MakerSpace Access
Location
The Scot Ackerman MakerSpace is on Engineering Road, along the boundary between the Tulane and Loyola campuses. Look for the yellow I-beam.
Due to the construction project for Paul Hall, you can only access the MakerSpace entrance from Engineering Road at the Stanley Thomas side of the Engineering complex (see map below). Please note: as of Wednesday, 13 January, construction workers are parking along the back of Stanley Thomas and the MakerSpace, so please exercise extreme caution when walking to the MakerSpace entrance. A dedicated, protected walkway will be constructed in the next few weeks.
(source: Google Earth)
The rear door, with the Splash card reader, is locked but provides access to our staff.
Our Maidenhead grid locator is EL49WW54LV
Our what3words grid is parts.leaps.darkest
Our entrance, shown on this Google Map, is at latitude 29.9370740, longitude -90.1210170 or you can search for WVPH+RH on Google Maps.
Contact
Email: makerspace@tulane.edu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakerSpace.Tulane/
Hours of Operation
PLEASE NOTE: The MakerSpace will be closed on Tuesday, 16 February, for Mardi Gras. We will be open normal hours on Monday, 15 February, then reopen on Wednesday morning, 17 February.
Below, you can find the Spring 2021 schedule for The Ackerman MakerSpace:
With some exceptions, we're closed whenever classes are not in session. The Maker Ninjas (student workers) and faculty members responsible for the operation of the MakerSpace are listed under People, and users are encouraged to contact them.
Users with special need to access the Scot Ackerman MakerSpace should get in touch with the "Maker-In-Chief" or Executive Director, who are listed under People
We use a LISTSERV mailing list for contacting MakerSpace users, all users are added to it automatically. Instructions to send mail, read archives, or unsubscribe from the LISTSERV are here.
Training
Preventing injury to people (and equipment) is our first priority. To do this, users must demonstrate knowledge and competence. Users can earn a "badge" that certifies their competence. The various badges, and the equipment authorized by that badge, can be found under the Safety and Manuals section.
Software skills are needed to operate the CNC tools, the water jet and laser cutters, and the 3D printers. We offer Training Courses during the academic year.
Along with the badge, the user's RFID card will be recognized to turn on power to equipment. For example, a user who's completed the requirements for the Metal-1 badge will be allowed to use the drill press, vertical band saw, and some of the portable tools. See Machine Access System for more information on how the system works.
For Grant Writers
The School of Science and Engineering hosts the University's state-of-the-art Scot Ackerman MakerSpace, located on Engineering Road in the heart of the School's complex. This facility is open and free of charge to all Tulane students, staff, and faculty, and provides access to and training for rapid prototyping machines, including wood shop, and electronics laboratory.
The main floor (2,896 square feet) houses a 30" x 60" water jet cutter, 13 3-D filament printers, 3 laser cutters, a 4-axis CNC milling machine, a CNC lathe, a CNC router, a fully-equipped machine shop, and a supply storage area.
The wood shop (730 square feet) has a table saw, sliding miter saw, power sanders, band saws, and a drill press in addition to assembly space. A closet holds 3 high-resolution 3-D resin printers.
The Gallery for Ideas, Design and Strategies on the mezzanine (923 square feet) has design and conference space.
The Product Development and Innovation Room (1,026 square feet) has dedicated benches for in-progress projects, a classroom area for tutorials, training and communication, a demonstration area with a Clausing lathe and Bridgeport milling machine, and an electronics fabrication studio.
Multiple staff members are on-hand for 45 hours per week to assist in training and project design, and computers and design software are available on-site for project design and development.