Maker Hub
Welcome to the George Fox University Maker Hub Wiki!
The Maker Hub is the GFU College of Engineering space for engineering and design. It is a 15,000 square foot space located in the Klages Center, and it consists of several design areas including work spaces, meeting rooms, technical shops, and a central toolroom. There is a 6,000 square foot central room known simply as "The Hub" which provides a large work area with benches and tools for general making activities. The Maker Hub was designed to serve the needs of the engineering program, including senior design, servant engineering, engineering principles, and other engineering courses and projects. The potential exists to service a broader set of projects for other majors at the university.
The Maker Hub has a limited number of staff and student employees. It is largely run by student volunteers who are on hand to train you and help you utilize the space effectively. Our students are encouraged to "own" the space. In any public space, there has to be some set of rules that govern the activity in the space. Ideally, we would just use the clever “Rule 0: Don’t make me make a rule.” But, we felt it was better to come up with some overall guiding principles rather than a list of rules. Clearly, there are some obvious “rules” that get implied from these principles, but, we believe that if you embrace the principles, the rules will take care of themselves. These principles we like to call, the 3 commandments: Safety First, Reset the Space, Be Professional. Please explore the 3 commandments page for a deeper explanation. Many of these Wiki pages will have their own 3 commandments section to cover unique details for equipment and tools.
Facilities
The Maker Hub is comprised of the following facilities. These links describe each area and the resources within those areas.
- Computer Lab
- Finishing Room
- Machine Shop
- Meeting Rooms
- PCB Lab
- Prototype Lab
- The Hub
- The Vault
- Tool Room
- Welding Shop
- Wood Shop
Equipment
In general, equipment refers to larger machines than those things one might refer to as a "tool." However, in the Maker Hub, equipment is a special category of machines because, by definitions, every piece of equipment requires certified training before an individual is allowed to use it. Information on how to achieve this training is provided on the Wiki page for each piece of equipment. Equipment is marked in the Maker Hub by the use of special icons that are displayed either on, around, or above the equipment. An example icon is this one used for the Horizontal Bandsaw.
The Maker Hub equipment is located in the various facilities and covers various "domains" of activity, from wood, metal, and plastic to electronics, cloths, and crafts. Use the links below to find equipment for each domain.
Tools
Tools (both hand tools and power tools) are stored at various locations in the Maker Hub. Tools do not require certified training before use, but users are expected to familiarize themselves with tool operation by viewing the appropriate Wiki page. Furthermore, as part of the 'Safety First commandment, users are encouraged to seek help and instruction for any tool that they feel uncomfortable using. Volunteers will be available to serve these needs.
Supplies
Supplies include everything from special tooling to parts and materials. Most supplies are kept either in the Tool Room, or generally co-located with the equipment that they service. However, they can also be found at various locations throughout the Maker Hub.
Software
Something about Software here.
Training
Maker Hub Wiki
Go to the Maker Hub Wiki page for information on the structure of this Wiki and how to appropriately edit this Wiki. Also, try out the Sandbox for editing practice.