Induction Workshop

The induction is the gateway to MakerSpace: every new member attends it once, and an Exco member or trained runner runs it. This page has two halves. The overview below is what the workshop covers, for everyone; the run checklist at the top of the page is the tickable run sheet for the runner, saved on the runner's device. Print it if you prefer paper.

Core messages

The induction must land these three points:

1. MakerSpace is for building projects, not consuming supplies or treating equipment casually.
2. Unsafe, messy, wasteful, or undocumented use can lead to immediate loss of access.
3. When unsure, stop: check the machine documentation or ask an Exco member.

Structure

Pre-Workshop: Icebreaker (5–10 min)

Objective: get attendees talking to each other at least once before the technical content begins, and make the session feel approachable.

Ask everyone to stand in a circle or sit together. Each person gives their name and one thing they want to build or learn in MakerSpace, roughly 30 seconds each. Encourage brief follow-up questions so people actually talk to each other, and keep the pace light; if it starts to drag, move on.

Section 1: Lab Introduction (15 min)

Objective: present what MakerSpace is, the equipment/tools/supplies on offer, the services, and the lab rules and policies.

Explain the map first, then walk the tour:

• FDM 3D printing area: the printers and what each is for; the filaments we stock.
• Electronics component bank: everything on the surface or in accessible cabinets is free to use; locked cabinets are not. Show how to open the drawers and cabinets. Components are not to be wasted, the bank stays organized, and broken components never go back.
• Component bank details: connectors, heat-shrink, wires, tools, battery holders, motors; sensors, modules, breakout boards, microcontrollers (expensive MCUs are locked but loanable); ICs, transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors. Grey SMT boxes hold ICs, yellow ones resistors, blue ones capacitors. Common components sit on the pegboard; the rest live in drawers.
• Desks: general vs soldering vs SMT soldering vs electronics measuring; use the desk that fits the task.
• Assembly station: basic mechanical tools and the large assembly desk.
• Mechanical station: drill press, power tools in the cabinet above (special training required), more machines coming.
• CAM station: resin printers (special training), the Snapmaker for large-volume printing / laser / 4-axis CNC (special training), and the mechanical hardware bank (in construction).

Also cover the rules and policies (read from the latest document); services (project storage, the visitor scheme, enrichment workshops, membership renewal); where to get help (WhatsApp first, any Exco member, or the machine documentation, because nobody should struggle alone); SOPs and documentation (shared drive plus copies posted near equipment, datasheets in the electronics section); and bookings (notice board, WhatsApp, and the booking sheet for long prints).

Section 2: FDM 3D Printing (30 min)

Objective: operate the P1S to 3D print; printing rules and good practices.

1. What is FDM (~3 min): how FDM works and the process of preparing a print. Export as STL / OBJ / 3MF (preferred, preserves geometry best); import into Bambu Studio.
2. Setting up the P1S: plate in the correct place and removing it safely; purge lines come off with the plastic scraper; plate clean and dry (isopropanol, or dish soap and a clean towel); plate back in correctly.
3. Slicing in Bambu Studio (~5 min): the printing PC password; select the correct printer under "Device"; sync filaments ("Prepare" → "Sync info" → "Continue"); correct plate selected. UI layout: "Process" controls speed/infill/layer height, "Global" vs "Objects" scope, the top bar manipulates objects; place objects flat and "Auto-arrange" multiples; system vs user presets; recommended processes; wall loops & infill; supports; brim.
4. Start printing (~2 min): "Slice" and read the info panel; "Print plate" and what each function does; "Send"; what the printer does while preparing.
5. Print removal (~1 min): demo with the pre-printed benchy. Remove the bed, bend the plate, use the metal spatula without damaging the plate, plate back in.
6. Rules & guidelines (~2 min):
   • Do not change filaments in the AMS; if filament runs out, tell an Exco.
   • Long prints (>4 h) must not run during daytime.
   • Filament is free but not to be wasted; don't print useless stuff.
   • See a failing print → press pause. Your print failed → ask in the WhatsApp group.

Section 3: Electronics Tools & Measuring Equipment (15 min)

Objective: what the electronics hand tools do; basic operations on the oscilloscope, power supply, multimeter and signal generator.

Hand tools:

• IWS-108: wire stripper + lead cutter. The cutter is only for leads and wires; cutting anything else damages it.
• FSA-0626B: wire stripper.
• IWS-083: wire stripper + crimping iron.
• IWS-0822: automatic wire stripper.
• The rest are crimping irons; a future workshop covers them.
• Only use each tool for its designated purpose.

For the test equipment (~10 min), ask how many people have used each instrument before, then demonstrate the controls of the power supply, multimeter, signal generator and oscilloscope.

Section 4: Mechanical Tools (20 min)

Objective: identify the pillar drill, mitre saw, files and clamps; safe operation with strong PPE emphasis; every attendee operates the drill and the saw once under supervision.

Pillar drill makes clean perpendicular holes in wood, plastic or metal. Controls: power, speed selector, quill feed lever, e-stop; the chuck key must be removed before starting; the table raises, lowers and tilts. To operate: right bit for material and size, tightened with the chuck key and removed again; secure the workpiece in the vise or clamps (never hold it by hand); speed slow for metal, medium for plastic, fast for wood; lower the quill slowly and let the bit cut; after drilling, raise the bit, power off, and wait for full stop; clean swarf with a brush, never hands.

Mitre saw makes precise crosscuts and angled cuts in wood and plastic. Controls: power, blade guard (never disabled or tied back), fence, angle adjustment, e-stop. To operate: right sharp blade; set and lock the angle; workpiece secured against the fence, never by hand; check clearance with the guard and release it; reach full speed before cutting; lower steadily without forcing; release the trigger and wait for the blade to stop completely before raising; clear scraps only after it stops.

Hands-on: scrap wood and goggles for each attendee. The supervisor demonstrates once more, then watches each attendee drill a hole and make a cut, correcting technique immediately. Finish with files: smooth even strokes, never pushing on the return stroke; clean with a file card; return tools; sweep and dispose of scraps.

Section 5: Soldering and Electronics (60 min)

Objective: solder correctly on a perfboard; understand station setup, safety and maintenance; solder at least one component.

Setup: iron, stand, brass tip cleaner (or damp sponge), solder wire (60/40 or lead-free) and flux. Turn on, set ~350 °C leaded / ~380 °C lead-free, and wait 2–3 min for the display to stabilise. Never leave a heated iron unattended; park it in the stand.

• Tinning: wipe the tip and apply a small blob of solder to coat it; this protects against oxidation and improves heat transfer. Don't over-wipe.
• Stripping wires (hands-on): correct gauge hole, squeeze gently, pull; never nick the strands (if damaged, trim and re-strip); twist stranded conductors lightly.
• Soldering on perfboard: insert leads, bend slightly outward to hold; heat the pad and lead together 1–2 s; apply solder to the joint, not the iron; remove solder then iron. A good joint is shiny, smooth, concave; a cold joint is dull/grainy/blobby, so reheat it with flux. LED polarity: long lead = anode (+). Work ventilated; fumes are harmful. (Practice component may vary: resistor, LED, diode…)
• Flux cleans surfaces and helps flow; a small amount on oxidized/dirty joints. Excess is corrosive. Rosin is standard; water-soluble requires cleaning after use.
• Tip care: brass cleaner, insert the hot tip and twist; or a quick wipe on a damp (not wet) sponge; never abrasives; re-tin immediately after cleaning.
• Shutdown: iron off; cool ≥15 min before storing; dispose of wire scraps, coil solder wire, tidy; wash hands, especially after leaded.
• Hands-on practice (~32 min): each attendee strips wires, solders a wire and at least one component to a perfboard. Supervisors circulate, correct technique, and encourage inspecting and reworking joints.

What Can You Do Next? (5–10 min)

• Enrichment workshops: PCB design, microcontrollers, advanced CAD…; schedule on the notice board and WhatsApp; free for members; sign up in advance.
• Project support: equipment access, Exco mentorship, collaborative community; bring your project ideas and use open hours.
• Community: join the WhatsApp group; socials, open lab hours, drop-in sessions; collaborate.

Attendance (5 min)

Confirm member credentials one-by-one, get everyone into the WhatsApp group, and hand out merch. Lanyard handouts and the visitor policy apply here.