Lab Shop
You’ll be able to buy materials from the Lab Shop, with an increased range suitable for using at home. For now, you can pick what you want for yourself - though please touch only what you are going to buy. Soon we will be introducing a ‘click and collect’ service so you can choose online and collect in person. Opening hours for the shop are 9.00-17.00, Monday to Friday.
2D Large Format Printing
We’ve upgraded printing in the Lab so we can now accept online submissions of prints. It’s a new system, so bear with us in case it needs refining in the next few weeks, but it should be much easier and better than before. Submit and pay for your prints online, and collect in person from the Lab Shop.
3D Printing
While we are operating under social distancing and with a need to keep equipment clean, we will be operating a bureau service for 3D printing. We are adapting the large format print submission system soon so that you will be able to submit 3D prints just as you would 2D, with collection from the Lab Shop. For now submission will be through USB at the Shop.
CAM Lab
You’ll need to programme your jobs for CNC machining using RhinoCAM. This software is only available in the CAM Lab so we have now also made the CAM Lab available from 30 minute to max 2 hour slots. Please book on the website like other areas.
Laser Lab
The Lasers will be running as usual. We expect they may well be even busier than ever, as they take the place of other more hands-on making. Now is the time to develop and fully realise your digital fabrication skills. There are acrylic screens between machines for your safety, and strict limits on numbers in rooms. So you will need to arrive on time, on the hour, as the doors will be locked at other times. Slots now will be 50 minutes to allow time for cleaning between users, and you’ll need to clean keyboards and keypads before and after use with the wipes we provide. But the machines are available and running as always. Do please make good use of them.
CNC Lab
The CNC machines will be running as usual. We expect they may well be even busier than ever, as they take the place of other more hands-on making. Now is the time to develop and fully realise your digital fabrication skills. There are acrylic screens between machines for your safety, and strict limits on numbers in rooms. So you will need to arrive on time, on the hour, as the doors will be locked at other times. Slots now will be maximum 3 hours. You’ll need to clean keyboards and keypads before and after use with the wipes we provide. But the machines are available and running as always. Do please make good use of them.
Light Lab
Digital capture through photography, video, 2D and 3D scanning is available in the Light Lab. To make the most of reduced capacity in the room, and to ensure machines are available for you when you need them, all these tools and spaces are now also bookable through the website.
Woodshop, Metalshop, Casting Lab, Project Space, XR Lab
Sadly some areas and forms of making cannot be accommodated safely in the current circumstances. This includes hands on making with wood, metal, plastics and casting. These areas of the Lab will remain closed at least until January. We will be reassessing the situation in December. Just like everyone else, we hope that conditions will change for the better soon, and that all areas of the Lab will be back to business as usual before too long.
