MechSE MakerWorks - Frequently Asked Questions

Are all students welcome to use the MakerWorks studios?
The Jackson Innovation Studio in MechSE MakerWorks supports primarily mechanical engineering courses. However, studio doors remain open to all employees and students at Illinois to accelerate innovation across our amazing campus! Please note the Wood Maker Studio is only available to trained volunteers and students in MechSE design classes for the moment.

Ask a MechSE MakerWorks Club volunteer for assistance, as they may be able to! However, our goal is that each user is enabled to learn design and how to make. Volunteers are available during general admission hours and are happy to help.

I'm not an engineering student, can I volunteer for the MakerWorks Club?
MechSE MakerWorks Club needs all types of skills to excel, including business, event planning, and outreach. No technical experience is required, and you will be taught everything you need to know and more as a volunteer. Please note only undergraduate UIUC students are permitted to join MakerWorks. If you think you can help promote and inspire our club and making, please join the Slack and see the #new-volunteers channel to sign up to be trained with Education Director!

How can I personally or my company participate in MechSE MakerWorks?
We love this question! There are many ways to participate and help our students excel in the global marketplace. We can always use: an expert maker to visit and share ideas and methods or conduct a cool workshop, spare materials that students can use to learn or build their projects, donated hand and power tools, and industry allies. Please contact Alec Verone (averone2@illinois.edu) and/or Kyle Cheek (kcheek@illinois.edu) to explore options that will serve as a win-win for everyone!

How do I receive training on the use of studio equipment?
Ask a MechSE MakerWorks Club volunteer for assistance. They are available during general admission hours and are happy to share. Please note you will still need a volunteer's assistance when operating the 3D printers to ensure fair and proper usage.

How do I gain 24/7 access to the studio to have more time to work on projects?                                                         Join the MechSE MakerWorks Club as a volunteer! Active volunteers who assist in the upkeep and teaching peers on the use of the equipment within the studios are given 24/7 access to the Wood Maker Studio after being trained on all equipment.

Equipment training for GRIT card access in the Wood Maker Studio is restricted to active MakerWorks volunteers, but for any general inquiries/educational resource, please contact mechse-makerworks@illinois.edu, and we'd be happy to share! 

Ask a MechSE MakerWorks Club volunteer for assistance. They are available during general admission hours and are happy to help. If you have any particular questions about studio equipment, please contact mechse-makerworks@illinois.edu.

We currently sell plywood and framing lumber; check out our catalog to see if there is any hardware/material that may be of use. We currently limit the use of wood to be laser cut in the Jackson Innovation Studio due to safety concerns; please reach out to mechse-makerworks@illinois.edu if you are interested in laser cutting wood. 

Equipment in this space is inherently more dangerous to you and requires significant training (like found at a Community College) in its use before any permissions are extended. As of today,  training in this space is handled via the Grainger College of Engineering's Engineering Student Design Center (ESDC) and conducted by Mr. Mark Pinson. To sign up for training, the requirement is to first  join a registered student organization that uses ESDC for project building and requires the need for machining experience, and then second request training via the team. 

This option is NOT available at this time.

If you have passed the training requirements of the ESDC respective of individual machining equipment, request permission from Mark Pinson for access to the studio during general admission hours. If approved, your name will be submitted to MechSE for consideration and an interview may be scheduled to verify your skills and your dedication to our shared values. Upon approval by MechSE, you will be granted access during general admission hours. Continued access is directly affected by your actions to build trust and earn the respect of professionals in the workplace.

As we are just beginning this shared space approach, we will proceed with first come first serve. We will continue to monitor demand and provide further guidance in the future. Always interested in seeing how we can efficiently use university resources.

Please speak with Mark Pinson during training sessions, or with a machinist in the studio if during general admission hours.

We work with campus safety professionals to ensure a safe working environment. We also chose specifically heavy machinery with built-in safety mechanisms to reduce potential risks. We'll train you on the safest use of each machine before ever letting you operate it. Finally, we continually evaluate each person so that all of us share our five values and live by them to promote a safe environment.

Our current equipment can machine any metal you bring to the shop. Of course, let's make sure the specific tooling you use can do the job. Speak with Mark Pinson during training sessions, or with a machinist in the studio if during general admission hours about proper tooling.