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Digital fabrication workshop

Risk: Medium/High/Very High
Location: Building G Level 1: Rooms G117/118/125
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am-midnight, (weekends as advised)

The MADA Digital Fabrication (D-Fab) Workshop is a state of the art prototyping facility and is available to all students and staff of MADA. You can learn about equipment, complete training modules and assessments, book into training demonstrations, view instruction guides and obtain access to the D-Fab Workshop via this site.

If you know the process or equipment you would like to access for your project or want to know more about the process and equipment available then head straight to the appropriate heading below for more information.

Laser Cutting Booking Calendar

Zortrax Booking Calendar Ultimaker Booking Calendar

Access

Laser cutting

Risk: Medium
Location: Building G Level 1: Rooms G117/118/125
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am-midnight, (weekends as advised)

The MADA D-Fab Workshop has a suite of 7 epilog laser cutters. These machines are free to use and are accessible to all MADA staff and students, once all appropriate training has been completed (details below).

Laser cutting is a non-contact process where a high powered laser travels along a computer generated pathway to cut, etch and score flat materials. A concentrated laser beam is directed through a nozzle onto the cutting material and a partial or total burning of the material occurs. The burnt material is then drawn away with extraction leaving a sharp edge or score behind.

The laser cutters are accessible for the full duration of workshop hours and are one of the most popular machines within the workshop. As this is the case, students are permitted 1 hour of cutting time each week and must always book their laser session through the online calendar. This becomes especially important when the machines are in high demand during submission periods throughout the semester.

To access the laser cutters:

Students and staff are required to familiarize themselves with the basic do’s and don’ts of laser cutting, the correct operational procedures and workshop rules pertaining to the use of the machines. Students and staff wishing to use the laser cutting machines must:

Study the online training content and pass the laser cutting quiz with a score of 100%
Book and attend a face to face practical demonstration where they will receive the access stickers
Wear ID card with access sticker affixed at all times when using laser machines.*

*To avoid misuse of equipment and deter OHS and operational hazards, students without the access sticker affixed to their ID’s will not be allowed to operate the machines.

The answers you will need for the quiz are contained in the videos and pdf’s below. Please study them, then follow the link below to complete to the quiz.

Laser cutting how to's

Laser cutting quiz & practical demonstration:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9ZvnFZWXXetwu6ZexLVAE7lm_id8S8rV_fMrzVwAK6KRcmw/viewform

Once you complete the laser cutting quiz you will be prompted to book your practical demonstration.

Laser cutting booking system:

https://teamup.com/ksxr6rmc87m58esonr

Laser cutter FAQ:

Laser cutters FAQ's

3D printing

Risk: Medium
Location: Building G Level 1: Rooms G117/118/125
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am-midnight, (weekends as advised)

The MADA Digital Fabrication Workshop offers a range of 3D printing options that enable students to successfully create prototypes in a range of materials. With the printing technologies available at D-Fab it is possible to prototype a wide range of geometries using various materials.

FDM

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) printing, is a popular choice and is easily accessible for students new to 3D printing technology. The FDM printing process involves heating thermoplastic filament to its melting point and then extruding it layer by layer to ‘build’ an object. The FDM printers are available for students to use independently after completing appropriate training (details further down).

Students can also make use of larger-scale FDM printers operated by technical staff. Use of staff operated 3D printers will incur a cost. Costs will vary depending on the size and complexity of the 3D model.

FDM: Ultimaker PVA Support Printing
If a model requires internal or difficult to remove support structures, PVA support printing may be your best option. PVA is a soluble material that once placed in water will detach and dissolve leaving your clean PLA model behind. All PVA prints are operated by technicians only.

Submit your file

Cost: Main Model (PLA): Free | Support Material (PVA): $0.35/g (PVA)

Payment: Pay here

Large Format FDM

If a model is too large to be printed on either the Zortrax or Ultimaker printers, The large-format German RepRap x500 may be suitable for the job.

Submit your FIle

Cost:varies

SLA

D-Fab currently has Formlabs Form 2 printers which use a method of printing called Stereolithographic Apparatus (SLA) printing. This involves a process called photopolymarization by which liquid resin is ‘cured’ or made solid layer by layer by targeting it with a UV beam.

SLA - Guidelines

Submit your file

Cost: $0.45/ml

Payment: Pay here

Powder

We also operate a Projet 660Pro Printer which is a large format printer capable of printing full CMYK colour/ texture models. The printer works by ‘binding’ powder layer by layer to create a 3D form, whilst applying the colour and glue every layer. This option is suitable for models that would otherwise use an excessive amount of support. It is not suitable for working parts and is operated by technicians only.

Submit your file

Cost: $0.75/cm^3
Payment: Pay here

To access the 3D printers:

Students and staff are required to familiarize themselves with the basic do’s and don’ts of 3D printing, the correct operational procedures and workshop rules pertaining to the use of the printers. Students and staff wishing to use the 3D printers must:

Study the online training content and pass the laser cutting quiz with a score of 100%
Book and attend a face to face practical demonstration where they will receive the access stickers
Wear ID card with access sticker affixed at all times when using laser machines.*

*To avoid misuse of equipment and deter OHS and operational hazards, students without the access sticker affixed to their ID’s will not be allowed to operate the machines.

The answers you will need for the 3D printing quiz are contained in the pdf below. Please study it, then follow the link below to complete the quiz.

3D printing how to's:

3D printing quiz & practical demonstration:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefQ-spGXVBAty-lQ1qoHq6f_u28s0s8PZ1gYXE5uDAifzBpg/viewform
Once you complete the 3D printing quiz you will be prompted to book your practical demonstration.

3D printing booking system:

Zortrax M200's & M300's
https://teamup.com/kscrg2wxm62t1muaxp

Ultimaker 2 Extended+ & Ultimaker 3 Extended
https://teamup.com/ksbxd5gnyms5ki9x21

3D printing FAQ's:

3D printers FAQ's