Policies
School of Art + Design provides educational resources consisting of laboratories, classrooms, presentation rooms, studios and equipment. Room 311 Art and Design Building is the 3-Dimensional Output Laboratory. The lab has a Stratasys Dimension SST three-dimensional (FDM with ABS plastic) printer and a Universal Laser Systems X-660 cutter.
Entering and Using the 3-Dimensional Output Laboratories
THE 3-D OUTPUT LAB AND EQUIPMENT ARE AVAILABLE ONLY TO STUDENTS WITH VALID COMPUTER LAB PRIVILEGES FOR THE CURRENT SEMESTER.
You are required to present your i-Card each time you want to use resources. Your university student account will be charged for resources and materials used in the lab.
Access is on a "first to come is first to be served" basis. It is sometimes difficult to gauge how long a project will take to complete, so plan your 3-D output projects well in advance.
Software to communicate with and drive 3-D Output Lab devices is available in the computer labs. Guides and templates are available on the DATA server in the 3DOUTPUTLAB folder.
3-D Output Lab resources operate through consultation with a lab assistant. The lab assistant will setup and execute your project on the equipment.
Only the student who is currently consulting with the lab assistant is allowed to enter the equipment area beyond the help desk.
The lab assistant can only help one person at a time. When many students want to use the lab at the same time, they are required to remain outside of room 311.
Students will not be allowed into the equipment area until it is her or his turn for a consultation.
Users are not allowed to sit at the 311 lab workstations to make time-consuming changes. Please finalize your files before coming in.
You may not use 3-D Output Lab workstations for creating or making major adjustments to your files - allowing minor adjustments will be at the discretion of the assistant.
Be sure to have your file correct and ready to go, before requesting equipment use. You may be required to go to the computer labs and update your file before proceeding.
On the laser cutter, you will be required to act as the "safety" observer for the duration of your use to allow the assistant to be available for consultation and other tasks.
Use a PC Windows-formatted USB key or the DATA > SCRATCH server directory for transporting data from your workstation to the 3-D Output Lab.
On 3-D Output Lab workstations, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LOG INTO PERSONAL SERVER DIRECTORIES OR EMAIL ACCOUNTS to download files for use in the lab.
Activities within the labs and use of Art+Design resources are restricted to educational pursuits and class work only.
Only approved materials can be laser cut. Please note that there is no equipment in the 3-D Output Lab to cut down materials.
The lab assistant will determine whether or not a material and method is appropriate to be tried. There is a limited supply of some approved laser materials for sale.
If you want to try something not on the approved list: first, you must consult with staff, supply material and allow five business days for testing before it can be determined if you may proceed.
The School of Art + Design cannot be held responsible for lost time or the unavailability of malfunctioning equipment or services.
Watch for special alerts that could affect your use of equipment or resources.
During times when resources are in high demand (to accommodate as many people as possible), it may become necessary to group requests together before printing or cutting.
Lab assistants cannot extend open hours. If the assistant thinks your project will take longer than the open hours remaining that day, you may be required to return at a later date.
The School of Art + Design laboratories are not responsible for loss of a user’s data, time or materials for any reason.
This means that when using lab equipment, the School will not replace or reimburse you for a failed cutting session or improperly modeled prints.
Credit for equipment use time or lab supplied materials will be at the discretion of Art + Design Staff - lab assistants cannot issue credit.
The lab assistant will place materials and prints into equipment (like laser bed or print bath). Please ask for permission before using any lab equipment, tools or tables.
There is no storage area available for user-owned materials or projects. Print jobs that are not picked up within two weeks of completion will be discarded.
The lab is considered a quiet work area. Please take your cellular telephone calls outside of the laboratory to avoid disturbing others.
Students may not use the lab’s telephone; the telephone is for Art + Design business only.
FOOD AND DRINKS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the 3-D Output Lab at any time by anyone. Activities in the laboratories are monitored for your security and safety.
Lab personnel will answer your technical questions to the best of his or her ability or may refer you to your instructor, a staff member or other informational resources, but
the School of Art + Design, staff and assistants cannot be held responsible for the consequences or the outcome of suggested solutions to questions or problems.
If you encounter a problem, have other concerns or special needs, please consult first with your instructor or a lab assistant for possible solutions.
You can use the online Art + Design Forums to report problems and to submit feedback.
