NEW STUDENTS-
- YOU MUST WATCH A RECORDED ZOOM ORIENTATION, AND THEN ATTEND A 1-HOUR IN-PERSON ORIENTATION TO GAIN
BASIC ACCESS TO SHOP SPACES.
STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT COMPLETED ORIENTATION (AND SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN FREQUENT SHOP USERS) WITHIN THE PAST
2 YEARS MUST AGAIN TAKE ORIENTATION SESSIONS.
PLEASE EMAIL archshops@mit.edu WITH QUESTIONS.
Once students complete orientation sessions, they are granted card access to the building 3 shop spaces,
and can work in N51 when it is staffed, as well. A limited range of self-service work is approved upon completion of shop orientation.
However, shop users must get training on all machines, tools, and processes that they are not recently practiced in - experience
in other shops does not automatically qualify as relevant experience in this shop.
Shop users are added to a webmoira email list (laser-users@mit.edu) which we use for all general shop-related communication.
Users are expected to read and understand (or ask about) all communication from shop staff. To contact us for any reason (questions are
always encouraged), users should email archshops@mit.edu. Emailing individual staff is allowed, but usually much less efficient.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, CAMPUS-WIDE COVID-RELATED PROCEDURE MUST BE FOLLOWED TO RETAIN SHOP ACCESS - SEE MORE DETAIL ON ABOUT PAGE.
Shops are currently open only during staffed weekday time blocks, which are reflected on the individual shop room schedules/sign up
sheets (see ABOUT page). Curricular shop use (as well as studio use) is only allowed during these blocks,
and shops are required to be staffed for any use within them. Shop users will have card access to building 3 spaces during those time
blocks after completing orientation, and can enter N51-160 when it is staffed (card access to N51-160 is reserved for staff).
More information about current Covid-related use requirements are on ABOUT page.
Architecture Shops are in two different locations:
77 Massachusetts Ave, Building 3
and 265 Massachusetts Ave, Building N51
for more detail and shop staff contact info, see ABOUT page
SHOP SAFETY RULES
ALL SHOP USERS ARE REQUIRED TO KNOW AND FOLLOW THESE RULES AT ALL TIMES
-
DRESS APPROPRIATELY -
- NO LOOSE CLOTHING OR JEWELRY, OR OPEN-TOED SHOES
- NO HEADPHONES IN ROOMS HOUSING CUTTING TOOLS/CNC MACHINERY
- TIE BACK LONG HAIR TO PREVENT CATCHING IN MACHINERY AS WELL AS PREVENTING OBSCURING OF VISION
- SAFETY GLASSES, HAIR TIES, AND HEARING PROTECTION CAN BE FOUND IN PPE CABINETS, WHICH ARE INSTALLED IN EACH SHOP ROOM
- SAFETY GLASSES MUST BE WORN IN MACHINE SPACES AT ALL TIMES IN 3-410/N51-160 AND/OR IN ANY SPACE WHEN ANY POTENTIAL SPLASHING OR SHRAPNEL
MAY BE CREATED
- NEVER USE A TOOL OR MACHINE YOU HAVE NOT BEEN CLEARED FOR BY HAVING RECENT TRAINING/TRAINED EXPERIENCE WITH.
ASK SHOP STAFF FOR TRAINING
- NEVER WORK ALONE WITH ANY CUTTING TOOLS OR MACHINES
- MATERIALS MUST BE EXPLICITLY APPROVED OF IN WORKSPACE (SEE "APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS FOR MATERIALS & PROCESSES" TAB)-
CONFIRM WITH SHOP STAFF
- DISPOSABLE GLOVES MUST BE WORN WHEN WORKING WITH ANY NON-WATER-BASED LIQUIDS, AND SHOULD BE WORN WHEN
USING ANY LIQUIDS
- PRACTICE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING. PREVENT SLIP/TRIP HAZARDS, WIPE UP ANY SPILLS IMMEDIATELY. KEEP WORK AREAS
ORGANIZED, AND LEAVE THEM CLEANER THAN YOU FOUND THEN
- DO NOT LEAVE MATERIALS, TOOLS, DUST, OR ANY OTHER DEBRIS BEHIND. ASK ABOUT WIP STORAGE BEFORE STARTING WORK
- FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURE FOR ALL WASTE DISPOSAL SEE WASTE DISPOSAL
- DO NOT WORK WHEN TIRED OR DISTRACTED. YOU MUST BE FOCUSED ON YOUR WORK AND YOUR SURROUNDINGS IN THE SHOPS
- ALWAYS ASK FOR TRAINING/HELP, EVEN WITH THINGS THAT ARE FAMILIAR
-
ALWAYS CHECK MACHINE/TOOL SETUP BEFORE USE - SHARED EQUIPMENT SHOULD NEVER BE ASSUMED TO BE READY TO OPERATE
- ALWAYS REMEMBER TO PUT/KEEP MACHINE/TOOL GUARDS IN PROPER POSITION ~BEFORE~ TURNING POWER ON, AND ALWAYS KEEP
HANDS SAFELY CLEARED OF POINTS OF OPERATION
- USE PUSH STICKS OR OTHER TOOLS TO KEEP HANDS SAFELY DISTANCED WHENEVER NECESSARY
- NEVER USE HANDS TO CLEAR MATERIAL SHAVINGS OR DUST
- NOTIFY SHOP STAFF IMMEDIATELY ABOUT ANY TOOL OR MACHINE ISSUE
- NEVER WEAR FABRIC/LEATHER GLOVES WHILE OPERATING ANY MACHINE!
- DO NOT EAT OR DRINK IN THE SHOPS
Shop staff are longtime 'makers' with extensive experience in a wide range of materials and processes.
We are here as a resource not just for machine training, maintenance, rule enforcement and supervision, but for all
aspects of your work.
Please reach out to us in the beginning stages of your projects, as we can help you develop more
efficient plans, identify appropriate materials and methods, and avoid many potential problems in addition to making sure
you are working within fundamental shop and campus health/safety policies. There is no question that should not be asked -
please check in with us early and often.
Whether you have been assigned a project with very specific details, one that is entirely open-ended, are doing self-directed work, or in any other
circumstance, the best time to contact us is at the beginning of your planning process, before you make final decisions about materials or processes,
and definitely before buying anything.
You may end up needing only a 15-second confirmation on one detail, or we may be able to provide a lot more support.
We can help students make material and machine choices much more effectively, estimate potential time and effort requirements for particular choices,
predict and avoid potential issues, and in the end, save time, effort, and funding - if we are brought in early.
Problems typically occur when a
student doesn't ask us for help until they're 80% of the way through a plan that is falling apart. Please don't wait to check in with us, whether you
have specific questions, or don't even know whether there's anything to address. Most likely, there are things we can help with.
All new shop users must first attend a 1-hour basic orientation for initial access, and then continue with
machine and software-specific training.
Machine-specific tutorial pages are meant as a backup resource for trained users - they do not in any way
suffice as machine training itself.
You MUST get machine training in person with shop staff to use machines - then please ask for help, and use
the tutorial pages on this site (as it is added), to supplement that training.
It is a violation
of shop policy for users to operate machinery they are not sufficiently trained on- always ask for help,
even/especially for little details that are easy to forget.