Hey there, hoping someone might be able to answer a question or two for a potential member. I’m thinking of joining to get access to the 3D Printer, partially for an immediate project I’ve got (a printed PC case for an SFF PC / HTPC / Steam Machine kinda thing) and partially as a next step from my home resin printer (so I can start printing terrain as well as minis ).
As far as I can tell, though, I can’t sign up for an induction or see how big the induction queue is or what the schedule is like, without being a member. With the warning saying that the waitlist is several months for the more in demand items, that’s potentially close to £100 in membership fees on top of the wait before I can actually start working?
Is there any way around that? I’d happily pay for filament and membership and put in some volunteer work in the meantime if someone was up for looking at my files and printing / supervising my printing of them, for example. Or is there a way to get on the queue without being a paid member yet?
I don’t have anything direct to comment re: 3D printer, but I wanted to thank you for considering to be community minded - as that is at the core of everything makerspace. It may not be obvious from the outside when looking in, but at the heart of everything it is about community, friendship, mutual respect, as well as having fun making things.
We don’t typically trade work for work, instead it’s something more social than that.
If someone comes to the space exclusively to use tools, it doesn’t foster a vibrant maker community - so when you mentioned you would be willing to put in some volunteer work I wanted to make it known that it was an appreciated offer and that I hope the expectation is clearer surrounding who we are.
We like nerding out on things, most of us like to meet new people, to care about each other and the makerspace as a whole. We typically try to put into the makerspace more than we get out of it, if that makes sense?
For example your project sounds really fun, and whilst I’m not personally into minifigs etc, I really do like to admire what others have created and would be inclined to ask you about and be excited to see what you are working on.
The current waiting list for 3D printing is 43 people.
There are no 3D printing inductions currently advertised, but they happen regularly.
Even through there are 43 people on the list, the actual order of inductions depends on how many people are available for each advertised induction.
If you have 1 urgent project and others that can wait, you could do the following:
Sign up
Get on the waiting list
Post a message asking for a MakerBuddy. This is a person who will actually run the print for you.
Meet the MakerBuddy, direct them to set up the print. They do the print and you jointly monitor until complete
No guarantee that someone will put their hand up, but if you are flexible on timing, there is likely to be someone who is going to be in the space for a block of time anyway.
hiiiii,
That’s a cool project.
We currently only have the Bambu X1C’s working. We are trying to get the resin printers back working.
You will be able to sign up on the induction waiting list once you are a member. (I think the lists are visible to members only.)
Currently, the list is 43 long, but that does not necessarily mean months of waiting.
Not everyone is available when the induction is scheduled, and some drop out. Sometimes the inductors do inductions on request or randomly. The 3D print area is averaging one induction a week.
So you could get inducted very quickly depending on if you are available at the time.
It’s amazing you want to contribute to the space. As @electronoob said
Aha, I should clarify, the main project is a computer case that’s all FDM (well, except for some aluminium etrusions, nuts and bolts and such). Then down the line, maybe some FDM terrain for D&D and such, 'cos I’ve got a resin printer at home for the minis.
That said, if none of the resin printers are working, I may be able to help out with that a bit? Or I could donate mine - tbh, it’s a hassle printing at home with all the cleanup and ventilation concerns, but it’s just a Photon Mono 4K, so not the biggest / most advanced guy.
Anyway! I wanted to say thanks for all the quick responses, I can be a lil anxious in new spaces, so it’s comforting to get this kind of response before turning up, and thanks for the advice! I work remotely and it’s only a 30min walk for me, I think, so hopefully I’ll be available on relatively short notice!
The resin printer does work, but it’s been decommissioned for safety reasons (likely until a proper enclosure is built, with downdraft vents, fume hood, spill tray, etc).
My understanding (someone can correct me if I’m wrong) is that the 3d printer wait times tend to be much shorter than 3 months. The woodshop tends to have the longest wait.
Usually there will be a lot more poeple on the waiting list than actually attending inductions, so the functional list is a lot shorter. When an induction is offered, most people on the list won’t ask to attend. If you’re available frequently, you can usually get inducted quicker.
This is correct, the 3d printer is a lot faster to get on especially if you are flexible and can come in if someone ahead on the list drops out last minute…
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