Te Kete Wānaka
Learning, Teaching and Library
MakerSpace
What is LU’s Makerspace?
Our Makerspace is a place where students and staff have access to equipment (currently 3D printers and a vinyl cutter) and other technologies to explore materials and ideas. You can invent, create, repair, craft, discover, prototype, fabricate, innovate and tinker! We encourage student and staff collaboration in any field of study, designing and creating prototypes, and also to explore sustainability though repair (making replacements or parts).
Where is the Makerspace?
Currently located on the ground floor of Ivey Hall (the Library) in L002.
The space is kept locked when not in use, or when 3D printing is in progress and unattended. Ask at the Library Enquiries desk for a quick tour!
Hours of operation and pickup times
| Monday | 9:00am - 8:00pm |
| Tuesday | 9:00am - 8:00pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00am - 4:00pm |
| Thursday | 9:00am - 4:00pm |
| Friday | CLOSED |
| Saturday | CLOSED |
| Sunday | 10:30am - 5:00pm |
Completed projects can be collected and paid for Sunday to Thursdays.
Drop-in and Appointments
Drop-in 1 - 3 pm each Monday to check the space out and begin your creative journey.
Book an appointment for a more detailed introduction.
Who can use the Makerspace?
After booking a compulsory induction for the specific MakerSpace equipment of interest, all current staff and students of Lincoln University are welcome to book and make use of the equipment. Varying levels of induction are required and will depend on the technology or tools selected.
After the induction, you may separately book the equipment for the time required for your creation (instructions for booking equipment will be given after induction).
Makerspace staff are not always available. To ensure support on specific equipment, you will need to book an induction.
Will there be a cost?
Pre-approved course-related printing will be free of charge, and some small projects may be free depending on the cost of consumables used. Expected cost will be discussed before prints/cuts are processed.
- 3D printing filament - 10 cents per gram (minimum charge $2 per item)
- Vinyl (600mm wide) - $1 per 100mm (minimum charge $1 per item)
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Student projects for a class will not be charged if the lecturer has obtained prior approval from LTL by emailing askltl@lincoln.ac.nz (thus ensuring the availability of staff, equipment and materials).
- We reserve the right to apply a cost-recovery charge.
MakerSpace Policy
Users must abide by the MakerSpace Policy and LTL reserves the right to refuse any job request or cancel/terminate any projects that breach this policy and charge the appropriate rate.
MakerSpace equipment and instructions
Ultimaker S3
Ultimaker S5
3D printing is a really cool way of making! Professionally, it is being widely used as a way of manufacturing and prototyping objects, and the technology continues to develop and improve.
3D printing does take time for an object to form, depending on the size and complexity of the model (usually a minimum of 30 minutes for a small object). Once the printing is finished, there is typically some cleaning up to do (removing of the excess material). But seeing your design emerge is a fun and satisfying experience.
The best way to develop your skills in 3D printing, especially if you are a newcomer to the medium, is to book in a session with one of our skilled staff members. A good first step, however, is to get acquainted with some of the processes and our Ultimaker 3D printers by checking out the handy videos below.
- Easy 3D Printing Class This class will give you the skills you need to make your own 3D printed designs using Tinkercad- a fun, browser-based 3D modeling program that anyone can learn in no time.
- Tinkercad Tinkercad is excellent free 3D design software. Great for beginners.
- AutoCAD Popular computer-aided design (CAD) software that is used for precise 2D and 3D drafting, design, and modelling with solids, surfaces, mesh objects. Note: This software is available after hours in the LU Landscape Design Labs, D3 and D4.
- 3D Printing - 13 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Started Excellent detailed information about key tips for successful 3D printing
LUMakerspace has a Roland Camm-1 DS-24 vinyl cutter. Single-colour designs with defined outlines can be imported into Roland 'CutStudio' (free software) which can be downloaded here.
You can import your own design and/or create worded stickers within the Cutstudio programme with a variety of fonts or sizes.
Rolls of vinyl are 610mm wide and we have a good variety of colours, most of which are for intended for inside use (i.e. a 2-3 year lifespan and not weatherproof). You can print on smaller and off-cut pieces, but need to set up the machine accordingly.
To cut a new design, first have a clear outline on the image/text you wish to cut. It must have completed lines and a negative/positive outline (a silhouette, or solid text, for example), as you will ‘weed’/pluck out the area around the text or design. You can only cut one colour vinyl at a time – for dual-colour (or more) images you will need to print the individual elements and position these manually, or, cut multiple full designs and ‘weed’ out the parts not required. Vinyl on vinyl layering works fine.
We have a variety of hand tools and equipment available for use (within the Library) free of charge.
Please ask at the Library Enquiries desk. Equipment includes:
- Glue gun
- Aquadhere Glue
- Staple Gun
- Clamps
- Screwdriver sets
- Craft knife
- 18v Electric Drill and drill bits
- Dremel toolkit
See the current MakerSpace policy