IT Services Safety Training: Digital Fab Lab

NOTE: Prior to being granted access to the Digital Fabrication Lab, students will need to:

1. Read the content of this page carefully to be aware of lab requirements.
2. Enroll in the Digital Fabrication Lab group in Canvas.
3. Complete the Safety Training Quiz and Accept the Terms of Agreement. The link requires enrollment in the Canvas Group.
4. Submit the form, Permission to Use Artist's Work.

Introduction

The Digital Fabrication Lab is spread over five rooms. The reception area and main entrance are in located in the Art Building, Room 361. Room 351 is the textiles area. The laser engravers and 3D printers are stored in Room 351A, while the plasma cutter and CNC routers are in Room 369.

When using the CVAD Digital Fabrication Lab, students must understand the following.

1. The Digital Fabrication Lab is paid for by CVAD student fees. To gain access to the lab, you will must complete the Safety Training and sign the Health and Safety agreement form.
2. Appropriate dress is necessary for this workspace. No loose clothing or jewelry is allowed. Wear closed-toed shoes and tie back long hair. When needed, we can also offer students N95 dust masks.
3. If an injury or machine malfunction occurs, notify a Fab Lab technician immediately. Make note of where the first aid kit is located, as well as all exits.
4. The lab techs are here to assist you. They will not do your work for you, but they can guide you through the process and answer questions when they arise. Make sure to be vocal about any concerns.
5. If you walk away from your job, it will be paused for you until you return.
6. Your reservation will be held for 15 minutes past your start time. If you are more than 15 minutes late your reservation may be given to another patron.
7. Anyone appearing to be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or lack of sleep, will be denied the use of lab equipment.

Room Layout

Room 351: Textiles

The textiles area provides equipment for textiles processes such as sewing, knitting, and weaving. Equipment ranges from hand tools, such as knitting needles and table looms. All of the equipment related to textiles involves the use of tension, and often weights. Understanding the mechanics and movements of the machines will help keep you and the equipment safe.

Sewing Machines

The Fabrication Lab offers a range of sewing machines and equipment. The Singer 4411/4452 are simple sewing machines that can complete most jobs and are best for beginning sewing. The Juki DDL-5550 models a more industrial machine and not recommended for beginners. Other specialty sewing machines are available upon request. A full equipment list is available in this section under the "Hardware, Machines and Tools" page.

• Keep your hands a safe distance from the needle while sewing.
• Do not unthread the machine.
• Properly store stray pins and needles. Bring a pin cushion or magnet to use while in the lab.
• Do not sew over pins, which could lead to a projectile that could harm you, and/or the machine.
• Turn off the machine before using your fingers near the needle. Turn off any machine when you are not using it.
• If a needle breaks while using a machine, notify a technician.
• Broken needles and sharps should be disposed of in the "SHARPS" container.
• Only use the bobbins supplied with each machine.

APQS Long Arm

The American Professional Quilting System, APQS, Long Arm Quilting Machine is an industrial-style sewing machine that functions manually for free-form stitching, or automatically by translating digital vector files into stitched lines with a software called IntelliQuilter. The software can import .jpeg files or vectors in R12/LT2.dxf format. For more information about file preparation and exporting, see “File Prep for IntelliQuilter” on the Fabrication Lab Canvas page.

When using the automated stitch system, make sure that the area is clear of objects and people that could be in the way of the moving machine head. Automated jobs must be supervised at all times; don't walk away from the machine while it's running. If a needle breaks or the threading comes undone, notify a technician.

Looms: Self-taught Equipment

For students who wish to teach themselves, the Digital Fabrication Lab has a few different types of looms: a four-harness table loom, eight-harness table loom, four-harness folding loom, and Inkle loom. The looms use a system of moving mechanical parts to hold thread under tension for weaving. For this reason, it is important to be aware of components that hold weights and could move suddenly if released.  We recommend conducting research on your own for projects involving weaving in our Literary Resource Library in the lab, and on the Fabrication Lab Canvas page. 

Rug Tufter

The electronic rug tufter uses a motorized needle to quickly sew yarn through a mesh-like fabric. We have two machines with different pile capabilities: cut pile and loop pile. The fabric for tufting must be loosely woven. Students must bring in their own materials including tufting cloth, backing, carpet glue, yarn, etc. For information about vendors and supplies, visit the Fabrication Lab Canvas page.

These machines can be potentially harmful. The trigger button, which engages the needle, is very sensitive. Keep hands clear of the needle while handling the tufter and turn off the machine completely before threading or changing threads. We use a wooden frame with carpet tacking to stretch the tufting fabric. We have work gloves available to be worn during use to avoid cutting hands.

Mutoh VJ-1938TX Textile Printer

The printer uses fiber reactive dyes that work best on pre-treated natural fibers, cotton, linen, silk, viscose, and wool. The lab provides pre-treated 24-inch-wide cotton fabric while supplies last. Files can be printed from .jpeg, .tiff, or .pdf at a quality of 180 dpi or higher for best results. Bring files on a USB or thumb drive. The fiber reactive dyes are treated as hazardous waste and collected in a plastic carboy for proper disposal. Wear gloves when interacting directly with the dyes.

Roland Vinyl Cutter

The vinyl cutter works by moving a tiny blade across the surface of the material. There are no fumes produced, no waste that needs special handling, and the only reason to wear gloves is to keep your fingerprints off the glossy sheets. A user is much more likely to damage the machine than the machine is to injure the user.

Room 351A – 3D Printing and Lasers – Clean Room

The processes that take place in this room are relatively clean, especially when compared to Room 369. There isn’t any sawdust being produced, and you won’t encounter any caustic or poisonous chemicals. The biggest threat to health and safety comes from the light being emitted from the lasers, and the fumes that are created during the burning of the material.

Form Labs: Resin Printers

The resin printers are classified as Class 1 lasers — same as simple everyday laser pointers — and have the lowest risk factor. The lasers will not fire with the lid open, so they are safe to use without protective eyewear. Any hazards are to be found in the resins that are used to make the prints and the Isopropyl alcohol used to wash them. Protective measures have been implemented to make this process as safe as possible.

When a part is finished printing, it must be submerged in a bath of Isopropyl alcohol. Nitrile gloves are provided to prevent skin irritation when handling prints. Wear them. Safety Data Sheets are available online for all materials if you are concerned about levels of exposure. Once the print is thoroughly cleaned and completely dry, ask a technician for assistance curing your print with the FORM CURE. The temperature and duration of cure is variable depending on the resin; a technician can help you determine this.

Note: You are responsible for cleaning up after yourself. Any tools used must be wiped down, any spills must be cleaned up. Paper towels contaminated with resin or alcohol are to be placed in the red flammable can. Trimmed supports must be swept up and disposed of. Leaving messes in this area is a health hazard and will lead to immediate loss of privileges.

Laser Cutters

All laser cutters are Class 4 lasers which means that they have an output power of 500 milliwatts and higher. Our machines are equipped with safety interlocks and beam stops that prevent the laser from firing while the case is open. Additionally, the units are heavily shielded, so the chances of exposure are extremely low. However, one should still be sure to avoid any eye or skin contact with the beam and be aware that there is scattered radiation when using it.

• Important: To prevent any retina damage, we provide orange-tinted glasses.
• Please note that regular sunglasses will NOT protect your eyes from the lasers.

Regardless of the materials chosen, the use of the laser cutters will always produce fumes. To reduce leakage and minimize exposure, ducts have been installed on each machine to carry the smoke out of the room.

Prior to starting your job, ensure the ducts are open. Note: the lab techs usually activate the ventilation system; be sure they're activated before you begin using the equipment.

There is a bank of green buttons on the north wall. Press the button to turn on the light and activate the gate. If the machine begins to smoke profusely when you start your job, stop it immediately and check your settings. Chances are you forgot to activate the gate. Do not open the lid of the machine until the smoke has been filtered out by the exhaust.

Note: There is also the potential of materials catching fire if the laser is operating on the wrong settings. To prevent this, make sure to check with a Lab Tech to see if you have entered in the correct setting prior to starting a job. In the situation of a fire occurring, make sure to immediately stop the machine and inform a lab tech. Emergency stop buttons are located on the front of each machine. Do not be afraid to use them.

The greatest danger associated with these machines lies in the material that you are working with. Many substrates can give off harmful gases when exposed to heat. Some give off noxious chlorine or arsenic fumes that can cause lung or neurological damage. When uncertain about a material, you can look up its Safety Data Sheet, SDS, online. Safety Data Sheets also include information such as physical data, such as melting point, boiling point, flash point, etc., toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment, and spill/leak procedures. Always get the approval of a Lab Tech before using anything unfamiliar.

Fire hazard warning. Be sure to watch your job closely in the laser cutter. Do not walk away, use your phone or laptop while your job is in progress! 

Room 369 – CNC Room – Dirty Room

Room 369 produces excess amounts of debris while operating these machines. It also contains the most potentially dangerous equipment in the entire lab. For respiratory safety, dust collection and air filtration are installed at each station to deal with the majority of the particulates, but it isn’t 100% effective.

Students are required to wear ear and eye protection and closed-toe shoes during all operations.

An N95 dust mask is available upon request. While this is true for everything residing in Room 369, each piece of equipment has its own additional considerations. The equipment in this room takes a significant amount of time to set up, we recommend at least a one-hour reservation to accommodate set-up time and length of the job.

CNC Routers

The CNC router is primarily used on wood, plastic and occasionally aluminum. The operation requires using a sharpened bit, which closely resembles a drill bit, but can cut in more directions than just straight down. The bit is clamped in with a collet (a component that is inserted into the shaft of a spindle that holds the cutting tool) to a spindle which rotates at a high rate of speed, usually between 12,000 and 18,000 revolutions per minute. The spindle itself is mounted on a motorized gantry (a bridge-like overhead structure) that follows a user-programmed path. There are many ways a CNC job can go wrong, and it is essential you minimize the risk as much as possible.

Note: To ensure the material doesn’t slip we also have two tables with vacuum suction to hold pieces down, and/or router tape or glue.  We can use screws, but only on Router C. Please note equipment users must stay close enough to be able to stop the machine in case of an emergency, but must stay outside of the yellow caution tape and away from the yellow rail while in use.

Be sure to adhere material to the bed, i.e. using a screw, hot glue, etc., and be aware of your tool path to avoid hitting any screws in the material. If this happens, it’s possible to shear the screw right off, but more likely the bit will break and go flying. Once the job is running, stay a safe distance from the machine. Keep hands off the rails to avoid getting fingers crushed. Keep hair tied back and avoid loose clothing so nothing gets yanked into the spindle. If the machine malfunctions or acts in an unexpected manner, do not hesitate to use the emergency stop. Notify a Lab Tech immediately.

Plasma Cutter

The plasma cutter is now set up to cut only Mild Steel, if students wish to use copper or brass, please visit the lab techs or manager in advance to ascertain if it is possible.

Plasma cutters are typically reserved for steel but can sometimes accommodate copper and brass. We recommend buying material that is no larger than 4' x 4' because of the plasma bed size. The plasma cutter functions by directing a stream of electrically charged particles (plasma) with a jet of compressed air.

Plasma is a special state of matter that is found in only two places in nature: the surface of the sun and inside of lightning bolts. It can liquefy steel in an instant, so it must be treated with respect.

The plasma torch, like the router, is mounted on a programmable gantry. The bed of this machine consists of steel slats submerged in water. This setup can be hazardous, presenting many opportunities for injury. When working with this machine, you must wear welding gear, including a fire-retardant jacket, shaded face shield or glasses, and gloves. The machine emits sparks within a 3-foot radius, so keep a safe distance. The only exception is when cutting copper, in which case you need to stand close with a hose to cool the surface. To protect passersby from being blinded, you must enclose the area with the nearby gray curtains.

When starting a job, make sure to turn on the fume extractor. This will scrub any noxious vapors out of the air. Don’t cut anything galvanized or zinc-coated because it will emit sulfuric gas. If sulfuric gas is emitted, you will notice a white/yellow powder forming around the edges of the cuts.

Please note that your material will be extremely hot right after processing a job. We provide rubber gloves for use in case your metal cuts fall into the waterbed. It is recommended that you have a current tetanus shot due to the excessive amounts of rust in the waterbed — see your medical provider if you need a booster shot.

Wazer

A desktop waterjet cutter, the Wazer, operates by using high-powered water and an abrasive to cut various materials. We use a Wazer-approved garnet abrasive. The cutting area is 12" x 18". The Wazer can cut materials including aluminum, stainless steel, glass, ceramics, marble, and carbon fiber. For more details, refer to the Wazer Materials webpage.

When you are within 10 feet of the Wazer, you must wear safety glasses and non-slip shoes, regardless of whether you are the operator. If you are in the CNC room while the Wazer is in operation, you must follow these rules.

• Wear hearing protection — optional.
• Wear safety glasses — required.
• Wear gloves when handling materials.
• Never touch any components inside the machine while it is operating.
• Ensure the lid is closed during operation.
• When not in use, disconnect the Wazer from power and shut off the water.
• All operators should know the locations of the Power Switch, On/Off Valve, and Water Shutoff.
• Never leave the Wazer or any machine in the Fabrication Lab unattended while in use.