Rules for Lab Usage

ME 491 students who agree to lab policies are given card-key access to Engineering Building (EB) room 410, room 430 and room 480. Card-key access allows students to use the workbenches in those rooms as an aid to fabrication, assembly and testing of prototypes as required by the ME 491 syllabus.

Working with physical prototypes and physical equipment entails risk of physical harm that are mitigated by appropriate safety policies. Adherence to safety policies allows students to have learning opportunties that outweigh the risks. Students who wish to have access to University labs and equipment to enhance their learning must also understand and comply with our safety policies.

In addition to reducing the risk of physical harm to students, staff and faculty, our policies are also intended to prevent abuse and damage to lab spaces, furnishings, tools and other equipment.

Failure to comply with lab policies will result in loss of access to the labs and equipment in the labs. Students who lose access to the labs will still be required to complete any and all assignments for ME 491, 492 and 493.

Thank you for your awareness of and compliance with these policies.

Base Policy on Access to the Labs

EB 410, EB 430 and EB 480 have equipment restricted to use by trained students and MME staff. Student access to the EB 410, EB 430 and EB 480 is contingent on following these rules.

  • Each student must have read and agreed to the terms (by signing) the liability waiver. Blank hard copies of the liability waiver were distributed on the first day of class. A blank PDF version can be downloaded with this link.

  • Each student must adhere to the lab policy. Hard copies of the policy were distributed on the first day of class. A PDF version can be downloaded with this link.

  • Each student must have submitted their badge number for card-key access to the lab. If you let your friends into the lab when they do not have card-key access, you risk losing your card-key access.

Lab Access and MELT Training Is Not a Back Door

By granting you access to using the work benches, we are NOT giving you permission to use the equipment in those labs.

  • Card-key access to the labs is not a back door around the safety training that is required prior to using power tools, laser cutters, 3D printers and other fabrication equipment in the labs.

  • Participation in a MELT workshop is not a back door around safety training that is required prior to using power tools, laser cutters, 3D printers and other fabrication equipment.

In other words, please complete the safety training before you use any power tools, laser cutters and 3D printers in the labs. Details follow.

Use of Laser Cutters, 3D printers, and Power Tools

There are two laser cutters in EB 480: a 60 W laser on the southwest corner, and 450 W laser behind the curtain in the northeast corner.

  • You cannot use 450 W laser UNLESS you have extensive training AND explicit permission by Mike Chuning.

  • You cannot use the 60 W laser UNLESS you have completed both safety training courses AND have MELT training to use the laser.

There are two 3D printers in EB 430: a UPrint Plus and an Ultimaker 2+.

  • You cannot use the Uprint Plus printer UNLESS you have extensive training AND explicit permission of Mike Chuning.

  • You cannot use the Ulitmaker 2+ printer UNLESS you have completed both safety training courses AND have MELT training to use the Ultimaker 2+.

There is one limited exception on access to the Ultimaker 2+. Students who have completed or are currently taking ME 410/510 3D Printing Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing may be able to use the Ultimaker 2+ without MELT training, but ONLY if given permission by Mike Chuning or Gerald Recktenwald

There are power tools on the bench along the West wall in EB 410.

  • You cannot use the power tools in EB 410 UNLESS you have completed both safety training courses.

Again, thank you for be aware of, and complying with, these policies.