Equipment Overview =
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::true]]
[[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has make=Company
|?Has model=Model |+width=10em
|?Has ace.Has name=Current Ace
|format=broadtable
|mainlabel=Name
}}
==Equipment by Icon==
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]][[Has icon::+]] [[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has icon=Icon
|?Is located in facility
|format=plainlist
|template=EquipmentIconGallery
|outrotemplate=EquipmentIconGalleryOutro
|limit=100
|link=none
|sort=Is located in facility
}}
==[[3 commandments]]==

=== 1. Safety First ===
Safety First is the most important of the three facets of professional behavior expected of you while you are in the Maker Hub. This applies to your safety, the safety others, and the safety of the equipment.

Keeping yourself safe in the Wood Shop is very important, as there are possibilities for accidents if you don't follow the safety guidelines. Safety starts with you, so don't depend on others to keep you safe. There is a first aid kit located on the south wall near the Wood Shop door.

The following rules must be followed at all times:

* Safety glasses must be worn at all times in the wood shop.
* No horseplay in the shop.
* Don’t do anything distracting to yourself or others while operating machinery.
* Do not wear any loose clothing, jewelry, or lanyards.
* No hats or open-toed shoes.
* Hair is not to extend below the collar.
* Do not wear gloves while operating machinery.
* Food or drink is allowed when not operating machinery; it must be kept a safe distance away from the machines.
* Do not attempt to operate machinery in the shop on which you have not been certified by passing the Canvas quiz and training with the Ace for that piece of equipment.
* Do not argue with volunteers or shop staff. Contact Justin Johnson if you have issues that need to be resolved.
* Do not operate machinery without a shop supervisor or trained volunteer in the shop with you. Never operate equipment alone in the shop.
* Reset the space. Make the area you are working in ready for the next person. Clean up after yourself, using the dust broom and vacuum cleaner. Return any tools (e.g. push sticks, rulers, squares, scribes, etc.) to their proper places.
* The first aid kit is located in the machine shop, next to the wood shop doors.
* If you see a safety violation inform the person immediately and encourage them to comply with the policies.
* Don’t do anything that would require an additional rule to be added to this list.

=== 2. Reset the Space ===
The Wood Shop has a specific organization to it. Put whatever you use back where it belongs. There is a place for everything and everything has a place. This rule applies to everything in the space. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a pen, put it back. Throw away your trash and recycling.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave projects out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large project and you need something left overnight. In cases like this, it is okay to leave projects out, but you NEED to make prior arrangements with Nick or Justin.

Please put the machinery back the way you found it. Clean up chips and any messes you make. NEVER use shop air to clean yourself or the machines.

Always put any unused materials back on the storage shelf, and throw away unuseable scrap.

Always leave the space better than you found it.

=== 3. Be Professional ===
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the wood shop we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious ramifications in terms of behavior. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you and someone else are needing to use the same piece of equipment, find a compromise that will honor both your time and theirs. This is being a professional.

If you are learning to how to use a machine, and you can't get something to work the way you want - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a Professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

If someone acts disgracefully unprofessional to you in the wood shop, you are welcome to bring the issue to Justin or Nick's attention.

==General Wood Shop Knowledge==
Woodworking is dangerous. Be careful.

===Gluing===
Glue joints (when done correctly) will create a bond stronger than the wood itself. To create a strong glue joint follow this general procedure. It is worth noting that gluing end grain yields a very weak glue joint and should be avoided.

# Ensure that both surfaces that you wish to glue are smooth, flat, or mate together well. Often, this requires sanding to at least 120 or 220 grit for a smooth gluing surface. Rough, un-sanded surfaces do not make strong glue joints.
# Dry fit your glue joint with clamps. This will ensure that your joint fits properly and that all necessary clamps are close by and sized correctly when you go to apply glue.
# You can never have too many clamps.
# Get a handful of paper towels to help clean up glue squeeze out and the glue you will get on your fingers.
# Recognize that once you start applying glue you are on a clock to finish setting up the glue joint before the set time.
# Apply a bead of glue on one surface of your glue joint. Then, spread out that glue into a thin film using your fingers, a glue brush, or a glue roller.
# Repeat step 6 for the other surface of your glue joint such that both surfaces have a thin, even film of glue.
# Quickly use a paper towel to wipe your fingers clean of glue. The goal here is to remove most of the wet glue so it doesn't get spread all over your lumber. Do NOT take the time to clean all of the glue.
# Using the clamps you already gathered, clamp your glue joint together.
# Again, you can never have too many clamps.
# After 5-10 minutes, wipe up the excess glue squeeze out.

Remember this old saying: "Not enough glue, you lose... too much glue gets on your shoes." In other words, if you don't see any glue ooze out after clamping (or there are several areas a few inches long where no glue oozes out of the glue seam after clamping), then you probably did not use enough glue and your glue joint will lack strength. If you use too much glue, then lots of glue will ooze out when clamping and make a big mess as it drips everywhere. Ask one of our wood shop volunteers about gluing if you have any questions.

===General Knowledge===
* The Table Saw is the center of the shop because it is the most frequently used tool and it provides extra clearance on all sides to cut large pieces of wood.
* Always inspect materials for nails or metal. Metal debris in wood will damage the equipment and possibly cause injury to you. We have a metal detector available if needed.
* Make sure the process you are using is correct for your material type.
* Get help handling larger pieces of wood.
* When making dust turn on the overhead dust filtration units.
* You can't learn woodworking on a wiki page... Go to the wood shop and start making things!
Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
* Some wood dust can be toxic. Be aware of the type of wood you are working with.
* Blades and cutters are very sharp so always think before touching.
* Always be aware of the location of your fingers in relation to blades and cutters. Never let your hands or fingers come close to the blade path.
* Be aware of people and what they are doing around you.
* Be aware of what is on the floor around you. Sweep up slippery sawdust and remove tripping hazards.
* Many of the machines are very loud. Wear ear protection when needed.
* If something feels like it could be dangerous ask a supervisor before attempting.

===Introduction to Joinery===
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1aQQQDXrc8}}

== Canvas Certification ==
Complete the {{PAGENAME}} Certification Quiz Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]
<!-->
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]]
[[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has icon
|format=gallery
|imageproperty=Has icon
}}

Wood Shop

2026-03-12T22:43:05Z

Nsullivan: /* Gluing */

[[File:Wood Shop Logo.png|300px|frameless|left]][[File:Wood_Shop.jpg|400px|thumb|right|The Wood Shop]]
The wood shop is a 975-square-foot space. It contains all the equipment listed below as well as many power tools, hand tools, and other woodworking items. It also contains a large CNC router. The shop is equipped with compressed air quick connections for powering tools and machines. There are two air filtration units hanging from the ceiling. When producing wood dust, turn on the filtration units with the white remote control. These do a good job of removing a large percentage of the wood dust from the air. The [[Dust Collector|dust collectors]] are not considered equipment, but you should know how to use them if you are working in the wood shop.

{{#set:
|Is facility=True
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1255
}}

__TOC__

=Schedule=
View the Spring 2026 {{PAGENAME}} schedule [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XZn7_O8HZMRscswja6Vd_iMZEjOkYUAUTzfdbcMKJ4Q/edit#gid=?usp=sharing on this Google Sheet.]

=Equipment Overview =
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::true]]
[[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has make=Company
|?Has model=Model |+width=10em
|?Has ace.Has name=Current Ace
|format=broadtable
|mainlabel=Name
}}
==Equipment by Icon==
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]][[Has icon::+]] [[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has icon=Icon
|?Is located in facility
|format=plainlist
|template=EquipmentIconGallery
|outrotemplate=EquipmentIconGalleryOutro
|limit=100
|link=none
|sort=Is located in facility
}}
==[[3 commandments]]==

=== 1. Safety First ===
Safety First is the most important of the three facets of professional behavior expected of you while you are in the Maker Hub. This applies to your safety, the safety others, and the safety of the equipment.

Keeping yourself safe in the Wood Shop is very important, as there are possibilities for accidents if you don't follow the safety guidelines. Safety starts with you, so don't depend on others to keep you safe. There is a first aid kit located on the south wall near the Wood Shop door.

The following rules must be followed at all times:

* Safety glasses must be worn at all times in the wood shop.
* No horseplay in the shop.
* Don’t do anything distracting to yourself or others while operating machinery.
* Do not wear any loose clothing, jewelry, or lanyards.
* No hats or open-toed shoes.
* Hair is not to extend below the collar.
* Do not wear gloves while operating machinery.
* Food or drink is allowed when not operating machinery; it must be kept a safe distance away from the machines.
* Do not attempt to operate machinery in the shop on which you have not been certified by passing the Canvas quiz and training with the Ace for that piece of equipment.
* Do not argue with volunteers or shop staff. Contact Justin Johnson if you have issues that need to be resolved.
* Do not operate machinery without a shop supervisor or trained volunteer in the shop with you. Never operate equipment alone in the shop.
* Reset the space. Make the area you are working in ready for the next person. Clean up after yourself, using the dust broom and vacuum cleaner. Return any tools (e.g. push sticks, rulers, squares, scribes, etc.) to their proper places.
* The first aid kit is located in the machine shop, next to the wood shop doors.
* If you see a safety violation inform the person immediately and encourage them to comply with the policies.
* Don’t do anything that would require an additional rule to be added to this list.

=== 2. Reset the Space ===
The Wood Shop has a specific organization to it. Put whatever you use back where it belongs. There is a place for everything and everything has a place. This rule applies to everything in the space. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a pen, put it back. Throw away your trash and recycling.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave projects out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large project and you need something left overnight. In cases like this, it is okay to leave projects out, but you NEED to make prior arrangements with Nick or Justin.

Please put the machinery back the way you found it. Clean up chips and any messes you make. NEVER use shop air to clean yourself or the machines.

Always put any unused materials back on the storage shelf, and throw away unuseable scrap.

Always leave the space better than you found it.

=== 3. Be Professional ===
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the wood shop we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious ramifications in terms of behavior. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you and someone else are needing to use the same piece of equipment, find a compromise that will honor both your time and theirs. This is being a professional.

If you are learning to how to use a machine, and you can't get something to work the way you want - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a Professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

If someone acts disgracefully unprofessional to you in the wood shop, you are welcome to bring the issue to Justin or Nick's attention.

==General Wood Shop Knowledge==
Woodworking is dangerous. Be careful.

===Gluing===
Glue joints (when done correctly) will create a bond stronger than the wood itself. To create a strong glue joint follow this general procedure. It is worth noting that gluing end grain yields a very weak glue joint and should be avoided.

# Ensure that both surfaces that you wish to glue are smooth, flat, or mate together well. Often, this requires sanding to at least 120 or 220 grit for a smooth gluing surface. Rough, un-sanded surfaces do not make strong glue joints.
# Dry fit your glue joint with clamps. This will ensure that your joint fits properly and that all necessary clamps are close by and sized correctly when you go to apply glue.
# You can never have too many clamps.
# Get a handful of paper towels to help clean up glue squeeze out and the glue you will get on your fingers.
# Recognize that once you start applying glue you are on a clock to finish setting up the glue joint before the set time.
# Apply a bead of glue on one surface of your glue joint. Then, spread out that glue into a thin film using your fingers, a glue brush, or a glue roller.
# Repeat step 6 for the other surface of your glue joint such that both surfaces have a thin, even film of glue.
# Quickly use a paper towel to wipe your fingers clean of glue. The goal here is to remove most of the wet glue so it doesn't get spread all over your lumber. Do NOT take the time to clean all of the glue.
# Using the clamps you already gathered, clamp your glue joint together.
# Again, you can never have too many clamps.
# After 5-10 minutes, wipe up the excess glue squeeze out.

Remember this old saying: "Not enough glue, you lose... too much glue gets on your shoes." In other words, if you don't see any glue ooze out after clamping (or there are several areas a few inches long where no glue oozes out of the glue seam after clamping), then you probably did not use enough glue and your glue joint will lack strength. If you use too much glue, then lots of glue will ooze out when clamping and make a big mess as it drips everywhere. Ask one of our wood shop volunteers about gluing if you have any questions.

===General Knowledge===
* The Table Saw is the center of the shop because it is the most frequently used tool.
* Always inspect materials for nails or metal. Metal debris in wood will damage the equipment and possibly cause injury to you.
* Make sure the process you are using is correct for your material type.
* Get help handling larger pieces of wood.
* When making dust turn on the dust filtration units.
* You can't learn woodworking on a wiki page... Go to the wood shop and start making things!
Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
* Some wood dust can be toxic. Be aware of the type of wood you are working with.
* Blades and cutters are very sharp so always think before touching.
* Be aware of the location of your fingers in relation to blades and cutters. Never let your hands or finger come close to the blade path.
* Be aware of people and what they are doing around you.
* Be aware of what is on the floor around you. Don't trip on dust collector hoses or electrical cords.
* May of the machines are very loud. Wear ear protection when needed.
* If something feels like it could be dangerous ask a supervisor before attempting.

===Introduction to Joinery===
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1aQQQDXrc8}}

== Canvas Certification ==
Complete the {{PAGENAME}} Certification Quiz Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]
<!-->
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]]
[[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has icon
|format=gallery
|imageproperty=Has icon
}}

Wood Shop

2026-02-25T23:34:05Z

Nsullivan: /* Schedule */

[[File:Wood Shop Logo.png|300px|frameless|left]][[File:Wood_Shop.jpg|400px|thumb|right|The Wood Shop]]
The wood shop is a 975-square-foot space. It contains all the equipment listed below as well as many power tools, hand tools, and other woodworking items. It also contains a large CNC router. The shop is equipped with compressed air quick connections for powering tools and machines. There are two air filtration units hanging from the ceiling. When producing wood dust, turn on the filtration units with the white remote control. These do a good job of removing a large percentage of the wood dust from the air. The [[Dust Collector|dust collectors]] are not considered equipment, but you should know how to use them if you are working in the wood shop.

{{#set:
|Is facility=True
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1255
}}

__TOC__

=Schedule=
View the Spring 2026 {{PAGENAME}} schedule [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XZn7_O8HZMRscswja6Vd_iMZEjOkYUAUTzfdbcMKJ4Q/edit#gid=?usp=sharing on this Google Sheet.]

=Equipment Overview =
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::true]]
[[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has make=Company
|?Has model=Model |+width=10em
|?Has ace.Has name=Current Ace
|format=broadtable
|mainlabel=Name
}}
==Equipment by Icon==
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]][[Has icon::+]] [[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has icon=Icon
|?Is located in facility
|format=plainlist
|template=EquipmentIconGallery
|outrotemplate=EquipmentIconGalleryOutro
|limit=100
|link=none
|sort=Is located in facility
}}
==[[3 commandments]]==

=== 1. Safety First ===
Safety First is the most important of the three facets of professional behavior expected of you while you are in the Maker Hub. This applies to your safety, the safety others, and the safety of the equipment.

Keeping yourself safe in the Wood Shop is very important, as there are possibilities for accidents if you don't follow the safety guidelines. Safety starts with you, so don't depend on others to keep you safe. There is a first aid kit located on the south wall near the Wood Shop door.

The following rules must be followed at all times:

* Safety glasses must be worn at all times in the wood shop.
* No horseplay in the shop.
* Don’t do anything distracting to yourself or others while operating machinery.
* Do not wear any loose clothing, jewelry, or lanyards.
* No hats or open-toed shoes.
* Hair is not to extend below the collar.
* Do not wear gloves while operating machinery.
* Food or drink is allowed when not operating machinery; it must be kept a safe distance away from the machines.
* Do not attempt to operate machinery in the shop on which you have not been certified by passing the Canvas quiz and training with the Ace for that piece of equipment.
* Do not argue with volunteers or shop staff. Contact Justin Johnson if you have issues that need to be resolved.
* Do not operate machinery without a shop supervisor or trained volunteer in the shop with you. Never operate equipment alone in the shop.
* Reset the space. Make the area you are working in ready for the next person. Clean up after yourself, using the dust broom and vacuum cleaner. Return any tools (e.g. push sticks, rulers, squares, scribes, etc.) to their proper places.
* The first aid kit is located in the machine shop, next to the wood shop doors.
* If you see a safety violation inform the person immediately and encourage them to comply with the policies.
* Don’t do anything that would require an additional rule to be added to this list.

=== 2. Reset the Space ===
The Wood Shop has a specific organization to it. Put whatever you use back where it belongs. There is a place for everything and everything has a place. This rule applies to everything in the space. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a pen, put it back. Throw away your trash and recycling.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave projects out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large project and you need something left overnight. In cases like this, it is okay to leave projects out, but you NEED to make prior arrangements with Nick or Justin.

Please put the machinery back the way you found it. Clean up chips and any messes you make. NEVER use shop air to clean yourself or the machines.

Always put any unused materials back on the storage shelf, and throw away unuseable scrap.

Always leave the space better than you found it.

=== 3. Be Professional ===
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the wood shop we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious ramifications in terms of behavior. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you and someone else are needing to use the same piece of equipment, find a compromise that will honor both your time and theirs. This is being a professional.

If you are learning to how to use a machine, and you can't get something to work the way you want - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a Professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

If someone acts disgracefully unprofessional to you in the wood shop, you are welcome to bring the issue to Justin or Nick's attention.

==General Wood Shop Knowledge==
Woodworking is dangerous. Be careful.

===Gluing===
Glue joints (when done correctly) will create a bond stronger than the wood itself. To create a strong glue joint follow this general procedure. It is worth noting that gluing end grain yields a very weak glue joint and should be avoided.
# Ensure that both surfaces that you wish to glue are flat or mate together well.
# Dry fit your glue joint with clamps. This will ensure that your joint fits properly and that all necessary clamps are close by and sized correctly when you go to apply glue.
# You can never have too many clamps.
# Get a handful of paper towels to help clean up glue squeeze out and the glue you will get on your fingers.
# Recognize that once you start applying glue you are on a clock to finish setting up the glue joint before the set time.
# Apply a bead of glue on one surface of your glue joint. Then, spread out that glue into a thin film using your fingers, a glue brush, or a glue roller.
# Repeat step 5 for the other surface of your glue joint such that both surfaces have a thin, even film of glue.
# Quickly use a paper towel to wipe your fingers clean of glue. The goal here is to remove most of the wet glue so it doesn't get spread all over your lumber. Do NOT take the time to clean all of the glue.
# Using the clamps you already gathered, clamp your glue joint together
# You can never have too many clamps.
# After 5-10 minutes, wipe up the excess glue squeeze out.

===General Knowledge===
* The Table Saw is the center of the shop because it is the most frequently used tool.
* Always inspect materials for nails or metal. Metal debris in wood will damage the equipment and possibly cause injury to you.
* Make sure the process you are using is correct for your material type.
* Get help handling larger pieces of wood.
* When making dust turn on the dust filtration units.
* You can't learn woodworking on a wiki page... Go to the wood shop and start making things!
Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
* Some wood dust can be toxic. Be aware of the type of wood you are working with.
* Blades and cutters are very sharp so always think before touching.
* Be aware of the location of your fingers in relation to blades and cutters. Never let your hands or finger come close to the blade path.
* Be aware of people and what they are doing around you.
* Be aware of what is on the floor around you. Don't trip on dust collector hoses or electrical cords.
* May of the machines are very loud. Wear ear protection when needed.
* If something feels like it could be dangerous ask a supervisor before attempting.

===Introduction to Joinery===
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1aQQQDXrc8}}

== Canvas Certification ==
Complete the {{PAGENAME}} Certification Quiz Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]
<!-->
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]]
[[Is located in facility::Wood Shop]]
|?Has icon
|format=gallery
|imageproperty=Has icon
}}

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T09:30:32Z

Nsullivan: /* Operation */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make vinyl cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
For cutting materials, calendar vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computers; heat transfer vinyl rolls can be found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer; vinyl scraps including calendar vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, and digital print media vinyl pieces can be found in the vinyl scrap bin. Please do not use the digital print media vinyl rolls on the standard vinyl cutter (scrap pieces of digital print media vinyl are OK to use on the standard vinyl cutter). The digital print media vinyl rolls are only for printing stickers on the vinyl printer.

For the vinyl cutter, vinyl rolls are loaded onto the two metal rollers with the vinyl fed in from the back of the machine. Vinyl pieces can be fed in from the front of the machine. For most projects, a small piece will be sufficient, so please use pieces from the scrap bin if possible. Further, it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin.

Graphics or text can be made in Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or your favorite vector graphics software. Ultimately, your file will need to be uploaded into Illustrator as the final step because the Roland CutStudio extension--which talks to the vinyl cutter and sends over the cut information--lives inside of Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator can accept .ai files, .svg files, .pdf files, .dxf files, .eps files, and many more.

80 gf is the recommended cut force for calendar vinyl.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish, they will weed the vinyl cutout. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator.
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Illustrator:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Illustrator to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vinyl does not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T09:29:22Z

Nsullivan: /* General Procedure */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make vinyl cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
For cutting materials, calendar vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computers; heat transfer vinyl rolls can be found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer; vinyl scraps including calendar vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, and digital print media vinyl pieces can be found in the vinyl scrap bin. Please do not use the digital print media vinyl rolls on the standard vinyl cutter (scrap pieces of digital print media vinyl are OK to use on the standard vinyl cutter). The digital print media vinyl rolls are only for printing stickers on the vinyl printer.

For the vinyl cutter, vinyl rolls are loaded onto the two metal rollers with the vinyl fed in from the back of the machine. Vinyl pieces can be fed in from the front of the machine. For most projects, a small piece will be sufficient, so please use pieces from the scrap bin if possible. Further, it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin.

Graphics or text can be made in Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or your favorite vector graphics software. Ultimately, your file will need to be uploaded into Illustrator as the final step because the Roland CutStudio extension--which talks to the vinyl cutter and sends over the cut information--lives inside of Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator can accept .ai files, .svg files, .pdf files, .dxf files, .eps files, and many more.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish, they will weed the vinyl cutout. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator.
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Illustrator:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Illustrator to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vinyl does not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T09:27:30Z

Nsullivan: /* Demonstration */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make vinyl cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
For cutting materials, calendar vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computers; heat transfer vinyl rolls can be found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer; vinyl scraps including calendar vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, and digital print media vinyl pieces can be found in the vinyl scrap bin. Please do not use the digital print media vinyl rolls on the standard vinyl cutter (scrap pieces of digital print media vinyl are OK to use on the standard vinyl cutter). The digital print media vinyl rolls are only for printing stickers on the vinyl printer.

For the vinyl cutter, vinyl rolls are loaded onto the two metal rollers with the vinyl fed in from the back of the machine. Vinyl pieces can be fed in from the front of the machine. For most projects, a small piece will be sufficient, so please use pieces from the scrap bin if possible. Further, it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin.

Graphics or text can be made in Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or your favorite vector graphics software. Ultimately, your file will need to be uploaded into Illustrator as the final step because the Roland CutStudio extension--which talks to the vinyl cutter and sends over the cut information--lives inside of Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator can accept .ai files, .svg files, .pdf files, .dxf files, .eps files, and many more.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish, they will weed the vinyl cutout. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator.
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Illustrator:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Illustrator to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T09:26:18Z

Nsullivan: /* Operation */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make vinyl cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
For cutting materials, calendar vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computers; heat transfer vinyl rolls can be found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer; vinyl scraps including calendar vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, and digital print media vinyl pieces can be found in the vinyl scrap bin. Please do not use the digital print media vinyl rolls on the standard vinyl cutter (scrap pieces of digital print media vinyl are OK to use on the standard vinyl cutter). The digital print media vinyl rolls are only for printing stickers on the vinyl printer.

For the vinyl cutter, vinyl rolls are loaded onto the two metal rollers with the vinyl fed in from the back of the machine. Vinyl pieces can be fed in from the front of the machine. For most projects, a small piece will be sufficient, so please use pieces from the scrap bin if possible. Further, it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin.

Graphics or text can be made in Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or your favorite vector graphics software. Ultimately, your file will need to be uploaded into Illustrator as the final step because the Roland CutStudio extension--which talks to the vinyl cutter and sends over the cut information--lives inside of Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator can accept .ai files, .svg files, .pdf files, .dxf files, .eps files, and many more.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish they will weed the sticker. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator.
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Illustrator:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Illustrator to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T08:46:41Z

Nsullivan: /* Description */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make vinyl cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
Sticker making is the most frequent use of the vinyl cutter but it can be used for other applications as well depending on the type of material being cut. For cutting materials, vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computer and loaded onto the material rack at the back of the machine. However, for most projects a small piece will be sufficient and it is recommended that you use the scrap pieces in the bin to the right of the computer as a result. As for other materials, heat transfer vinyl can be used (found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer); further it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin. Uploaded graphics can be in any format, but .pdf is preferred. This is due to the vector format of .pdf files, other formats need to be converted to vector form in Adobe illustrator 2025. The vinyl cutter needs to be loaded and setup before a graphic can be sent to it and cut out. Once cutting has been completed, it also needs to be reset and turned off.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish they will weed the sticker. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator.
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Illustrator:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Illustrator to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T08:44:47Z

Nsullivan: /* General Procedure */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make stickers/cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
Sticker making is the most frequent use of the vinyl cutter but it can be used for other applications as well depending on the type of material being cut. For cutting materials, vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computer and loaded onto the material rack at the back of the machine. However, for most projects a small piece will be sufficient and it is recommended that you use the scrap pieces in the bin to the right of the computer as a result. As for other materials, heat transfer vinyl can be used (found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer); further it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin. Uploaded graphics can be in any format, but .pdf is preferred. This is due to the vector format of .pdf files, other formats need to be converted to vector form in Adobe illustrator 2025. The vinyl cutter needs to be loaded and setup before a graphic can be sent to it and cut out. Once cutting has been completed, it also needs to be reset and turned off.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish they will weed the sticker. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator.
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Illustrator:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Illustrator to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T08:43:17Z

Nsullivan: /* General Procedure */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make stickers/cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
Sticker making is the most frequent use of the vinyl cutter but it can be used for other applications as well depending on the type of material being cut. For cutting materials, vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computer and loaded onto the material rack at the back of the machine. However, for most projects a small piece will be sufficient and it is recommended that you use the scrap pieces in the bin to the right of the computer as a result. As for other materials, heat transfer vinyl can be used (found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer); further it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin. Uploaded graphics can be in any format, but .pdf is preferred. This is due to the vector format of .pdf files, other formats need to be converted to vector form in Adobe illustrator 2025. The vinyl cutter needs to be loaded and setup before a graphic can be sent to it and cut out. Once cutting has been completed, it also needs to be reset and turned off.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish they will weed the sticker. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator '''2025''' (Ai).
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Ai:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Ai to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T08:42:42Z

Nsullivan: /* Demonstration */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make stickers/cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
Sticker making is the most frequent use of the vinyl cutter but it can be used for other applications as well depending on the type of material being cut. For cutting materials, vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computer and loaded onto the material rack at the back of the machine. However, for most projects a small piece will be sufficient and it is recommended that you use the scrap pieces in the bin to the right of the computer as a result. As for other materials, heat transfer vinyl can be used (found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer); further it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin. Uploaded graphics can be in any format, but .pdf is preferred. This is due to the vector format of .pdf files, other formats need to be converted to vector form in Adobe illustrator 2025. The vinyl cutter needs to be loaded and setup before a graphic can be sent to it and cut out. Once cutting has been completed, it also needs to be reset and turned off.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish they will weed the sticker. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator '''2025''' (Ai).
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Ai:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Ai to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the RCS preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T08:39:39Z

Nsullivan: /* Terminology */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make stickers/cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
Sticker making is the most frequent use of the vinyl cutter but it can be used for other applications as well depending on the type of material being cut. For cutting materials, vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computer and loaded onto the material rack at the back of the machine. However, for most projects a small piece will be sufficient and it is recommended that you use the scrap pieces in the bin to the right of the computer as a result. As for other materials, heat transfer vinyl can be used (found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer); further it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin. Uploaded graphics can be in any format, but .pdf is preferred. This is due to the vector format of .pdf files, other formats need to be converted to vector form in Adobe illustrator 2025. The vinyl cutter needs to be loaded and setup before a graphic can be sent to it and cut out. Once cutting has been completed, it also needs to be reset and turned off.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 2 in. x 2 in. graphic and upload into Ai. They will then need to properly format it and use the RCS extension in Ai. Using RCS, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish they will weed the sticker and apply it to transfer paper. They can then choose to save the sticker for later or immediately apply it to a medium of their choice. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator '''2025''' (Ai).
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Ai:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Ai to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the RCS preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

Vinyl Cutter

2026-02-18T08:36:33Z

Nsullivan: /* Terminology */

{{#set:
|Is equipment=True
|Is located in facility=The Hub
|Is used in domain=Vinyl
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has model=GR-640
|Has make=Roland
|Has serial number=KDF0752
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Vinyl_cutter_icon.png
|Has icondesc=Vinyl Cutter Icon
|Has iconwname=
|Has image=File:vinyl_cutter.jpg
|Has imagedesc= The Roland GR-640 Vinyl Cutter
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1329
|Has ace=Summer Martindale;Makerhub@georgefox.edu
}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|140px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|300px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]

Make: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has make}}

Model: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has model}}

Serial Number: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has serial number}}

Ace: '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}).

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make stickers/cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]

Example process video:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7uNKdjR1JY}}

== Documentation ==

The user manual has instruction on cutting, maintenance, and calibration. After opening the user manual, select the "Basic Edition" from the Table of Contents in the left column to view this information.

[[Media:GR-640 540 420 User Manual english.pdf|Vinyl Cutter User Manual]]

====Terminology====
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator 2025 (Ai): used to prep the graphic for cutting

* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution

== Training ==

==== Operation ====
Sticker making is the most frequent use of the vinyl cutter but it can be used for other applications as well depending on the type of material being cut. For cutting materials, vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computer and loaded onto the material rack at the back of the machine. However, for most projects a small piece will be sufficient and it is recommended that you use the scrap pieces in the bin to the right of the computer as a result. As for other materials, heat transfer vinyl can be used (found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer); further it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin. Uploaded graphics can be in any format, but .pdf is preferred. This is due to the vector format of .pdf files, other formats need to be converted to vector form in Adobe illustrator 2025. The vinyl cutter needs to be loaded and setup before a graphic can be sent to it and cut out. Once cutting has been completed, it also needs to be reset and turned off.

==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 2 in. x 2 in. graphic and upload into Ai. They will then need to properly format it and use the RCS extension in Ai. Using RCS, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish they will weed the sticker and apply it to transfer paper. They can then choose to save the sticker for later or immediately apply it to a medium of their choice. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.

==== General Procedure ====
Loading Material:
# Turn on power.
# Feed material through back of machine; the vacuum should engage.
# Align material with the rollers so it is covered at both corners and within the center if needed.
## Rollers can only be placed within the shiny silver strips located along the front of the cutter, above the header.
## Rollers are adjusted by sliding them using your fingers.
# If possible, check to ensure the material lines up evenly with both sets of measurement lines on the lower front of the cutter.
# If possible, leave an inch or two of excess material hanging down below the cutting head.
# Use the arrow pad to select the type of media: roll, piece, etc.
# Press [ENTER] to secure the material.
# Move the cutting head to the left of the stock via the directional keys, then hold [ORIGIN] to set the starting point of the cut.
Prepping a Graphic:

In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator '''2025''' (Ai).
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
*Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Ai:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
# File is .jpg/png (any non-vector format):
## Use [File] > [Place].
## Click in the top left corner, then drag with the cursor until the graphic is the desired size.
## Use [Object] > [Flatten Transparency] to convert the graphic to vector form, use the high resolution preset.
## Click [Image Trace] on the tool bar near the top middle of the screen, then click [Expand], which enables cut lines to be edited.
### Once this step is done, the graphic’s cut lines should show up in the Roland Cut Studio preview area, and the graphic should turn black.
## Hit [Window] > [Layers], this can also be dragged over to the toolbar on the right side of the screen.
### Use this to remove all unnecessary cut paths by selecting only the individual cut line and clicking the trashcan icon in the lower right of the screen.
### You’ll know you’ve removed an essential path if that part of the image disappears.
### Usually the goal of this step is to remove any large borders around the graphic.
## Image size can be edited using the size sliders located on the tool bar near the top of the screen, closer to the right.
In Inkscape:
# If your file is already in a vector format go to [File] > [Open] to bring the graphic into Inkscape. If it is not a vector file go to [File] > [Import] and Inkscape will bring in the file.
# Set the page size to your desired dimensions under the [File] > [Document Properties] menu. This will ensure that your graphic will not be larger than your piece of material.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Ai to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the RCS preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.
# Hold the [SHEET CUT] button to slice the cut material off, the left edge of the material should be held during this process, taking care to stay out of the way during the slicing process.
# Press [MENU] until [UNSETUP] is displayed on the screen, then press [UNSETUP].
# Press [ENTER].
# Press [PINCH].
# Remove the material by moving it through the rear of the machine.
# Turn off power.
Transferring the Graphic:
# Use the weeding kit to remove all unwanted sections of the graphic.
## Tweezers are used to pinch and pull up unwanted sections.
## The rounded dental tools are used to hold down wanted sections to prevent them being peeled off with unwanted sections.
# If necessary, cut the graphic off from any excess material.
# Use scissors to cut out a piece of clear transfer paper slightly larger than your cut-out graphic.
# Position it sticky side down over your graphic and use a squeegee to apply it the the graphic.
## This is done starting in the center of the graphic, and smoothed with the squeegee from the center out.
# Once it is applied, flip the layers over and peel the backing of the vinyl material from the transfer paper.
## Peel at the greatest angle possible, aim for parallel to the transfer paper.
## Try to peel in a direction that flows with the graphic.
# Position the peeled graphic over the medium it is to be applied to.
# Starting with one end, begin to feed the graphic down onto the surface.
## '''AS THIS IS DONE''', use a squeegee to firmly smooth outward in alternating left and right strokes starting from the midline of the graphic to remove air bubbles.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.

== Certification ==
Complete The Hub - {{PAGENAME}} Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Troubleshooting ==
* Not cutting all the way through material.
** Increase cut pressure.
** If pressure has to be increased by 50 to 60 gf, replace the blade.
* Material is ripping/curling when cut.
** Replace blade.
* Cuts not being made cleanly.
** Clean the blade holder cap.
** If problems persist, replace the blade holder.
** Blade might be dull and need to be replaced.
* Blade protector is scratched and not cutting cleanly.
** Replace blade protector.

== Maintenance ==

==== General Maintenance ====
Most of the maintenance on the vinyl is incurred by use of the machine, instead of periodically.

==== Specific Maintenance Tasks ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
|-
|Cleaning Machine
|When parts are visibly dirty and after periods of heavy use
|Student
|-
|Changing Blade
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing/cleaning Blade Holder
|When needed
|Ace
|-
|Changing Blade Protector
|When needed
|Ace
|}
Turn machine off before performing any maintenance.

Cleaning Machine:
[[File:Vinyl_cutter_maintenance.jpg|none|frame]]

# Grit Rollers.
## Wipe away any accumulated grime.
# Display.
## Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
# Pinch Rollers.
## Remove any build up material with a brush, do not use a metal brush.
# General wipe down.
## Wipe down machine with a wet cloth.
Changing Blade:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Replacing the Blade and the Separating Knife].
Changing/cleaning Blade Holder:
*[https://files.rolanddga.com/files/gr_use_en/GR_USE_EN_00_basic_top.html Procedure in manual]
*#Click [Maintenance/Replacement].
*#Click [Consumable Items].
*#Click [Cleaning the Blade Holder Cap] under Blade Holder.
Changing Blade Protector:
* Contact Roland DG.

152 Robot

2026-02-11T08:46:00Z

Nsullivan: /* Signing Up for Training/Demonstrations */

{{#set:
|Is tv=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:Cat Body.jpg
|Has icondesc=Cat Body
|Has image=File:Cat Body.jpg
|Has description=Vacuum Formed Robot Body
|Uses equipment=Vacuum Former
|Uses equipment=Vinyl Cutter
|Uses software=PrusaSlicer
|Uses software=Solidworks

}}
[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
[[{{#show:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icon|link=none}}|100px|left|top|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has icondesc}}]]
This [[Training Ventures|TV]] is tailored for the 152 engineering class. This page will describe the steps of designing and fabricating a vacuum formed shell for the 152 robot. This page will also contain links to sign up for the equipment training necessary for completing this training venture and 152 in general.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
=Necessary Equipment=

For 152, students will need to certify on the [[Vinyl Cutter]], the [[Vacuum Former]], the [[Finishing Room]], the [[Electronics Workstation]], and the [[Soldering Irons]]. Because the Vacuum Former is located in the Vault, students will also need to pass [[The Vault]] quiz as well. Please read the wiki pages and pass the Canvas quizzes for these 6 pieces of equipment/facilities before conducting your in-person demonstrations.

=Signing Up for Training/Demonstrations=

Given the large number of students in 152, training and demonstrations will follow a similar format to 151.

* Vinyl Cutter training will be conducted in groups of 8 students in a 1-hour block.
* Vacuum Former and Finishing Room training will be conducted simultaneously within a 1-hour block. This training will also accommodate 8 students at a time.
* Electronic Workstation training will be conducted in groups of 8 students in a 1-hour block.
* Soldering Iron training will be conducted in 4 2-person teams (for a total of 8 students). Your teammate does not have to be the same teammate you have for the robot project overall. Each 2-person team will solder one Maker Hub LED board kit in a 1-hour block.

Please sign up for training at the following Google Sheet:

* https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QYWfyPorRePIJQw7urTYJYnxoqy8C45l-WlXmXVvkbc/edit?usp=sharing

Please pay special attention to the times listed on each training block!!!

=Procedure=

The following procedure will show the process of vacuum forming and painting/decorating a PETG shell for a 152 robot. There are many ways to shape, paint, decorate, and customize your vacuum formed shell. The examples given in this training venture are intended to demonstrate some of the possibilities for how you might design and build your own vacuum formed shell. You are encouraged to use these examples as stepping stones to build even more creative and inspiring shells for your robot. Just make sure your final product is GFU appropriate.

In the example of the orange cat shell at the top of this page, I designed and 3D printed a mold for the shape. After cutting away the excess PETG plastic, I hand-painted the inside of the shell. I used stacked vinyl cutouts for the nose, mouth, and whiskers. I cut white vinyl pieces for the claws. Finally, I added the construction paper ears and googly eyes as the finishing touches. (My orange cat at home--which was the inspiration for this build--has no tail... just in case you were wondering why there's no tail)

But now we will [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n67RYI_0sc0 pivot], and I will explain a second example robot shell in greater detail with pictures to show you the process. This robot shell was modeled after Darth Vader's tie fighter.
[[File:Vaders-tie-fighter.jpg|500px|none]]
 
 
There are several modular mold pieces that you can use to create the general shape of your robot's shell. Ask one of the 152 TAs where these modular mold pieces will be kept. You are encouraged to add extra 3D printed parts or wooden pieces or create your own custom shape for your shell. Keep in mind that the vacuum former has limits for how far you can draw down the heated plastic before it rips or begins webbing. For example, don't expect to vacuum form a 6-inch cube cleanly with zero webbing. There are creative ways to minimize webbing or stack two vacuum forms together, but this will be part of your creative discovery of how vacuum forming works.

What is webbing? See the following image. Webbing refers to the creases that form in the heated plastic as a result of internal stresses as the plastic is stretched over a mold. Webbing is more likely to occur if the plastic is overheated.
[[File:Webbing Example.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
By contrast, the following image shows what happens if the plastic is underheated. Underheated plastic will not draw down enough to form the shape you are intending. Turns out that this particular shape was more difficult than expected.
[[File:Underheating Example.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
The following image shows the mold I used to attempt the shape of Darth Vader's tie fighter. I used the dome-shaped 3D print mold in conjunction with a scrap piece of wood that I cut in half and modified in the wood shop. Notice that after vacuum forming, the plastic did not draw down all the way between the dome and the two wood pieces.
[[File:Robot Mold Example.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
I drew several shapes in Inkscape that would compose the features of the tie fighter. These shapes would be cut out of a scrap piece of vinyl on the vinyl cutter and act as a mask while spray painting later in the process.
[[File:Tie Fighter Inkscape Decals.png|1000px|none]]
 
After cutting away the excess plastic and smoothing the edges of the shell, I began applying the vinyl pieces to the inside of the shell.
[[File:Vinyl Apply Stage 1.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
Further along in the vinyl application... I applied painter's tape on top of the vinyl around the tie fighter's cockpit. The goal here is to have the windows of the cockpit be see-through after spray painting.
[[File:Vinyl Apply Stage 2.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
Here's an inside view of all the vinyl plus the painter's tape.
[[File:Vinyl Apply Stage 3.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
Next, I used some paper and painter's tape to mask off the outside of the robot shell because I did not want any spray paint getting on the shell's exterior.
[[File:Spray Paint Mask 1.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
Here's a view of the underside/inside with the exterior spray painting mask in place.
[[File:Spray Paint Mask 2.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
To prepare for spray painting in the [[Finishing Room]], here's the PPE (personal protective equipment) that you must don before starting. You will need safety glasses, hearing protection (either ear plugs or the over-the-ear style), nitrile gloves, and a P95 mask. Ear plugs and nitrile gloves are located at the safety station by the Wood Shop door. The over-the-ear style hearing protection are located on top of the CNC router terminal in the Wood Shop; please return them to that same location if you use them. To obtain a P95 mask, please ask one of the Tool Room attendants to provide you one from the Tool Room inventory. If the Tool Room is closed, ask one of the Maker Hub staff to retrieve a P95 mask for you from the Tool Room. Make sure that you use a P95 mask when spray painting. There are both P95 and N95 masks available from the Tool Room, but N95 masks are only designed to protect against non-oil-based particles inhalation (e.g. dust), not oil-based particles (e.g. paint fumes). Ensure you are using the correct mask--a P95--for spray painting. And finally, the apron is optional if you want to reduce the chances of getting paint on your clothes. The aprons are located on the back corner of the low fidelity prototyping station.
[[File:Spray Paint PPE.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
My first round of spray painting was a metallic gray. As you can see, I was a little heavy-handed and impatient with the spray paint which resulted in drips and pooling. Best practices with spray paint almost always call for thin, light coats for best results. Some of the internal topography of my shell proved quite difficult to reach with the spray paint stream which contributed to the drips/pooling. Luckily, the drips and pooling aren't really visible from the outside of the shell, so it turned out ok. I ended up applying two coats of the metallic gray. After the paint dried, I removed the vinyl masking and the painter's tape around the cockpit. However, I left the vinyl masking for the windows in place. I used Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol to clean up any stray paint that got behind the vinyl mask.
[[File:Grey Spray Paint.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
My second round of spray painting was a matte black. I applied two coats of the matte black on top of the dried metallic gray paint. Because I removed all of the vinyl masking after the round of metallic gray spray paint, all of the places where I originally put the yellow vinyl masking would now end up black to outline the features of the tie fighter.
[[File:Black Spray Paint.jpg|1000px|none]]
 
After the matte black paint dried, I removed the final vinyl mask for the cockpit windows. Again, I used Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol to clean up any stray paint that got behind the vinyl mask. And voila! We have created a passing resemblance of Darth Vader's tie fighter. Now all we need is Darth Vader himself...
[[File:Lego Darth Vader.jpg|1000px|none]]
 

=Attaching the Shell to the Chassis=
Now, you may be wondering how to attach your masterpiece robot shell to the chassis. Below are two SolidWorks files that can serve as a starting point for connecting the shell to the chassis in a manner that is easily removable. I make no claims that this is the best design by any stretch. In fact, I hope that the 152 students can use their CAD skills from 151 to come up with a better design and share it here for the benefit of their classmates.

[[Media:152 Clip 5 M.sldprt|152 Clip 5 M.sldprt]] 
[[Media:152 Clip 5 F.sldprt|152 Clip 5 F.sldprt]] 
[[Media:152 Mold Base.sldprt|152 Mold Base.sldprt]] 
[[Media:152 Dome 2.sldprt|152 Dome 2.sldprt]] 
[[Media:152 Flat Dome.sldprt|152 Flat Dome.sldprt]]

Prototype Lab

2026-02-04T01:05:01Z

Nsullivan: /* Schedule */

{{#set:
|Has ace=Allison Rodgers;arodgers24@georgefox.edu
|Has ace=Spencer Monkewicz;smonkewicz22@georgefox.edu
|Is facility = True
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1250
}}
[[File:Prototype Lab Logo.png|300px|frameless|left]][[File:prototype_lab.jpeg|400px|thumb|The Prototype Lab]]
The Prototype Lab contains a selection of 3D printers and two CO2 laser cutters.

The current Maker Hub Student Staff in the {{PAGENAME}} are '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}) 

__TOC__

=Schedule=
View the most up-to-date {{PAGENAME}} schedule 
[[File:10904.jpg|none|800px]]

=Equipment Overview=
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::true]]
[[Is located in facility::Prototype Lab]]
|?Has make=Company
|?Has model=Model |+width=10em
|?Has ace.Has name=Current Ace
|format=broadtable
|mainlabel=Name
}}

==Equipment by Icon==
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]][[Has icon::+]] [[Is located in facility::Prototype Lab]]
|?Has icon=Icon
|?Is located in facility
|format=plainlist
|template=EquipmentIconGallery
|outrotemplate=EquipmentIconGalleryOutro
|limit=100
|link=none
|sort=Is located in facility
}}

==[[3 commandments]]==

===1. Safety First===
Safety First is the rule we hold highest of the three. Given the delicate nature of our machines, and the different chemicals and materials we use in the Prototype lab, this rule applies to both the safety of you, and the machines.

Keeping yourself safe in the Prototype Lab is very easy, as there are very few ways to hurt yourself or the machines. However, proper procedure must be followed at all times.

Basic principles of how to implement Safety First in the Prototype Lab:

*Do not touch the extruder heads of the 3D printers when they are running. They will be very hot and will burn you. Wait for the machine to cool off.
*Use gloves when handling chemicals such as Sodium Hydroxide (use the heat protecting gloves when retrieving items from the Sodium Hydroxide bath), Isopropyl or Denatured Alcohol (use Nitrile gloves if handling extensively after removing from the Form Wash), and Lacquer Thinner (use Nitrile gloves when using lacquer thinner to clean residue off of engraved Hydro Flasks). You may use gloves whenever you feel necessary, but these are circumstances where gloves are absolutely required.
*In addition to wearing gloves when around the Sodium Hydroxide, you must also wear safety goggles (preferably the goggles, but if those are unavailable then use safety glasses). A lab coat needs to be worn to protect from splashes. All of these items can be found within the lab.
*Make sure you read through the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) binder mounted by the sink so that you are up-to-date on safety procedures regarding the chemicals within the lab.
*If chemicals ever get on your skin or in your eyes, follow the SDS. Wash it off or out (there is an eye washing station in front of the Machine Shop about 30 feet feet away). If it is an emergency, do what you need to do to make sure you and those around you are safe.
*Make sure you know how to use the spill kit (located to the right of the sink).
*If there is a chemical spill, we do have a spill kit. First, evacuate the lab and get everyone out. This means the lab should be shut down until the spill has been properly dealt with. Second, call Justin Johnson whose information should be posted next to the Emergency Response Guide (bright yellow and by the door leading to the main space). If Justin does not answer, call the Campus Public Safety office (formerly Security Services) whose information will be in the Emergency Response Guide or can be found online. Third, if you feel it is safe to do so, deploy the spill kit (located to the right of the sink).
*Be aware that laser cut items can have sharp edges that could cut you.
*Be careful when trying to remove support material by hand from a print off of the Dimension. When the support material breaks, it leaves sharp edges and shatters extremely sharp shards that will cut you if you are not careful.

===2. Reset the Space===
The Prototype Lab has a specific organization to it, even though sometimes it looks like chaos. Put whatever you use back where it belongs. There is a place for everything and everything has a place. This rule applies to everything in the space. If you move a chair, put it back. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a pen, put it back. Do not leave your projects in the Prototype Lab, take them with you. Do not leave random note sheets that pertain to nothing out. Throw away your trash and recycling.

We have allowed food and drink in the space. Resetting the Space means that you don’t leave wrappers, or trays, or anything that wasn’t there when you came in.

If you are working/volunteering in the space, this still applies to you. Do not take tools from the Hub and then store them in the Lab. If we need more tools, speak with Allison or Spencer and they can evaluate the situation and, if necessary, they will get more tools.

After you have started your project on a machine, make sure to clear the project from the program on the Prototype Lab computer. If you have a part you want to reuse, place the part inside the Prototype Lab Part Storage Folder on the computers.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave things out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large print and you need something to run overnight. In cases like this, it is okay, but you NEED to '''''leave a note''''' on your system so that others know the situation.

When parts finish on a 3D printer, remove them from the build plate and place them in the completed parts bin so that the owner can pick up their part.

Always put any unused materials from the laser cutter back on the storage shelf, and throw away unusable scrap.

Clear the computer of any files or images left over after completing your project.

Sweep when needed.

Immediately clean up any spilled Formlabs resin.

Always leave the space better than you found it.

===3. Be Professional===
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the Prototype Lab we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious ramifications in terms of behavior. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you have been printing a lot or using the laser cutter for a prolonged time and someone else is waiting for the machine, let them use the machine for a while. This is being a professional.

If you are working with a machine, and you don’t know the proper way to do what you are attempting - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a Professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

If someone acts disgracefully unprofessional to you in the Prototype Lab, you are welcome to bring the issue to the attention of the Prototype Lab student staff or the Maker Hub staff.

==General 3D Printing Knowledge==
3D printing is the process of joining material together to create a three-dimensional object using computer control. It is a form of additive manufacturing. Objects are created using a 3D model. There are many different types of 3D printing, and the Prototype Lab utilizes two types which are FDM (fused deposit modeling) and SLA (stereolithography).

In the Prototype Lab, objects are most commonly printed from an STL file. This means if you create a part in SolidWorks that you must save the file as a .stl instead of a .sldprt . Once the file is in STL form, it can then be processed by a slicer software. The slicer software converts the 3D model into thin layers and produces a G-code file. G-codes communicate with the chosen 3D printer, giving it directions on how to print the object.

Different 3D printers will run with different slicer programs. Typically a program will allow you to edit various parts of the process. One common consideration will be the layer thickness. This is the resolution at which the printer will print at. Each printer will have its own range of resolution. The thinner the layer thickness (higher resolution), the more detail you will get, but the print will be created more slowly. The thicker the layers (lower resolution), the less detail you will receive, but the object will be printed more quickly. Another consideration is support. For objects with overhangs, holes, etc., support will be needed. This will give the printer a surface to print on so that it can continue to build the print layer by layer. Each printer uses supports differently. Some printers have break away support while other have dissolvable support material.

Keep in mind that '''every print should be recorded in the Job Log'''. This allows the Lab to track the material usages and success rates of the printers, as well as recording the prices of every print. To record your print in the job log, go to the [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16fEdNcuvR_GSNV2Emy1P7SpJdetXU7ts9uQy-Ok7dRk/edit?usp=sharing Job Log spreadsheet] and fill out the required fields. A good time to fill it out is right after you have finished setting up a print.
[[File:3Dsupports.png|250px|thumb|right|Example of an object (blue) printed with supports (white)]]

There are common places of potential failure which you should watch for every print. The following points of failure specifically apply to FDM prints.

*Adhesion:
**When the print first starts, it is prudent to ensure that the filament is properly adhering to the build plate.
**Watch the print until the first dozen layers have been printed to make sure it is starting off successfully.
**The print can start sliding around the plate at anytime, although it is much more likely to fail toward the beginning of the print.
**A tall and skinny print is much more likely to struggle with adhesion than a short and stout print. Taking time to discern the best orientation for your print is always a good call.
**Adding a raft (sometimes called a brim) will also help if you print is struggling with staying adhered to the plate.
*Clogging
**Sometimes the extruder will clog causing the print to fail.
**This typically can be seen when a clump of filament balls up at the end of the nozzle.
**If this occurs, immediately cancel the print and remove the clumped filament. Make sure that the nozzle is still able to extrude filament, if not, you may need to open up the extruder and clean it. Keep working on it until you are able to extrude filament again.
*Air Extruding
**This means that the extruder thinks it is extruding filament when it really is not.
**Immediately cancel the print. Then restart the print.
**If the printer is still air extruding, cancel the print and unload the filament. You can try reloading and starting the print again.
**If the problem persists, you will probably need to take the extruder apart and clean it out before attempting any further prints.

===1. Printer Types===
There are many different types of printers, such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Electronic Beam Melting (EBM), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), Binder Jetting (BJ)... Each printer type employs different materials. The Prototype Lab has FDM and SLA machines.

Information about FDM and SLA printers and which machines these are and what materials they can use which. In each printer's page, one can simply link it to this so they don't have to describe materials, just simply state which ones are used with it. Mostly this is all here so I remember to do it or someone else sees it and wants to do it.

====SLA Printing====
[[File:InvertedSLA.png|302x302px|thumb|right|Inverted SLA Process]]
Stereolithography, SLA, is a part of the manufacturing technology of vat polymerization. This means a light source (laser) is used to cure liquid resin into a hard plastic.
The Form 2 is the only 3D printer that the Prototype Lab has that is an SLA printer. It utilizes the Upside Down or Inverted orientation.
The resin tank has a clear bottom with a surface the resin will not stick to. This allows the resin to cure against the bottom of the tank.
The build platform is lowered into the resin until it is hovering above the bottom surface of the tank, as far away as the height of the layer to be constructed.
The laser is directed through the bottom of the tank and cures a layer of resin onto the build platform. Then, the resin tank slides over and the build platform raises. The wiper will then sweep across the tank to circulate the resin.
The build platform will lower again, and the process will be repeated until the print is completed.
Due to friction caused by de-laminating every layer, every part should be canted in its orientation. This means the part should be angled to reduce the cross sectional area needing to be shifted to de-laminate each layer. This de-lamination also causes the Form 2 to be the Prototype Lab's slowest 3D printer.
Once a part is finished on the Form 2, it must be removed off of the build plate. Try to avoid scraping the build plate when removing parts. Any excess resin must be washed off using the Form Wash, the part must be air dried so that any isopropyl alcohol from the Wash has evaporated, the part should be cured in the Form Cure, and supports should be clipped off. Any remaining support marks can be sanded off if so desired.
Extra information on SLA Printing can be found [https://formlabs.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-stereolithography-sla-3d-printing/ here].

====FDM Printing====
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers use a thermoplastic filament, which is heated to its melting point, then extruded to create layers which then build an object. There are many different types of FDM printers. Some use a modeling material and a support material, some just use a modeling material which when creating support will use a different style of layering that allows the filament to break off easily, some are able to use multiple filaments at once allowing for multicolored objects to be created. [[File:Filament_Spool.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of a filament spool for a FDM printer.]]

The Prusa printers use only uses model material for supports, and the Markforge printer only uses model material as well (however it will layer another filament for extra support).

The filament for these printers comes in spools (basically thin plastic ropes that are wound up). The filament is fed through an extruder head, heated to the desired temperature, then extruded (similar to what happens with a hot glue gun).

FDM printers can work with various materials, in the Prototype Lab we mainly stick to PLA which is used by the Prusas. The Markforge uses a material called Onyx (nylon and plastic mix) and will layer in another filament such as Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, etc.

==General Laser Cutting Knowledge==
Laser cutting directs a high-powered laser through optics. The laser cutter follows a predetermined pattern to engrave or cut the material. Laser cutting is a great way to get a professional-looking surface finish.

*Can be used for many different materials ranging between wood, glass, rock, plastics, and even engraving Hydroflasks. At this time, the laser cutter in the Prototype Lab is not set up for metal etching.
*Works best on flat surfaces or cylinders with constant diameters.
*Performing a cut or engrave with the laser will always begin with an image, pdf, DXF, or similar file. When using SolidWorks you will need to save your file as a DXF using the selected face.

There are a couple common steps that must be done correctly when using the laser cutter:

*Always make sure that the lens and cone are clean before starting a print.
*Correctly focus the laser above the material, using the correct focusing tool for the lens type.
*Choose the correct material profile for the material you are using.
*Clean the bed of the laser cutter when you are finished.
[[Prusa XL]]

==Canvas Certification==
Complete the {{PAGENAME}} Certification Quiz Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

Prototype Lab

2026-02-04T01:04:52Z

Nsullivan: /* Schedule */

{{#set:
|Has ace=Allison Rodgers;arodgers24@georgefox.edu
|Has ace=Spencer Monkewicz;smonkewicz22@georgefox.edu
|Is facility = True
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1250
}}
[[File:Prototype Lab Logo.png|300px|frameless|left]][[File:prototype_lab.jpeg|400px|thumb|The Prototype Lab]]
The Prototype Lab contains a selection of 3D printers and two CO2 laser cutters.

The current Maker Hub Student Staff in the {{PAGENAME}} are '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}) 

__TOC__

=Schedule=
View the most up-to-date {{PAGENAME}} schedule 
[[File:10904.jpg|none|500px]]

=Equipment Overview=
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::true]]
[[Is located in facility::Prototype Lab]]
|?Has make=Company
|?Has model=Model |+width=10em
|?Has ace.Has name=Current Ace
|format=broadtable
|mainlabel=Name
}}

==Equipment by Icon==
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]][[Has icon::+]] [[Is located in facility::Prototype Lab]]
|?Has icon=Icon
|?Is located in facility
|format=plainlist
|template=EquipmentIconGallery
|outrotemplate=EquipmentIconGalleryOutro
|limit=100
|link=none
|sort=Is located in facility
}}

==[[3 commandments]]==

===1. Safety First===
Safety First is the rule we hold highest of the three. Given the delicate nature of our machines, and the different chemicals and materials we use in the Prototype lab, this rule applies to both the safety of you, and the machines.

Keeping yourself safe in the Prototype Lab is very easy, as there are very few ways to hurt yourself or the machines. However, proper procedure must be followed at all times.

Basic principles of how to implement Safety First in the Prototype Lab:

*Do not touch the extruder heads of the 3D printers when they are running. They will be very hot and will burn you. Wait for the machine to cool off.
*Use gloves when handling chemicals such as Sodium Hydroxide (use the heat protecting gloves when retrieving items from the Sodium Hydroxide bath), Isopropyl or Denatured Alcohol (use Nitrile gloves if handling extensively after removing from the Form Wash), and Lacquer Thinner (use Nitrile gloves when using lacquer thinner to clean residue off of engraved Hydro Flasks). You may use gloves whenever you feel necessary, but these are circumstances where gloves are absolutely required.
*In addition to wearing gloves when around the Sodium Hydroxide, you must also wear safety goggles (preferably the goggles, but if those are unavailable then use safety glasses). A lab coat needs to be worn to protect from splashes. All of these items can be found within the lab.
*Make sure you read through the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) binder mounted by the sink so that you are up-to-date on safety procedures regarding the chemicals within the lab.
*If chemicals ever get on your skin or in your eyes, follow the SDS. Wash it off or out (there is an eye washing station in front of the Machine Shop about 30 feet feet away). If it is an emergency, do what you need to do to make sure you and those around you are safe.
*Make sure you know how to use the spill kit (located to the right of the sink).
*If there is a chemical spill, we do have a spill kit. First, evacuate the lab and get everyone out. This means the lab should be shut down until the spill has been properly dealt with. Second, call Justin Johnson whose information should be posted next to the Emergency Response Guide (bright yellow and by the door leading to the main space). If Justin does not answer, call the Campus Public Safety office (formerly Security Services) whose information will be in the Emergency Response Guide or can be found online. Third, if you feel it is safe to do so, deploy the spill kit (located to the right of the sink).
*Be aware that laser cut items can have sharp edges that could cut you.
*Be careful when trying to remove support material by hand from a print off of the Dimension. When the support material breaks, it leaves sharp edges and shatters extremely sharp shards that will cut you if you are not careful.

===2. Reset the Space===
The Prototype Lab has a specific organization to it, even though sometimes it looks like chaos. Put whatever you use back where it belongs. There is a place for everything and everything has a place. This rule applies to everything in the space. If you move a chair, put it back. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a pen, put it back. Do not leave your projects in the Prototype Lab, take them with you. Do not leave random note sheets that pertain to nothing out. Throw away your trash and recycling.

We have allowed food and drink in the space. Resetting the Space means that you don’t leave wrappers, or trays, or anything that wasn’t there when you came in.

If you are working/volunteering in the space, this still applies to you. Do not take tools from the Hub and then store them in the Lab. If we need more tools, speak with Allison or Spencer and they can evaluate the situation and, if necessary, they will get more tools.

After you have started your project on a machine, make sure to clear the project from the program on the Prototype Lab computer. If you have a part you want to reuse, place the part inside the Prototype Lab Part Storage Folder on the computers.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave things out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large print and you need something to run overnight. In cases like this, it is okay, but you NEED to '''''leave a note''''' on your system so that others know the situation.

When parts finish on a 3D printer, remove them from the build plate and place them in the completed parts bin so that the owner can pick up their part.

Always put any unused materials from the laser cutter back on the storage shelf, and throw away unusable scrap.

Clear the computer of any files or images left over after completing your project.

Sweep when needed.

Immediately clean up any spilled Formlabs resin.

Always leave the space better than you found it.

===3. Be Professional===
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the Prototype Lab we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious ramifications in terms of behavior. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you have been printing a lot or using the laser cutter for a prolonged time and someone else is waiting for the machine, let them use the machine for a while. This is being a professional.

If you are working with a machine, and you don’t know the proper way to do what you are attempting - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a Professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

If someone acts disgracefully unprofessional to you in the Prototype Lab, you are welcome to bring the issue to the attention of the Prototype Lab student staff or the Maker Hub staff.

==General 3D Printing Knowledge==
3D printing is the process of joining material together to create a three-dimensional object using computer control. It is a form of additive manufacturing. Objects are created using a 3D model. There are many different types of 3D printing, and the Prototype Lab utilizes two types which are FDM (fused deposit modeling) and SLA (stereolithography).

In the Prototype Lab, objects are most commonly printed from an STL file. This means if you create a part in SolidWorks that you must save the file as a .stl instead of a .sldprt . Once the file is in STL form, it can then be processed by a slicer software. The slicer software converts the 3D model into thin layers and produces a G-code file. G-codes communicate with the chosen 3D printer, giving it directions on how to print the object.

Different 3D printers will run with different slicer programs. Typically a program will allow you to edit various parts of the process. One common consideration will be the layer thickness. This is the resolution at which the printer will print at. Each printer will have its own range of resolution. The thinner the layer thickness (higher resolution), the more detail you will get, but the print will be created more slowly. The thicker the layers (lower resolution), the less detail you will receive, but the object will be printed more quickly. Another consideration is support. For objects with overhangs, holes, etc., support will be needed. This will give the printer a surface to print on so that it can continue to build the print layer by layer. Each printer uses supports differently. Some printers have break away support while other have dissolvable support material.

Keep in mind that '''every print should be recorded in the Job Log'''. This allows the Lab to track the material usages and success rates of the printers, as well as recording the prices of every print. To record your print in the job log, go to the [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16fEdNcuvR_GSNV2Emy1P7SpJdetXU7ts9uQy-Ok7dRk/edit?usp=sharing Job Log spreadsheet] and fill out the required fields. A good time to fill it out is right after you have finished setting up a print.
[[File:3Dsupports.png|250px|thumb|right|Example of an object (blue) printed with supports (white)]]

There are common places of potential failure which you should watch for every print. The following points of failure specifically apply to FDM prints.

*Adhesion:
**When the print first starts, it is prudent to ensure that the filament is properly adhering to the build plate.
**Watch the print until the first dozen layers have been printed to make sure it is starting off successfully.
**The print can start sliding around the plate at anytime, although it is much more likely to fail toward the beginning of the print.
**A tall and skinny print is much more likely to struggle with adhesion than a short and stout print. Taking time to discern the best orientation for your print is always a good call.
**Adding a raft (sometimes called a brim) will also help if you print is struggling with staying adhered to the plate.
*Clogging
**Sometimes the extruder will clog causing the print to fail.
**This typically can be seen when a clump of filament balls up at the end of the nozzle.
**If this occurs, immediately cancel the print and remove the clumped filament. Make sure that the nozzle is still able to extrude filament, if not, you may need to open up the extruder and clean it. Keep working on it until you are able to extrude filament again.
*Air Extruding
**This means that the extruder thinks it is extruding filament when it really is not.
**Immediately cancel the print. Then restart the print.
**If the printer is still air extruding, cancel the print and unload the filament. You can try reloading and starting the print again.
**If the problem persists, you will probably need to take the extruder apart and clean it out before attempting any further prints.

===1. Printer Types===
There are many different types of printers, such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Electronic Beam Melting (EBM), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), Binder Jetting (BJ)... Each printer type employs different materials. The Prototype Lab has FDM and SLA machines.

Information about FDM and SLA printers and which machines these are and what materials they can use which. In each printer's page, one can simply link it to this so they don't have to describe materials, just simply state which ones are used with it. Mostly this is all here so I remember to do it or someone else sees it and wants to do it.

====SLA Printing====
[[File:InvertedSLA.png|302x302px|thumb|right|Inverted SLA Process]]
Stereolithography, SLA, is a part of the manufacturing technology of vat polymerization. This means a light source (laser) is used to cure liquid resin into a hard plastic.
The Form 2 is the only 3D printer that the Prototype Lab has that is an SLA printer. It utilizes the Upside Down or Inverted orientation.
The resin tank has a clear bottom with a surface the resin will not stick to. This allows the resin to cure against the bottom of the tank.
The build platform is lowered into the resin until it is hovering above the bottom surface of the tank, as far away as the height of the layer to be constructed.
The laser is directed through the bottom of the tank and cures a layer of resin onto the build platform. Then, the resin tank slides over and the build platform raises. The wiper will then sweep across the tank to circulate the resin.
The build platform will lower again, and the process will be repeated until the print is completed.
Due to friction caused by de-laminating every layer, every part should be canted in its orientation. This means the part should be angled to reduce the cross sectional area needing to be shifted to de-laminate each layer. This de-lamination also causes the Form 2 to be the Prototype Lab's slowest 3D printer.
Once a part is finished on the Form 2, it must be removed off of the build plate. Try to avoid scraping the build plate when removing parts. Any excess resin must be washed off using the Form Wash, the part must be air dried so that any isopropyl alcohol from the Wash has evaporated, the part should be cured in the Form Cure, and supports should be clipped off. Any remaining support marks can be sanded off if so desired.
Extra information on SLA Printing can be found [https://formlabs.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-stereolithography-sla-3d-printing/ here].

====FDM Printing====
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers use a thermoplastic filament, which is heated to its melting point, then extruded to create layers which then build an object. There are many different types of FDM printers. Some use a modeling material and a support material, some just use a modeling material which when creating support will use a different style of layering that allows the filament to break off easily, some are able to use multiple filaments at once allowing for multicolored objects to be created. [[File:Filament_Spool.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of a filament spool for a FDM printer.]]

The Prusa printers use only uses model material for supports, and the Markforge printer only uses model material as well (however it will layer another filament for extra support).

The filament for these printers comes in spools (basically thin plastic ropes that are wound up). The filament is fed through an extruder head, heated to the desired temperature, then extruded (similar to what happens with a hot glue gun).

FDM printers can work with various materials, in the Prototype Lab we mainly stick to PLA which is used by the Prusas. The Markforge uses a material called Onyx (nylon and plastic mix) and will layer in another filament such as Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, etc.

==General Laser Cutting Knowledge==
Laser cutting directs a high-powered laser through optics. The laser cutter follows a predetermined pattern to engrave or cut the material. Laser cutting is a great way to get a professional-looking surface finish.

*Can be used for many different materials ranging between wood, glass, rock, plastics, and even engraving Hydroflasks. At this time, the laser cutter in the Prototype Lab is not set up for metal etching.
*Works best on flat surfaces or cylinders with constant diameters.
*Performing a cut or engrave with the laser will always begin with an image, pdf, DXF, or similar file. When using SolidWorks you will need to save your file as a DXF using the selected face.

There are a couple common steps that must be done correctly when using the laser cutter:

*Always make sure that the lens and cone are clean before starting a print.
*Correctly focus the laser above the material, using the correct focusing tool for the lens type.
*Choose the correct material profile for the material you are using.
*Clean the bed of the laser cutter when you are finished.
[[Prusa XL]]

==Canvas Certification==
Complete the {{PAGENAME}} Certification Quiz Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

Prototype Lab

2026-02-04T01:04:30Z

Nsullivan: /* Schedule */

{{#set:
|Has ace=Allison Rodgers;arodgers24@georgefox.edu
|Has ace=Spencer Monkewicz;smonkewicz22@georgefox.edu
|Is facility = True
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1250
}}
[[File:Prototype Lab Logo.png|300px|frameless|left]][[File:prototype_lab.jpeg|400px|thumb|The Prototype Lab]]
The Prototype Lab contains a selection of 3D printers and two CO2 laser cutters.

The current Maker Hub Student Staff in the {{PAGENAME}} are '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}) 

__TOC__

=Schedule=
View the most up-to-date {{PAGENAME}} schedule 
[[File:10904.jpg|thumb]]

=Equipment Overview=
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[[Is located in facility::Prototype Lab]]
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==Equipment by Icon==
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==[[3 commandments]]==

===1. Safety First===
Safety First is the rule we hold highest of the three. Given the delicate nature of our machines, and the different chemicals and materials we use in the Prototype lab, this rule applies to both the safety of you, and the machines.

Keeping yourself safe in the Prototype Lab is very easy, as there are very few ways to hurt yourself or the machines. However, proper procedure must be followed at all times.

Basic principles of how to implement Safety First in the Prototype Lab:

*Do not touch the extruder heads of the 3D printers when they are running. They will be very hot and will burn you. Wait for the machine to cool off.
*Use gloves when handling chemicals such as Sodium Hydroxide (use the heat protecting gloves when retrieving items from the Sodium Hydroxide bath), Isopropyl or Denatured Alcohol (use Nitrile gloves if handling extensively after removing from the Form Wash), and Lacquer Thinner (use Nitrile gloves when using lacquer thinner to clean residue off of engraved Hydro Flasks). You may use gloves whenever you feel necessary, but these are circumstances where gloves are absolutely required.
*In addition to wearing gloves when around the Sodium Hydroxide, you must also wear safety goggles (preferably the goggles, but if those are unavailable then use safety glasses). A lab coat needs to be worn to protect from splashes. All of these items can be found within the lab.
*Make sure you read through the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) binder mounted by the sink so that you are up-to-date on safety procedures regarding the chemicals within the lab.
*If chemicals ever get on your skin or in your eyes, follow the SDS. Wash it off or out (there is an eye washing station in front of the Machine Shop about 30 feet feet away). If it is an emergency, do what you need to do to make sure you and those around you are safe.
*Make sure you know how to use the spill kit (located to the right of the sink).
*If there is a chemical spill, we do have a spill kit. First, evacuate the lab and get everyone out. This means the lab should be shut down until the spill has been properly dealt with. Second, call Justin Johnson whose information should be posted next to the Emergency Response Guide (bright yellow and by the door leading to the main space). If Justin does not answer, call the Campus Public Safety office (formerly Security Services) whose information will be in the Emergency Response Guide or can be found online. Third, if you feel it is safe to do so, deploy the spill kit (located to the right of the sink).
*Be aware that laser cut items can have sharp edges that could cut you.
*Be careful when trying to remove support material by hand from a print off of the Dimension. When the support material breaks, it leaves sharp edges and shatters extremely sharp shards that will cut you if you are not careful.

===2. Reset the Space===
The Prototype Lab has a specific organization to it, even though sometimes it looks like chaos. Put whatever you use back where it belongs. There is a place for everything and everything has a place. This rule applies to everything in the space. If you move a chair, put it back. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a pen, put it back. Do not leave your projects in the Prototype Lab, take them with you. Do not leave random note sheets that pertain to nothing out. Throw away your trash and recycling.

We have allowed food and drink in the space. Resetting the Space means that you don’t leave wrappers, or trays, or anything that wasn’t there when you came in.

If you are working/volunteering in the space, this still applies to you. Do not take tools from the Hub and then store them in the Lab. If we need more tools, speak with Allison or Spencer and they can evaluate the situation and, if necessary, they will get more tools.

After you have started your project on a machine, make sure to clear the project from the program on the Prototype Lab computer. If you have a part you want to reuse, place the part inside the Prototype Lab Part Storage Folder on the computers.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave things out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large print and you need something to run overnight. In cases like this, it is okay, but you NEED to '''''leave a note''''' on your system so that others know the situation.

When parts finish on a 3D printer, remove them from the build plate and place them in the completed parts bin so that the owner can pick up their part.

Always put any unused materials from the laser cutter back on the storage shelf, and throw away unusable scrap.

Clear the computer of any files or images left over after completing your project.

Sweep when needed.

Immediately clean up any spilled Formlabs resin.

Always leave the space better than you found it.

===3. Be Professional===
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the Prototype Lab we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious ramifications in terms of behavior. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you have been printing a lot or using the laser cutter for a prolonged time and someone else is waiting for the machine, let them use the machine for a while. This is being a professional.

If you are working with a machine, and you don’t know the proper way to do what you are attempting - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a Professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

If someone acts disgracefully unprofessional to you in the Prototype Lab, you are welcome to bring the issue to the attention of the Prototype Lab student staff or the Maker Hub staff.

==General 3D Printing Knowledge==
3D printing is the process of joining material together to create a three-dimensional object using computer control. It is a form of additive manufacturing. Objects are created using a 3D model. There are many different types of 3D printing, and the Prototype Lab utilizes two types which are FDM (fused deposit modeling) and SLA (stereolithography).

In the Prototype Lab, objects are most commonly printed from an STL file. This means if you create a part in SolidWorks that you must save the file as a .stl instead of a .sldprt . Once the file is in STL form, it can then be processed by a slicer software. The slicer software converts the 3D model into thin layers and produces a G-code file. G-codes communicate with the chosen 3D printer, giving it directions on how to print the object.

Different 3D printers will run with different slicer programs. Typically a program will allow you to edit various parts of the process. One common consideration will be the layer thickness. This is the resolution at which the printer will print at. Each printer will have its own range of resolution. The thinner the layer thickness (higher resolution), the more detail you will get, but the print will be created more slowly. The thicker the layers (lower resolution), the less detail you will receive, but the object will be printed more quickly. Another consideration is support. For objects with overhangs, holes, etc., support will be needed. This will give the printer a surface to print on so that it can continue to build the print layer by layer. Each printer uses supports differently. Some printers have break away support while other have dissolvable support material.

Keep in mind that '''every print should be recorded in the Job Log'''. This allows the Lab to track the material usages and success rates of the printers, as well as recording the prices of every print. To record your print in the job log, go to the [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16fEdNcuvR_GSNV2Emy1P7SpJdetXU7ts9uQy-Ok7dRk/edit?usp=sharing Job Log spreadsheet] and fill out the required fields. A good time to fill it out is right after you have finished setting up a print.
[[File:3Dsupports.png|250px|thumb|right|Example of an object (blue) printed with supports (white)]]

There are common places of potential failure which you should watch for every print. The following points of failure specifically apply to FDM prints.

*Adhesion:
**When the print first starts, it is prudent to ensure that the filament is properly adhering to the build plate.
**Watch the print until the first dozen layers have been printed to make sure it is starting off successfully.
**The print can start sliding around the plate at anytime, although it is much more likely to fail toward the beginning of the print.
**A tall and skinny print is much more likely to struggle with adhesion than a short and stout print. Taking time to discern the best orientation for your print is always a good call.
**Adding a raft (sometimes called a brim) will also help if you print is struggling with staying adhered to the plate.
*Clogging
**Sometimes the extruder will clog causing the print to fail.
**This typically can be seen when a clump of filament balls up at the end of the nozzle.
**If this occurs, immediately cancel the print and remove the clumped filament. Make sure that the nozzle is still able to extrude filament, if not, you may need to open up the extruder and clean it. Keep working on it until you are able to extrude filament again.
*Air Extruding
**This means that the extruder thinks it is extruding filament when it really is not.
**Immediately cancel the print. Then restart the print.
**If the printer is still air extruding, cancel the print and unload the filament. You can try reloading and starting the print again.
**If the problem persists, you will probably need to take the extruder apart and clean it out before attempting any further prints.

===1. Printer Types===
There are many different types of printers, such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Electronic Beam Melting (EBM), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), Binder Jetting (BJ)... Each printer type employs different materials. The Prototype Lab has FDM and SLA machines.

Information about FDM and SLA printers and which machines these are and what materials they can use which. In each printer's page, one can simply link it to this so they don't have to describe materials, just simply state which ones are used with it. Mostly this is all here so I remember to do it or someone else sees it and wants to do it.

====SLA Printing====
[[File:InvertedSLA.png|302x302px|thumb|right|Inverted SLA Process]]
Stereolithography, SLA, is a part of the manufacturing technology of vat polymerization. This means a light source (laser) is used to cure liquid resin into a hard plastic.
The Form 2 is the only 3D printer that the Prototype Lab has that is an SLA printer. It utilizes the Upside Down or Inverted orientation.
The resin tank has a clear bottom with a surface the resin will not stick to. This allows the resin to cure against the bottom of the tank.
The build platform is lowered into the resin until it is hovering above the bottom surface of the tank, as far away as the height of the layer to be constructed.
The laser is directed through the bottom of the tank and cures a layer of resin onto the build platform. Then, the resin tank slides over and the build platform raises. The wiper will then sweep across the tank to circulate the resin.
The build platform will lower again, and the process will be repeated until the print is completed.
Due to friction caused by de-laminating every layer, every part should be canted in its orientation. This means the part should be angled to reduce the cross sectional area needing to be shifted to de-laminate each layer. This de-lamination also causes the Form 2 to be the Prototype Lab's slowest 3D printer.
Once a part is finished on the Form 2, it must be removed off of the build plate. Try to avoid scraping the build plate when removing parts. Any excess resin must be washed off using the Form Wash, the part must be air dried so that any isopropyl alcohol from the Wash has evaporated, the part should be cured in the Form Cure, and supports should be clipped off. Any remaining support marks can be sanded off if so desired.
Extra information on SLA Printing can be found [https://formlabs.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-stereolithography-sla-3d-printing/ here].

====FDM Printing====
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers use a thermoplastic filament, which is heated to its melting point, then extruded to create layers which then build an object. There are many different types of FDM printers. Some use a modeling material and a support material, some just use a modeling material which when creating support will use a different style of layering that allows the filament to break off easily, some are able to use multiple filaments at once allowing for multicolored objects to be created. [[File:Filament_Spool.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of a filament spool for a FDM printer.]]

The Prusa printers use only uses model material for supports, and the Markforge printer only uses model material as well (however it will layer another filament for extra support).

The filament for these printers comes in spools (basically thin plastic ropes that are wound up). The filament is fed through an extruder head, heated to the desired temperature, then extruded (similar to what happens with a hot glue gun).

FDM printers can work with various materials, in the Prototype Lab we mainly stick to PLA which is used by the Prusas. The Markforge uses a material called Onyx (nylon and plastic mix) and will layer in another filament such as Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, etc.

==General Laser Cutting Knowledge==
Laser cutting directs a high-powered laser through optics. The laser cutter follows a predetermined pattern to engrave or cut the material. Laser cutting is a great way to get a professional-looking surface finish.

*Can be used for many different materials ranging between wood, glass, rock, plastics, and even engraving Hydroflasks. At this time, the laser cutter in the Prototype Lab is not set up for metal etching.
*Works best on flat surfaces or cylinders with constant diameters.
*Performing a cut or engrave with the laser will always begin with an image, pdf, DXF, or similar file. When using SolidWorks you will need to save your file as a DXF using the selected face.

There are a couple common steps that must be done correctly when using the laser cutter:

*Always make sure that the lens and cone are clean before starting a print.
*Correctly focus the laser above the material, using the correct focusing tool for the lens type.
*Choose the correct material profile for the material you are using.
*Clean the bed of the laser cutter when you are finished.
[[Prusa XL]]

==Canvas Certification==
Complete the {{PAGENAME}} Certification Quiz Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

File:10904.jpg

2026-02-04T01:04:22Z

Nsullivan:

10904

Software

2026-01-22T23:55:59Z

Nsullivan: /* Maker Hub Software Policy */

[https://makerhub-internal.georgefox.edu/wiki/Main_Page Need to get to the Maker Hub Internal wiki??? Click here!]

==Maker Hub Software Policy==

As a convenience, the Maker Hub has chosen to make some of its software available for GFU students/employees to download onto their personal computers. The installation files and instructions are located on the Maker Hub internal wiki. You must be connected to the campus network (or VPN-ed into the campus network) in order to access the Maker Hub internal wiki. The same is true for using Maker Hub software after it is installed; you must either be on the campus network or VPN-ed into the campus network for the software to access the GFU license servers. To set up your VPN, visit this link: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qFfAi4iIGOWWOx6GCCWTcv1sXaE1Ds47U7A72D_Dzyw/edit?tab=t.0 GFU Virtual Private Network].

The Maker Hub has has well-maintained computer lab (Klages 260) plus additional specialized computer stations that contain all the software needed for engineering classes, personal projects, academic projects, and general making activities. The Maker Hub computer lab is available 24/7 to all students. A special note for engineering students... You will need access to this software to complete class assignments. Regardless of whether you are successful or not in downloading software from this wiki page onto your personal computer, the Maker Hub computer labs are always available to you. So, excuses for missing assignments because you could not get the necessary software running on your personal computer will not hold very much weight. As previously mentioned, the software available for download on this wiki page is provided as a convenience. The content of the installation guides on this wiki are maintained by the engineering faculty who teach the classes requiring the use of a given piece of software. The installation guides are intended to be self-paced. Unfortunately, neither IT nor the Maker Hub staff have the bandwidth to troubleshoot personal computer issues. If you are having trouble downloading software onto your personal computer, please consult your faculty member or a classmate.

Final note: This software is Windows only. If you own a Mac, there are workarounds including VMs and partitioning your hard drive to install a Windows OS. If you don't know how to do that, this is your opportunity to step up to the plate and "be an engineer" and figure it out (I figured out how to partition my Mac hard drive and install a Windows OS when I was an engineering student... You can do it too!). Engineers are computer savvy. Watch some YouTube videos and get some help from your computer-loving friends. Otherwise, your options are to buy a Windows computer, borrow a Windows computer, or use the Maker Hub computer lab. :)


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User Policies

2025-11-18T19:06:00Z

Nsullivan: /* GFU Students */

The Maker Hub has a diverse user base. This page seeks to describe the access and expectations for each type of user. Maker Hub access should be considered a privilege, and the Maker Hub staff members reserve the right to revoke user access privileges as they see fit.

Anyone who will be using Maker Hub equipment/tools or will be participating in any hands-on activity in the Maker Hub must sign a [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|waiver]] beforehand. Specifics for each type of user are explained below.

__TOC__

=GFU Affiliates=

===GFU Students===

The Maker Hub is open to all undergraduate, graduate, and ADP students. This includes both full-time and part-time students. All majors are welcome.

Aside from official tours, special Maker Hub events, and work study duties, all students who desire access to the Maker Hub's space, [[tools]], and [[equipment]] must follow the [[Getting Started|Maker Hub's training system]] to gain access--regardless of prior experience. This means that students cannot sponsor other students into this space (aside from official tours, special Maker Hub events, or work study duties). The Maker Hub defines "sponsoring" as a user with Maker Hub access (i.e. passed the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course) who is hosting/supervising a person within the Maker Hub who does not have access. Apart from the exceptions listed at the beginning of this paragraph, all students must follow the Maker Hub's training system in order for the Maker Hub to comply with safety standards and legal requirements (external to GFU). All GFU students have access to the wiki and Canvas course(s) necessary to gain access; therefore, all students who will ''be'' in this space are expected to pass the [[Getting Started#Certification|Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course]] (which includes the waiver as one of the questions).

To be clear, students do have permission to sponsor anyone (students, other employees, family members, friends, etc.) into the Maker Hub for the purposes of a tour. "Tours" do not include equipment or tool usage. Also, "tours" do not include "just going to the Maker Hub to do homework with friends." That's what the library is for... :/

===GFU Employees===

The Maker Hub is open to all GFU employees: faculty, staff, administrators, etc. This includes both full-time and part-time employees.

GFU employees who desire access to the Maker Hub's [[tools]] and [[equipment]] must undergo the same training that students suffer (I mean... receive) regardless of prior experience. GFU employees have permission to sponsor anyone (students, other employees, family members, friends, etc.) into the Maker Hub for the purposes of a tour. This does not include equipment or tool usage (see the notes in red text about the Maker Hub waiver).

===Student Staff===

The Maker Hub has several regular work study positions over the course of the semester. These positions include: machine shop supervisors, prototype lab supervisors, helpdesk attendants, and the social media intern. These positions oversee their respective areas and work closely with the Maker Hub staff and College of Engineering to train users, maintain equipment and tools, host events, and advance the makerspace/engineering program. The Maker Hub also employs a couple work study students during the summer.

===Student Aces and Student Volunteers===

Student aces/volunteers are key to the training process and overall function of the Maker Hub. Student aces become an expert on a particular piece of [[equipment]] and help conduct training and demonstrations for that piece of [[equipment]]. Student volunteers oversee a particular facility and help conduct training and demonstrations for several pieces of [[equipment]] within that facility. Student aces/volunteers often receive additional privileges such as extended access to their facility.

===Alumni===

The Maker Hub maintains a good relationship with GFU alumni, but currently, there is no membership system available for GFU alumni. Alumni may serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the [[{{PAGENAME}}#Volunteers|Volunteers]] section).

=Spouses, Family, Minors, and Guests=

All spouses, family members, minors, and guests who will be using Maker Hub equipment/tools or will be participating in any hands-on activity in the Maker Hub must sign a waiver beforehand (including parent/guardian signatures for minors).

===Student Spouses and Family Members===

Students may sponsor their spouse and family members into the Maker Hub. This means that student spouses and family members may accompany the current GFU student within the facility. The student sponsor assumes full responsibility for ensuring that his or her guests adhere to the proper safety protocols, cleanliness, and professionalism required in the Maker Hub. If the family members have signed a waiver, they are permitted to use [[tools]] under the direct supervision of their student sponsor. Student family members are prohibited from using Maker Hub [[equipment]]. However, student spouses are an exception. If desired, student spouses may achieve [[equipment]] certification through the Maker Hub's standard wiki/quiz/training/demonstration process. The first step in connecting the student's spouse with the Maker Hub is for the student to initiate a background check with HR. CC makerhub@georgefox.edu in your email correspondence with HR to keep the Maker Hub staff in the loop. HR will pass their information to the IT department so they can create a GFU ID and the proper computer accounts. Once the computer accounts are created, the student spouse may read the wiki and enroll in the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course. Student spouses may also serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the Volunteers section).

===Employee Spouses and Family Members===

Employees may sponsor their spouse and family members into the Maker Hub. This means that employee spouses and family members may accompany the employee within the facility. The employee sponsor assumes full responsibility for ensuring that his or her guests adhere to the proper safety protocols, cleanliness, and professionalism required in the Maker Hub. If the family members have signed a waiver, they are permitted to use [[tools]] under the direct supervision of their employee sponsor. Employee family members are prohibited from using Maker Hub [[equipment]]. However, employee spouses are an exception. If desired, employee spouses may achieve [[equipment]] certification through the Maker Hub's standard wiki/quiz/training/demonstration process. The first step in connecting the employee's spouse with the Maker Hub is for the employee to initiate a background check with HR. CC makerhub@georgefox.edu in your email correspondence with HR to keep the Maker Hub staff in the loop. HR will pass their information to the IT department so they can create a GFU ID and the proper computer accounts. Once the computer accounts are created, the employee spouse may read the wiki and enroll in the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course. Employee spouses may also serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the [[{{PAGENAME}}#Volunteers|Volunteers]] section).

===Minors, High School, and Middle/Elementary School Students===

For clarification, the Maker Hub's usage of the word "minor" applies to a person who is both under 18 ''and'' pre-college. The Maker Hub is not considering freshmen students at GFU who are still 17 at the beginning of the fall semester as minors.

Minors may only use [[equipment]] under the supervision of the Maker Hub staff. The opportunities for minors to use equipment will be almost exclusively during the Maker Camps in the summer, official tours, or school visits to the Maker Hub. At this time, the Maker Hub does not allow non-staff-members to supervise a minor's usage of [[equipment]] unless specifically delegated. High school, middle school, and elementary school students may coordinate with Admissions or the College of Engineering to take a tour of the Maker Hub. In all cases, all minors must deliver a [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|waiver]] with both their signature and parent/guardian's signature before they are permitted to use any Maker Hub [[equipment]] or [[tools]].

The Maker Hub can be made available to in-semester outreach programs for minors; namely, special middle/high school programs or homeschooling groups that are seeking access to the Maker Hub during GFU's fall or spring semester. These outreach programs must first be approved by the Maker Hub Manager. Outreach programs that are requested less than two months in advance will probably be denied; early communication is key for the Maker Hub to properly host and support outreach programs. These outreach programs will need to follow a specific curriculum, follow a specific schedule, obtain the necessary staffing, receive proper training for the activities they will perform, and operate in a manner that minimally impacts any GFU academic work in the Maker Hub. The Maker Hub staff will administer training to the group teachers who will, in turn, conduct the training and curriculum for the students. Group teachers and students must comply with the same principles that all Maker Hub users observe: Safety First, Reset the Space, Be Professional. The Maker Hub staff reserves the right to terminate any outreach program that does not comply with the [[3 commandments]].

The following are the necessary teacher/student ratios by facility:
*1:2 for [[Machine Shop]], [[Wood Shop]], [[Welding Shop]], [[PCB Lab]], or [[Finishing Room]]
*1:5 for [[Prototype Lab]] or [[The Vault]]
*1:10 for [[The Hub]]
*1:15 for tool-usage-only, [[Computer Lab]], or [[Meeting Rooms]]

If all criteria has been met, here is the breakdown of equipment available to minors under the proper supervision:
*Ages 8 - 17 (typically elementary, middle, and high school students) may use equipment in [[The Hub]], the [[Prototype Lab]], and [[The Vault]]
*Ages 14 - 17 (typically high school students) additionally may use equipment in the [[Machine Shop]], the [[Wood Shop]], the [[Welding Shop]], the [[PCB Lab]], and the [[Finishing Room]]

Outside of official family-friendly Maker Hub events (e.g. Santa's Workshop), minors under 8 years old may not use any Maker Hub [[equipment]] or [[tools]]. However, they may tour the Maker Hub.

===Tours===

The Maker Hub welcomes friends, family members, local industry partners, schools, and prospective students for tours. Guests may accompany a tour guide from Admissions or the College of Engineering to see all that the Maker Hub has to offer. Tours--by themselves--do not include hands-on activities. All hands-on activities need to be coordinated with the Maker Hub staff.

=Volunteers=

If you are interested in volunteering in the Maker Hub, email makerhub@georgefox.edu to schedule a tour and interview with the Maker Hub staff. The Maker Hub will share a volunteer handbook and waiver with the potential volunteer that need to be reviewed and signed before the tour and interview occur. If everyone is in agreement, the Maker Hub staff will initiate a background check with HR and request a GFU ID and computer accounts through the IT department before the volunteer can work with GFU students. Volunteers can be alumni, student spouses, employee spouses, or local community members.

The Maker Hub's vision for bringing volunteers into the space is for training and mentoring students alongside people who have significant experience in a certain field or craft that is represented in the Maker Hub. Volunteers need to have a heart for teaching and guiding college students. It is a great benefit to our students to have subject matter experts available as a resource for consulting and skill mastery.

Volunteer participation is quite flexible, but here are some suggestions that may maximize the benefits for all parties involved. The busiest periods of student activity in the Maker Hub are on weekday afternoons and early evenings. Often, we recommend that volunteers pick times in those windows to be present in their respective area(s). Consistent availability helps the training process greatly. For example, if a wood shop volunteer comes in on Thursday and Friday afternoons, we can direct students who need training on wood shop equipment to visit the wood shop during those hours. Some volunteers may choose to work seasonally (e.g. only the fall semester or only the spring semester).

There is no contract. Volunteers are free to adjust their schedules, take a hiatus, or terminate their service to the Maker Hub as desired. Our primary request from the volunteers is that they maintain good communication with the Maker Hub staff. The Maker Hub seeks to cultivate a symbiotic relationship with our volunteers.

What's in it for the volunteers? Volunteers are free to use the Maker Hub's [[equipment]] for personal projects when student traffic in their respective area is low or outside of their volunteer hours. Of course, the same [https://maker-hub.georgefox.edu/wiki/Getting_Started#Material_Policy material policies] and [https://maker-hub.georgefox.edu/wiki/Getting_Started#Production_Runs production policies] apply to volunteers as they do to all other Maker Hub users. The Maker Hub is primarily an educational space, and this will always remain a top priority. Volunteers are also encouraged to take some ownership of their particular area. What does this mean? This means you can dream with us about developing the Maker Hub. Are there certain [[tools]] or pieces of [[equipment]] that we should purchase? How could things be made more efficient or aesthetically beautiful? How could we upgrade the training process in your area? Are there certain machines you enjoy maintaining? Are there certain skill seminars that you want to teach? Do you have ideas for promoting the Maker Hub on social media? Lastly, volunteers have the joy of passing down wisdom to the next generation. There a satisfaction in getting to know the students and equipping the next generation of Christian leaders with both technical skills and life skills as they transition to adulthood.

We are extremely grateful for our volunteers; their contributions are vital to ensuring the successful operation of the Maker Hub.

User Policies

2025-11-18T01:50:33Z

Nsullivan: /* GFU Employees */

The Maker Hub has a diverse user base. This page seeks to describe the access and expectations for each type of user. Maker Hub access should be considered a privilege, and the Maker Hub staff members reserve the right to revoke user access privileges as they see fit.

Anyone who will be using Maker Hub equipment/tools or will be participating in any hands-on activity in the Maker Hub must sign a [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|waiver]] beforehand. Specifics for each type of user are explained below.

__TOC__

=GFU Affiliates=

===GFU Students===

The Maker Hub is open to all undergraduate, graduate, and ADP students. This includes both full-time and part-time students. All majors are welcome.

Aside from official tours, special Maker Hub events, and work study duties, all students who desire access to the Maker Hub's space, [[tools]], and [[equipment]] must follow the [[Getting Started|Maker Hub's training system]] to gain access--regardless of prior experience. This means that students cannot sponsor other students into this space. The Maker Hub defines "sponsoring" as a user with Maker Hub access (i.e. passed the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course) who is hosting/supervising a person within the Maker Hub who does not have access. Apart from the exceptions listed at the beginning of this paragraph, all students must follow the Maker Hub's training system in order for the Maker Hub to comply with safety standards and legal requirements (external to GFU). All GFU students have access to the wiki and Canvas course(s) necessary to gain access; therefore, all students who will ''be'' in this space are expected to pass the [[Getting Started#Certification|Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course]] (which includes the waiver as one of the questions). And yes, this expectation also applies to students who are "just going to the Maker Hub to do homework with friends." But really, that's what the library is for... :/

===GFU Employees===

The Maker Hub is open to all GFU employees: faculty, staff, administrators, etc. This includes both full-time and part-time employees.

GFU employees who desire access to the Maker Hub's [[tools]] and [[equipment]] must undergo the same training that students suffer (I mean... receive) regardless of prior experience. GFU employees have permission to sponsor anyone (students, other employees, family members, friends, etc.) into the Maker Hub for the purposes of a tour. This does not include equipment or tool usage (see the notes in red text about the Maker Hub waiver).

===Student Staff===

The Maker Hub has several regular work study positions over the course of the semester. These positions include: machine shop supervisors, prototype lab supervisors, helpdesk attendants, and the social media intern. These positions oversee their respective areas and work closely with the Maker Hub staff and College of Engineering to train users, maintain equipment and tools, host events, and advance the makerspace/engineering program. The Maker Hub also employs a couple work study students during the summer.

===Student Aces and Student Volunteers===

Student aces/volunteers are key to the training process and overall function of the Maker Hub. Student aces become an expert on a particular piece of [[equipment]] and help conduct training and demonstrations for that piece of [[equipment]]. Student volunteers oversee a particular facility and help conduct training and demonstrations for several pieces of [[equipment]] within that facility. Student aces/volunteers often receive additional privileges such as extended access to their facility.

===Alumni===

The Maker Hub maintains a good relationship with GFU alumni, but currently, there is no membership system available for GFU alumni. Alumni may serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the [[{{PAGENAME}}#Volunteers|Volunteers]] section).

=Spouses, Family, Minors, and Guests=

All spouses, family members, minors, and guests who will be using Maker Hub equipment/tools or will be participating in any hands-on activity in the Maker Hub must sign a waiver beforehand (including parent/guardian signatures for minors).

===Student Spouses and Family Members===

Students may sponsor their spouse and family members into the Maker Hub. This means that student spouses and family members may accompany the current GFU student within the facility. The student sponsor assumes full responsibility for ensuring that his or her guests adhere to the proper safety protocols, cleanliness, and professionalism required in the Maker Hub. If the family members have signed a waiver, they are permitted to use [[tools]] under the direct supervision of their student sponsor. Student family members are prohibited from using Maker Hub [[equipment]]. However, student spouses are an exception. If desired, student spouses may achieve [[equipment]] certification through the Maker Hub's standard wiki/quiz/training/demonstration process. The first step in connecting the student's spouse with the Maker Hub is for the student to initiate a background check with HR. CC makerhub@georgefox.edu in your email correspondence with HR to keep the Maker Hub staff in the loop. HR will pass their information to the IT department so they can create a GFU ID and the proper computer accounts. Once the computer accounts are created, the student spouse may read the wiki and enroll in the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course. Student spouses may also serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the Volunteers section).

===Employee Spouses and Family Members===

Employees may sponsor their spouse and family members into the Maker Hub. This means that employee spouses and family members may accompany the employee within the facility. The employee sponsor assumes full responsibility for ensuring that his or her guests adhere to the proper safety protocols, cleanliness, and professionalism required in the Maker Hub. If the family members have signed a waiver, they are permitted to use [[tools]] under the direct supervision of their employee sponsor. Employee family members are prohibited from using Maker Hub [[equipment]]. However, employee spouses are an exception. If desired, employee spouses may achieve [[equipment]] certification through the Maker Hub's standard wiki/quiz/training/demonstration process. The first step in connecting the employee's spouse with the Maker Hub is for the employee to initiate a background check with HR. CC makerhub@georgefox.edu in your email correspondence with HR to keep the Maker Hub staff in the loop. HR will pass their information to the IT department so they can create a GFU ID and the proper computer accounts. Once the computer accounts are created, the employee spouse may read the wiki and enroll in the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course. Employee spouses may also serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the [[{{PAGENAME}}#Volunteers|Volunteers]] section).

===Minors, High School, and Middle/Elementary School Students===

For clarification, the Maker Hub's usage of the word "minor" applies to a person who is both under 18 ''and'' pre-college. The Maker Hub is not considering freshmen students at GFU who are still 17 at the beginning of the fall semester as minors.

Minors may only use [[equipment]] under the supervision of the Maker Hub staff. The opportunities for minors to use equipment will be almost exclusively during the Maker Camps in the summer, official tours, or school visits to the Maker Hub. At this time, the Maker Hub does not allow non-staff-members to supervise a minor's usage of [[equipment]] unless specifically delegated. High school, middle school, and elementary school students may coordinate with Admissions or the College of Engineering to take a tour of the Maker Hub. In all cases, all minors must deliver a [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|waiver]] with both their signature and parent/guardian's signature before they are permitted to use any Maker Hub [[equipment]] or [[tools]].

The Maker Hub can be made available to in-semester outreach programs for minors; namely, special middle/high school programs or homeschooling groups that are seeking access to the Maker Hub during GFU's fall or spring semester. These outreach programs must first be approved by the Maker Hub Manager. Outreach programs that are requested less than two months in advance will probably be denied; early communication is key for the Maker Hub to properly host and support outreach programs. These outreach programs will need to follow a specific curriculum, follow a specific schedule, obtain the necessary staffing, receive proper training for the activities they will perform, and operate in a manner that minimally impacts any GFU academic work in the Maker Hub. The Maker Hub staff will administer training to the group teachers who will, in turn, conduct the training and curriculum for the students. Group teachers and students must comply with the same principles that all Maker Hub users observe: Safety First, Reset the Space, Be Professional. The Maker Hub staff reserves the right to terminate any outreach program that does not comply with the [[3 commandments]].

The following are the necessary teacher/student ratios by facility:
*1:2 for [[Machine Shop]], [[Wood Shop]], [[Welding Shop]], [[PCB Lab]], or [[Finishing Room]]
*1:5 for [[Prototype Lab]] or [[The Vault]]
*1:10 for [[The Hub]]
*1:15 for tool-usage-only, [[Computer Lab]], or [[Meeting Rooms]]

If all criteria has been met, here is the breakdown of equipment available to minors under the proper supervision:
*Ages 8 - 17 (typically elementary, middle, and high school students) may use equipment in [[The Hub]], the [[Prototype Lab]], and [[The Vault]]
*Ages 14 - 17 (typically high school students) additionally may use equipment in the [[Machine Shop]], the [[Wood Shop]], the [[Welding Shop]], the [[PCB Lab]], and the [[Finishing Room]]

Outside of official family-friendly Maker Hub events (e.g. Santa's Workshop), minors under 8 years old may not use any Maker Hub [[equipment]] or [[tools]]. However, they may tour the Maker Hub.

===Tours===

The Maker Hub welcomes friends, family members, local industry partners, schools, and prospective students for tours. Guests may accompany a tour guide from Admissions or the College of Engineering to see all that the Maker Hub has to offer. Tours--by themselves--do not include hands-on activities. All hands-on activities need to be coordinated with the Maker Hub staff.

=Volunteers=

If you are interested in volunteering in the Maker Hub, email makerhub@georgefox.edu to schedule a tour and interview with the Maker Hub staff. The Maker Hub will share a volunteer handbook and waiver with the potential volunteer that need to be reviewed and signed before the tour and interview occur. If everyone is in agreement, the Maker Hub staff will initiate a background check with HR and request a GFU ID and computer accounts through the IT department before the volunteer can work with GFU students. Volunteers can be alumni, student spouses, employee spouses, or local community members.

The Maker Hub's vision for bringing volunteers into the space is for training and mentoring students alongside people who have significant experience in a certain field or craft that is represented in the Maker Hub. Volunteers need to have a heart for teaching and guiding college students. It is a great benefit to our students to have subject matter experts available as a resource for consulting and skill mastery.

Volunteer participation is quite flexible, but here are some suggestions that may maximize the benefits for all parties involved. The busiest periods of student activity in the Maker Hub are on weekday afternoons and early evenings. Often, we recommend that volunteers pick times in those windows to be present in their respective area(s). Consistent availability helps the training process greatly. For example, if a wood shop volunteer comes in on Thursday and Friday afternoons, we can direct students who need training on wood shop equipment to visit the wood shop during those hours. Some volunteers may choose to work seasonally (e.g. only the fall semester or only the spring semester).

There is no contract. Volunteers are free to adjust their schedules, take a hiatus, or terminate their service to the Maker Hub as desired. Our primary request from the volunteers is that they maintain good communication with the Maker Hub staff. The Maker Hub seeks to cultivate a symbiotic relationship with our volunteers.

What's in it for the volunteers? Volunteers are free to use the Maker Hub's [[equipment]] for personal projects when student traffic in their respective area is low or outside of their volunteer hours. Of course, the same [https://maker-hub.georgefox.edu/wiki/Getting_Started#Material_Policy material policies] and [https://maker-hub.georgefox.edu/wiki/Getting_Started#Production_Runs production policies] apply to volunteers as they do to all other Maker Hub users. The Maker Hub is primarily an educational space, and this will always remain a top priority. Volunteers are also encouraged to take some ownership of their particular area. What does this mean? This means you can dream with us about developing the Maker Hub. Are there certain [[tools]] or pieces of [[equipment]] that we should purchase? How could things be made more efficient or aesthetically beautiful? How could we upgrade the training process in your area? Are there certain machines you enjoy maintaining? Are there certain skill seminars that you want to teach? Do you have ideas for promoting the Maker Hub on social media? Lastly, volunteers have the joy of passing down wisdom to the next generation. There a satisfaction in getting to know the students and equipping the next generation of Christian leaders with both technical skills and life skills as they transition to adulthood.

We are extremely grateful for our volunteers; their contributions are vital to ensuring the successful operation of the Maker Hub.

User Policies

2025-11-18T01:47:12Z

Nsullivan: /* GFU Employees */

The Maker Hub has a diverse user base. This page seeks to describe the access and expectations for each type of user. Maker Hub access should be considered a privilege, and the Maker Hub staff members reserve the right to revoke user access privileges as they see fit.

Anyone who will be using Maker Hub equipment/tools or will be participating in any hands-on activity in the Maker Hub must sign a [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|waiver]] beforehand. Specifics for each type of user are explained below.

__TOC__

=GFU Affiliates=

===GFU Students===

The Maker Hub is open to all undergraduate, graduate, and ADP students. This includes both full-time and part-time students. All majors are welcome.

Aside from official tours, special Maker Hub events, and work study duties, all students who desire access to the Maker Hub's space, [[tools]], and [[equipment]] must follow the [[Getting Started|Maker Hub's training system]] to gain access--regardless of prior experience. This means that students cannot sponsor other students into this space. The Maker Hub defines "sponsoring" as a user with Maker Hub access (i.e. passed the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course) who is hosting/supervising a person within the Maker Hub who does not have access. Apart from the exceptions listed at the beginning of this paragraph, all students must follow the Maker Hub's training system in order for the Maker Hub to comply with safety standards and legal requirements (external to GFU). All GFU students have access to the wiki and Canvas course(s) necessary to gain access; therefore, all students who will ''be'' in this space are expected to pass the [[Getting Started#Certification|Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course]] (which includes the waiver as one of the questions). And yes, this expectation also applies to students who are "just going to the Maker Hub to do homework with friends." But really, that's what the library is for... :/

===GFU Employees===

The Maker Hub is open to all GFU employees: faculty, staff, administrators, etc. This includes both full-time and part-time employees.

GFU employees who desire access to the Maker Hub's [[tools]] and [[equipment]] must undergo the same training that students suffer (I mean... receive) regardless of prior experience. GFU employees have permission to sponsor anyone (students, other employees, family members, friends, etc.) into the Maker Hub for the purposes of a tour, or observation. This does not include equipment or tool usage (see the note about the Maker Hub waiver at the top of the page).

===Student Staff===

The Maker Hub has several regular work study positions over the course of the semester. These positions include: machine shop supervisors, prototype lab supervisors, helpdesk attendants, and the social media intern. These positions oversee their respective areas and work closely with the Maker Hub staff and College of Engineering to train users, maintain equipment and tools, host events, and advance the makerspace/engineering program. The Maker Hub also employs a couple work study students during the summer.

===Student Aces and Student Volunteers===

Student aces/volunteers are key to the training process and overall function of the Maker Hub. Student aces become an expert on a particular piece of [[equipment]] and help conduct training and demonstrations for that piece of [[equipment]]. Student volunteers oversee a particular facility and help conduct training and demonstrations for several pieces of [[equipment]] within that facility. Student aces/volunteers often receive additional privileges such as extended access to their facility.

===Alumni===

The Maker Hub maintains a good relationship with GFU alumni, but currently, there is no membership system available for GFU alumni. Alumni may serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the [[{{PAGENAME}}#Volunteers|Volunteers]] section).

=Spouses, Family, Minors, and Guests=

All spouses, family members, minors, and guests who will be using Maker Hub equipment/tools or will be participating in any hands-on activity in the Maker Hub must sign a waiver beforehand (including parent/guardian signatures for minors).

===Student Spouses and Family Members===

Students may sponsor their spouse and family members into the Maker Hub. This means that student spouses and family members may accompany the current GFU student within the facility. The student sponsor assumes full responsibility for ensuring that his or her guests adhere to the proper safety protocols, cleanliness, and professionalism required in the Maker Hub. If the family members have signed a waiver, they are permitted to use [[tools]] under the direct supervision of their student sponsor. Student family members are prohibited from using Maker Hub [[equipment]]. However, student spouses are an exception. If desired, student spouses may achieve [[equipment]] certification through the Maker Hub's standard wiki/quiz/training/demonstration process. The first step in connecting the student's spouse with the Maker Hub is for the student to initiate a background check with HR. CC makerhub@georgefox.edu in your email correspondence with HR to keep the Maker Hub staff in the loop. HR will pass their information to the IT department so they can create a GFU ID and the proper computer accounts. Once the computer accounts are created, the student spouse may read the wiki and enroll in the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course. Student spouses may also serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the Volunteers section).

===Employee Spouses and Family Members===

Employees may sponsor their spouse and family members into the Maker Hub. This means that employee spouses and family members may accompany the employee within the facility. The employee sponsor assumes full responsibility for ensuring that his or her guests adhere to the proper safety protocols, cleanliness, and professionalism required in the Maker Hub. If the family members have signed a waiver, they are permitted to use [[tools]] under the direct supervision of their employee sponsor. Employee family members are prohibited from using Maker Hub [[equipment]]. However, employee spouses are an exception. If desired, employee spouses may achieve [[equipment]] certification through the Maker Hub's standard wiki/quiz/training/demonstration process. The first step in connecting the employee's spouse with the Maker Hub is for the employee to initiate a background check with HR. CC makerhub@georgefox.edu in your email correspondence with HR to keep the Maker Hub staff in the loop. HR will pass their information to the IT department so they can create a GFU ID and the proper computer accounts. Once the computer accounts are created, the employee spouse may read the wiki and enroll in the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course. Employee spouses may also serve as a Maker Hub volunteer (see the [[{{PAGENAME}}#Volunteers|Volunteers]] section).

===Minors, High School, and Middle/Elementary School Students===

For clarification, the Maker Hub's usage of the word "minor" applies to a person who is both under 18 ''and'' pre-college. The Maker Hub is not considering freshmen students at GFU who are still 17 at the beginning of the fall semester as minors.

Minors may only use [[equipment]] under the supervision of the Maker Hub staff. The opportunities for minors to use equipment will be almost exclusively during the Maker Camps in the summer, official tours, or school visits to the Maker Hub. At this time, the Maker Hub does not allow non-staff-members to supervise a minor's usage of [[equipment]] unless specifically delegated. High school, middle school, and elementary school students may coordinate with Admissions or the College of Engineering to take a tour of the Maker Hub. In all cases, all minors must deliver a [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|waiver]] with both their signature and parent/guardian's signature before they are permitted to use any Maker Hub [[equipment]] or [[tools]].

The Maker Hub can be made available to in-semester outreach programs for minors; namely, special middle/high school programs or homeschooling groups that are seeking access to the Maker Hub during GFU's fall or spring semester. These outreach programs must first be approved by the Maker Hub Manager. Outreach programs that are requested less than two months in advance will probably be denied; early communication is key for the Maker Hub to properly host and support outreach programs. These outreach programs will need to follow a specific curriculum, follow a specific schedule, obtain the necessary staffing, receive proper training for the activities they will perform, and operate in a manner that minimally impacts any GFU academic work in the Maker Hub. The Maker Hub staff will administer training to the group teachers who will, in turn, conduct the training and curriculum for the students. Group teachers and students must comply with the same principles that all Maker Hub users observe: Safety First, Reset the Space, Be Professional. The Maker Hub staff reserves the right to terminate any outreach program that does not comply with the [[3 commandments]].

The following are the necessary teacher/student ratios by facility:
*1:2 for [[Machine Shop]], [[Wood Shop]], [[Welding Shop]], [[PCB Lab]], or [[Finishing Room]]
*1:5 for [[Prototype Lab]] or [[The Vault]]
*1:10 for [[The Hub]]
*1:15 for tool-usage-only, [[Computer Lab]], or [[Meeting Rooms]]

If all criteria has been met, here is the breakdown of equipment available to minors under the proper supervision:
*Ages 8 - 17 (typically elementary, middle, and high school students) may use equipment in [[The Hub]], the [[Prototype Lab]], and [[The Vault]]
*Ages 14 - 17 (typically high school students) additionally may use equipment in the [[Machine Shop]], the [[Wood Shop]], the [[Welding Shop]], the [[PCB Lab]], and the [[Finishing Room]]

Outside of official family-friendly Maker Hub events (e.g. Santa's Workshop), minors under 8 years old may not use any Maker Hub [[equipment]] or [[tools]]. However, they may tour the Maker Hub.

===Tours===

The Maker Hub welcomes friends, family members, local industry partners, schools, and prospective students for tours. Guests may accompany a tour guide from Admissions or the College of Engineering to see all that the Maker Hub has to offer. Tours--by themselves--do not include hands-on activities. All hands-on activities need to be coordinated with the Maker Hub staff.

=Volunteers=

If you are interested in volunteering in the Maker Hub, email makerhub@georgefox.edu to schedule a tour and interview with the Maker Hub staff. The Maker Hub will share a volunteer handbook and waiver with the potential volunteer that need to be reviewed and signed before the tour and interview occur. If everyone is in agreement, the Maker Hub staff will initiate a background check with HR and request a GFU ID and computer accounts through the IT department before the volunteer can work with GFU students. Volunteers can be alumni, student spouses, employee spouses, or local community members.

The Maker Hub's vision for bringing volunteers into the space is for training and mentoring students alongside people who have significant experience in a certain field or craft that is represented in the Maker Hub. Volunteers need to have a heart for teaching and guiding college students. It is a great benefit to our students to have subject matter experts available as a resource for consulting and skill mastery.

Volunteer participation is quite flexible, but here are some suggestions that may maximize the benefits for all parties involved. The busiest periods of student activity in the Maker Hub are on weekday afternoons and early evenings. Often, we recommend that volunteers pick times in those windows to be present in their respective area(s). Consistent availability helps the training process greatly. For example, if a wood shop volunteer comes in on Thursday and Friday afternoons, we can direct students who need training on wood shop equipment to visit the wood shop during those hours. Some volunteers may choose to work seasonally (e.g. only the fall semester or only the spring semester).

There is no contract. Volunteers are free to adjust their schedules, take a hiatus, or terminate their service to the Maker Hub as desired. Our primary request from the volunteers is that they maintain good communication with the Maker Hub staff. The Maker Hub seeks to cultivate a symbiotic relationship with our volunteers.

What's in it for the volunteers? Volunteers are free to use the Maker Hub's [[equipment]] for personal projects when student traffic in their respective area is low or outside of their volunteer hours. Of course, the same [https://maker-hub.georgefox.edu/wiki/Getting_Started#Material_Policy material policies] and [https://maker-hub.georgefox.edu/wiki/Getting_Started#Production_Runs production policies] apply to volunteers as they do to all other Maker Hub users. The Maker Hub is primarily an educational space, and this will always remain a top priority. Volunteers are also encouraged to take some ownership of their particular area. What does this mean? This means you can dream with us about developing the Maker Hub. Are there certain [[tools]] or pieces of [[equipment]] that we should purchase? How could things be made more efficient or aesthetically beautiful? How could we upgrade the training process in your area? Are there certain machines you enjoy maintaining? Are there certain skill seminars that you want to teach? Do you have ideas for promoting the Maker Hub on social media? Lastly, volunteers have the joy of passing down wisdom to the next generation. There a satisfaction in getting to know the students and equipping the next generation of Christian leaders with both technical skills and life skills as they transition to adulthood.

We are extremely grateful for our volunteers; their contributions are vital to ensuring the successful operation of the Maker Hub.

Speedy 400

2025-11-14T05:11:27Z

Nsullivan:

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|Is equipment=True
|Is laser cutter equipment=True
|Is located in facility=Prototype Lab
|Is used in domain=Electronics
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has make=Trotec
|Has model=Speedy 400
|Has serial number=S4-2209 / 01422-11690
|Has life expectancy=
|Has year of manufacture or purchase=
|Has replacement cost=
|Has icon=File:Speedy400_Laser.png
|Has icondesc=Laser Engraver Icon
|Has iconwname=File:laser_cutter_icon_name.png
|Has image=File:Speedy 400.jpg
|Has imagedesc=The Trotec Speedy 400 Laser Engraver
|Has description=
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1212
|Has view license key=0009999KWTSZCF9F
|Has activation license key=00099992K2C69A5B
|Has ace=Jack Sides;jsides22@georgefox.edu
}}
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Ace: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name}} {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}

Location: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Is located in facility}}

__TOC__

==Description==

The Trotec Speedy 400 laser engraver is used to engrave and cut materials based on specified images and shapes. The working area of the laser is 40" x 24". This is useful for making enclosures out of acrylic, engraving designs into many materials, creating trophies, and cutting any two dimensional shape out of a variety of materials. It also has a rotary attachment which enables cylindrical objects such as drinking glasses and hydro flasks to be engraved with detailed designs.

Here is an example of this piece of equipment being used.

{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCwJ8xWRpIE}}

==Documentation==
The Speedy 400 uses the same software and general setup as the Speedy 300, however it has a larger bed and a few backend setting differences. Should be able to train on either the 300 or 400 and use both machines.


====Terminology====

* Inkscape - The program you will be using to design is Inkscape. It allows you to type in words, edit logos, make your own logos and such to engrave or cut out of your material.
* Trotec Ruby - The program that interacts with the laser cutter to perform a cut. Trotec Ruby lets you set up/create Material Profiles, change between the HoneyComb Table and the Rotary tool (mostly used for Hydroflasks), and choose a location to cut on your material.

* Focusing tool - Used to focus the laser cutter.

* Stroke - This is the type of line that should be used when cutting.

* Repeat Cut Line - Can be used in JobControl to reproduce the same cut line that was just cut.
* Outline Job - Can be used in JobControl to trace the job that is going to be cut to show where job extends.
* Bitmap - Representation of an image as bits of information (pixels); used to allow logos/stencils to be changed into colors.
* Vector - Representation of an image as shapes, rather than bits; used to allow logos/stencils to be modified as objects.
* Trace Bitmap - Can be used on a bitmap to to turn it into a vector.
* Honeycomb Table - This is the honeycomb shaped metal tray that holds flat material during a cut. It is used for most cut jobs.
* Rotary Tool - When engraving water bottles or glasses, this accessory is used to hold the object in place as well as rotate it while performing a cut.

====Material Settings====

* '''[[Media:TrotecMaterials 2022.09.07 10.58.14.xml|Speedy 400 Material Settings 7 SEP 2022]]'''

====Manuals====

* '''[[Media:JobControl-Manual-EN.pdf|Job Control Operation Manual]]'''
* '''[[Media:Speedy-400-Manual-EN.pdf|Speedy 400 Operation Manual]]'''

==Training==
====Operation====

Performing a cut or engrave with the laser will always begin with Inkscape by opening/importing an image, pdf, DXF, or similar file. If you do not have a file yet then it can also be used to create geometries. When you use SolidWorks to generate a .dxf file the correct face must be selected prior to saving the file. Once a file has been brought into Inkscape, it must be adjusted so that Trotec Ruby can distinguish between what should be cut out of the material and what should be engraved. A cut is indicated by a hairline red stroke (in the RGB color scheme) and an engrave is indicated by the color black. After the graphic is prepared, it is transferred to Trotec Ruby by dragging and dropping the .dxf file into Trotec. Then you need to go under the design tab. The you should see what you want to be cut/engraved on the screen with the correct corresponding colors. Once this is done go under the prepare tab. All you need to do is to click the proper material that you will be using. DO NOT CHANGE ANY SETTINGS WITHOUT TALKING TO A SUPERVISOR FIRST. Finally, go under the produce tab and start the laser cutter.

====Demonstration====

First, import a George Fox logo into Inkscape and set it up so that the logo is an engrave with a cut circle surrounding it. Once this is done, print the job to Trotec Ruby and run the job on a piece of scrap material.

====General Procedure====

[[File:trotec_laser_engraving.mp4|thumb|none|400px|This video shows the complete process of completing an engrave. See below for details on doing this. ]]

# Setting up a Job
## First off, to get your design, just copy an image and paste it into Inkscape or find a pdf version of the file and open it. If you are cutting a part from a Solidworks file it must be saved as a dxf before importing to Inkscape.
## To open a dxf file go to [File] > [Import]. If a dxf file is being used feel free to skip to step 7.
## Measure the size of your material, and set the page in Inkscape to those dimensions. You can alter the dimensions of the page you are putting the image on by selecting [File] > [Document Properties], and even the width (W) and height (H) image itself in the top. If you want to keep the image dimensions consistent, but just scale it down, click the lock button between these dimensions. If you want to make your own design using text, squares, circles, etc, you can find everything you need in the column on the far left of the client.[[File:...gfuLogo.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
## Once you have your design, we need to alter the colors a little bit so the Laser Cutter can understand what you want it to do. It goes like this: a red stroke will cut, and anything that is black will engrave. A stroke is merely an option that outlines the object you select.
##In order to do this, we need to split up the image into different pieces. This is called vectoring, where it will divide the image into different pieces based on shapes and color. Just select the logo, right click, and select Trace Bitmap. You will be given options shown in the picture below. For this application,we want to separate the colors from each other, so we select the Colors option. The number of scans you have selected will define how closely the vector output will replicate the actual photo (the bitmap) or how many colors you want the vector to tape. Since this is a simple logo and we have 3 colors/shades to take, 3 scans will be enough. If the detail is not good enough, try the other options and have some fun. Once this process is finished, the vector will appear directly on top of the original image, so make sure to drag it off and separate the two before beginning.[[File:...traceBitmap.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
## Since there are a few separate parts to this vector, it is possible to break apart these and alter the image however you want. Select the image, right click and go to Ungroup. Now you can mess with each individual part! You can take either of these designs and delete them, essentially they will cut out and engrave the same design. Let's go with the one on the right. [[File:...separateParts.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
## Now we can manipulate the colors. Select the object and go to [Object] > [Fill and Stroke] (usually it will already be open on the right sidebar). You will see Fill, Stroke Paint, and Stroke Style on the top right. Fill changes the color of a piece, Stroke Paint changes the color of a stroke, and Stroke Style changes the thickness and style of a stroke. You will see values for R, G, and B, where all colors can be made using these. When each color has a 0 next to it, it will be fully black. When the red has a 255 next to it and the others have 0, it will be fully red. Make sure you check these bit values before continuing, since the machine is set to cutting material ONLY when it sees 255, 0, 0, and it will engrave material ONLY when it sees 0, 0, 0. Everything else, make it white, which is 255, 255, 255. Be sure to make each a Flat Color so that the color is constant throughout the entire object.[[File:...Stroke.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
## Once you have finished your design, it’s time to send it to the Laser Cutter! Hit print, make sure it is sending to Trotec Engraver but do not click [OK] yet.
## Select [Preferences] to open the engraver properties. You will want to make sure the [Minimize to Job size] option is NOT selected and that the [Height] - [Width] values match the page size selected in Inkscape. DO NOT have [Enhanced Geometries} selected because it causes the curved parts of your design to be unrecognized once it is uploaded to the Trotec Ruby.[[File:...printing.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
## Then you can save these settings by selecting the button that shows the JC logo near the bottom of the Printing Preferences.
## Select Print to send the design to Trotec Ruby.
# Setting up the Laser Cutter
## Turn on the machine using the power switch located on the back of the machine in the left corner. The machine will go through a startup procedure where the cutting bed lowers and the laser travels to its home position. Note that the lid must be closed for the startup procedure to begin and there will be some beeping coming from the machine which is normal.
## Place your material onto the honeycomb table, preferably in the upper left corner.
## Now it’s time to focus the laser onto your material. Begin by moving the laser head over the middle of your material; then place the focusing tool on the laser head and slowly raise the table until the the focusing tool falls off. Raise the bed extra slow when reaching the focusing tool so the bed can be stopped the moment the tool falls off. Reference the images below for proper focusing tool placement and laser head controls.[[File:Laser Focus Tool.png|none|thumb|404x404px| Proper placement of the focusing tool. ]][[File:Laser Controls.png|none|thumb|296x296px| Laser control pad. (1) Raise and lower the bed. (2) Move the laser head (5) Air assist. Make sure it is always on to vent fumes properly. ]]
## Remove the focusing tool and return it to its home.
# Cutting with Trotec Ruby
There are four tasks you will need to complete in order to cut/engrave using Trotec Ruby
## First, you need to get the image from inkscape into Trotec Ruby. This can be done by simply downloading the file and dropping it into Trotec Ruby.
## Second, you will click onto the design tab. All you need to do is verify that everything is the correct color that you need and everything looks fine. Once completed. Click on the blue "Create Job" button. This will allow you to move on.
[[File:Ex1.png|thumb|600x600px|none]]
## Third, you will need to prepare your cut/engrave. To do this you will need to align the laser with where you want to cut by dragging the grey square box. Then you need to select the material that you will be using to cut/engrave. DO NOT CHANGE ANY SETTINGS WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM SUPERVISOR.
[[File:Ex3.png|thumb|600x600px|none]]
## Finally, to produce the image press the "Push to Laser" button, this will open the next tab
[[File:Ex4.png|thumb|600x600px|none]]
## To start the cut/engrave just press the play button. Remember to RESET THE SPACE once your cut/engrave is don't and not to leave any material in the laser cutter.

==Safety==
* Always make sure the material you are using is safe to use. There is an especially high risk when engraving plastics. Fumes from plastics can be toxic. Make sure you find the specific material you are using and check to see if it produces toxic fumes when burned. Never attempt to engrave PVC as it produces chlorine gas (the stuff they used in WWI).
* Once the laser is focused do not touch the button that raises the bed or the laser will crash into the machine which causes damage to the machine.
* Be careful when moving the laser head when using the rotary tool because it has protruding parts that will harm the laser cutter if a crash occurs.
* Keep an eye on active cuts because fires can be started when cutting wood or acrylic with paper covering.
* If you feel unsure about anything located in the laser cutting procedure make sure to consult the supervisor for assistance.

==Cut List==
===Approved Materials===
* Acrylic
* Wood
* Vegetable tanned leather
* Paper / Cardstock
* Cardboard

===DO NOT CUT===
* Any plastics containing PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
* Chrome tanned leather

If you want to cut a material not listed here, please talk with the Maker Hub staff.

==Certification==
Complete the Prototype Lab - Laser Cutters (Speedy 300/400) Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}} (this module satisfies requirements for both the Speedy 300 and the Speedy 400). The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

==Troubleshooting==
'''First of all, check your export settings'''
* There are multiple combinations of settings that will work for export; which means that depending on who was using the machine last, settings may be different. These are the settings I (the ace) have found to work most consistantly: Set your Inkscape document to square by going to File > Document Properties (or press Ctl+Shift+D) and set both the Height and Width fields to the same value, bigger than your shape. Why this is an issue is yet unknown, Inkscape just doesn’t like exporting non-square documents with the other settings to follow. Print the document with File > Print or Ctl+P. Click preferences and check both “Take From Application” and “Minimize to Jobsize.” These settings tell the program to assume the canvas is the same size as Inkscape and then crop to the size of your print. Also verify “image mode” is set to “color.” These settings will fix most common issues.
'''Cuts are not being made'''
* Some export settings may be incorrect. Verify that your settings are set to those described above. These settings will fix most issues of lines not cutting.
* Verify that all stokes are set to red with a stroke width between 1pt and .25pt (.25pt recommended)
* Verify that your print is entirely within the canvas of Inkscape.
* In Preferences, within Print options, verify “image mode” is set to “color.” Otherwise, your red stokes will not be read as color, and not be seen by the laser cutter.
'''The cuts did not go all the way through the material'''
* Are you using the correct material profile? If not, rest the job (described below) and repeat the cut with the correct material profile. If it appears that the cut went partway through the material you may want to use a setting that is less powerful than your material would normally use (again, described below)
* You should always place your material in a corner. This way, if the cuts do not go all the way through you can reposition it easily. DO NOT MOVE THE JOB in JobControl! If you put the material in a corner, should be able to place the material back where it was, and then reset the job in JobControl by right clicking on the job in JobControl and selecting the reset job option, or by pressing Ctl+R. Next, run the cut again on the smallest thickness setting for your material. For example, if you are cutting 1/4 inch acrylic and it does not cut all the way through, repeat the cut with the 1/8 inch acrylic setting.
'''The laser went really fast leaving a sort of light engrave rather than a cut'''
* You did not select the correct material, and the job ran with the ‘standard’ setting. DO NOT MOVE THE MATERIAL! You can reset the job by right clicking on the job in Trotec Ruby and selecting the reset job option, or by pressing Ctl+R. Then, select the correct material in the upper left dropdown menu and run the job again. This way you do not need to reposition the material or job, which you will almost never do perfectly.
'''The laser repeated the cut multiple times'''
* Some material profiles, such as half-inch, acrylic are set to repeat the cut line multiple times, as to get a cleaner product. If the cuts look good, this is normal.
* Are you importing from SolidWorks? For some reason, SolidWorks likes to have duplicate lines quite often. In Inkscape, click on the cut that was repeated and drag to move it. If you move the line and another line is underneath, you need to delete all duplicates in the file. Often if you have a thin stoke (.25pt) and zoom out, the duplicate lines will be visually darker, allowing you to identify and delete them.
'''The acrylic is melted or blackened'''
* Verify that you are using the correct material profile. If you are, for example, cutting 1/4 acrylic with the 1/2 setting, the acrylic will be melted and not give clean cuts.
* Are you importing from SolidWorks? As mentioned above, “''For some reason, SolidWorks likes to have duplicate lines quite often. In Inkscape, click on the cut that was repeated and drag to move it. If you move the line and another line is underneath, you need to delete all duplicates in the file. Often if you have a thin stoke (.25pt) and zoom out, the duplicate lines will be visually darker, allowing you to identify and delete them.”''
'''Cuts are not clean'''
* Is the machine focused properly for your material? If you’re not sure, or even if you are (you may have bumped the bed control buttons accidentally) refocus it.
* Check the lens for dust because this can interfere with the laser. If it is dirty, see the maintenance section on how to clean it.
'''The material is being cut in unintended places'''
* Check your Inkscape file and make sure there are no red stokes in places you did not want
* Make sure there are no other jobs on the work area (grey rectangles in the honeycomb area of Trotec Ruby). If there are, drag them back into the list on the right side or delete them

*

==Maintenance==
====General maintenance====

To keep the laser cutter running and cutting smoothly, the mirror and lens should be periodically cleaned. This is on top of the general cleaning that should be done to keep the machine dust and scrap free. There are also filters in the exhaust system that must be changed once the activated carbon has been used up.

====Specific Maintenance Tasks====
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
!Last Done
|-
|1
|General cleaning
|As needed after a cut
|Student
|N/A
|-
|2
|Clean the Mirror
|As needed
|Volunteer
|
|-
|3
|Clean the Lens
|As needed
|Volunteer
|
|-
|4
|Change Filters
|When filter usage reaches 100%
|Ace
|
|}
# The honeycomb should be removed and the metal bed itself should be should be swept/cleaned more or less daily. Cleaners are available to help in this process. Green is general cleaning use this for the bed and metal surfaces. Blue is glass cleaner, use this for the plexiglass surfaces. The front door of the Speedy 300 may be removed using the spring loaded pin on the right to remove cut pieces stuck in the door. The air vents at the rear of the machine should be kept clean of debris. Clean in a manner similar to the bed.
# The lense, mirror, and cone should be inspected daily or more often as needed, especially after wood or other “dusty”/”smokey” materials are cut. The lense will need cleaning when particles are visible on the surface (hold up to light if need be). The lense may be removed using the threaded nut below the lense (see photo). First use the air bulb to blow any dust off of the lense, prior to cleaning with the lense paper and cleaner available in the kit (lasercutter drawer) on both sides. Put some cleaner on the lense and gently rub the paper over the surface of the lense. The cone itself threads into the assembly below the lense nut. The cone may be cleaned with a paper towel and water or another cleaning agent. The mirror should be inspected and cleaned in the same manner as the lense.
# See above.
# The air filter to the right of the Speedy 300 will occasionally need maintenance. The most common issue is a full pre-filter. This will be indicated on the filter itself by poor airflow/suction. When replacing this, use a face mask and gloves (close the lab when doing this). Open the top of the air filter with the large 10mm hex wrench in the kit. Remove the prefilter and place it in a bag for disposal. Insert a new prefilter and close the lid. Pre-filters are used to increase the lifespan of other, harder to replace and more expensive filters in the system. Less often, other filters will need replacing. These include the larger box filter, additional pre-filter-type mat filters, and activated carbon. This should not need to happen as often. Follow the above procedure for pre-filter and the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJkCgAVbAEU&feature=youtu.be video] to replace the full filter setup. Be careful not to spill activate carbon if doing a full replacement, it is difficult to clean up.

Speedy 300

2025-11-14T05:09:23Z

Nsullivan: /* General Procedure */

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|Has imagedesc=The Trotec Speedy 300 Laser Engraver
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|Has ace=Jack Sides;jsides22@georgefox.edu
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__TOC__

==Description==

The Trotec Speedy 300 laser engraver is used to engrave and cut materials based on specified images and shapes. This is useful for making enclosures out of acrylic, engraving designs into many materials, creating trophies, and cutting any two dimensional shape out of a variety of materials. It also has a rotary attachment which enables cylindrical objects such as drinking glasses and hydro flasks to be engraved with detailed designs.
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qF8dHQPy6o}}[[File:Hydrowiki.jpg|thumb|400x400px|none|Example of an engraved Hydroflask. ]]

==Documentation==

====Terminology====

*Inkscape - The program you will be using to design is Inkscape. It allows you to type in words, edit logos, make your own logos and such to engrave or cut out of your material.
*Job Control - The program that interacts with the laser cutter to perform a cut. Job Control lets you set up/create Material Profiles, change between the HoneyComb Table and the Rotary tool (mostly used for Hydroflasks), and choose a location to cut on your material.

*Focusing tool - Used to focus the laser cutter.

*Stroke - This is the type of line that should be used when cutting.

*Repeat Cut Line - Can be used in JobControl to reproduce the same cut line that was just cut.
*Outline Job - Can be used in JobControl to trace the job that is going to be cut to show where job extends.
*Bitmap - Representation of an image as bits of information (pixels); used to allow logos/stencils to be changed into colors.
*Vector - Representation of an image as shapes, rather than bits; used to allow logos/stencils to be modified as objects.
*Trace Bitmap - Can be used on a bitmap to to turn it into a vector.
*Honeycomb Table - This is the honeycomb shaped metal tray that holds flat material during a cut. It is used for most cut jobs.
*Rotary Tool - When engraving water bottles or glasses, this accessory is used to hold the object in place as well as rotate it while performing a cut.

====Material Settings====

* '''[[Media:LICENSE KEY S3-4397.pdf|License Key Information]]'''
* '''[[Media:TrotecMaterials 2022.09.08 10.40.55.xml|Speedy 300 Material Settings 8 SEP 2022]]

====User Manual====

* '''[[Media:JobControl-Manual-EN.pdf|Job Control Operation Manual]]'''
* '''[[Media:8011-speedy300-manual-en.pdf|Speedy 300 Operation Manual]]'''

==Training==
====Operation====

Performing a cut or engrave with the laser will always begin with Inkscape by opening/importing an image, pdf, DXF, or similar file. If you do not have a file yet then it can also be used to create geometries. When you use SolidWorks to generate a .dxf file the correct face must be selected prior to saving the file. Once a file has been brought into Inkscape, it must be adjusted so that job control can distinguish between what should be cut out of the material and what should be engraved. A cut is indicated by a hairline red stroke (in the RGB color scheme) and an engrave is indicated by the color black. After the graphic is prepared, it is transferred to job control using [File] > [Print] and making sure trotec is selected as the device. It will then pop up in the job list on the right hand side of JobControl. At this point the laser cutter should be set up by turning it on, placing the material on the honeycomb table, and then raising the table to focus the laser. The final steps are then to click the USB icon in job control to connect to the laser cutter, drag the job onto the to scale honeycomb table, set the correct material properties, and then click the play button to perform the cut/engrave. When performing an engrave on a cylindrical object, the set up process in Inkscape is the same but there are a few differences in job control and laser cutter itself. Primarily, the honeycomb table must be exchanged for the rotary tool, which must be done while the laser cutter is OFF. The laser cutter should automatically recognize that the rotary is attached. The only change in job control is that the accessory should be changed in the settings from the honeycomb table to the rotary tool.
 
 
A Training Venture (TV) that uses the Laser Cutter is the [[Windchimes]]

====Demonstration====

First, import a George Fox logo into Inkscape and set it up so that the logo is an engrave with a cut circle surrounding it. Once this is done, print the job to job control and run the job on a piece of scrap material.

====General Procedure====
[[File:trotec_laser_engraving.mp4|thumb|none|400px|This video shows the complete process of completing an engrave. See below for details on doing this. ]]

#'''Setting up a Job'''
##First off, open a new document in Inkscape on your own machine or one of the lab computers (File > New, or Ctrl + N). Next, you’ll want to set the dimensions of your page by going to [File] > [Document Properties] (Ctrl + Shift + D). Your page can be as big as you like, as long as it’s larger than the shape you’re working with. However, always '''make sure that the document is square.''' There’s some weird quirk with the software that makes this necessary, keeping the document square will keep you from running into a lot of problems later on. Under the “Custom Size” section in document properties, set your hight and width to something larger than the longest dimension of your object. When you export the shape to the laser cutter, Inkscape will export anything within the document canvas and ignore anything that extends beyond it’s borders.
##Now you’re ready to create a shape to be cut or engraved. a.) If you’re importing a shape from SolidWorks, the file should be saved as a .DXF file. Simply drag the file onto your Inkscape document or import it via [File] > [Import] (Ctrl + I). If prompted to select scaling options, choose “read from file” and click OK. Next, select the object and go to [Object] > [Ungroup] (Ctrl + Shift + G). This will allow you to select the text objects that make up the SolidWorks watermark and delete them. While you’re here, make sure that there is only one copy of each line, as SolidWorks often likes to make duplicates. Finally, you may want to select all of the remaining objects and regroup them with [Object] > [Group] (Ctrl + G). Skip to step 5. b.) If you want to cut or engrave from an image, the best way to do so is from a vector image file. Vector graphics files store the lines, shapes, and colors that make up an image rather than storing data based on pixels as in a typical raster image. These lines, shapes, and colors is what the laser cutter interprets when cutting and engraving. If you’ve designed something in Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or other vector-based drawing applications, you can save your image directly to this format. If you’re looking for images online, search for vector images. These will most commonly be in the format of .SVG, .EPS, and some types of .PDF. You can import these types of images into your Inkscape document by simply dragging them onto the canvas or importing them via [File] > [Import] (Ctrl + I). Skip to step 5. c.) If you want to engrave or cut a raster (pixel-based) image, you will need to convert it to a vector shape. Drag your image onto the Inkscape canvas and proceed to step 3. [[File:...gfuLogo.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
##Inkscape can convert an image into vectors based on the composition of the source image. To do this, select your image, right click, and select Trace Bitmap, (Alt + Shift + B). You will be given several options shown below. Check the “Live Preview” box which will give you a better idea what’s going to happen. For the George Fox logo, we want to separate the colors from each other, so we’ll select “Colors” under the “Multiple Scans” section. The number of scans you specify correlates to the number of objects that Inkscape will create based on the different parts of the image. Since our example is a simple logo with 3 colors, 3 scans will be sufficient. Depending on your image, you’ll have to play around with these settings a bit. For a back and white image, you’ll probably want to use “Brightness Cuttoff” under “Single Scan” and adjust the “Threshold” value until the preview looks correct. Once you click OK, the vector will appear directly on top of the original image, so make sure to drag it off and move or delete the original image. [[File:...traceBitmap.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
##You will now have a vector object that consists of several parts. Separate them by right-clicking the vector and selecting “Ungroup” (Ctrl + Shift + G). Now you’ll be able to alter each part of the object. In our example, we’ll go with the one on the right and delete the one on the left. [[File:...separateParts.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
##Now we can manipulate the colors. Select the object and go to [Object] > [Fill and Stroke] (usually it will already be open on the right sidebar). You will see Fill, Stroke Paint, and Stroke Style on the top right. Fill changes the color of a piece, Stroke Paint changes the color of a stroke, and Stroke Style changes the thickness and style of a stroke. You will see values for R, G, and B, which control color. When each color has a 0 next to it, it will be fully black. When the red has a 255 next to it and the others have 0, it will be fully red. The machine will cut material ONLY when it sees a stroke that is 255, 0, 0, and it will engrave material ONLY when it sees 0, 0, 0. Set these values on your object depending on what you want to engrave or cut, and make sure these values are exact before continuing. Anything that you do not want to cut or engrave, either delete or set to white, which is 255, 255, 255. Be sure to make each a “Flat Color” so that the color is constant throughout the entire object.
##Now that you have an object with the correct fill and stroke, you’ll want to resize it to the size you want. Select your object, and in the top bar of Inkscape you’ll see options for height and width. If you want to scale the object without altering it’s height and width ratios, lock the two together by clicking the lock icon. Measure your material and set the height and width accordingly, or set the values to your desired size. If you imported your file from SolidWorks you shouldn’t need to change these dimensions, just verify that they match the size of your object in SolidWorks. [[File:...Stroke.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
##Once you have finished your design, it’s time to send it to the Laser Cutter! Go to [File] > [Print] (Ctrl + P) and make sure it is sending to Trotec Engraver but do not click [OK] yet.
##Select [Preferences] to open the engraver properties. Check both “Take From Application” and “Minimize to Jobsize.” These settings tell the program to assume the canvas is the same size as it is in Inkscape and then crop to the size of your print. Also verify “Image Mode” is set to “Color” and “Enhanced Geometries” is not selected. '''NOTE''': “Take From Application” will only work if your Inkscape canvas is square. Make sure to set this correctly, or else set the print size to something larger than either dimension of your print (so long as “Minimize to Jobsize” is enabled.)[[File:...printing.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
##Save these settings by selecting the button that shows the JC logo near the bottom of the Printing Preferences and select Print to send the design to Job Control.
#'''Setting up the Laser Cutter'''
##Turn on the machine using the power switch located on the back of the machine in the left corner. The machine will go through a startup procedure where the cutting bed lowers and the laser travels to its home position. Note that the lid must be closed for the startup procedure to begin. You will hear be some beeping coming from the machine.
##Place your material onto the honeycomb table. '''ALWAYS''' place it in a corner, snug against two sides of the bed. This way if something doesn't go quite perfectly in the cutting process you can return the material back to that corner and try again without having to scrap the entire piece.
##Now it’s time to focus the laser onto your material. Begin by moving the laser head over the middle of your material. Place the focusing tool on the laser head and slowly raise the table until the the focusing tool just barely touches the material. Be sure to raise the bed extra slowly when approaching the focusing tool, so that you can stop the moment you are at the correct height. Use cation, as there is also no safety in place to prevent the material from crashing into the head and damaging this delicate, expensive assembly. The focusing tool will likely fall off the head; this is fine so long as you didn’t overshoot the point at which it first touched. Reference the images below for proper focusing tool placement and laser head controls.[[File:Laser Focus Tool.png|none|thumb|404x404px| Proper placement of the focusing tool. ]][[File:Laser Controls.png|none|thumb|296x296px| Laser control pad. (1) Raise and lower the bed. (2) Move the laser head (5) Air assist. Make sure it is always on to vent fumes properly. ]]
##Remove the focusing tool and return it to its home.
##Press the USB icon found in the bottom right corner of Job Control to connect to the laser cutter. The laser should beep a few times and then a the background of job control will change to a honeycomb pattern to represent the actual honeycomb table. Also, the USB icon will change to a play icon.
# Cutting with Trotec Ruby
There are four tasks you will need to complete in order to cut/engrave using Trotec Ruby
## First, you need to get the image from inkscape into Trotec Ruby. This can be done by simply downloading the file and dropping it into Trotec Ruby.
## Second, you will click onto the design tab. All you need to do is verify that everything is the correct color that you need and everything looks fine. Once completed. Click on the blue "Create Job" button. This will allow you to move on.
[[File:Ex1.png|thumb|600x600px|none]]
## Third, you will need to prepare your cut/engrave. To do this you will need to align the laser with where you want to cut by dragging the grey square box. Then you need to select the material that you will be using to cut/engrave. DO NOT CHANGE ANY SETTINGS WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM SUPERVISOR.
[[File:Ex3.png|thumb|600x600px|none]]
## Finally, to produce the image press the "Push to Laser" button, this will open the next tab
[[File:Ex4.png|thumb|600x600px|none]]
## To start the cut/engrave just press the play button. Remember to RESET THE SPACE once your cut/engrave is don't and not to leave any material in the laser cutter.
#'''Cutting with the Rotary Tool'''
##The Rotary Tool lets you cut and engrave cylindrical objects, the most popular of these being Hydroflasks. This part applies after you have already sent the file from Inkscape to the Laser Cutter.
##Turn OFF the machine, remove the honeycomb table, and plug in the rotary tool. The rest of the laser cutter setup is the same as above.
##Continue As though you were cutting/engraving anything else until you hit the design tab. Hit the rotary button. It looks like a cylinder.
##Enter the diameter of your bottle (using the Calipers in the lab), as it tells the Rotary Tool how fast to turn as it engraves. Do not mess this up, or you will have a stretched/squeezed image. [[File:R3.png|thumb|600x600px|none]]
##Once you click OK/apply, the window background will look like the image below.
##Double click/drag the job onto the window. Make sure to rotate the graphic to the proper orientation that you want it as. This can be done with the rotation button. [[File:R2.png|thumb|600x600px|none]]
##If you click view it will show you an animation of what the bottle will look like to give you an idea of how to position your image.
##Next, pick the material Hydroflask → Black Mug for a Hydroflask, or one of the glass profiles if engraving glass, and now you are ready to engrave your thing!
##When you are finished, RESET THE SPACE! Put the Rotary Tool away and replace it with the HoneyComb Table.

==Safety==

*Always make sure the material you are using is safe to use. There is an especially high risk when engraving plastics. Fumes from plastics can be toxic. Make sure you find the specific material you are using and check to see if it produces toxic fumes when burned. Never attempt to engrave PVC as it produces chlorine gas (the stuff they used in WWI).
*Once the laser is focused do not touch the button that raises the bed or the laser will crash into the machine which causes damage to the machine.
*Be careful when moving the laser head when using the rotary tool because it has protruding parts that will harm the laser cutter if a crash occurs.
*Keep an eye on active cuts because fires can be started when cutting wood or acrylic with paper covering.
*If you feel unsure about anything located in the laser cutting procedure make sure to consult the supervisor for assistance.

==Cut List==
===Approved Materials===
* Acrylic
* Wood
* Vegetable tanned leather

===DO NOT CUT===
* Any plastics containing PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
* Chrome tanned leather
* Hardboard (Masonite)

If you want to cut a material not listed here, please talk with the Maker Hub staff.

==Certification==
Complete the Prototype Lab - Laser Cutters (Speedy 300/400) Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}} (this module satisfies requirements for both the Speedy 300 and the Speedy 400). The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

==Troubleshooting==
'''First of all, check your export settings'''

*There are multiple combinations of settings that will work for export; which means that depending on who was using the machine last, settings may be different. These are the settings I (the ace) have found to work most consistently: Set your Inkscape document to square by going to [File] > [Document Properties] ( Ctl+Shift+D) and set both the Height and Width fields to the same value, bigger than your shape. Why this is an issue is yet unknown, Inkscape just doesn’t like exporting non-square documents with the other settings to follow. Print the document with File > Print or Ctl+P. Click preferences and check both “Take From Application” and “Minimize to Jobsize.” These settings tell the program to assume the canvas is the same size as Inkscape and then crop to the size of your print. Also verify “image mode” is set to “color.” These settings will fix most common issues.

'''Cuts are not being made'''

*Some export settings may be incorrect. Verify that your settings are set to those described above. These settings will fix most issues of lines not cutting.
*Verify that all stokes are set to red with a stroke width between 1pt and .25pt (.25pt recommended)
*Verify that your print is entirely within the canvas of Inkscape.
*In Preferences, within Print options, verify “image mode” is set to “color.” Otherwise, your red stokes will not be read as color, and not be seen by the laser cutter.

'''The cuts did not go all the way through the material'''

*Are you using the correct material profile? If not, reset the job (described below) and repeat the cut with the correct material profile. If it appears that the cut went partway through the material you may want to use a setting that is less powerful than your material would normally use (again, described below)
*You should always place your material in a corner. This way, if the cuts do not go all the way through you can reposition it easily. DO NOT MOVE THE JOB in JobControl! If you put the material in a corner, should be able to place the material back where it was, and then reset the job in JobControl by right clicking on the job in JobControl and selecting the reset job option, or by pressing Ctl+R. Next, run the cut again on the smallest thickness setting for your material. For example, if you are cutting 1/4 inch acrylic and it does not cut all the way through, repeat the cut with the 1/8 inch acrylic setting.
*If you are using the correct material profile for your material and cuts are not going all the way through, please email me and let me know so that I can take a look and fix the settings. ZCogswell18@georgefox.edu

'''The laser went really fast leaving a sort of light engrave rather than a cut'''

*You did not select the correct material, and the job ran with the ‘standard’ setting. '''DO NOT MOVE THE MATERIAL!''' You can reset the job by right clicking on the job in Job Control and selecting the reset job option, or by pressing Ctl+R. Then, select the correct material in the upper left dropdown menu and run the job again. This way you do not need to reposition the material or job, which you will almost never do perfectly.

'''The laser repeated the cut multiple times'''

*Some material profiles, such as half-inch, acrylic are set to repeat the cut line multiple times, as to get a cleaner product. If the cuts look good, this is normal.
*Are you importing from SolidWorks? For some reason, SolidWorks likes to have duplicate lines quite often. In Inkscape, click on the cut that was repeated and drag to move it. If you move the line and another line is underneath, you need to delete all duplicates in the file. Often if you have a thin stoke (.25pt) and zoom out, the duplicate lines will be visually darker, allowing you to identify and delete them.

'''The acrylic is melted or blackened'''

*Verify that you are using the correct material profile. If you are, for example, cutting 1/4 acrylic with the 1/2 setting, the acrylic will be melted and not give clean cuts.
*Are you importing from SolidWorks? As mentioned above, “''For some reason, SolidWorks likes to have duplicate lines quite often. In Inkscape, click on the cut that was repeated and drag to move it. If you move the line and another line is underneath, you need to delete all duplicates in the file. Often if you have a thin stoke (.25pt) and zoom out, the duplicate lines will be visually darker, allowing you to identify and delete them.”''

'''Cuts are not clean'''

*Is the machine focused properly for your material? If you’re not sure, or even if you are (you may have bumped the bed control buttons accidentally) refocus it.
*Check the lens for dust because this can interfere with the laser. If it is dirty, see the maintenance section on how to clean it.

'''The material is being cut in unintended places'''

* If the above does not work, contact the lab supervisors or Justin.

*

==Maintenance==
====General maintenance====

To keep the laser cutter running and cutting smoothly, the mirror and lens should be periodically cleaned. This is on top of the general cleaning that should be done to keep the machine dust and scrap free. There are also filters in the exhaust system that must be changed once the activated carbon has been used up.

====Specific Maintenance Tasks====
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Maintenance Procedure
!Frequency
!Done By
!Last Done
|-
|1
|General cleaning
|As needed after a cut
|Student
|N/A
|-
|2
|Clean the Mirror
|As needed
|Volunteer
|
|-
|3
|Clean the Lens
|As needed
|Volunteer
|
|-
|4
|Change Filters
|When filter usage reaches 100%
|Ace
|
|}

#The honeycomb should be removed and the metal bed itself should be should be swept/cleaned more or less daily. Cleaners are available to help in this process. Green is general cleaning use this for the bed and metal surfaces. Blue is glass cleaner, use this for the plexiglass surfaces. The front door of the Speedy 300 may be removed using the spring loaded pin on the right to remove cut pieces stuck in the door. The air vents at the rear of the machine should be kept clean of debris. Clean in a manner similar to the bed.
#The lense, mirror, and cone should be inspected daily or more often as needed, especially after wood or other “dusty”/”smokey” materials are cut. The lense will need cleaning when particles are visible on the surface (hold up to light if need be). The lense may be removed using the threaded nut below the lense (see photo). The lense should be cleaned with the lense paper and cleaner available in the kit (lasercutter drawer) on both sides. Put some cleaner on the lense and gently rub the paper over the surface of the lense. The cone itself threads into the assembly below the lense nut. The cone may be cleaned with a paper towel and water or another cleaning agent. The mirror should be inspected and cleaned in the same manner as the lense.
#See above.
#The air filter to the right of the Speedy 300 will occasionally need maintenance. The most common issue is a full pre-filter (P/N 37722). This will be indicated on the filter itself by poor airflow/suction. When replacing this, use a face mask and gloves (close the lab when doing this). Open the top of the air filter with the large 10mm hex wrench in the kit. Remove the prefilter and place it in a bag for disposal. Insert a new prefilter and close the lid. Pre-filters are used to increase the lifespan of other, harder to replace and more expensive filters in the system. Less often, other filters will need replacing. These include the larger box filter (P/N 41041), additional pre-filter-type mat filters, and activated carbon. This should not need to happen as often. Follow the above procedure for pre-filter and the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJkCgAVbAEU&feature=youtu.be video] to replace the full filter setup. Be careful not to spill activate carbon if doing a full replacement, it is difficult to clean up.

Getting Started

2025-11-12T20:23:04Z

Nsullivan: /* Material Policy */

[[File:Few Word.png|500px|right]]

Welcome to the Maker Hub Introduction Course!

All Maker Hub users must take this course in order to have access to the Maker Hub. This course should take less than 45 minutes to complete. And we promise, of all the Maker Hub training courses, this one is the longest (except for the soldering irons for some reason). Reading is hard... but somehow, we need to put the necessary training information into your brain so that you can use the Maker Hub's equipment safely and refrain from breaking things. We'll try to convey all of this in as few words as possible (humor aside). For all the "[[TLDR]]" peeps in the house, buckle up...

To gain basic card-swipe access to the Maker Hub, read this entire page and pass the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas quiz (with 100%). The link to the Canvas quiz is found toward the bottom of this page [[{{PAGENAME}}#Certification|here]].

__TOC__

==How We Operate==

The Maker Hub is available to all members of the GFU family (i.e. undergrad students, graduate students, ADP students, and employees), and that includes non-engineering students! The Maker Hub was born to advance creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the community of George Fox University. One of the main ways we achieve this goal is by providing a space where people can work on academic and/or personal projects. The Maker Hub operates under the guidance of a few GFU employees, a handful of student staff, and a plethora of student aces and volunteers. The student staff, aces, and volunteers play critical leadership roles in overseeing various technical shops and training others to use the equipment. With a diverse user-base and a diverse set of projects running concurrently, there has to be a standardized training system that keeps everyone on the same page. And... that's why you're here reading this epic wiki page anyways.

To enable you to access and maintain this space, you are being asked (OK, required) to take a short training course on the Maker Hub. Through this course, you will become acquainted with the [[Facilities|facilities]] within the Maker Hub, the [[Equipment|equipment]] and [[Tools|tools]] available to you, and the expectations for proper usage of them. The goal of this course is twofold: first, to introduce you to the capabilities available to you in the space, and second, to help you understand the expectations upon you when using the space. Both are crucial if you want to be an active participant in the space.

In any public space, there has to be some set of rules that govern the activity in the space. Ideally, we would just use the clever “Rule 0: Don’t make me make a rule.” But, we felt it was better to come up with some overall guiding principles rather than a list of rules. Clearly, there are some obvious “rules” that get implied from these principles, but, we believe that if you embrace the principles, the rules will take care of themselves. These principles we like to call: The Three Commandments.

(See what we did there? - Christian school - reference to the commandments? Get it?)

==The Three Commandments==
# Safety First
# Reset the Space
# Be Professional

<gallery class="center" widths="200px">
Image:Safety First Red.png
Image:Reset The Space Green.png
Image:Be Professional Blue.png
</gallery>
 
===What Do The Three Commandments Mean?===

====Safety First====
This should be the most obvious--and critical--of the commandments. A significant portion of the equipment and tools in the Maker Hub can be quite dangerous. It is imperative that in everything you do, you address safety first. This starts with general behavior (don’t run with scissors - in fact, don’t run at all - unless there is a fire - and you can see now why we are going with principles rather than specific rules). But beyond general behavior, various rooms and machines have very specific safety procedures and violations of these procedures will come with penalties.

We use the buddy system. It's always a good idea to have a buddy or someone within eyesight or earshot while working anywhere in the Maker Hub. It is IMPERATIVE to have a buddy or someone else present when working in the machine shop, wood shop, or welding shop. Do not use equipment alone in the machine shop, wood shop, or welding shop; it is a serious safety violation.

Safety first includes not only your safety and the safety of others, but the safety of the equipment and tools as well. It is a huge privilege to have access to this set of equipment and we need to ensure that the equipment is being properly used and maintained. There is no reason in this space to use a screwdriver as a hammer. We have hammers. Use tools for their intended purposes, not just for your safety, but for the safety of the tool.

Safety is our number one concern as you use the equipment and tools available in the Maker Hub. In the Maker Hub, there is a very clear distinction between things that are considered [[Equipment|equipment]] and things that are considered [[Tools|tools]]. Equipment is a special category of machines that, by definition, requires certified training before an individual is allowed to use it. Tools have no certification process; they can be used by anyone who has completed this Maker Hub Introduction course and passed the quiz. That does not mean that tools are necessarily less dangerous; equipment just requires more training. Do not use any equipment that you have not been certified on. There are several equipment stations in [[The Hub]] such as the [[Sewing Machine|sewing machines]], the [[Electronics Workstation|electronics workstation]], and the [[Heat Press|heat press]] to name a few. All [[Equipment|equipment]] is marked in the Maker Hub with special icons that are displayed either on, around, or above the equipment. Here's an example icon for the [[Sublimation Printer|sublimation printer]].
[[File:Dye Sublimation Printer.png|150px|none]]

Equipment that has an icon posted over it, by definition, requires specialized certification training. Without completing this training, you are not authorized to utilize the equipment! Have we beat this dead horse enough yet? Think of these certifications as a “license to learn.” They allow you to utilize the equipment, but you should still feel free to ask for help, at any point, from a shop mentor or technician.

If you have a condition that makes it unsafe for you to use heavy machinery or if you are taking any medication that recommends against using heavy machinery, you must notify the Maker Hub staff before using any Maker Hub equipment.

Never forget ... SAFETY FIRST!

====Reset the Space====
This commandment is simple enough to understand, but sometimes difficult for ... let’s just say it ... people ... to implement. The idea is very simple. Put things back. Leave the space better than you found it. It's not that hard. There is a place for everything, and everything has a place. There are marks on the floor in the Hub for the tables. These are just there to help remind you. This principle applies to EVERYTHING in the space. If you move a chair, put it back. If you move a table, put it back. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a rolling computer, put it back. That means you don’t take things from one room and leave them in another. You see, that would not be “putting it back.” You see where I am going with this? If you use a machine in the shop, put the tools away. Use the vacuum to clean up. Make the space look better than you found it. If you want a marker for a whiteboard in the space, go request one from the [[Tool Room]]. They are free for usage in the space. Do not take them from other rooms. Do not take erasers from other rooms. If you use a whiteboard, erase it. I could go on. Sort of want to. But I will contain myself. Ok ... a few more ...

We currently allow food and drink in the Maker Hub. Resetting the Space means that you don’t leave food spills, wrappers, or trays, or anything that wasn’t there when you came in.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave things out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large test and you need something to run overnight. In cases like this, it is OK, but you NEED to leave a note on your system so that others know the situation. This is just common courtesy.

Whatever you do, RESET THE SPACE!

====Be Professional====
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like a professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the Maker Hub we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious behavioral ramifications. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you are using a meeting room to do individual work, and a team needs a meeting room, then you should yield the room. Function is more important than who got there first. This is being a professional.

If you are working with a tool or piece of equipment, and you don’t know the proper way to do what you are attempting - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

Now, it’s time for a brief “family chat” (Nick speaking here). I am primarily addressing our engineering students where I hear of these issues occurring, but this topic certainly applies to all students, all majors, all Maker Hub users, and beyond. I hear reports of sexist comments and crude joking at the expense of one gender or the other occurring in the Maker Hub (albeit far less than reports I hear from other universities). I doubt anyone is surprised to hear me say that this is not professional behavior. Having been college student myself at one point, I am familiar with the type of locker room talk that “gets a laugh out of the boys.” If you actually take a minute to examine the origin/purpose behind such comments, it exposes a significant thread of immaturity. Some who engage in sexism make socially unacceptable statements but cover them by saying “it’s just a joke.” Some are seeking attention or approval from their peers. Some want to be perceived as funny or edgy by others. Some have a very fragile masculinity or femininity and feel better when they put the other gender down. Some genuinely have a perverted ideology concerning men, women, and gender roles and feel a need to stroke their own ego. No matter the intent, sexist conduct displays a lack of maturity.

There is a time and place for appropriate humor concerning the whimsical rivalries between various engineering disciplines or even differing majors. Still, such humor should never include elements that would dishonor one gender or the other. And yes, let me be clear: the standard goes both directions. I am well aware that men are the more common offenders, but that does not give women any license or justification to return fire with disparaging remarks. We reject the “eye-for-an-eye” mentality. I speak on behalf of the College of Engineering (and the university as a whole) when I say that one of our main goals is to guide you toward greater levels of maturity and let the transforming love of Christ be the primary thing that informs your thoughts, speech, attitudes, and actions. Insomuch as your interaction with the Maker Hub could contribute toward this goal, the Maker Hub will continue to uphold a professional culture and expect our users to meet the standard.

Much more can be said about this topic, but for the sake of space, I will pause here. Please reach out to nsullivan@georgefox.edu to report violations or engage in further dialogue about this topic.

BE PROFESSIONAL!

===How We Handle Violations===

These are The Three Commandments, and they form the rule and order for the Maker Hub. There are similarities to the rule and order in Christianity. As G.K. Chesterton said in his classic book “Orthodoxy,”

"The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild."

It is our hope and expectation that you and other students will be able to run wild and create many wonderful things in this space. These “commandments” are intended to provide that space - and the expectation is that everyone will abide by them. But, as we know, not everyone chooses to do so (1 Tim 1:9-10). We have seen various ways that different schools address these violations, and most use expulsion from the space as the primary penalty. Our penalty system is purposely vague to allow us to handle violations on a case-by-case basis. Some violations (not putting a chair back after moving it) might be comparatively minor, while others are extremely severe. An example of an extremely severe violation would be unauthorized usage of equipment in the machine shop or wood shop, or even authorized usage of a machine shop/wood shop machine without anyone else present. These violations would most likely result in immediate suspension from accessing the Maker Hub. Let's just not go there, please.

Ok, moving onward. You might have noticed that the Maker Hub itself and many of the facility doors around the Maker hub are access-controlled. The main doors should not be propped open except for Maker Hub events. Unless a [[Facilities|facility]] is being monitored by the Maker Hub staff, a Maker Hub work study student, or a volunteer/ace, the facility doors should not be propped open. Please leave these doors closed under normal circumstances. Obvious exceptions are the [[Meeting Rooms|meeting rooms]] and [[Computer Lab|computer lab]] (we don't care if you use them with the doors open or closed). Other exceptions are the [[Wood Shop|wood shop]] and [[Welding Shop|welding shop]]; while users are working in these two spaces, the doors must remain propped open for safety reasons. You might be surprised how something so simple as "proper door usage" factors into the SAFETY FIRST and BE PROFESSIONAL commandments. It is a serious liability concern for the Maker Hub and the university if people are using the space without undergoing the proper safety training. If you're unsure if the people walking behind you have access to a certain facility, ask... don't be afraid to introduce yourself and make new friends. Everyone in the space should understand the three commandments and will be expected to adhere to these principles.

Finally, as a friendly reminder, we have security cameras posted throughout the Maker Hub, so do be on your best behavior. The cameras exist to help protect the space and enforce violations. All public areas are under constant surveillance, and everything is being recorded. This means that, if necessary, the video can be reviewed to help identify nefarious behavior or the cause of an accident. If an accident happens in the Maker Hub, first decide if you need to call an ambulance. Second, notify the Lead Technician and/or Maker Hub Manager. Even if no one got hurt... if you broke something... if something dangerous happened... if a significant malfunction occurred, but then it magically fixed itself later... please notify the Maker Hub employees. It's always better to take initiative in owning your mistakes than for the Maker Hub staff to find out what happened by reviewing the camera footage. If you leave a mess behind, we will find you on the camera footage and exhort you to rectify the mess promptly. Repeat offenders should expect their Maker Hub access to be suspended.

Let's switch gears to a happier topic.

==Things You Need To Know About The Hub==
[[File:Hub MAP Text 2.png|500px|thumb|right|Map of the Maker Hub]]
The [[Maker_Hub#Facilities|Facilities section on the Main Page]] shows a gallery of the different spaces that comprise the whole Maker Hub. See the map to the right for the layout of the Maker Hub. With the exception of the doors and the Senior Design Space, there are 11 labelled facilities on the map.

For students, your standard entry and exit point for the Maker Hub will be the main doors. Please do not use the senior design doors, the loading dock doors, or any of the emergency exit doors (unless, for example, there is an emergency or you are receiving a large shipment on the loading dock). This is intentional to funnel our user base through the turnstiles. As of the beginning of the spring semester 2023, the turnstiles next to the front desk are now live. This means that users will now use their GFU ID card at the turnstiles to swipe in on entry '''''and''''' swipe out when exiting the Maker Hub. Anyone who walks through without swiping will set off the alarm, and that would be '''sooo''' embarrassing.

A brief explanation of '''why'''... The turnstiles are part of the Maker Hub's data collection initiative. These data will show the collective usage of the Maker Hub and provide quantitative leverage for acquiring funding for new equipment and other developments in the space. We will also be able to analyze usage trends to better serve our current user base and inform our marketing efforts. Your compliance with this new policy benefits the Maker Hub and creates more opportunities for us to develop the space. Just in case it needs to be stated explicitly: Proper turnstile usage will be expected of all Maker Hub users. Violators should expect consequences... but, we know none of you would be so flagrant. ;)

If you are giving a tour, you can ask someone working at the front desk to temporarily disable the turnstiles so that all of your tour guests won't set off the alarm. The front desk has a regular rotation of work study students that work during the afternoons and early evenings on weekdays. Feel free to ask them for assistance (or Hayley if she is working at the Maker Hub front desk).

===The Hub===
The space we call "The Hub" refers to the large central room, which includes the lobby and hallways (the blue area on the map where the Maker Hub logo is). The Hub is a 24/7 general-use area that is meant for designing and making. It has approximately 8 rolling workbenches, some blue rolling carts, 8 computers on wheels, tool racks on the wall, and some semi-permanent stations.

First, there are approximately 8 open workbenches surrounded by tall drafting chairs that are open for general use. Each of these has a permanent home that is marked on the floor. Each workbench has power outlets on each leg, which can be powered by plugging the workbench's power plug into the yellow power outlets that come down from the ceiling. The yellow power outlets have been positioned so that that they hang down directly next to the workbench. These workbenches have locking casters and can be moved. However, when you have finished with the workbench, please reset the space. Ensure that the workbench is placed back inside of the special marks on the floor, and place the drafting chairs (usually 4 of them) around the workbench. When you RESET THE SPACE, it makes it nice for those following behind you. And we want to be nice ... don’t we? Yes is the answer to that question. If you need to leave your project out on a workbench for an extended period, you must mark it as "in use" with a note including your name, date, contact info, and when the project will be moved/cleaned up. There should be a good reason for this because we don't want to lock down a workbench for days. If there are special circumstances, please speak with your project advisor and/or a Maker Hub employee.

Project storage is at a premium in the Maker Hub. Visit our [[Project Storage]] page to see what storage spaces are available. We do not have a lot of space to store projects. The blue rolling carts that live in the hub are designed for project transportation, not permanent project storage. When you are finished using these carts, please clear them off and return them where you found them. If, for some special reason, you need to use the cart continuously for a short time, mark the cart as "in use" with a note per the description above. This is useful if you want to run overnight tests or you are in the middle of an assembly. However, this is for short term use. Remember, BE PROFESSIONAL. Release the materials for others to use. There are project storage racks in the senior design hallway. If you want to store your project there, label your shelf/materials with your name, the date, and contact info. Do not swipe other people's labeled materials for your own project. Keep in mind that these storage racks are periodically cleaned out each summer, so please take your projects with you at the end of the spring semester or notify a Maker Hub employee if you want your project to stay over the summer.

There are 8 computers on wheels that live up against the wall facing the quad or between the meeting rooms on the south side of the hub. They are all the same as the Computer Lab machines with the exception of number 8. Computer 8 has the Adobe Creative Suite in addition to all the rest of the software. Side note: the other computer in the Maker Hub with the Adobe Creative Suite is the computer connected to the vinyl cutters and the sublimation printer. All of the computers on wheels have a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) that allows you to unplug the machine and move it around the Maker Hub without powering it down. You allegedly have about 15 minutes of power available from the UPS (if anyone actually times it, let us know). Feel free to roll these computers to wherever you want to use them; however, when you are finished, RESET THE SPACE! The computers, when not in use, should always be sitting at their permanent locations plugged into a wall outlet.

On the wall, there are a couple tool racks. These are available for use within the Maker Hub. As should be obvious by now, when you are done using the tools, return them - RESET THE SPACE. Do not take these tools out of the Maker Hub. That's what the [[Tool Room]] is for. A tool is to the Tool Room as a book is to the library. Check out tools for an extended period of time and simply return them by the due date. The Tool Room hours are posted on the front desk.

There is A/V equipment in the corner of the hub. Best to just leave it alone.

The [[Supplies|Low-Fidelity Prototyping Station]] is provided so that students can make quick project mock-ups. Please BE PROFESSIONAL when using this station. While it might be tempting to make pipe-cleaner men as you did in elementary school, these supplies are provided for free to be utilized for projects, not entertainment. We will simply not be able to provide these supplies if they are continually wasted. This station is notorious for being left a mess, so please RESET THE SPACE and clean up when you are finished. Also, there is a small laminating machine located at the low-fidelity prototyping station. The low-fidelity prototyping station and the laminating machine are not considered "equipment," which means that there is no certification process necessary to use these items. See [[The Hub]] wiki page to see what equipment is located in the hub.

===Meeting Rooms===
[[File:Meeting Room.jpg|500px|thumb|right|A neat and orderly Meeting Room :)]]
There are 8 meeting rooms in the Maker Hub (the dark blue areas on the map). The intended function of these rooms is to house meetings (i.e. these are not study rooms, but meeting rooms). Which means, priority will be given to weekly meetings with senior design teams, servant engineering teams, and other teams meeting for classes or projects. When not requested for a team meeting, these rooms can be used by individuals for studying, or by groups for hanging out. If you are acting like a professional, then you will yield the room to others who have a legitimate project-related need for the meeting room. This happens frequently, so do not be surprised or upset if you are displaced by a project team. The meeting rooms fill up fast (because they're awesome), but everyone needs to remember that the meeting rooms serve the primary purpose of housing project-related meetings. If you are studying in a meeting room, consider it a very professional act to offer "your" meeting room to a team that needs to meet and then study elsewhere. Likewise, if a team would like to use a room at an unscheduled time, it would be professional for the team to first look for an empty room, and second, look for a room that has the least effect on others who might be using the room for group study or other activities.

Each of these rooms is equipped with a wall-mounted flat-screen TV and HDMI connector. There is a whiteboard in each room as well. As with other whiteboards, please do not take the erasers or markers, and always erase the board when you leave the meeting room. If there are no markers or erasers, please obtain them from the Tool Room. When you leave the meeting room, turn off the TV and leave the HDMI cable accessible (not tossed underneath the table). Also, there should be 1 table (haven’t seen anyone take those yet), and 7 short chairs without armrests (these chairs are different from the taller drafting chairs in The Hub), and a clean whiteboard with an eraser and markers. No extra items should be left behind (e.g. computer on wheels). Just like the picture to the right, remember that you should always RESET THE SPACE.

There are coat hangers on the wall behind the door. These are only for coats, they will not be strong enough to hold backpacks.

Enjoy the meeting rooms - just remember The Three Commandments.

===Computer Lab===
The computer lab is open to all Maker Hub users (the yellow area on the map). The computer lab has 29 computer stations (28 for students and 1 for the instructor). Each of these stations consists of a computer, a keyboard, a mouse, and a chair with armrests. These items form a unit. Which should make it clear that you should never take a keyboard, a mouse, or a chair from this space. There are no chairs with armrests in The Hub or meeting rooms. So, leave the armrest-chairs in the computer lab. The keyboards and mouses are intended for these computers. If a keyboard or mouse is broken, inform the Tool Room. If there is a dire situation where you need to borrow one of these items, as always, RESET THE SPACE. Several classes are held in the computer lab, and we don't want them to waste class-time looking for missing keyboards, mouses, or chairs.

The large whiteboards in the computer lab follow the same principles as the whiteboards in the meeting rooms. Don't remove markers or erasers from the computer lab. If the markers are missing or not functional, go to the Tool Room and get new ones. Erase the board when you are finished. If you want to save your whiteboard writing, take a picture. Writing “Do Not Erase” is not an acceptable action for a whiteboard. You can save it yourself and reproduce it quickly later. Again, BE PROFESSIONAL.

Clean up after yourself; consider this good practice for marriage if indeed you would like to get married one day. This means you need to be sure to clean up any papers, food, and drink. If you have a class in the computer lab and receive a handout, it is your job to study it like your wonderful professor intended. But if you are not going to do that, it is your responsibility to recycle it. Leave the space better than you found it.

There is a set of 72 small storage lockers in this room. Their main function is to hold Maker-Hub-related materials for classes/labs or Maker-Hub-related personal projects. They are not to be used as personal lockers for non-Maker-Hub-related items. Now clearly, if you are already using a locker for Maker Hub reasons, then it is certainly fine to additionally place a textbook or engagement ring in there (preferably in the spring). But don’t secure a locker if you are not actively working on a project or participating in a class/lab. You will need to provide your own lock. At the end of each semester, the lockers should be cleared out and the locks removed. If there are still locks on them, this will give us a chance to use our bolt cutters and sell the locker's contents on the web. That is always a good time. If you need to maintain a locker over the break, you will need to coordinate with the Maker Hub employees. Please do not set things on top of the lockers. These items will be routinely disposed of without warning. Clearly, setting something on top would not be resetting the space, and hopefully you are discovering that this is an important commandment.

==Material Policy==

The Maker Hub gladly provides a limited assortment of low-cost materials and consumable items to its users—free of charge. This is true for both academic and personal projects. We want to remove as many monetary barriers as possible as users work on projects. There are two noteworthy areas where the Maker Hub expects that the user cover material costs.

The first scenario is for specialized materials that the Maker Hub does not keep in stock. In this case, we can direct the user to a [[Places to Buy Materials|list of local businesses and online stores]] to purchase materials. If you are unfamiliar with the materials you to plan to use for your project or what materials you "should" use, talk with the Maker Hub staff before purchasing. We might be able to save you a big headache.

The second scenario is for projects that require a large quantity of materials. A “large quantity” is an intentionally subjective term that will be decided by the Maker Hub staff on a case-by-case basis. The term "large quantity" also applies to expensive materials such as a full sheet of plywood, which can cost well over $100 depending on the quality. Sure, some projects legitimately need a large quantity of materials. Just ask the Maker Hub staff about it first. Maybe we'll give you the green light; maybe we'll ask you to cover the cost. We monitor our inventory carefully and want there to be enough materials available for everyone to enjoy, so please don't abuse this privilege.

We do have a few general thresholds designating a "large quantity" listed here. Below the threshold is free to the user; above the threshold means that the user (or class budget) will cover the cost. Please note that these thresholds are subject to change.
*A single PLA 3D print using more than $5 of material
*Half a sheet of plywood or more

There are some materials available for purchase from the Tool Room for the sake of convenience. These materials are sold at cost, not for profit.

==Production Runs==

Production runs are not allowed in the Maker Hub. Let's define what this means from the Maker Hub's perspective...

The primary factor that qualifies a project as a production run is attempting to produce a large quantity of items, but this factor is also weighed in conjunction with the time, effort, and cost needed to complete the project. Again, we are using a “large quantity of items” as an intentionally subjective term. If you ask yourself questions like... ''how many things am I trying to make? how much time will it take? what amount of effort is involved? how much will it cost?'' and the answer to all of them is a LOT, then you are definitely attempting a production run. The Maker Hub staff reserves the right to determine whether a project qualifies as a production run on a case-by-case basis.

Why does the Maker Hub care about production runs? The Maker Hub is primarily an educational space; it is not a mass-production facility. Educating, training, and equipping will always be among our top priorities. Production runs tend to lock down a particular space, tool, or piece of equipment for an extended period of time as the user conducts repetitive tasks to produce his or her items. Whether it’s a production run or not, locking down the Maker Hub’s resources for an extended period of time without express permission from the Maker Hub staff comes in conflict with the third commandment: Be Professional! With education as a top priority, high production volumes can begin to compete with that priority by tying up Maker Hub resources for long periods of time. Secondly, the Maker Hub is not the place to fire up your business's assembly line and start cranking out hundreds of widgets for profit. If indeed you have the skills to make something in the Maker Hub that someone else would actually buy with real money, do it! Make something amazing and sell it. However, the Maker Hub will not support any form of "profit making" that includes assembly line production or qualifies as a production run.

==How The Training System Works==

Anyone need a snack break? to stand up and stretch? a brief intermission? Almost there!

A few category definitions for you... 
*[[Facilities]] are the various spaces in the Maker Hub. They usually require wiki reading and a passed Canvas quiz.
*[[Equipment]] is machinery where authorized usage requires wiki reading, a passed Canvas quiz, certification training, and a demonstration.
*[[Tools]] are items that range from hand tools to benchtop instruments. Some have informative wiki pages, but they do not require a Canvas quiz, certification training, or a demonstration in order to use them.

Right now, you are in the middle of the Maker Hub Introduction training course. Successful completion of this course grants you 24/7 access to The Hub. There are many other training courses available. Most [[Facilities|facilities]] in the Maker Hub have a top-level Canvas quiz (e.g. the [[Prototype Lab]]). Successful completion of the Prototype Lab's top-level Canvas quiz grants you access to the Prototype Lab. Each piece of [[Equipment|equipment]] in the Maker Hub has an associated Canvas quiz (e.g. the [[Prusa 3D Printer]]). Successful completion of the Prusa 3D Printer's Canvas quiz plus training and a demonstration from a staff member authorizes you to use the Prusa 3D Printer. Canvas quizzes must be taken sequentially depending on where the equipment is located; you won't be able to take the Prusa 3D Printer quiz until you have passed the Prototype Lab's top-level quiz. For all you visual learners out there, take a look at the fancy graph below. Each node represents a Canvas quiz (unless the node is labelled with "No Quiz"). The graph follows a sequential process of completing quizzes from left to right. Take a minute to bask in its glory, then continue reading below.

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{ "name": "Metal Laser Cutter" },
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{ "name": "Serger" },
{ "name": "Sewing Machine" },
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{ "name": "Sublimation Printer" },
{ "name": "Vinyl Cutter" },
{ "name": "Vinyl Printer+Cutter" },
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"children": [
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{ "name": "Injection Molding Machine" },
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{ "name": "Leatherworking Station" },
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{ "name": "Virtual Reality Welding Station" },
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{ "name": "Welding Shop" ,
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{ "name": "Buffers" },
{ "name": "MIG Welder" },
{ "name": "Pedestal Grinder" },
{ "name": "Plasma Cutter" },
{ "name": "Spot Welder" },
{ "name": "TIG Welder" },
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{ "name": "Wood Shop" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "Belt Sander" },
{ "name": "Belt/Disc Sander" },
{ "name": "CNC Router" },
{ "name": "Compound Miter Saw" },
{ "name": "Hand Router" },
{ "name": "Handheld CNC Router" },
{ "name": "Jointer" },
{ "name": "Oscillating Spindle Sander" },
{ "name": "Planer" },
{ "name": "Power Carver" },
{ "name": "Scroll Saw" },
{ "name": "Table Saw" },
{ "name": "Vertical Wood Bandsaw" },
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Notice that the middle column contains all of the facilities within the Maker Hub, and the right column contains each piece of equipment within the Maker Hub.

===The Training Process===
Training follows a specific progression as shown in the image to the right...[[File:Training Progression2.png|800px|thumb|right|The Training Progression in the Maker Hub]]

The first place to start is by reading the wiki page on whatever facility or piece of equipment you would like to use. Watch the videos, open up the user manuals, etc. After you finish, you can find the link to the Canvas quiz under the Certification header. Theoretically, all the information you need to pass the Canvas quiz can be found somewhere on its respective wiki page. The link will take you to the main page of the Canvas course. You will need to self-enroll in the Canvas course by clicking the "Join This Course" button in the right column. If the quiz is locked, it means that either you haven't self-enrolled or you haven't yet taken the facility's top-level quiz for that piece of equipment. Pass the quiz with 100%. If you took a quiz for a facility, you're done. Facilities do not require you to schedule training or demonstrations; only equipment does. But it seems kind of pointless to have access to a facility but not be able to use anything in it... so let's continue the process for a piece of equipment. You've read the wiki page; you've passed the Canvas quiz with 100%. What's next? The next step is to scroll back to the top of the wiki page and find the student ace listed for that piece of equipment. A student ace is simply a student who knows a piece of equipment well and is willing to train other students on the proper usage of that equipment. Student aces often receive extra privileges such as extended hours in their particular facility. Once you've found the student ace's email address, send them and email and CC makerhub@georgefox.edu. Your email is simply a request to schedule training and a demonstration for the equipment.

What if there is no student ace listed? Try going to the facility page of where the equipment is located to see if there is an ace or a shop supervisor listed. What if there still is no student ace or shop supervisor listed there? Well, today might be your lucky day to offer to be a student ace for that particular equipment. No one in the Maker Hub is required to be an ace for anything, but the "ace" system is critically important to the operation of the Maker Hub and the culture we continue to develop. We focus our efforts into developing a culture in the Maker Hub that is collaborative, where people are eager to be helpful and share best practices. Our culture empowers students to take ownership of the Maker Hub through various roles and responsibilities. We are very grateful for anyone willing to be a student ace and assist others.

If there are no student aces available, just send your email to makerhub@georgefox.edu and someone will schedule a training and demonstration with you. The demonstration is usually a set task where the trainee will create a specific object or complete several functions to demonstrate basic proficiency on the equipment. Each piece of equipment has a unique demonstration, and the instructions are listed on the equipment's wiki page. Once the training and demonstration are complete, you are certified on the equipment. This means that you are free to use the equipment (adhering to the buddy system as applicable) whenever the facility is open. Each facility has posted hours on its respective wiki page and/or on the door of the facility. What does certification NOT mean? Certification does not mean that you know everything about the machine - neither does it mean that you're on your own to figure out how to use the machine if you forgot something from the training. Again, consider certifications as a "license to learn" more about the equipment. Ask questions and seek help from the Maker Hub staff and your peers.

Having just described the training process in excruciating detail, I promise it's a lot easier than it sounds. And it becomes much faster and more familiar once you've gone through it a few times.

===Quiz Resets===

All Canvas quizzes are reset at the beginning of the summer, so you will need to retake all of your quizzes in the fall in order to maintain certification on those pieces of equipment. This is intentional to refresh your knowledge of how to operate the machines you've trained on once a year. However, all of your demonstrations carry over from year to year, so you don't have to go through the process of scheduling a training and demonstration with a student ace again. By all means, ask for refresher training if you need it. But, there is no requirement to redo certification training/demonstrations for any piece of equipment that you have already been certified on at some point.

==The Maker Hub Waiver==

For legal and liability reasons, the Maker Hub has a waiver that all users must sign prior to any equipment or tool usage. See our [[User Policies]] page for more details on different Maker Hub users with respect to the waiver.

The Maker Hub waiver is part of the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course and should be completed by users there. It is simply listed here for reference: [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|Maker Hub Waiver V2]]

==Certification==
Now that you've probably experienced information overload, go knock out this Maker Hub Introduction Canvas quiz (link below). If you miss a question, take the quiz again. 100% is the only passing grade for Maker Hub quizzes. Training in the Maker Hub can be tedious, but it's not meant to be frustrating. If you are confused or something is not working correctly for you, please contact the Maker Hub staff for assistance at makerhub@georgefox.edu.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

==What's Next?==
After you have passed the Maker Hub Introduction quiz on Canvas with 100%, you should receive card-swipe access to the main doors of the Maker Hub on the following day (because the card reader system updates at midnight).

Getting Started

2025-11-05T04:08:30Z

Nsullivan: /* The Training Process */

[[File:Few Word.png|500px|right]]

Welcome to the Maker Hub Introduction Course!

All Maker Hub users must take this course in order to have access to the Maker Hub. This course should take less than 45 minutes to complete. And we promise, of all the Maker Hub training courses, this one is the longest (except for the soldering irons for some reason). Reading is hard... but somehow, we need to put the necessary training information into your brain so that you can use the Maker Hub's equipment safely and refrain from breaking things. We'll try to convey all of this in as few words as possible (humor aside). For all the "[[TLDR]]" peeps in the house, buckle up...

To gain basic card-swipe access to the Maker Hub, read this entire page and pass the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas quiz (with 100%). The link to the Canvas quiz is found toward the bottom of this page [[{{PAGENAME}}#Certification|here]].

__TOC__

==How We Operate==

The Maker Hub is available to all members of the GFU family (i.e. undergrad students, graduate students, ADP students, and employees), and that includes non-engineering students! The Maker Hub was born to advance creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the community of George Fox University. One of the main ways we achieve this goal is by providing a space where people can work on academic and/or personal projects. The Maker Hub operates under the guidance of a few GFU employees, a handful of student staff, and a plethora of student aces and volunteers. The student staff, aces, and volunteers play critical leadership roles in overseeing various technical shops and training others to use the equipment. With a diverse user-base and a diverse set of projects running concurrently, there has to be a standardized training system that keeps everyone on the same page. And... that's why you're here reading this epic wiki page anyways.

To enable you to access and maintain this space, you are being asked (OK, required) to take a short training course on the Maker Hub. Through this course, you will become acquainted with the [[Facilities|facilities]] within the Maker Hub, the [[Equipment|equipment]] and [[Tools|tools]] available to you, and the expectations for proper usage of them. The goal of this course is twofold: first, to introduce you to the capabilities available to you in the space, and second, to help you understand the expectations upon you when using the space. Both are crucial if you want to be an active participant in the space.

In any public space, there has to be some set of rules that govern the activity in the space. Ideally, we would just use the clever “Rule 0: Don’t make me make a rule.” But, we felt it was better to come up with some overall guiding principles rather than a list of rules. Clearly, there are some obvious “rules” that get implied from these principles, but, we believe that if you embrace the principles, the rules will take care of themselves. These principles we like to call: The Three Commandments.

(See what we did there? - Christian school - reference to the commandments? Get it?)

==The Three Commandments==
# Safety First
# Reset the Space
# Be Professional

<gallery class="center" widths="200px">
Image:Safety First Red.png
Image:Reset The Space Green.png
Image:Be Professional Blue.png
</gallery>
 
===What Do The Three Commandments Mean?===

====Safety First====
This should be the most obvious--and critical--of the commandments. A significant portion of the equipment and tools in the Maker Hub can be quite dangerous. It is imperative that in everything you do, you address safety first. This starts with general behavior (don’t run with scissors - in fact, don’t run at all - unless there is a fire - and you can see now why we are going with principles rather than specific rules). But beyond general behavior, various rooms and machines have very specific safety procedures and violations of these procedures will come with penalties.

We use the buddy system. It's always a good idea to have a buddy or someone within eyesight or earshot while working anywhere in the Maker Hub. It is IMPERATIVE to have a buddy or someone else present when working in the machine shop, wood shop, or welding shop. Do not use equipment alone in the machine shop, wood shop, or welding shop; it is a serious safety violation.

Safety first includes not only your safety and the safety of others, but the safety of the equipment and tools as well. It is a huge privilege to have access to this set of equipment and we need to ensure that the equipment is being properly used and maintained. There is no reason in this space to use a screwdriver as a hammer. We have hammers. Use tools for their intended purposes, not just for your safety, but for the safety of the tool.

Safety is our number one concern as you use the equipment and tools available in the Maker Hub. In the Maker Hub, there is a very clear distinction between things that are considered [[Equipment|equipment]] and things that are considered [[Tools|tools]]. Equipment is a special category of machines that, by definition, requires certified training before an individual is allowed to use it. Tools have no certification process; they can be used by anyone who has completed this Maker Hub Introduction course and passed the quiz. That does not mean that tools are necessarily less dangerous; equipment just requires more training. Do not use any equipment that you have not been certified on. There are several equipment stations in [[The Hub]] such as the [[Sewing Machine|sewing machines]], the [[Electronics Workstation|electronics workstation]], and the [[Heat Press|heat press]] to name a few. All [[Equipment|equipment]] is marked in the Maker Hub with special icons that are displayed either on, around, or above the equipment. Here's an example icon for the [[Sublimation Printer|sublimation printer]].
[[File:Dye Sublimation Printer.png|150px|none]]

Equipment that has an icon posted over it, by definition, requires specialized certification training. Without completing this training, you are not authorized to utilize the equipment! Have we beat this dead horse enough yet? Think of these certifications as a “license to learn.” They allow you to utilize the equipment, but you should still feel free to ask for help, at any point, from a shop mentor or technician.

If you have a condition that makes it unsafe for you to use heavy machinery or if you are taking any medication that recommends against using heavy machinery, you must notify the Maker Hub staff before using any Maker Hub equipment.

Never forget ... SAFETY FIRST!

====Reset the Space====
This commandment is simple enough to understand, but sometimes difficult for ... let’s just say it ... people ... to implement. The idea is very simple. Put things back. Leave the space better than you found it. It's not that hard. There is a place for everything, and everything has a place. There are marks on the floor in the Hub for the tables. These are just there to help remind you. This principle applies to EVERYTHING in the space. If you move a chair, put it back. If you move a table, put it back. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a rolling computer, put it back. That means you don’t take things from one room and leave them in another. You see, that would not be “putting it back.” You see where I am going with this? If you use a machine in the shop, put the tools away. Use the vacuum to clean up. Make the space look better than you found it. If you want a marker for a whiteboard in the space, go request one from the [[Tool Room]]. They are free for usage in the space. Do not take them from other rooms. Do not take erasers from other rooms. If you use a whiteboard, erase it. I could go on. Sort of want to. But I will contain myself. Ok ... a few more ...

We currently allow food and drink in the Maker Hub. Resetting the Space means that you don’t leave food spills, wrappers, or trays, or anything that wasn’t there when you came in.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave things out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large test and you need something to run overnight. In cases like this, it is OK, but you NEED to leave a note on your system so that others know the situation. This is just common courtesy.

Whatever you do, RESET THE SPACE!

====Be Professional====
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like a professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the Maker Hub we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious behavioral ramifications. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you are using a meeting room to do individual work, and a team needs a meeting room, then you should yield the room. Function is more important than who got there first. This is being a professional.

If you are working with a tool or piece of equipment, and you don’t know the proper way to do what you are attempting - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

Now, it’s time for a brief “family chat” (Nick speaking here). I am primarily addressing our engineering students where I hear of these issues occurring, but this topic certainly applies to all students, all majors, all Maker Hub users, and beyond. I hear reports of sexist comments and crude joking at the expense of one gender or the other occurring in the Maker Hub (albeit far less than reports I hear from other universities). I doubt anyone is surprised to hear me say that this is not professional behavior. Having been college student myself at one point, I am familiar with the type of locker room talk that “gets a laugh out of the boys.” If you actually take a minute to examine the origin/purpose behind such comments, it exposes a significant thread of immaturity. Some who engage in sexism make socially unacceptable statements but cover them by saying “it’s just a joke.” Some are seeking attention or approval from their peers. Some want to be perceived as funny or edgy by others. Some have a very fragile masculinity or femininity and feel better when they put the other gender down. Some genuinely have a perverted ideology concerning men, women, and gender roles and feel a need to stroke their own ego. No matter the intent, sexist conduct displays a lack of maturity.

There is a time and place for appropriate humor concerning the whimsical rivalries between various engineering disciplines or even differing majors. Still, such humor should never include elements that would dishonor one gender or the other. And yes, let me be clear: the standard goes both directions. I am well aware that men are the more common offenders, but that does not give women any license or justification to return fire with disparaging remarks. We reject the “eye-for-an-eye” mentality. I speak on behalf of the College of Engineering (and the university as a whole) when I say that one of our main goals is to guide you toward greater levels of maturity and let the transforming love of Christ be the primary thing that informs your thoughts, speech, attitudes, and actions. Insomuch as your interaction with the Maker Hub could contribute toward this goal, the Maker Hub will continue to uphold a professional culture and expect our users to meet the standard.

Much more can be said about this topic, but for the sake of space, I will pause here. Please reach out to nsullivan@georgefox.edu to report violations or engage in further dialogue about this topic.

BE PROFESSIONAL!

===How We Handle Violations===

These are The Three Commandments, and they form the rule and order for the Maker Hub. There are similarities to the rule and order in Christianity. As G.K. Chesterton said in his classic book “Orthodoxy,”

"The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild."

It is our hope and expectation that you and other students will be able to run wild and create many wonderful things in this space. These “commandments” are intended to provide that space - and the expectation is that everyone will abide by them. But, as we know, not everyone chooses to do so (1 Tim 1:9-10). We have seen various ways that different schools address these violations, and most use expulsion from the space as the primary penalty. Our penalty system is purposely vague to allow us to handle violations on a case-by-case basis. Some violations (not putting a chair back after moving it) might be comparatively minor, while others are extremely severe. An example of an extremely severe violation would be unauthorized usage of equipment in the machine shop or wood shop, or even authorized usage of a machine shop/wood shop machine without anyone else present. These violations would most likely result in immediate suspension from accessing the Maker Hub. Let's just not go there, please.

Ok, moving onward. You might have noticed that the Maker Hub itself and many of the facility doors around the Maker hub are access-controlled. The main doors should not be propped open except for Maker Hub events. Unless a [[Facilities|facility]] is being monitored by the Maker Hub staff, a Maker Hub work study student, or a volunteer/ace, the facility doors should not be propped open. Please leave these doors closed under normal circumstances. Obvious exceptions are the [[Meeting Rooms|meeting rooms]] and [[Computer Lab|computer lab]] (we don't care if you use them with the doors open or closed). Other exceptions are the [[Wood Shop|wood shop]] and [[Welding Shop|welding shop]]; while users are working in these two spaces, the doors must remain propped open for safety reasons. You might be surprised how something so simple as "proper door usage" factors into the SAFETY FIRST and BE PROFESSIONAL commandments. It is a serious liability concern for the Maker Hub and the university if people are using the space without undergoing the proper safety training. If you're unsure if the people walking behind you have access to a certain facility, ask... don't be afraid to introduce yourself and make new friends. Everyone in the space should understand the three commandments and will be expected to adhere to these principles.

Finally, as a friendly reminder, we have security cameras posted throughout the Maker Hub, so do be on your best behavior. The cameras exist to help protect the space and enforce violations. All public areas are under constant surveillance, and everything is being recorded. This means that, if necessary, the video can be reviewed to help identify nefarious behavior or the cause of an accident. If an accident happens in the Maker Hub, first decide if you need to call an ambulance. Second, notify the Lead Technician and/or Maker Hub Manager. Even if no one got hurt... if you broke something... if something dangerous happened... if a significant malfunction occurred, but then it magically fixed itself later... please notify the Maker Hub employees. It's always better to take initiative in owning your mistakes than for the Maker Hub staff to find out what happened by reviewing the camera footage. If you leave a mess behind, we will find you on the camera footage and exhort you to rectify the mess promptly. Repeat offenders should expect their Maker Hub access to be suspended.

Let's switch gears to a happier topic.

==Things You Need To Know About The Hub==
[[File:Hub MAP Text 2.png|500px|thumb|right|Map of the Maker Hub]]
The [[Maker_Hub#Facilities|Facilities section on the Main Page]] shows a gallery of the different spaces that comprise the whole Maker Hub. See the map to the right for the layout of the Maker Hub. With the exception of the doors and the Senior Design Space, there are 11 labelled facilities on the map.

For students, your standard entry and exit point for the Maker Hub will be the main doors. Please do not use the senior design doors, the loading dock doors, or any of the emergency exit doors (unless, for example, there is an emergency or you are receiving a large shipment on the loading dock). This is intentional to funnel our user base through the turnstiles. As of the beginning of the spring semester 2023, the turnstiles next to the front desk are now live. This means that users will now use their GFU ID card at the turnstiles to swipe in on entry '''''and''''' swipe out when exiting the Maker Hub. Anyone who walks through without swiping will set off the alarm, and that would be '''sooo''' embarrassing.

A brief explanation of '''why'''... The turnstiles are part of the Maker Hub's data collection initiative. These data will show the collective usage of the Maker Hub and provide quantitative leverage for acquiring funding for new equipment and other developments in the space. We will also be able to analyze usage trends to better serve our current user base and inform our marketing efforts. Your compliance with this new policy benefits the Maker Hub and creates more opportunities for us to develop the space. Just in case it needs to be stated explicitly: Proper turnstile usage will be expected of all Maker Hub users. Violators should expect consequences... but, we know none of you would be so flagrant. ;)

If you are giving a tour, you can ask someone working at the front desk to temporarily disable the turnstiles so that all of your tour guests won't set off the alarm. The front desk has a regular rotation of work study students that work during the afternoons and early evenings on weekdays. Feel free to ask them for assistance (or Hayley if she is working at the Maker Hub front desk).

===The Hub===
The space we call "The Hub" refers to the large central room, which includes the lobby and hallways (the blue area on the map where the Maker Hub logo is). The Hub is a 24/7 general-use area that is meant for designing and making. It has approximately 8 rolling workbenches, some blue rolling carts, 8 computers on wheels, tool racks on the wall, and some semi-permanent stations.

First, there are approximately 8 open workbenches surrounded by tall drafting chairs that are open for general use. Each of these has a permanent home that is marked on the floor. Each workbench has power outlets on each leg, which can be powered by plugging the workbench's power plug into the yellow power outlets that come down from the ceiling. The yellow power outlets have been positioned so that that they hang down directly next to the workbench. These workbenches have locking casters and can be moved. However, when you have finished with the workbench, please reset the space. Ensure that the workbench is placed back inside of the special marks on the floor, and place the drafting chairs (usually 4 of them) around the workbench. When you RESET THE SPACE, it makes it nice for those following behind you. And we want to be nice ... don’t we? Yes is the answer to that question. If you need to leave your project out on a workbench for an extended period, you must mark it as "in use" with a note including your name, date, contact info, and when the project will be moved/cleaned up. There should be a good reason for this because we don't want to lock down a workbench for days. If there are special circumstances, please speak with your project advisor and/or a Maker Hub employee.

Project storage is at a premium in the Maker Hub. Visit our [[Project Storage]] page to see what storage spaces are available. We do not have a lot of space to store projects. The blue rolling carts that live in the hub are designed for project transportation, not permanent project storage. When you are finished using these carts, please clear them off and return them where you found them. If, for some special reason, you need to use the cart continuously for a short time, mark the cart as "in use" with a note per the description above. This is useful if you want to run overnight tests or you are in the middle of an assembly. However, this is for short term use. Remember, BE PROFESSIONAL. Release the materials for others to use. There are project storage racks in the senior design hallway. If you want to store your project there, label your shelf/materials with your name, the date, and contact info. Do not swipe other people's labeled materials for your own project. Keep in mind that these storage racks are periodically cleaned out each summer, so please take your projects with you at the end of the spring semester or notify a Maker Hub employee if you want your project to stay over the summer.

There are 8 computers on wheels that live up against the wall facing the quad or between the meeting rooms on the south side of the hub. They are all the same as the Computer Lab machines with the exception of number 8. Computer 8 has the Adobe Creative Suite in addition to all the rest of the software. Side note: the other computer in the Maker Hub with the Adobe Creative Suite is the computer connected to the vinyl cutters and the sublimation printer. All of the computers on wheels have a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) that allows you to unplug the machine and move it around the Maker Hub without powering it down. You allegedly have about 15 minutes of power available from the UPS (if anyone actually times it, let us know). Feel free to roll these computers to wherever you want to use them; however, when you are finished, RESET THE SPACE! The computers, when not in use, should always be sitting at their permanent locations plugged into a wall outlet.

On the wall, there are a couple tool racks. These are available for use within the Maker Hub. As should be obvious by now, when you are done using the tools, return them - RESET THE SPACE. Do not take these tools out of the Maker Hub. That's what the [[Tool Room]] is for. A tool is to the Tool Room as a book is to the library. Check out tools for an extended period of time and simply return them by the due date. The Tool Room hours are posted on the front desk.

There is A/V equipment in the corner of the hub. Best to just leave it alone.

The [[Supplies|Low-Fidelity Prototyping Station]] is provided so that students can make quick project mock-ups. Please BE PROFESSIONAL when using this station. While it might be tempting to make pipe-cleaner men as you did in elementary school, these supplies are provided for free to be utilized for projects, not entertainment. We will simply not be able to provide these supplies if they are continually wasted. This station is notorious for being left a mess, so please RESET THE SPACE and clean up when you are finished. Also, there is a small laminating machine located at the low-fidelity prototyping station. The low-fidelity prototyping station and the laminating machine are not considered "equipment," which means that there is no certification process necessary to use these items. See [[The Hub]] wiki page to see what equipment is located in the hub.

===Meeting Rooms===
[[File:Meeting Room.jpg|500px|thumb|right|A neat and orderly Meeting Room :)]]
There are 8 meeting rooms in the Maker Hub (the dark blue areas on the map). The intended function of these rooms is to house meetings (i.e. these are not study rooms, but meeting rooms). Which means, priority will be given to weekly meetings with senior design teams, servant engineering teams, and other teams meeting for classes or projects. When not requested for a team meeting, these rooms can be used by individuals for studying, or by groups for hanging out. If you are acting like a professional, then you will yield the room to others who have a legitimate project-related need for the meeting room. This happens frequently, so do not be surprised or upset if you are displaced by a project team. The meeting rooms fill up fast (because they're awesome), but everyone needs to remember that the meeting rooms serve the primary purpose of housing project-related meetings. If you are studying in a meeting room, consider it a very professional act to offer "your" meeting room to a team that needs to meet and then study elsewhere. Likewise, if a team would like to use a room at an unscheduled time, it would be professional for the team to first look for an empty room, and second, look for a room that has the least effect on others who might be using the room for group study or other activities.

Each of these rooms is equipped with a wall-mounted flat-screen TV and HDMI connector. There is a whiteboard in each room as well. As with other whiteboards, please do not take the erasers or markers, and always erase the board when you leave the meeting room. If there are no markers or erasers, please obtain them from the Tool Room. When you leave the meeting room, turn off the TV and leave the HDMI cable accessible (not tossed underneath the table). Also, there should be 1 table (haven’t seen anyone take those yet), and 7 short chairs without armrests (these chairs are different from the taller drafting chairs in The Hub), and a clean whiteboard with an eraser and markers. No extra items should be left behind (e.g. computer on wheels). Just like the picture to the right, remember that you should always RESET THE SPACE.

There are coat hangers on the wall behind the door. These are only for coats, they will not be strong enough to hold backpacks.

Enjoy the meeting rooms - just remember The Three Commandments.

===Computer Lab===
The computer lab is open to all Maker Hub users (the yellow area on the map). The computer lab has 29 computer stations (28 for students and 1 for the instructor). Each of these stations consists of a computer, a keyboard, a mouse, and a chair with armrests. These items form a unit. Which should make it clear that you should never take a keyboard, a mouse, or a chair from this space. There are no chairs with armrests in The Hub or meeting rooms. So, leave the armrest-chairs in the computer lab. The keyboards and mouses are intended for these computers. If a keyboard or mouse is broken, inform the Tool Room. If there is a dire situation where you need to borrow one of these items, as always, RESET THE SPACE. Several classes are held in the computer lab, and we don't want them to waste class-time looking for missing keyboards, mouses, or chairs.

The large whiteboards in the computer lab follow the same principles as the whiteboards in the meeting rooms. Don't remove markers or erasers from the computer lab. If the markers are missing or not functional, go to the Tool Room and get new ones. Erase the board when you are finished. If you want to save your whiteboard writing, take a picture. Writing “Do Not Erase” is not an acceptable action for a whiteboard. You can save it yourself and reproduce it quickly later. Again, BE PROFESSIONAL.

Clean up after yourself; consider this good practice for marriage if indeed you would like to get married one day. This means you need to be sure to clean up any papers, food, and drink. If you have a class in the computer lab and receive a handout, it is your job to study it like your wonderful professor intended. But if you are not going to do that, it is your responsibility to recycle it. Leave the space better than you found it.

There is a set of 72 small storage lockers in this room. Their main function is to hold Maker-Hub-related materials for classes/labs or Maker-Hub-related personal projects. They are not to be used as personal lockers for non-Maker-Hub-related items. Now clearly, if you are already using a locker for Maker Hub reasons, then it is certainly fine to additionally place a textbook or engagement ring in there (preferably in the spring). But don’t secure a locker if you are not actively working on a project or participating in a class/lab. You will need to provide your own lock. At the end of each semester, the lockers should be cleared out and the locks removed. If there are still locks on them, this will give us a chance to use our bolt cutters and sell the locker's contents on the web. That is always a good time. If you need to maintain a locker over the break, you will need to coordinate with the Maker Hub employees. Please do not set things on top of the lockers. These items will be routinely disposed of without warning. Clearly, setting something on top would not be resetting the space, and hopefully you are discovering that this is an important commandment.

==Material Policy==

The Maker Hub gladly provides a limited assortment of low-cost materials and consumable items to its users—free of charge. This is true for both academic and personal projects. We want to remove as many monetary barriers as possible as users work on projects. There are two noteworthy areas where the Maker Hub expects that the user cover material costs.

The first scenario is for projects that require a large quantity of materials. A “large quantity” is an intentionally subjective term that will be decided by the Maker Hub staff on a case-by-case basis. The term "large quantity" also applies to expensive materials such as a full sheet of plywood, which can cost well over $100 depending on the quality. Sure, some projects legitimately need a large quantity of materials. Just ask the Maker Hub staff about it first. Maybe we'll give you the green light; maybe we'll ask you to cover the cost. We monitor our inventory carefully and want there to be enough materials available for everyone to enjoy, so please don't abuse this privilege.

The second scenario is for specialized materials that the Maker Hub does not keep in stock. In this case, we can direct the user to a [[Places to Buy Materials|list of local businesses and online stores]] to purchase materials. If you are unfamiliar with the materials you to plan to use for your project or what materials you "should" use, talk with the Maker Hub staff before purchasing. We might be able to save you a big headache.

==Production Runs==

Production runs are not allowed in the Maker Hub. Let's define what this means from the Maker Hub's perspective...

The primary factor that qualifies a project as a production run is attempting to produce a large quantity of items, but this factor is also weighed in conjunction with the time, effort, and cost needed to complete the project. Again, we are using a “large quantity of items” as an intentionally subjective term. If you ask yourself questions like... ''how many things am I trying to make? how much time will it take? what amount of effort is involved? how much will it cost?'' and the answer to all of them is a LOT, then you are definitely attempting a production run. The Maker Hub staff reserves the right to determine whether a project qualifies as a production run on a case-by-case basis.

Why does the Maker Hub care about production runs? The Maker Hub is primarily an educational space; it is not a mass-production facility. Educating, training, and equipping will always be among our top priorities. Production runs tend to lock down a particular space, tool, or piece of equipment for an extended period of time as the user conducts repetitive tasks to produce his or her items. Whether it’s a production run or not, locking down the Maker Hub’s resources for an extended period of time without express permission from the Maker Hub staff comes in conflict with the third commandment: Be Professional! With education as a top priority, high production volumes can begin to compete with that priority by tying up Maker Hub resources for long periods of time. Secondly, the Maker Hub is not the place to fire up your business's assembly line and start cranking out hundreds of widgets for profit. If indeed you have the skills to make something in the Maker Hub that someone else would actually buy with real money, do it! Make something amazing and sell it. However, the Maker Hub will not support any form of "profit making" that includes assembly line production or qualifies as a production run.

==How The Training System Works==

Anyone need a snack break? to stand up and stretch? a brief intermission? Almost there!

A few category definitions for you... 
*[[Facilities]] are the various spaces in the Maker Hub. They usually require wiki reading and a passed Canvas quiz.
*[[Equipment]] is machinery where authorized usage requires wiki reading, a passed Canvas quiz, certification training, and a demonstration.
*[[Tools]] are items that range from hand tools to benchtop instruments. Some have informative wiki pages, but they do not require a Canvas quiz, certification training, or a demonstration in order to use them.

Right now, you are in the middle of the Maker Hub Introduction training course. Successful completion of this course grants you 24/7 access to The Hub. There are many other training courses available. Most [[Facilities|facilities]] in the Maker Hub have a top-level Canvas quiz (e.g. the [[Prototype Lab]]). Successful completion of the Prototype Lab's top-level Canvas quiz grants you access to the Prototype Lab. Each piece of [[Equipment|equipment]] in the Maker Hub has an associated Canvas quiz (e.g. the [[Prusa 3D Printer]]). Successful completion of the Prusa 3D Printer's Canvas quiz plus training and a demonstration from a staff member authorizes you to use the Prusa 3D Printer. Canvas quizzes must be taken sequentially depending on where the equipment is located; you won't be able to take the Prusa 3D Printer quiz until you have passed the Prototype Lab's top-level quiz. For all you visual learners out there, take a look at the fancy graph below. Each node represents a Canvas quiz (unless the node is labelled with "No Quiz"). The graph follows a sequential process of completing quizzes from left to right. Take a minute to bask in its glory, then continue reading below.

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{ "name": "Machine Shop" ,
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{ "name": "CNC Press Brake" },
{ "name": "CNC Mill" },
{ "name": "Drill Press" },
{ "name": "Hand Bender" },
{ "name": "Horizontal Bandsaw" },
{ "name": "Hydraulic Press" },
{ "name": "Lathe" },
{ "name": "Metal Laser Cutter" },
{ "name": "Milling Machine" },
{ "name": "Ring Roller" },
{ "name": "Rotary Punch" },
{ "name": "Sheet Metal Shear" },
{ "name": "Slip Roller" },
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{ "name": "Waterjet Cutter" }
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{ "name": "Through Hole Press" }
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{ "name": "F370 3D Printer" },
{ "name": "Formlabs 3D Printer" },
{ "name": "Laser Cutters" },
{ "name": "Markforged 3D Printer" },
{ "name": "Prusa 3D Printer" }
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{ "name": "The Hub (No Quiz)" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "Electronics Workstation" },
{ "name": "Foam Cutter" },
{ "name": "Heat Press" },
{ "name": "Heavy Duty Sewing Machine" },
{ "name": "Mug Press" },
{ "name": "Serger" },
{ "name": "Sewing Machine" },
{ "name": "Soldering Irons" },
{ "name": "Sublimation Printer" },
{ "name": "Vinyl Cutter" },
{ "name": "Vinyl Printer+Cutter" },
]
},
{ "name": "The Vault" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "3D Scanners" },
{ "name": "High Speed Camera" },
{ "name": "Injection Molding Machine" },
{ "name": "Jewelry Station" },
{ "name": "Leatherworking Station" },
{ "name": "Photo Table" },
{ "name": "Vacuum Former" },
{ "name": "Virtual Reality Welding Station" },
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},
{ "name": "Tool Room (No Quiz)" },
{ "name": "Welding Shop" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "Blast Cabinet" },
{ "name": "Buffers" },
{ "name": "MIG Welder" },
{ "name": "Pedestal Grinder" },
{ "name": "Plasma Cutter" },
{ "name": "Spot Welder" },
{ "name": "TIG Welder" },
]
},
{ "name": "Wood Shop" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "Belt Sander" },
{ "name": "Belt/Disc Sander" },
{ "name": "CNC Router" },
{ "name": "Compound Miter Saw" },
{ "name": "Hand Router" },
{ "name": "Handheld CNC Router" },
{ "name": "Jointer" },
{ "name": "Oscillating Spindle Sander" },
{ "name": "Planer" },
{ "name": "Power Carver" },
{ "name": "Scroll Saw" },
{ "name": "Table Saw" },
{ "name": "Vertical Wood Bandsaw" },
{ "name": "Wood Drill Press" },
{ "name": "Wood Lathe" }
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}
]
}
}
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Notice that the middle column contains all of the facilities within the Maker Hub, and the right column contains each piece of equipment within the Maker Hub.

===The Training Process===
Training follows a specific progression as shown in the image to the right...[[File:Training Progression2.png|800px|thumb|right|The Training Progression in the Maker Hub]]

The first place to start is by reading the wiki page on whatever facility or piece of equipment you would like to use. Watch the videos, open up the user manuals, etc. After you finish, you can find the link to the Canvas quiz under the Certification header. Theoretically, all the information you need to pass the Canvas quiz can be found somewhere on its respective wiki page. The link will take you to the main page of the Canvas course. You will need to self-enroll in the Canvas course by clicking the "Join This Course" button in the right column. If the quiz is locked, it means that either you haven't self-enrolled or you haven't yet taken the facility's top-level quiz for that piece of equipment. Pass the quiz with 100%. If you took a quiz for a facility, you're done. Facilities do not require you to schedule training or demonstrations; only equipment does. But it seems kind of pointless to have access to a facility but not be able to use anything in it... so let's continue the process for a piece of equipment. You've read the wiki page; you've passed the Canvas quiz with 100%. What's next? The next step is to scroll back to the top of the wiki page and find the student ace listed for that piece of equipment. A student ace is simply a student who knows a piece of equipment well and is willing to train other students on the proper usage of that equipment. Student aces often receive extra privileges such as extended hours in their particular facility. Once you've found the student ace's email address, send them and email and CC makerhub@georgefox.edu. Your email is simply a request to schedule training and a demonstration for the equipment.

What if there is no student ace listed? Try going to the facility page of where the equipment is located to see if there is an ace or a shop supervisor listed. What if there still is no student ace or shop supervisor listed there? Well, today might be your lucky day to offer to be a student ace for that particular equipment. No one in the Maker Hub is required to be an ace for anything, but the "ace" system is critically important to the operation of the Maker Hub and the culture we continue to develop. We focus our efforts into developing a culture in the Maker Hub that is collaborative, where people are eager to be helpful and share best practices. Our culture empowers students to take ownership of the Maker Hub through various roles and responsibilities. We are very grateful for anyone willing to be a student ace and assist others.

If there are no student aces available, just send your email to makerhub@georgefox.edu and someone will schedule a training and demonstration with you. The demonstration is usually a set task where the trainee will create a specific object or complete several functions to demonstrate basic proficiency on the equipment. Each piece of equipment has a unique demonstration, and the instructions are listed on the equipment's wiki page. Once the training and demonstration are complete, you are certified on the equipment. This means that you are free to use the equipment (adhering to the buddy system as applicable) whenever the facility is open. Each facility has posted hours on its respective wiki page and/or on the door of the facility. What does certification NOT mean? Certification does not mean that you know everything about the machine - neither does it mean that you're on your own to figure out how to use the machine if you forgot something from the training. Again, consider certifications as a "license to learn" more about the equipment. Ask questions and seek help from the Maker Hub staff and your peers.

Having just described the training process in excruciating detail, I promise it's a lot easier than it sounds. And it becomes much faster and more familiar once you've gone through it a few times.

===Quiz Resets===

All Canvas quizzes are reset at the beginning of the summer, so you will need to retake all of your quizzes in the fall in order to maintain certification on those pieces of equipment. This is intentional to refresh your knowledge of how to operate the machines you've trained on once a year. However, all of your demonstrations carry over from year to year, so you don't have to go through the process of scheduling a training and demonstration with a student ace again. By all means, ask for refresher training if you need it. But, there is no requirement to redo certification training/demonstrations for any piece of equipment that you have already been certified on at some point.

==The Maker Hub Waiver==

For legal and liability reasons, the Maker Hub has a waiver that all users must sign prior to any equipment or tool usage. See our [[User Policies]] page for more details on different Maker Hub users with respect to the waiver.

The Maker Hub waiver is part of the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course and should be completed by users there. It is simply listed here for reference: [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|Maker Hub Waiver V2]]

==Certification==
Now that you've probably experienced information overload, go knock out this Maker Hub Introduction Canvas quiz (link below). If you miss a question, take the quiz again. 100% is the only passing grade for Maker Hub quizzes. Training in the Maker Hub can be tedious, but it's not meant to be frustrating. If you are confused or something is not working correctly for you, please contact the Maker Hub staff for assistance at makerhub@georgefox.edu.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

==What's Next?==
After you have passed the Maker Hub Introduction quiz on Canvas with 100%, you should receive card-swipe access to the main doors of the Maker Hub on the following day (because the card reader system updates at midnight).

Getting Started

2025-11-05T03:54:43Z

Nsullivan: /* Things You Need To Know About The Hub */

[[File:Few Word.png|500px|right]]

Welcome to the Maker Hub Introduction Course!

All Maker Hub users must take this course in order to have access to the Maker Hub. This course should take less than 45 minutes to complete. And we promise, of all the Maker Hub training courses, this one is the longest (except for the soldering irons for some reason). Reading is hard... but somehow, we need to put the necessary training information into your brain so that you can use the Maker Hub's equipment safely and refrain from breaking things. We'll try to convey all of this in as few words as possible (humor aside). For all the "[[TLDR]]" peeps in the house, buckle up...

To gain basic card-swipe access to the Maker Hub, read this entire page and pass the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas quiz (with 100%). The link to the Canvas quiz is found toward the bottom of this page [[{{PAGENAME}}#Certification|here]].

__TOC__

==How We Operate==

The Maker Hub is available to all members of the GFU family (i.e. undergrad students, graduate students, ADP students, and employees), and that includes non-engineering students! The Maker Hub was born to advance creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the community of George Fox University. One of the main ways we achieve this goal is by providing a space where people can work on academic and/or personal projects. The Maker Hub operates under the guidance of a few GFU employees, a handful of student staff, and a plethora of student aces and volunteers. The student staff, aces, and volunteers play critical leadership roles in overseeing various technical shops and training others to use the equipment. With a diverse user-base and a diverse set of projects running concurrently, there has to be a standardized training system that keeps everyone on the same page. And... that's why you're here reading this epic wiki page anyways.

To enable you to access and maintain this space, you are being asked (OK, required) to take a short training course on the Maker Hub. Through this course, you will become acquainted with the [[Facilities|facilities]] within the Maker Hub, the [[Equipment|equipment]] and [[Tools|tools]] available to you, and the expectations for proper usage of them. The goal of this course is twofold: first, to introduce you to the capabilities available to you in the space, and second, to help you understand the expectations upon you when using the space. Both are crucial if you want to be an active participant in the space.

In any public space, there has to be some set of rules that govern the activity in the space. Ideally, we would just use the clever “Rule 0: Don’t make me make a rule.” But, we felt it was better to come up with some overall guiding principles rather than a list of rules. Clearly, there are some obvious “rules” that get implied from these principles, but, we believe that if you embrace the principles, the rules will take care of themselves. These principles we like to call: The Three Commandments.

(See what we did there? - Christian school - reference to the commandments? Get it?)

==The Three Commandments==
# Safety First
# Reset the Space
# Be Professional

<gallery class="center" widths="200px">
Image:Safety First Red.png
Image:Reset The Space Green.png
Image:Be Professional Blue.png
</gallery>
 
===What Do The Three Commandments Mean?===

====Safety First====
This should be the most obvious--and critical--of the commandments. A significant portion of the equipment and tools in the Maker Hub can be quite dangerous. It is imperative that in everything you do, you address safety first. This starts with general behavior (don’t run with scissors - in fact, don’t run at all - unless there is a fire - and you can see now why we are going with principles rather than specific rules). But beyond general behavior, various rooms and machines have very specific safety procedures and violations of these procedures will come with penalties.

We use the buddy system. It's always a good idea to have a buddy or someone within eyesight or earshot while working anywhere in the Maker Hub. It is IMPERATIVE to have a buddy or someone else present when working in the machine shop, wood shop, or welding shop. Do not use equipment alone in the machine shop, wood shop, or welding shop; it is a serious safety violation.

Safety first includes not only your safety and the safety of others, but the safety of the equipment and tools as well. It is a huge privilege to have access to this set of equipment and we need to ensure that the equipment is being properly used and maintained. There is no reason in this space to use a screwdriver as a hammer. We have hammers. Use tools for their intended purposes, not just for your safety, but for the safety of the tool.

Safety is our number one concern as you use the equipment and tools available in the Maker Hub. In the Maker Hub, there is a very clear distinction between things that are considered [[Equipment|equipment]] and things that are considered [[Tools|tools]]. Equipment is a special category of machines that, by definition, requires certified training before an individual is allowed to use it. Tools have no certification process; they can be used by anyone who has completed this Maker Hub Introduction course and passed the quiz. That does not mean that tools are necessarily less dangerous; equipment just requires more training. Do not use any equipment that you have not been certified on. There are several equipment stations in [[The Hub]] such as the [[Sewing Machine|sewing machines]], the [[Electronics Workstation|electronics workstation]], and the [[Heat Press|heat press]] to name a few. All [[Equipment|equipment]] is marked in the Maker Hub with special icons that are displayed either on, around, or above the equipment. Here's an example icon for the [[Sublimation Printer|sublimation printer]].
[[File:Dye Sublimation Printer.png|150px|none]]

Equipment that has an icon posted over it, by definition, requires specialized certification training. Without completing this training, you are not authorized to utilize the equipment! Have we beat this dead horse enough yet? Think of these certifications as a “license to learn.” They allow you to utilize the equipment, but you should still feel free to ask for help, at any point, from a shop mentor or technician.

If you have a condition that makes it unsafe for you to use heavy machinery or if you are taking any medication that recommends against using heavy machinery, you must notify the Maker Hub staff before using any Maker Hub equipment.

Never forget ... SAFETY FIRST!

====Reset the Space====
This commandment is simple enough to understand, but sometimes difficult for ... let’s just say it ... people ... to implement. The idea is very simple. Put things back. Leave the space better than you found it. It's not that hard. There is a place for everything, and everything has a place. There are marks on the floor in the Hub for the tables. These are just there to help remind you. This principle applies to EVERYTHING in the space. If you move a chair, put it back. If you move a table, put it back. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a rolling computer, put it back. That means you don’t take things from one room and leave them in another. You see, that would not be “putting it back.” You see where I am going with this? If you use a machine in the shop, put the tools away. Use the vacuum to clean up. Make the space look better than you found it. If you want a marker for a whiteboard in the space, go request one from the [[Tool Room]]. They are free for usage in the space. Do not take them from other rooms. Do not take erasers from other rooms. If you use a whiteboard, erase it. I could go on. Sort of want to. But I will contain myself. Ok ... a few more ...

We currently allow food and drink in the Maker Hub. Resetting the Space means that you don’t leave food spills, wrappers, or trays, or anything that wasn’t there when you came in.

Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave things out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large test and you need something to run overnight. In cases like this, it is OK, but you NEED to leave a note on your system so that others know the situation. This is just common courtesy.

Whatever you do, RESET THE SPACE!

====Be Professional====
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like a professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the Maker Hub we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious behavioral ramifications. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you are using a meeting room to do individual work, and a team needs a meeting room, then you should yield the room. Function is more important than who got there first. This is being a professional.

If you are working with a tool or piece of equipment, and you don’t know the proper way to do what you are attempting - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

Now, it’s time for a brief “family chat” (Nick speaking here). I am primarily addressing our engineering students where I hear of these issues occurring, but this topic certainly applies to all students, all majors, all Maker Hub users, and beyond. I hear reports of sexist comments and crude joking at the expense of one gender or the other occurring in the Maker Hub (albeit far less than reports I hear from other universities). I doubt anyone is surprised to hear me say that this is not professional behavior. Having been college student myself at one point, I am familiar with the type of locker room talk that “gets a laugh out of the boys.” If you actually take a minute to examine the origin/purpose behind such comments, it exposes a significant thread of immaturity. Some who engage in sexism make socially unacceptable statements but cover them by saying “it’s just a joke.” Some are seeking attention or approval from their peers. Some want to be perceived as funny or edgy by others. Some have a very fragile masculinity or femininity and feel better when they put the other gender down. Some genuinely have a perverted ideology concerning men, women, and gender roles and feel a need to stroke their own ego. No matter the intent, sexist conduct displays a lack of maturity.

There is a time and place for appropriate humor concerning the whimsical rivalries between various engineering disciplines or even differing majors. Still, such humor should never include elements that would dishonor one gender or the other. And yes, let me be clear: the standard goes both directions. I am well aware that men are the more common offenders, but that does not give women any license or justification to return fire with disparaging remarks. We reject the “eye-for-an-eye” mentality. I speak on behalf of the College of Engineering (and the university as a whole) when I say that one of our main goals is to guide you toward greater levels of maturity and let the transforming love of Christ be the primary thing that informs your thoughts, speech, attitudes, and actions. Insomuch as your interaction with the Maker Hub could contribute toward this goal, the Maker Hub will continue to uphold a professional culture and expect our users to meet the standard.

Much more can be said about this topic, but for the sake of space, I will pause here. Please reach out to nsullivan@georgefox.edu to report violations or engage in further dialogue about this topic.

BE PROFESSIONAL!

===How We Handle Violations===

These are The Three Commandments, and they form the rule and order for the Maker Hub. There are similarities to the rule and order in Christianity. As G.K. Chesterton said in his classic book “Orthodoxy,”

"The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild."

It is our hope and expectation that you and other students will be able to run wild and create many wonderful things in this space. These “commandments” are intended to provide that space - and the expectation is that everyone will abide by them. But, as we know, not everyone chooses to do so (1 Tim 1:9-10). We have seen various ways that different schools address these violations, and most use expulsion from the space as the primary penalty. Our penalty system is purposely vague to allow us to handle violations on a case-by-case basis. Some violations (not putting a chair back after moving it) might be comparatively minor, while others are extremely severe. An example of an extremely severe violation would be unauthorized usage of equipment in the machine shop or wood shop, or even authorized usage of a machine shop/wood shop machine without anyone else present. These violations would most likely result in immediate suspension from accessing the Maker Hub. Let's just not go there, please.

Ok, moving onward. You might have noticed that the Maker Hub itself and many of the facility doors around the Maker hub are access-controlled. The main doors should not be propped open except for Maker Hub events. Unless a [[Facilities|facility]] is being monitored by the Maker Hub staff, a Maker Hub work study student, or a volunteer/ace, the facility doors should not be propped open. Please leave these doors closed under normal circumstances. Obvious exceptions are the [[Meeting Rooms|meeting rooms]] and [[Computer Lab|computer lab]] (we don't care if you use them with the doors open or closed). Other exceptions are the [[Wood Shop|wood shop]] and [[Welding Shop|welding shop]]; while users are working in these two spaces, the doors must remain propped open for safety reasons. You might be surprised how something so simple as "proper door usage" factors into the SAFETY FIRST and BE PROFESSIONAL commandments. It is a serious liability concern for the Maker Hub and the university if people are using the space without undergoing the proper safety training. If you're unsure if the people walking behind you have access to a certain facility, ask... don't be afraid to introduce yourself and make new friends. Everyone in the space should understand the three commandments and will be expected to adhere to these principles.

Finally, as a friendly reminder, we have security cameras posted throughout the Maker Hub, so do be on your best behavior. The cameras exist to help protect the space and enforce violations. All public areas are under constant surveillance, and everything is being recorded. This means that, if necessary, the video can be reviewed to help identify nefarious behavior or the cause of an accident. If an accident happens in the Maker Hub, first decide if you need to call an ambulance. Second, notify the Lead Technician and/or Maker Hub Manager. Even if no one got hurt... if you broke something... if something dangerous happened... if a significant malfunction occurred, but then it magically fixed itself later... please notify the Maker Hub employees. It's always better to take initiative in owning your mistakes than for the Maker Hub staff to find out what happened by reviewing the camera footage. If you leave a mess behind, we will find you on the camera footage and exhort you to rectify the mess promptly. Repeat offenders should expect their Maker Hub access to be suspended.

Let's switch gears to a happier topic.

==Things You Need To Know About The Hub==
[[File:Hub MAP Text 2.png|500px|thumb|right|Map of the Maker Hub]]
The [[Maker_Hub#Facilities|Facilities section on the Main Page]] shows a gallery of the different spaces that comprise the whole Maker Hub. See the map to the right for the layout of the Maker Hub. With the exception of the doors and the Senior Design Space, there are 11 labelled facilities on the map.

For students, your standard entry and exit point for the Maker Hub will be the main doors. Please do not use the senior design doors, the loading dock doors, or any of the emergency exit doors (unless, for example, there is an emergency or you are receiving a large shipment on the loading dock). This is intentional to funnel our user base through the turnstiles. As of the beginning of the spring semester 2023, the turnstiles next to the front desk are now live. This means that users will now use their GFU ID card at the turnstiles to swipe in on entry '''''and''''' swipe out when exiting the Maker Hub. Anyone who walks through without swiping will set off the alarm, and that would be '''sooo''' embarrassing.

A brief explanation of '''why'''... The turnstiles are part of the Maker Hub's data collection initiative. These data will show the collective usage of the Maker Hub and provide quantitative leverage for acquiring funding for new equipment and other developments in the space. We will also be able to analyze usage trends to better serve our current user base and inform our marketing efforts. Your compliance with this new policy benefits the Maker Hub and creates more opportunities for us to develop the space. Just in case it needs to be stated explicitly: Proper turnstile usage will be expected of all Maker Hub users. Violators should expect consequences... but, we know none of you would be so flagrant. ;)

If you are giving a tour, you can ask someone working at the front desk to temporarily disable the turnstiles so that all of your tour guests won't set off the alarm. The front desk has a regular rotation of work study students that work during the afternoons and early evenings on weekdays. Feel free to ask them for assistance (or Hayley if she is working at the Maker Hub front desk).

===The Hub===
The space we call "The Hub" refers to the large central room, which includes the lobby and hallways (the blue area on the map where the Maker Hub logo is). The Hub is a 24/7 general-use area that is meant for designing and making. It has approximately 8 rolling workbenches, some blue rolling carts, 8 computers on wheels, tool racks on the wall, and some semi-permanent stations.

First, there are approximately 8 open workbenches surrounded by tall drafting chairs that are open for general use. Each of these has a permanent home that is marked on the floor. Each workbench has power outlets on each leg, which can be powered by plugging the workbench's power plug into the yellow power outlets that come down from the ceiling. The yellow power outlets have been positioned so that that they hang down directly next to the workbench. These workbenches have locking casters and can be moved. However, when you have finished with the workbench, please reset the space. Ensure that the workbench is placed back inside of the special marks on the floor, and place the drafting chairs (usually 4 of them) around the workbench. When you RESET THE SPACE, it makes it nice for those following behind you. And we want to be nice ... don’t we? Yes is the answer to that question. If you need to leave your project out on a workbench for an extended period, you must mark it as "in use" with a note including your name, date, contact info, and when the project will be moved/cleaned up. There should be a good reason for this because we don't want to lock down a workbench for days. If there are special circumstances, please speak with your project advisor and/or a Maker Hub employee.

Project storage is at a premium in the Maker Hub. Visit our [[Project Storage]] page to see what storage spaces are available. We do not have a lot of space to store projects. The blue rolling carts that live in the hub are designed for project transportation, not permanent project storage. When you are finished using these carts, please clear them off and return them where you found them. If, for some special reason, you need to use the cart continuously for a short time, mark the cart as "in use" with a note per the description above. This is useful if you want to run overnight tests or you are in the middle of an assembly. However, this is for short term use. Remember, BE PROFESSIONAL. Release the materials for others to use. There are project storage racks in the senior design hallway. If you want to store your project there, label your shelf/materials with your name, the date, and contact info. Do not swipe other people's labeled materials for your own project. Keep in mind that these storage racks are periodically cleaned out each summer, so please take your projects with you at the end of the spring semester or notify a Maker Hub employee if you want your project to stay over the summer.

There are 8 computers on wheels that live up against the wall facing the quad or between the meeting rooms on the south side of the hub. They are all the same as the Computer Lab machines with the exception of number 8. Computer 8 has the Adobe Creative Suite in addition to all the rest of the software. Side note: the other computer in the Maker Hub with the Adobe Creative Suite is the computer connected to the vinyl cutters and the sublimation printer. All of the computers on wheels have a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) that allows you to unplug the machine and move it around the Maker Hub without powering it down. You allegedly have about 15 minutes of power available from the UPS (if anyone actually times it, let us know). Feel free to roll these computers to wherever you want to use them; however, when you are finished, RESET THE SPACE! The computers, when not in use, should always be sitting at their permanent locations plugged into a wall outlet.

On the wall, there are a couple tool racks. These are available for use within the Maker Hub. As should be obvious by now, when you are done using the tools, return them - RESET THE SPACE. Do not take these tools out of the Maker Hub. That's what the [[Tool Room]] is for. A tool is to the Tool Room as a book is to the library. Check out tools for an extended period of time and simply return them by the due date. The Tool Room hours are posted on the front desk.

There is A/V equipment in the corner of the hub. Best to just leave it alone.

The [[Supplies|Low-Fidelity Prototyping Station]] is provided so that students can make quick project mock-ups. Please BE PROFESSIONAL when using this station. While it might be tempting to make pipe-cleaner men as you did in elementary school, these supplies are provided for free to be utilized for projects, not entertainment. We will simply not be able to provide these supplies if they are continually wasted. This station is notorious for being left a mess, so please RESET THE SPACE and clean up when you are finished. Also, there is a small laminating machine located at the low-fidelity prototyping station. The low-fidelity prototyping station and the laminating machine are not considered "equipment," which means that there is no certification process necessary to use these items. See [[The Hub]] wiki page to see what equipment is located in the hub.

===Meeting Rooms===
[[File:Meeting Room.jpg|500px|thumb|right|A neat and orderly Meeting Room :)]]
There are 8 meeting rooms in the Maker Hub (the dark blue areas on the map). The intended function of these rooms is to house meetings (i.e. these are not study rooms, but meeting rooms). Which means, priority will be given to weekly meetings with senior design teams, servant engineering teams, and other teams meeting for classes or projects. When not requested for a team meeting, these rooms can be used by individuals for studying, or by groups for hanging out. If you are acting like a professional, then you will yield the room to others who have a legitimate project-related need for the meeting room. This happens frequently, so do not be surprised or upset if you are displaced by a project team. The meeting rooms fill up fast (because they're awesome), but everyone needs to remember that the meeting rooms serve the primary purpose of housing project-related meetings. If you are studying in a meeting room, consider it a very professional act to offer "your" meeting room to a team that needs to meet and then study elsewhere. Likewise, if a team would like to use a room at an unscheduled time, it would be professional for the team to first look for an empty room, and second, look for a room that has the least effect on others who might be using the room for group study or other activities.

Each of these rooms is equipped with a wall-mounted flat-screen TV and HDMI connector. There is a whiteboard in each room as well. As with other whiteboards, please do not take the erasers or markers, and always erase the board when you leave the meeting room. If there are no markers or erasers, please obtain them from the Tool Room. When you leave the meeting room, turn off the TV and leave the HDMI cable accessible (not tossed underneath the table). Also, there should be 1 table (haven’t seen anyone take those yet), and 7 short chairs without armrests (these chairs are different from the taller drafting chairs in The Hub), and a clean whiteboard with an eraser and markers. No extra items should be left behind (e.g. computer on wheels). Just like the picture to the right, remember that you should always RESET THE SPACE.

There are coat hangers on the wall behind the door. These are only for coats, they will not be strong enough to hold backpacks.

Enjoy the meeting rooms - just remember The Three Commandments.

===Computer Lab===
The computer lab is open to all Maker Hub users (the yellow area on the map). The computer lab has 29 computer stations (28 for students and 1 for the instructor). Each of these stations consists of a computer, a keyboard, a mouse, and a chair with armrests. These items form a unit. Which should make it clear that you should never take a keyboard, a mouse, or a chair from this space. There are no chairs with armrests in The Hub or meeting rooms. So, leave the armrest-chairs in the computer lab. The keyboards and mouses are intended for these computers. If a keyboard or mouse is broken, inform the Tool Room. If there is a dire situation where you need to borrow one of these items, as always, RESET THE SPACE. Several classes are held in the computer lab, and we don't want them to waste class-time looking for missing keyboards, mouses, or chairs.

The large whiteboards in the computer lab follow the same principles as the whiteboards in the meeting rooms. Don't remove markers or erasers from the computer lab. If the markers are missing or not functional, go to the Tool Room and get new ones. Erase the board when you are finished. If you want to save your whiteboard writing, take a picture. Writing “Do Not Erase” is not an acceptable action for a whiteboard. You can save it yourself and reproduce it quickly later. Again, BE PROFESSIONAL.

Clean up after yourself; consider this good practice for marriage if indeed you would like to get married one day. This means you need to be sure to clean up any papers, food, and drink. If you have a class in the computer lab and receive a handout, it is your job to study it like your wonderful professor intended. But if you are not going to do that, it is your responsibility to recycle it. Leave the space better than you found it.

There is a set of 72 small storage lockers in this room. Their main function is to hold Maker-Hub-related materials for classes/labs or Maker-Hub-related personal projects. They are not to be used as personal lockers for non-Maker-Hub-related items. Now clearly, if you are already using a locker for Maker Hub reasons, then it is certainly fine to additionally place a textbook or engagement ring in there (preferably in the spring). But don’t secure a locker if you are not actively working on a project or participating in a class/lab. You will need to provide your own lock. At the end of each semester, the lockers should be cleared out and the locks removed. If there are still locks on them, this will give us a chance to use our bolt cutters and sell the locker's contents on the web. That is always a good time. If you need to maintain a locker over the break, you will need to coordinate with the Maker Hub employees. Please do not set things on top of the lockers. These items will be routinely disposed of without warning. Clearly, setting something on top would not be resetting the space, and hopefully you are discovering that this is an important commandment.

==Material Policy==

The Maker Hub gladly provides a limited assortment of low-cost materials and consumable items to its users—free of charge. This is true for both academic and personal projects. We want to remove as many monetary barriers as possible as users work on projects. There are two noteworthy areas where the Maker Hub expects that the user cover material costs.

The first scenario is for projects that require a large quantity of materials. A “large quantity” is an intentionally subjective term that will be decided by the Maker Hub staff on a case-by-case basis. The term "large quantity" also applies to expensive materials such as a full sheet of plywood, which can cost well over $100 depending on the quality. Sure, some projects legitimately need a large quantity of materials. Just ask the Maker Hub staff about it first. Maybe we'll give you the green light; maybe we'll ask you to cover the cost. We monitor our inventory carefully and want there to be enough materials available for everyone to enjoy, so please don't abuse this privilege.

The second scenario is for specialized materials that the Maker Hub does not keep in stock. In this case, we can direct the user to a [[Places to Buy Materials|list of local businesses and online stores]] to purchase materials. If you are unfamiliar with the materials you to plan to use for your project or what materials you "should" use, talk with the Maker Hub staff before purchasing. We might be able to save you a big headache.

==Production Runs==

Production runs are not allowed in the Maker Hub. Let's define what this means from the Maker Hub's perspective...

The primary factor that qualifies a project as a production run is attempting to produce a large quantity of items, but this factor is also weighed in conjunction with the time, effort, and cost needed to complete the project. Again, we are using a “large quantity of items” as an intentionally subjective term. If you ask yourself questions like... ''how many things am I trying to make? how much time will it take? what amount of effort is involved? how much will it cost?'' and the answer to all of them is a LOT, then you are definitely attempting a production run. The Maker Hub staff reserves the right to determine whether a project qualifies as a production run on a case-by-case basis.

Why does the Maker Hub care about production runs? The Maker Hub is primarily an educational space; it is not a mass-production facility. Educating, training, and equipping will always be among our top priorities. Production runs tend to lock down a particular space, tool, or piece of equipment for an extended period of time as the user conducts repetitive tasks to produce his or her items. Whether it’s a production run or not, locking down the Maker Hub’s resources for an extended period of time without express permission from the Maker Hub staff comes in conflict with the third commandment: Be Professional! With education as a top priority, high production volumes can begin to compete with that priority by tying up Maker Hub resources for long periods of time. Secondly, the Maker Hub is not the place to fire up your business's assembly line and start cranking out hundreds of widgets for profit. If indeed you have the skills to make something in the Maker Hub that someone else would actually buy with real money, do it! Make something amazing and sell it. However, the Maker Hub will not support any form of "profit making" that includes assembly line production or qualifies as a production run.

==How The Training System Works==

Anyone need a snack break? to stand up and stretch? a brief intermission? Almost there!

A few category definitions for you... 
*[[Facilities]] are the various spaces in the Maker Hub. They usually require wiki reading and a passed Canvas quiz.
*[[Equipment]] is machinery where authorized usage requires wiki reading, a passed Canvas quiz, certification training, and a demonstration.
*[[Tools]] are items that range from hand tools to benchtop instruments. Some have informative wiki pages, but they do not require a Canvas quiz, certification training, or a demonstration in order to use them.

Right now, you are in the middle of the Maker Hub Introduction training course. Successful completion of this course grants you 24/7 access to The Hub. There are many other training courses available. Most [[Facilities|facilities]] in the Maker Hub have a top-level Canvas quiz (e.g. the [[Prototype Lab]]). Successful completion of the Prototype Lab's top-level Canvas quiz grants you access to the Prototype Lab. Each piece of [[Equipment|equipment]] in the Maker Hub has an associated Canvas quiz (e.g. the [[Prusa 3D Printer]]). Successful completion of the Prusa 3D Printer's Canvas quiz plus training and a demonstration from a staff member authorizes you to use the Prusa 3D Printer. Canvas quizzes must be taken sequentially depending on where the equipment is located; you won't be able to take the Prusa 3D Printer quiz until you have passed the Prototype Lab's top-level quiz. For all you visual learners out there, take a look at the fancy graph below. Each node represents a Canvas quiz (unless the node is labelled with "No Quiz"). The graph follows a sequential process of completing quizzes from left to right. Take a minute to bask in its glory, then continue reading below.

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{ "name": "Finishing Room" },
{ "name": "Machine Shop" ,
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{ "name": "Bead Roller" },
{ "name": "Bending Brake" },
{ "name": "CNC Press Brake" },
{ "name": "CNC Mill" },
{ "name": "Drill Press" },
{ "name": "Hand Bender" },
{ "name": "Horizontal Bandsaw" },
{ "name": "Hydraulic Press" },
{ "name": "Lathe" },
{ "name": "Metal Laser Cutter" },
{ "name": "Milling Machine" },
{ "name": "Ring Roller" },
{ "name": "Rotary Punch" },
{ "name": "Sheet Metal Shear" },
{ "name": "Slip Roller" },
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{ "name": "Waterjet Cutter" }
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{ "name": "PCB Lab" ,
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{ "name": "Reflow Station" },
{ "name": "Soldering Irons" },
{ "name": "Through Hole Press" }
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"children": [
{ "name": "Dissolvable Support Bath" },
{ "name": "F370 3D Printer" },
{ "name": "Formlabs 3D Printer" },
{ "name": "Laser Cutters" },
{ "name": "Markforged 3D Printer" },
{ "name": "Prusa 3D Printer" }
]
},
{ "name": "The Hub (No Quiz)" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "Electronics Workstation" },
{ "name": "Foam Cutter" },
{ "name": "Heat Press" },
{ "name": "Heavy Duty Sewing Machine" },
{ "name": "Mug Press" },
{ "name": "Serger" },
{ "name": "Sewing Machine" },
{ "name": "Soldering Irons" },
{ "name": "Sublimation Printer" },
{ "name": "Vinyl Cutter" },
{ "name": "Vinyl Printer+Cutter" },
]
},
{ "name": "The Vault" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "3D Scanners" },
{ "name": "High Speed Camera" },
{ "name": "Injection Molding Machine" },
{ "name": "Jewelry Station" },
{ "name": "Leatherworking Station" },
{ "name": "Photo Table" },
{ "name": "Vacuum Former" },
{ "name": "Virtual Reality Welding Station" },
]
},
{ "name": "Tool Room (No Quiz)" },
{ "name": "Welding Shop" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "Blast Cabinet" },
{ "name": "Buffers" },
{ "name": "MIG Welder" },
{ "name": "Pedestal Grinder" },
{ "name": "Plasma Cutter" },
{ "name": "Spot Welder" },
{ "name": "TIG Welder" },
]
},
{ "name": "Wood Shop" ,
"children": [
{ "name": "Belt Sander" },
{ "name": "Belt/Disc Sander" },
{ "name": "CNC Router" },
{ "name": "Compound Miter Saw" },
{ "name": "Hand Router" },
{ "name": "Handheld CNC Router" },
{ "name": "Jointer" },
{ "name": "Oscillating Spindle Sander" },
{ "name": "Planer" },
{ "name": "Power Carver" },
{ "name": "Scroll Saw" },
{ "name": "Table Saw" },
{ "name": "Vertical Wood Bandsaw" },
{ "name": "Wood Drill Press" },
{ "name": "Wood Lathe" }
]
}
]
}
}
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</graph>

Notice that the middle column contains all of the facilities within the Maker Hub, and the right column contains each piece of equipment within the Maker Hub.

===The Training Process===
Training follows a specific progression as shown in the image to the right...[[File:Training Progression2.png|800px|thumb|right|The Training Progression in the Maker Hub]]

The first place to start is by reading the wiki page on whatever facility or piece of equipment you would like to use. Watch the videos, open up the user manuals, etc. After you finish, you can find the link to the Canvas quiz under the Certification header. Theoretically, all the information you need to pass the Canvas quiz can be found somewhere on its respective wiki page. The link will take you to the main page of the Canvas course. You will need to self-enroll in the Canvas course by clicking the "Join This Course" button in the right column. If the quiz is locked, it means that either you haven't self-enrolled or you haven't yet taken the facility's top-level quiz for that piece of equipment. Pass the quiz with 100%. If you took a quiz for a facility, you're done. Facilities do not require you to schedule training or demonstrations; only equipement does. But it seems kind of pointless to have access to a facility but not be able to use anything in it... so let's continue the process for a piece of equipment. You've read the wiki page; you've passed the Canvas quiz with 100%. What's next? The next step is to scroll back to the top of the wiki page and find the student ace listed for that piece of equipment. A student ace is simply a student who knows a piece of equipment well and is willing to train other students on the proper usage of that equipment. Student aces often receive extra privileges such as extended hours in their particular facility. Once you've found the student ace's email address, send them and email and CC makerhub@georgefox.edu. Your email is simply a request to schedule training and a demonstration for the equipment.

What if there is no student ace listed? Try going to the facility page of where the equipment is located to see if there is an ace or a shop supervisor listed. What if there still is no student ace or shop supervisor listed there? Well, today might be your lucky day to offer to be a student ace for that particular equipment. No one in the Maker Hub is required to be an ace for anything, but the "ace" system is critically important to the operation of the Maker Hub and the culture we continue to develop. We focus our efforts into developing a culture in the Maker Hub that is collaborative, where people are eager to be helpful and share best practices. Our culture empowers students to take ownership of the Maker Hub through various roles and responsibilities. We are very grateful for anyone willing to be a student ace and assist others.

If there are no student aces available, just send your email to makerhub@georgefox.edu and someone will schedule a training and demonstration with you. The demonstration is usually a set task where the trainee will create a specific object or complete several functions to demonstrate basic proficiency on the equipment. Each piece of equipment has a unique demonstration, and the instructions are listed on the equipment's wiki page. Once the training and demonstration are complete, you are certified on the equipment. This means that you are free to use the equipment (adhering to the buddy system as applicable) whenever the facility is open. Each facility has posted hours on its respective wiki page and/or on the door of the facility. What does certification NOT mean? Certification does not mean that you know everything about the machine - neither does it mean that you're on your own to figure out how to use the machine if you forgot something from the training. Again, consider certifications as a "license to learn" more about the equipment. Ask questions and seek help from the Maker Hub staff and your peers.

Having just described the training process in excruciating detail, I promise it's a lot easier than it sounds. And it becomes much faster and more familiar once you've gone through it a few times.

===Quiz Resets===

All Canvas quizzes are reset at the beginning of the summer, so you will need to retake all of your quizzes in the fall in order to maintain certification on those pieces of equipment. This is intentional to refresh your knowledge of how to operate the machines you've trained on once a year. However, all of your demonstrations carry over from year to year, so you don't have to go through the process of scheduling a training and demonstration with a student ace again. By all means, ask for refresher training if you need it. But, there is no requirement to redo certification training/demonstrations for any piece of equipment that you have already been certified on at some point.

==The Maker Hub Waiver==

For legal and liability reasons, the Maker Hub has a waiver that all users must sign prior to any equipment or tool usage. See our [[User Policies]] page for more details on different Maker Hub users with respect to the waiver.

The Maker Hub waiver is part of the Maker Hub Introduction Canvas Course and should be completed by users there. It is simply listed here for reference: [[Media:MAKER HUB WAIVER V2.docx|Maker Hub Waiver V2]]

==Certification==
Now that you've probably experienced information overload, go knock out this Maker Hub Introduction Canvas quiz (link below). If you miss a question, take the quiz again. 100% is the only passing grade for Maker Hub quizzes. Training in the Maker Hub can be tedious, but it's not meant to be frustrating. If you are confused or something is not working correctly for you, please contact the Maker Hub staff for assistance at makerhub@georgefox.edu.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

==What's Next?==
After you have passed the Maker Hub Introduction quiz on Canvas with 100%, you should receive card-swipe access to the main doors of the Maker Hub on the following day (because the card reader system updates at midnight).

Faculty Resources

2025-10-15T16:06:39Z

Nsullivan: /* Class Project Guidelines for the Maker Hub */

If you would like to conduct a class project in the Maker Hub, you've come to the right place.

=Class Project Guidelines for the Maker Hub=
In order to properly support student classwork and our faculty, the Maker Hub needs some advance notice for class-related projects that will involve significant Maker Hub usage. Please see the following guidelines below to design and implement a class project in the Maker Hub that has the highest chance of being successful. Yes, it's long... just read it.

Please fill out the following intake form before conducting a class project in the Maker Hub.

Here's a link to the intake form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19IJ_BMAAcpkXbJC10IIRa9fhq4W6WhU8QxREt_YrEc0/edit?usp=sharing

__NOTOC__
===Have a Conversation===
The first step is to come have a conversation with Nick and Justin about the project. Let’s discuss the feasibility, timeline, training/certifications, equipment usage, necessary materials, and complexity of the project. What are the desired learning outcomes of the project? Detail out as much of the project as you can, and we are happy to help you brainstorm the rest. The earlier we can have a conversation, the better support the Maker Hub will be able to offer.

Let’s also talk about roles and responsibilities between the faculty members, the students, and the Maker Hub staff. Class-related projects are meant to be a collaborative endeavor between all parties—not a hand-off. Faculty need to remain intimately involved in the process; students need to be proactive with their time and get creative when they hit obstacles. The Maker Hub staff is here to train, certify, guide, and support. In general, the Maker Hub staff equips people to do their work. We don't "do the work" for anyone (however, we are not above a good bribe).

===Know the Timeline of the Maker Hub===
Almost invariably, Maker Hub projects take far longer to complete than we originally anticipate. Add in a heavy dose of student procrastination, and it only gets worse. Student procrastination often ends up becoming a bit of a headache for the Maker Hub staff because our bandwidth to train and help students reaches a limit when there’s a huge rush of frantic students all trying to start and finish their project before tomorrow. However, we can bypass a lot of the student procrastination through some clever homework assigning.

The best recommendation is to break the project up into multiple checkpoints. A sample 3D printing project might follow this timeline...
::Pre-Project: Talk to Nick and Justin about the project. Order materials for the project if necessary (see the “Acquire Materials” section).
::Week 1: Read these 5 specific pages on the Maker Hub Wiki and take the Canvas quizzes for the Maker Hub Intro, the Prototype Lab, and the Prusa 3D Printer.
::Week 2: Schedule time with the Maker Hub staff, Prototype Lab volunteers, or student aces to train on the Prusa 3D Printer and complete the demonstration. At this point, the student is considered “certified” on the Prusa 3D Printer.
::Week 3: Undergo a design phase (see the “Include a Design Phase” section). For 3D printing, this will probably involve drawing the object in CAD.
::Week 4/5: Enter the build phase. Build/Print all parts for the project. Assemble the parts and see if the finished product meets the goal of the project. Iterate if necessary.

As you can see, this process can take a while, but it greatly increases the likelihood of your class project being a success. Please share with Nick and Justin the due dates of the various phases of your project so we know when to expect your students.

===Include a Design Phase===
We find that students typically need a bit more guidance than simply being “set loose” into the Maker Hub to complete a project. Yes, students “struggling” often leads to learning, but this is one area where we request a good balance of collaboration between the Maker Hub staff and the faculty members to guide the students toward a successful project.

With all that said, we would recommend including some sort of design phase in the project if it makes sense. This might involve building something out of paper or cardboard first. Our Low Fidelity Prototyping Station in the Hub requires no training to use, and it’s full of cardboard, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, glue, tape, googly eyes, and many other materials for drafting up prototypes. The design phase for larger projects will probably include CAD.

===Acquire Materials===
The Maker Hub tries to provide as many free materials as we can to students/classes. We request that students/classes cover the cost of materials when expensive/specialized materials are needed or when large quantities of materials are needed. Class projects often use large quantities of materials, and we need to keep close tabs on our material usage to make sure we have enough materials for all of the Maker Hub’s users.

The Maker Hub staff can help recommend certain materials during the initial conversation about the project. Faculty members can handle the purchasing needs for their classes, or they can fill out a rainbow sheet and send it to Katherine who will complete the purchase.

[[Places to Buy Materials|Click here for a list of good places to find materials.]]

Faculty Resources

2025-10-15T16:05:38Z

Nsullivan: /* Class Project Guidelines for the Maker Hub */

If you would like to conduct a class project in the Maker Hub, you've come to the right place.

=Class Project Guidelines for the Maker Hub=
In order to properly support student classwork and our faculty, the Maker Hub needs some advance notice for class-related projects that will involve significant Maker Hub usage. Please see the following guidelines below to design and implement a class project in the Maker Hub that has the highest chance of being successful. Yes, it's long... just read it.

Here's a link to the intake form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19IJ_BMAAcpkXbJC10IIRa9fhq4W6WhU8QxREt_YrEc0/edit?usp=sharing

__NOTOC__
===Have a Conversation===
The first step is to come have a conversation with Nick and Justin about the project. Let’s discuss the feasibility, timeline, training/certifications, equipment usage, necessary materials, and complexity of the project. What are the desired learning outcomes of the project? Detail out as much of the project as you can, and we are happy to help you brainstorm the rest. The earlier we can have a conversation, the better support the Maker Hub will be able to offer.

Let’s also talk about roles and responsibilities between the faculty members, the students, and the Maker Hub staff. Class-related projects are meant to be a collaborative endeavor between all parties—not a hand-off. Faculty need to remain intimately involved in the process; students need to be proactive with their time and get creative when they hit obstacles. The Maker Hub staff is here to train, certify, guide, and support. In general, the Maker Hub staff equips people to do their work. We don't "do the work" for anyone (however, we are not above a good bribe).

===Know the Timeline of the Maker Hub===
Almost invariably, Maker Hub projects take far longer to complete than we originally anticipate. Add in a heavy dose of student procrastination, and it only gets worse. Student procrastination often ends up becoming a bit of a headache for the Maker Hub staff because our bandwidth to train and help students reaches a limit when there’s a huge rush of frantic students all trying to start and finish their project before tomorrow. However, we can bypass a lot of the student procrastination through some clever homework assigning.

The best recommendation is to break the project up into multiple checkpoints. A sample 3D printing project might follow this timeline...
::Pre-Project: Talk to Nick and Justin about the project. Order materials for the project if necessary (see the “Acquire Materials” section).
::Week 1: Read these 5 specific pages on the Maker Hub Wiki and take the Canvas quizzes for the Maker Hub Intro, the Prototype Lab, and the Prusa 3D Printer.
::Week 2: Schedule time with the Maker Hub staff, Prototype Lab volunteers, or student aces to train on the Prusa 3D Printer and complete the demonstration. At this point, the student is considered “certified” on the Prusa 3D Printer.
::Week 3: Undergo a design phase (see the “Include a Design Phase” section). For 3D printing, this will probably involve drawing the object in CAD.
::Week 4/5: Enter the build phase. Build/Print all parts for the project. Assemble the parts and see if the finished product meets the goal of the project. Iterate if necessary.

As you can see, this process can take a while, but it greatly increases the likelihood of your class project being a success. Please share with Nick and Justin the due dates of the various phases of your project so we know when to expect your students.

===Include a Design Phase===
We find that students typically need a bit more guidance than simply being “set loose” into the Maker Hub to complete a project. Yes, students “struggling” often leads to learning, but this is one area where we request a good balance of collaboration between the Maker Hub staff and the faculty members to guide the students toward a successful project.

With all that said, we would recommend including some sort of design phase in the project if it makes sense. This might involve building something out of paper or cardboard first. Our Low Fidelity Prototyping Station in the Hub requires no training to use, and it’s full of cardboard, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, glue, tape, googly eyes, and many other materials for drafting up prototypes. The design phase for larger projects will probably include CAD.

===Acquire Materials===
The Maker Hub tries to provide as many free materials as we can to students/classes. We request that students/classes cover the cost of materials when expensive/specialized materials are needed or when large quantities of materials are needed. Class projects often use large quantities of materials, and we need to keep close tabs on our material usage to make sure we have enough materials for all of the Maker Hub’s users.

The Maker Hub staff can help recommend certain materials during the initial conversation about the project. Faculty members can handle the purchasing needs for their classes, or they can fill out a rainbow sheet and send it to Katherine who will complete the purchase.

[[Places to Buy Materials|Click here for a list of good places to find materials.]]

PCB Lab

2025-10-07T20:22:42Z

Nsullivan: /* General PCB Lab Knowledge */

{{#set:
|Is facility = True
|Has ace=Warren Milligan;wmilligan21@georgefox.edu
|Has certification=https://georgefox.instructure.com/courses/1288
}}
[[File:PCB Lab Logo.png|300px|frameless|left]][[File:pcb_lab.jpeg|400px|thumb|right|The PCB Lab]]
The Printed Circuit Board lab contains an electronics station (as in the Hub) with the Metcal soldering station and microscope. It also contains a Voltera V-One PCB Printer (which can print Gerber files onto a board, and can also print solder paste onto normally fabricated boards), a manual Pick-and-Place machine, a Reflow Oven, and a Reflow Station. The lab is stocked with a good supply of 0603 and 0805 surface mount components.

The current Ace of the {{PAGENAME}} is '''{{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has name|+index=0 }}''' ({{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Has ace.Has email address}}). 

__TOC__

=Schedule=
View the most up-to-date PCB Lab schedule [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M91j-_Qfp9NXlvt4ZF8QRQ2Hq3x50QioqZylHDnSZmc/edit?usp=sharing on this Google Sheet.]

=Equipment Overview =
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::true]]
[[Is located in facility::PCB Lab]]
|?Has make=Company
|?Has model=Model |+width=10em
|?Has ace.Has name=Current Ace
|?Has ace.Has email address=Current Email
|format=broadtable
|mainlabel=Name
}}

==Equipment by Icon==
{{#ask:
[[Is equipment::True]][[Has icon::+]] [[Is located in facility::PCB Lab]]
|?Has icon=Icon
|?Is located in facility
|format=plainlist
|template=EquipmentIconGallery
|outrotemplate=EquipmentIconGalleryOutro
|limit=100
|link=none
|sort=Is located in facility
}}

=Basic Tools=
[[File:PTP750W_front.png|thumb|150px]] The PCB Lab has a Brother PT-Touch P750W [https://www.brother-usa.com/products/PTP750W Brother PT-Touch P750W] label maker for labeling items. To use it:

# Download the [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brother-iprint-label/id523047493?mt=8 iOS App] or the [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brother.ptouch.iprintandlabel&hl=en_US Android App].
# Ensure the label maker is powered on.
# Within the app, select the gear to open settings.
# Select "Printer."
# Select "Set Manually."
# Enter the IP Address 10.90.12.132.
# Select "Connect."
# Select "Check Media." This will get the correct size of the tape that is currently in the label maker. You should click this button often, especially when you change the tape in the label maker or start a new session of label printing.
# Select "Done" at the top right.

You can now print labels for labeling things in the PCB Lab.

=3 Commandments=
=== 1. Safety First ===
Safety First is the rule we hold highest of the three. This rule applies to both the safety of you as well as others

Keeping yourself and others safe in the PCB Lab is very important, as there are possibilities for accidents if you don't follow the safety guidelines. Safety starts with you so don't depend on others to keep you safe. There is a first aid kit located on the south wall near the Wood Shop door. The following rules must be followed at all times.

All the same safety rules from the machine shop apply:

* Safety glasses must be worn when soldering or running Volter printers.

* No horseplay in the PCB Lab.

* Don’t do anything distracting to yourself or others while operating equipment.

* Food or drink is allowed when not operating equipment. Wash your hands after soldering or working with solder paste and chemicals.

* Do not attempt to operate machinery in the PCB Lab that you have not been certified on.

* Do not argue with volunteers or shop staff. Contact Justin Johnson if you have issues that need to be resolved.

* Do not operate equipment without a lab supervisor or trained volunteer in the lab with you.

* Reset the space. Make the area you are working in ready for the next person.

* If you see a safety violation inform the person immediately and encourage them to comply with the policies

* Don’t do anything that would require an additional rule to be added to this list.

=== 2. Reset the Space ===
The PCB Lab has a specific organization to it. Put whatever you use back where it belongs. There is a place for everything and everything has a place. This rule applies to everything in the space. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a pen, put it back. Throw away your trash and recycling.

*Please put back the equipment the way you found it. Clean up solder and any spills or messes you make.

*Always put any unused materials back.

*Always leave the space better than you found it.

=== 3. Be Professional ===
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the PCB Lab we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.

Being a professional has some obvious ramifications in terms of behavior. First, be Christlike. Think of others better than yourselves. Share. If you have been using a machine for a prolonged time and someone else is waiting, let them use the machine for a while. This is being a professional.

If you are learning to how to use a machine, and you can't get something to work the way you want - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a Professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.

One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their action. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.

If someone acts disgracefully unprofessional to you in the PCB Lab, you are welcome to bring the issue to Justin or Nick's attention.

==General PCB Lab Knowledge==
Making/repairing circuits can be rewarding and fun as well as time consuming. One of the most used machines in the PCB Lab is the soldering iron. If you have already certified on the soldering irons in the Hub (and your quiz is up to date), that certification transfers to the soldering irons in the PCB Lab. This protocol works in the opposite direction too... if you have certified on the PCB Lab soldering irons, that certification transfers to the soldering irons in the Hub. Granted, the soldering irons in the PCB Lab may be equipped with smaller tips and other accessories that aid with surface-mount soldering. Ask the PCB Lab ace to share best practices in surface-mount soldering. Watch some videos about it to help fill in any knowledge gaps.

In the PCB Lab, circuits are built and repaired using a variety of prototyping equipment.

The equipment in the PCB Lab has its own special purpose and benefits. The pick n place allows you to quickly place surface mount components. Voltera printers use conductive ink to print out the traces for producing a circuit board. The curing oven quickly heats the paste on a circuit board and bonds the surface mount components to the circuit pads.

These are a few steps that will help you be successful in the PCB Lab.
* Always double check your circuit designs prior to attempting to print. If you can have a second set of eyes look for any issues that is always a good idea.
* Make sure the components you are using can handle the current required.
* Ask someone knowledgeable if you have questions.
* Double check the installation direction of your components prior to installation.
Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
* Most of the solder in the PCB lab contains lead. Wash your hands after soldering.
* Use the fume extractors when soldering to prevent inhaling fumes.
* Be aware of what your fingers are touching when soldering or working with hot equipment.
* Be aware of people and what they are doing around you. Keep track of where your soldering iron is pointing and touching.
* Be aware of what is on the floor around you. Don't trip on any cords or other students stuff.
* Wear safety glasses when soldering or working with the drilling head on the Voltera.
* If something feels like it could be dangerous ask a supervisor before attempting.

== Canvas Certification ==
Complete the {{PAGENAME}} Certification Quiz Module at the link below to gain access to the {{PAGENAME}}. The Maker Hub Canvas course pertains to all facilities and equipment contained in the Maker Hub; simply complete the quizzes for the facilities/equipment you wish to use in the Maker Hub. Please email makerhub@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

[https://georgefox.instructure.com/enroll/R6RF69 Maker Hub Canvas Course]

== Inventory ==
Click this link to be directed to the [https://makerhub-internal.georgefox.edu/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}} internal site] for inventory.

== Voltera Maintenance ==
Click this link to be directed to the [https://makerhub-internal.georgefox.edu/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}} internal site] for Maintenance.

FabCreator

2025-10-01T20:02:52Z

Nsullivan: /* Install Instructions */

{{#set:
|Is software=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:FL9.png
|Has icondesc=FabCreator Icon
|Has image=File:FL13.png
|Has description=Metal Laser Cutter Software
|Has version=2.2.0.72_x64
|Has url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/
|Is location=Computer Lab Software
|Is location=Computers on Wheels Software
}}

[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
{{#ask:[[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|?Has icon=Software Logo
|?Has description=Description
|?Has version=Version
|?Has url=Web Page
|headers=show
|link=none
|format=plainlist
|template=SoftwareTable
|introtemplate=SoftwareEntryIntro
|outrotemplate=SoftwareTableOutro
}}

==Installation==

===Downloads===
Click this link to download the .exe file from Reddit... https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/

If that link breaks, try this: 
[[Media:FabCreator-2.2.0.72 x64.7z]] 
This is a zipped version of the .exe file. The wiki doesn't allow me to upload .exe files directly, so hence the workaround. Just use [[7-Zip]] to extract the file.

Also, download this database file: 
[[Media:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db]]
 
===Install Instructions===
If you need to extract the .exe file, do that first. Then, double click FabCreator-2.2.0.72_x64.exe and click Run on the Security Warning screen.
[[File:FL1.png|466px|none]]

Click Yes to let FabCreator make changes to your device.
[[File:FL2.png|456px|none]]

Agree... you don't really have any other option.
[[File:FL3.png|499px|none]]

Install for anyone using this computer.
[[File:FL4.png|499px|none]]

The default file location is fine. Change it at your own risk.
[[File:FL5.png|499px|none]]

Choose components. Again, default selections are fine. Click Install.
[[File:FL6.png|499px|none]]

Installation should be pretty fast. Click Close once it finishes.
[[File:FL7.png|499px|none]]

Go to your Start Menu > All, scroll down to "F", and open FabCreator. Alternatively, you could navigate through the file explorer to open the FabCreator application.
[[File:FL8.png|1125px|none]]

FabCreator should open. Go to Edit > Preferences.
[[File:Fl10.png|1283px|none]]

In the Preferences menu, click on the Material Database tab. We only need to edit the line that says FL 4500 (the bottom line). Click on the three dots "..." Hopefully you have already downloaded the database file from above. We need to point FabCreator to the material settings contained in the database file for our specific fiber laser.
[[File:FL11.png|657px|none]]

Find the FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db file that you downloaded (probably in your Downloads folder) and click Open.
[[File:FL12.png|946px|none]]

Click Apply and OK in the Preferences menu. Now when you open a DXF and click on the Properties tab, you should be able to select the FL 4500 database and see various materials and thicknesses available.
[[File:FL13.png|1283px|none]]
 

===Tutorials===
Fablight has a YouTube channel with tutorial videos. There are probably more videos and tutorials out there too. Start searching!

FabLight Tutorial YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpj81hTIgjFffXWzEtQGfXVJJ12mU_lJY

FabCreator

2025-10-01T20:00:47Z

Nsullivan: /* Installation */

{{#set:
|Is software=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:FL9.png
|Has icondesc=FabCreator Icon
|Has image=File:FL13.png
|Has description=Metal Laser Cutter Software
|Has version=2.2.0.72_x64
|Has url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/
|Is location=Computer Lab Software
|Is location=Computers on Wheels Software
}}

[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
{{#ask:[[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|?Has icon=Software Logo
|?Has description=Description
|?Has version=Version
|?Has url=Web Page
|headers=show
|link=none
|format=plainlist
|template=SoftwareTable
|introtemplate=SoftwareEntryIntro
|outrotemplate=SoftwareTableOutro
}}

==Installation==

===Downloads===
Click this link to download the .exe file from Reddit... https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/

If that link breaks, try this: 
[[Media:FabCreator-2.2.0.72 x64.7z]] 
This is a zipped version of the .exe file. The wiki doesn't allow me to upload .exe files directly, so hence the workaround. Just use [[7-Zip]] to extract the file.

Also, download this database file: 
[[Media:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db]]
 
===Install Instructions===
If you need to extract the .exe file, do that first. The, double click FabCreator-2.2.0.72_x64.exe and click Run on the Security Warning screen.
[[File:FL1.png|466px|none]]

Click Yes to let FabCreator make changes to your device.
[[File:FL2.png|456px|none]]

Agree... you don't really have any other option.
[[File:FL3.png|499px|none]]

Install for anyone using this computer.
[[File:FL4.png|499px|none]]

The default file location is fine. Change it at your own risk.
[[File:FL5.png|499px|none]]

Choose components. Again, default selections are fine. Click Install.
[[File:FL6.png|499px|none]]

Installation should be pretty fast. Click Close once it finishes.
[[File:FL7.png|499px|none]]

Go to your Start Menu > All, scroll down to "F", and open FabCreator. Alternatively, you could navigate through the file explorer to open the FabCreator application.
[[File:FL8.png|1125px|none]]

FabCreator should open. Go to Edit > Preferences.
[[File:Fl10.png|1283px|none]]

In the Preferences menu, click on the Material Database tab. We only need to edit the line that says FL 4500 (the bottom line). Click on the three dots "..." Hopefully you have already downloaded the database file from above. We need to point FabCreator to the material settings contained in the database file for our specific fiber laser.
[[File:FL11.png|657px|none]]

Find the FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db file that you downloaded (probably in your Downloads folder) and click Open.
[[File:FL12.png|946px|none]]

Click Apply and OK in the Preferences menu. Now when you open a DXF and click on the Properties tab, you should be able to select the FL 4500 database and see various materials and thicknesses available.
[[File:FL13.png|1283px|none]]
 
===Tutorials===
Fablight has a YouTube channel with tutorial videos. There are probably more videos and tutorials out there too. Start searching!

FabLight Tutorial YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpj81hTIgjFffXWzEtQGfXVJJ12mU_lJY

FabCreator

2025-10-01T19:57:45Z

Nsullivan:

{{#set:
|Is software=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:FL9.png
|Has icondesc=FabCreator Icon
|Has image=File:FL13.png
|Has description=Metal Laser Cutter Software
|Has version=2.2.0.72_x64
|Has url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/
|Is location=Computer Lab Software
|Is location=Computers on Wheels Software
}}

[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
{{#ask:[[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|?Has icon=Software Logo
|?Has description=Description
|?Has version=Version
|?Has url=Web Page
|headers=show
|link=none
|format=plainlist
|template=SoftwareTable
|introtemplate=SoftwareEntryIntro
|outrotemplate=SoftwareTableOutro
}}

==Installation==

===Downloads===
Click this link to download the .exe file from Reddit... https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/

If that link breaks, try this: 
[[Media:FabCreator-2.2.0.72 x64.7z]] 
This is a zipped version of the .exe file. The wiki doesn't allow me to upload .exe files directly, so hence the workaround. Just use [[7-Zip]] to extract the file.

Also, download this database file: 
[[Media:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db]]

===Install Instructions===
If you need to extract the .exe file, do that first. The, double click FabCreator-2.2.0.72_x64.exe and click Run on the Security Warning screen.
[[File:FL1.png|466px|none]]

Click Yes to let FabCreator make changes to your device.
[[File:FL2.png|456px|none]]

Agree... you don't really have any other option.
[[File:FL3.png|499px|none]]

Install for anyone using this computer.
[[File:FL4.png|499px|none]]

The default file location is fine. Change it at your own risk.
[[File:FL5.png|499px|none]]

Choose components. Again, default selections are fine. Click Install.
[[File:FL6.png|499px|none]]

Installation should be pretty fast. Click Close once it finishes.
[[File:FL7.png|499px|none]]

Go to your Start Menu > All, scroll down to "F", and open FabCreator. Alternatively, you could navigate through the file explorer to open the FabCreator application.
[[File:FL8.png|1125px|none]]

FabCreator should open. Go to Edit > Preferences.
[[File:Fl10.png|1283px|none]]

In the Preferences menu, click on the Material Database tab. We only need to edit the line that says FL 4500 (the bottom line). Click on the three dots "..." Hopefully you have already downloaded the database file from above. We need to point FabCreator to the material settings contained in the database file for our specific fiber laser.
[[File:FL11.png|657px|none]]

Find the FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db file that you downloaded (probably in your Downloads folder) and click Open.
[[File:FL12.png|946px|none]]

Click Apply and OK in the Preferences menu. Now when you open a DXF and click on the Properties tab, you should be able to select the FL 4500 database and see various materials and thicknesses available.
[[File:FL13.png|1283px|none]]

FabCreator

2025-10-01T19:56:50Z

Nsullivan: /* Installation */

{{#set:
|Is software=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:FL9.png
|Has icondesc=FabCreator Icon
|Has image=File:FL13.png
|Has description=Metal Laser Cutter Software
|Has version=2.2.0.72_x64
|Has url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/
|Is location=Computer Lab Software
|Is location=Computers on Wheels Software
}}

[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
{{#ask:[[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|?Has icon=Software Logo
|?Has description=Description
|?Has version=Version
|?Has url=Web Page
|headers=show
|link=none
|format=plainlist
|template=SoftwareTable
|introtemplate=SoftwareEntryIntro
|outrotemplate=SoftwareTableOutro
}}

==Installation==

===Downloads===
Click this link to download the .exe file from Reddit... https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/

If that link breaks, try this: 
[[Media:FabCreator-2.2.0.72 x64.7z]] 
This is a zipped version of the .exe file. The wiki doesn't allow me to upload .exe files directly, so hence the workaround. Just use [[7-Zip]] to extract the file.

Also, download this database file: 
[[Media:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db]]

===Install Instructions===
If you need to extract the .exe file, do that first. The, double click FabCreator-2.2.0.72_x64.exe and click Run on the Security Warning screen.
[[File:FL1.png|466px|none]]

Click Yes to let FabCreator make changes to your device.
[[File:FL2.png|456px|none]]

Agree... you don't really have any other option.
[[File:FL3.png|499px|none]]

Install for anyone using this computer.
[[File:FL4.png|499px|none]]

The default file location is fine. Change it at your own risk.
[[File:FL5.png|499px|none]]

Choose components. Again, default selections are fine. Click Install.
[[File:FL6.png|499px|none]]

Installation should be pretty fast. Click Close once it finishes.
[[File:FL7.png|499px|none]]

Go to your Start Menu > All, scroll down to "F", and open FabCreator. Alternatively, you could navigate through the file explorer to open the FabCreator application.
[[File:FL8.png|1125px|none]]

FabCreator should open. Go to Edit > Preferences.
[[File:Fl10.png|1283px|none]]

In the Preferences menu, click on the Material Database tab. We only need to edit the line that says FL 4500 (the bottom line). Click on the three dots "..." Hopefully you have already downloaded the database file from above. We need to point FabCreator to the material settings contained in the database file for our specific fiber laser.
[[File:FL11.png|657px|none]]

Find the FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db file that you downloaded (probably in your Downloads folder) and click Open.
[[File:FL12.png|946px|none]]

Click Apply and OK in the Preferences menu. Now when you open a DXF and click on the Properties tab, you should be able to select the FL 4500 database and see various materials and thicknesses available.
[[File:Fl13.png|1283px|none]]

FabCreator

2025-10-01T19:55:54Z

Nsullivan: /* Install Instructions */

{{#set:
|Is software=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:FL9.png
|Has icondesc=FabCreator Icon
|Has image=File:FL13.png
|Has description=Metal Laser Cutter Software
|Has version=2.2.0.72_x64
|Has url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/
|Is location=Computer Lab Software
|Is location=Computers on Wheels Software
}}

[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
{{#ask:[[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|?Has icon=Software Logo
|?Has description=Description
|?Has version=Version
|?Has url=Web Page
|headers=show
|link=none
|format=plainlist
|template=SoftwareTable
|introtemplate=SoftwareEntryIntro
|outrotemplate=SoftwareTableOutro
}}

==Installation==

===Downloads===
Click this link to download the .exe file from Reddit... https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/

If that link breaks, try this: 
[[Media:FabCreator-2.2.0.72 x64.7z]] 
This is a zipped version of the .exe file. The wiki doesn't allow me to upload .exe files directly, so hence the workaround. Just use [[7-Zip]] to extract the file.

Also, download this database file: 
[[Media:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db]]

===Install Instructions===
If you need to extract the .exe file, do that first. The, double click FabCreator-2.2.0.72_x64.exe and click Run on the Security Warning screen.
[[File:FL1.png|466px|none]]

Click Yes to let FabCreator make changes to your device.
[[File:FL2.png|456px|none]]

Agree... you don't really have any other option.
[[File:FL3.png|499px|none]]

Install for anyone using this computer.
[[File:FL4.png|499px|none]]

The default file location is fine. Change it at your own risk.
[[File:FL5.png|499px|none]]

Choose components. Again, default selections are fine. Click Install.
[[File:FL6.png|499px|none]]

Installation should be pretty fast. Click Close once it finishes.
[[File:FL7.png|499px|none]]

Go to your Start Menu > All, scroll down to "F", and open FabCreator. Alternatively, you could navigate through the file explorer to open the FabCreator application.
[[File:FL8.png|1125px|none]]

FabCreator should open. Go to Edit > Preferences.
[[File:Fl10.png|1283px|none]]

In the Preferences menu, click on the Material Database tab. We only need to edit the line that says FL 4500 (the bottom line). Click on the three dots "..." Hopefully you have already downloaded the database file from above. We need to point FabCreator to the material settings contained in the database file for our specific fiber laser.
[[File:FL11.png|657px|none]]

Find the FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db file that you downloaded (probably in your Downloads folder) and click Open.
[[File:FL12.png|946px|none]]

Click Apply and OK in the Preferences menu. Now when you open a DXF and click on the Properties tab, you should be able to select the FL 4500 database and see various materials and thicknesses available.
[[File:Fl13.png|1283px|none]]

FabCreator

2025-10-01T19:53:37Z

Nsullivan: /* Install Instructions */

{{#set:
|Is software=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:FL9.png
|Has icondesc=FabCreator Icon
|Has image=File:FL13.png
|Has description=Metal Laser Cutter Software
|Has version=2.2.0.72_x64
|Has url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/
|Is location=Computer Lab Software
|Is location=Computers on Wheels Software
}}

[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
{{#ask:[[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|?Has icon=Software Logo
|?Has description=Description
|?Has version=Version
|?Has url=Web Page
|headers=show
|link=none
|format=plainlist
|template=SoftwareTable
|introtemplate=SoftwareEntryIntro
|outrotemplate=SoftwareTableOutro
}}

==Installation==

===Downloads===
Click this link to download the .exe file from Reddit... https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/

If that link breaks, try this: 
[[Media:FabCreator-2.2.0.72 x64.7z]] 
This is a zipped version of the .exe file. The wiki doesn't allow me to upload .exe files directly, so hence the workaround. Just use [[7-Zip]] to extract the file.

Also, download this database file: 
[[Media:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db]]

===Install Instructions===
If you need to extract the .exe file, do that first. The, double click FabCreator-2.2.0.72_x64.exe and click Run on the Security Warning screen.
[[File:FL1.png|466px|none]]

Click Yes to let FabCreator make changes to your device.
[[File:FL2.png|456px|none]]

Agree... you don't really have any other option.
[[File:FL3.png|499px|none]]

Install for anyone using this computer.
[[File:FL4.png|499px|none]]

The default file location is fine. Change it at your own risk.
[[File:FL5.png|499px|none]]

Choose components. Again, default selections are fine. Click Install.
[[File:FL6.png|499px|none]]

Installation should be pretty fast. Click Close once it finishes.
[[File:FL7.png|499px|none]]

Go to your Start Menu > All, scroll down to "F", and open FabCreator. Alternatively, you could navigate through the file explorer to open the FabCreator application.
[[File:FL8.png|1125px|none]]

Hopefully you have already downloaded the database file from above. We need to point FabCreator to the material settings contained in the database file for our specific fiber laser. Go to Edit > Preferences.
[[File:Fl10.png|1283px|none]]

In the Preferences menu, click on the Material Database tab. We only need to edit the line that says FL 4500 (the bottom line). Click on the three dots "..."
[[File:FL11.png|657px|none]]

Find the FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db file that you downloaded (probably in your Downloads folder) and click Open.
[[File:FL12.png|946px|none]]

Click Apply and OK in the Preferences menu. Now when you open a DXF and click on the Properties tab, you should be able to select the FL 4500 database and see various materials and thicknesses available.
[[File:Fl13.png|1283px|none]]

FabCreator

2025-10-01T19:52:44Z

Nsullivan: /* Install Instructions */

{{#set:
|Is software=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:FL9.png
|Has icondesc=FabCreator Icon
|Has image=File:FL13.png
|Has description=Metal Laser Cutter Software
|Has version=2.2.0.72_x64
|Has url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/
|Is location=Computer Lab Software
|Is location=Computers on Wheels Software
}}

[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
{{#ask:[[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|?Has icon=Software Logo
|?Has description=Description
|?Has version=Version
|?Has url=Web Page
|headers=show
|link=none
|format=plainlist
|template=SoftwareTable
|introtemplate=SoftwareEntryIntro
|outrotemplate=SoftwareTableOutro
}}

==Installation==

===Downloads===
Click this link to download the .exe file from Reddit... https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/

If that link breaks, try this: 
[[Media:FabCreator-2.2.0.72 x64.7z]] 
This is a zipped version of the .exe file. The wiki doesn't allow me to upload .exe files directly, so hence the workaround. Just use [[7-Zip]] to extract the file.

Also, download this database file: 
[[Media:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db]]

===Install Instructions===
If you need to extract the .exe file, do that first. The, double click FabCreator-2.2.0.72_x64.exe and click Run on the Security Warning screen.
[[File:FL1.png|466px|none]]

Click Yes to let FabCreator make changes to your device.
[[File:FL2.png|456px|none]]

Agree... you don't really have any other option.
[[File:FL3.png|499px|none]]

Install for anyone using this computer.
[[File:FL4.png|499px|none]]

The default file location is fine. Change it at your own risk.
[[File:FL5.png|499px|none]]

Choose components. Again, default selections are fine. Click Install.
[[File:FL6.png|499px|none]]

Installation should be pretty fast. Click Close once it finishes.
[[File:FL7.png|499px|none]]

Go to your Start Menu > All, scroll down to "F", and open FabCreator. Alternatively, you could navigate through the file explorer to open the FabCreator application.
[[File:FL8.png|1125px|none]]

Hopefully you have already downloaded the database file from above. We need to point FabCreator to the material settings contained in the database file for our specific fiber laser. Go to Edit > Preferences.
[[File:Fl10.png|1283px|none]]

In the Preferences menu, click on the Material Database tab. We only need to edit the line that says FL 4500 (the bottom line). Click on the three dots "..."
[[File:FL11.png|657px|none]]

Find the FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db file that you downloaded (probably in your Downloads folder) and click Open.
[[File:FL12.png|946px|none]]

Click Apply and OK in the Preferences menu. Now when you open a DXF and click on the Properties tab, you should be able to select the FL 4500 database and see various materials and thicknesses available.
[[File:Fl13.png|1283px|none]]

FabCreator

2025-10-01T19:51:05Z

Nsullivan: /* Installation */

{{#set:
|Is software=True
|Has name={{PAGENAME}}
|Has icon=File:FL9.png
|Has icondesc=FabCreator Icon
|Has image=File:FL13.png
|Has description=Metal Laser Cutter Software
|Has version=2.2.0.72_x64
|Has url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/
|Is location=Computer Lab Software
|Is location=Computers on Wheels Software
}}

[[{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has image|link=none}}|375px|thumb|upright=1.5|{{#show: {{FULLPAGENAME}}|?Has imagedesc}}]]
{{#ask:[[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|?Has icon=Software Logo
|?Has description=Description
|?Has version=Version
|?Has url=Web Page
|headers=show
|link=none
|format=plainlist
|template=SoftwareTable
|introtemplate=SoftwareEntryIntro
|outrotemplate=SoftwareTableOutro
}}

==Installation==

===Downloads===
Click this link to download the .exe file from Reddit... https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/1jkckqd/fabcreator_software_from_fablight/

If that link breaks, try this: 
[[Media:FabCreator-2.2.0.72 x64.7z]] 
This is a zipped version of the .exe file. The wiki doesn't allow me to upload .exe files directly, so hence the workaround. Just use [[7-Zip]] to extract the file.

Also, download this database file: 
[[Media:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db]]

===Install Instructions===
If you need to extract the .exe file, do that first. The, double click FabCreator-2.2.0.72_x64.exe and click Run on the Security Warning screen.
[[File:FL1.png|466px]]

Click Yes to let FabCreator make changes to your device.
[[File:FL2.png|456px]]

Agree... you don't really have any other option.
[[File:FL3.png|499px]]

Install for anyone using this computer.
[[File:FL4.png|499px]]

The default file location is fine. Change it at your own risk.
[[File:FL5.png|499px]]

Choose components. Again, default selections are fine. Click Install.
[[File:FL6.png|499px]]

Installation should be pretty fast. Click Close once it finishes.
[[File:FL7.png|499px]]

Go to your Start Menu > All, scroll down to "F", and open FabCreator. Alternatively, you could navigate through the file explorer to open the FabCreator application.
[[File:FL8.png|1125px]]

Hopefully you have already downloaded the database file from above. We need to point FabCreator to the material settings contained in the database file for our specific fiber laser. Go to Edit > Preferences.
[[File:Fl10.png|1283px]]

In the Preferences menu, click on the Material Database tab. We only need to edit the line that says FL 4500 (the bottom line). Click on the three dots "..."
[[File:FL11.png|657px]]

Find the FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db file that you downloaded (probably in your Downloads folder) and click Open.
[[File:FL12.png|946px]]

Click Apply and OK in the Preferences menu. Now when you open a DXF and click on the Properties tab, you should be able to select the FL 4500 database and see various materials and thicknesses available.
[[File:Fl13.png|1283px]]

File:FL12.png

2025-10-01T19:47:48Z

Nsullivan:

FL12

File:FL11.png

2025-10-01T19:46:15Z

Nsullivan:

FL11

File:Fl10.png

2025-10-01T19:43:36Z

Nsullivan:

Fl10

File:FL8.png

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Nsullivan:

FL8

File:FL7.png

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Nsullivan:

FL7

File:FL6.png

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Nsullivan:

FL6

File:FL5.png

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Nsullivan:

FL5

File:FL4.png

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Nsullivan:

FL4

File:FL3.png

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Nsullivan:

FL3

File:FL2.png

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Nsullivan:

FL2

File:FL1.png

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Nsullivan:

FL1

File:FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised.db

2025-10-01T19:25:58Z

Nsullivan:

FL4500 2019-04-25 Factory DB - GFU revised