Accessing the Fab Lab

Yes, you can visit the Fab Lab to check out the space and equipment for free.  Please come by during our opening hours:

• Saturdays 10am-1pm and 1.30-4.30pm
• Wednesdays 3.30pm-5.30pm during school term
• Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday by appointment

The Fab Lab is open to all, however those under 18 years old will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Users under 18 years old can apply to access the facility at agreed times without a parent or guardian. This will be assessed on a case by case basis, based on the competency of the person, agreement of the parent or guardian and agreement of the Fab Lab Lead.

The Fab Lab's regular opening hours are:

• Saturdays 10am-1pm and 1.30-4.30pm
• Wednesdays 3.30pm-5.30pm during school term
• Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday by appointment

The Fab Lab is closed on public holidays, long weekends and during the Christmas/New Year shutdown

Bookings can be made by emailing fablab@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

Bookings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays are generally limited to 3 hours and are to be completed by 7pm.  Additional time longer than 3 hours may be permitted if there are overlapping bookings. 

While all requests will attempt to be accommodated, bookings may be affected by availability of the space and staff.

Users cannot access the Fab Lab on their own.  For the Fab Lab to be open, at least one Superuser must be available to open and then supervise the safe use of the space while users are there. 

Therefore users cannot access the space outside of opening hours, workshops, events, bookings or hires.

During the week the Fab Lab may be open additional hours outside regular opening hours, Lake Make Club members can opt in to be alerted of additional opening hours based on Superuser availability.

The Lake Make Club provides an avenue for meeting new like-minded people and is our way of creating a community for the Fab Lab.

Lake Make Club members get access to:

• Exclusive member events
• The opportunity to participate in collaborations with other Fab Labs around the world
• The option to opt in to recieve alerts of additional Fab Lab opening hours
  
  

Signing up to the Lake Make Club is free.  You can sign up provided you have done one of the following:

• Undertaken a Fab Lab induction; or
• Attended our Lake Make Club classes

A Superuser is a person who has been fully trained in the safe use of the equipment in the Fab Lab. 

Superusers are either Council staff or volunteers who offer their time to supervise the Fab Lab in exchange for a discount on Lake Make Club fees. Find out more information on becoming a volunteer here.

On your first visit as a user you will receive an induction for the space and for our equipment.  Bookings for inductions are essential, please book here

By entering the Lake Mac Libraries Fab Lab space you agree to:

Comply with the Fab Lab’s Code of Conduct.

Take care of your own health and safety and take reasonable care that your actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others.

Leave the Fab Lab when asked.

Close toed footwear must be worn in the Fab Lab, unless an exemption is given by the Fab Lab Lead or in these Terms and Conditions. 

When using the Green Room users may remove footwear and/or wear open toed shoes at their own risk.  Closed toed shoes must be put back on when leaving the Green Room.

Attendees of workshops and/or events in the Fab Lab, do not have to wear closed toed shoes unless it is specified in the workshop/event description.

Council reserves the right to refuse access to part or all Fab Lab equipment if it assessed that an individual is unable to use the equipment safely.

Those under 18 years old need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian when accessing the Fab Lab, unless permission has been sort and approved for access to the Fab Lab unaccompanied.

An individual may visit the Fab Lab for free only if they are there to observe the space and find out more information.  If they would like to use the equipment they will be required to pay access fees.

Individuals who enter the Fab Lab to attend a workshop, event or other designated program, unless identified, do not need to pay access fees.

Council reserves the right to suspend, cancel or withdraw access to the Fab Lab at any time.

These terms and conditions are subject to change over time.  Users of the Fab Lab agree to the latest version of these terms and conditions each time they enter the Fab Lab.

Fab Lab Users

Must pay for access on or before entry to the Fab Lab.

Must undertake an induction on their first visit.

Fees are non-refundable under any circumstance. 

Access does not include materials, the user must bring their own materials or purchase through the Fab Lab.  All materials must be approved by a Fab Lab Superuser before being used with the Fab Lab equipment.

Council is not liable for loss of materials or productivity when using the Fab Lab.

Council does not guarantee that materials will be available for purchase for equipment when attending the Fab Lab.  If there is a particular material you wish to use please confirm via email fablab@lakemac.nsw.gov.au that it is available before attending the Fab Lab.

Users should take care to ensure the equipment they wish to use is available and book time on that equipment before they attend the Fab Lab.

Council does not guarantee that equipment will be available when attending the Fab Lab.  This includes equipment that has been booked.  Council will endeavour to inform users as soon as possible if equipment is unavailable both via our website and by directly contacting people who have booked.

Users must take care of their own health and safety and take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others.

Users must disclose their reason for use of the Fab Lab (hobbyist or commercial) and update their access fees if their circumstances change.

If they are going from hobbyist to commercial, pay the difference.

If they are going from commercial to hobbyist, no refund of the difference will be given.

The difference between hobbyist and commercial is defined as:

• A user using the Fab Lab for themselves or not for profit are a hobbyist member
• A user using the Fab Lab for production of items for a business/profit are a commercial member
• A user undertaking pre-start up/business prototyping will be classed as utilising the Fab Lab as a hobbyist
• A user undertaking prototyping for an established start up or business will be classed as utilising the Fab Lab for commercial use
• A user utilising the Fab Lab for education/upskilling purposes will be classed as utilising the Fab Lab as a hobbyist

Proof may be requested to confirm the user is on the correct type of user access.

Proof of identity will be required to be eligible to pay the Under 18/Student fee i.e. proof of age or student status.

Commercial activities will be limited to allow for prioritisation of community use and should be focused around prototyping and/or micro-manufacturing (very small scale production).

Commercial users, when undertaking a commercial activity, will be required to book times on some equipment with designated booking times for commercial use.  Commercial users cannot book times outside this on these pieces of equipment without approval from the Fab Lab Lead.  The equipment that has designated commercial bookings are:

• Laser cutter
• 3D Printer
• CNC Router
• CNC Desktop Mill
• Green Room
• Vlogging Kit

There is no guarantee that a commercial time slot will be available.  Commercial users should check before attending the Fab Lab that a commercial time slot is available and book it.

If commercial users would like to undertake higher levels of production using Fab Lab equipment, this may be allowed under a commissioning model at an additional cost.  Please contact the Fab Lab Lead to discuss fablab@lakemac.nsw.gov.au 

Access is open to all, however those under 18 years old will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The accompanying parent or guardian needs to be a member of the Lake Make Club or pay for casual access as well as the individual under 18, unless the accompanying parent/guardian will be supervising the individual under 18 only.

Users under 18 years old can apply to access the Fab Lab at agreed times without a parent or guardian. This will be assessed on a case by case basis, based on the competency of the person, agreement of the parent or guardian and agreement of the Fab Lab Lead.

In the case of users under 18 who have successfully applied and been approved for unaccompanied access to the Fab Lab, who also want to access the Fab Lab outside of their agreed times - their parent or guardian must accompany them, but the parent or guardian does not need to be a member or pay casual access fees as long as they will not be using any of the equipment in the Fab Lab (i.e. supervising only).

Council reserves the right to suspend, cancel or withdraw user access to the Fab Lab at any time. 

This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations of users of the Lake Mac Libraries Fab Lab. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inspiring space for all and our Code of Conduct is fundamental to this.

The Lake Mac Libraries Fab Lab is supportive of the ideals expressed in the Fab Charter and we encourage users to adopt these principles were possible.

We are a diverse community. Sometimes this means we need to work harder to ensure we’re creating an environment of trust and respect where all who come to participate feel comfortable and included.

Users agree to:

Be welcoming:

We welcome and support people of all backgrounds and identities. Remember that we’re part of a global ecosystem, so you might not be communicating in someone else’s primary language.

Be considerate:

Be considerate of others while in the space, this includes ensuring that there is equitable access to equipment. Consider how you can best share use of the equipment. If you find a piece of equipment is broken or you break equipment immediately report it to a Superuser on duty.

Be collaborative:

A core aspect of the space is to both nurture a local community and also participate in the global Fab Lab network.  Users are encouraged to be collaborative, share work, ideas and learnings.  If using other people’s work, users will clearly acknowledge this.

Be respectful:

Not all of us will agree all the time. We might all experience some frustration now and then, but we cannot allow that frustration to turn into a personal attack. A space where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not a productive one.

Be appropriate:

People of all ages access the space, as such accessing and creating inappropriate materials is banned, this includes explicit materials.  Weapons cannot be produced using the equipment in the space, this includes replicas.

Note: In some instances weapon looking objects may be produced for cosplay/filming, an application must be made to the Fab Lab Lead and approved before producing such an object each time.  Objects that will be dangerous or easily mistaken for a real weapon will not be approved.

Be safe:

Users must take care of their own health and safety and take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others.

All users must be inducted to use the space and equipment. Do not use or book equipment you are not authorised to use. Users must follow the procedures for the use of equipment.

Do not use the equipment if you are unable to use the equipment safely.  If you are asked to stop what you are doing, you will stop immediately. 

If you see someone not following the procedure or using equipment in an unsafe way, tell them or if you are not comfortable report it to a Superuser on duty.

Users that have other users under their care, for example, under 18 years old, must ensure they are supervised.

Be careful in the words that we choose:

Do not insult or put down other users. Harassment and other exclusionary behaviours are not acceptable. Be kind to others.

Understand why we disagree:

Disagreements, both social and technical, happen all the time. It is important that we resolve disagreements constructively. Focus on helping to resolve issues and learning from mistakes.

Be inclusive:

We will not tolerate discrimination based on characteristics such as diversity in ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity or expression, culture, ability, language, national origin, political beliefs, profession, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and technical ability.

Everyone has the right to feel safe at the Lake Mac Libraries Fab Lab

We encourage everyone to participate in building an inclusive environment. We seek to treat everyone as equitably as possible.  Treat other users with respect.

Behaviours and actions contrary to this Code of Conduct will not be tolerated and may lead to suspension, cancellation or withdrawal of access to the Fab Lab

In addition to what has been set out in this Code of Conduct, these include:

• Aggressive and disruptive behaviour, including harassment of other people, physical or verbal threats and intimidation
• Use of or being under the influence of illicit substances
• Being in the possession of weapons or prohibited items
• Theft or damage to property

If you experience any form of harassment or are made to feel unwelcome, please let the Superuser on duty know or alternatively contact the Fab Lab Lead directly.   

This charter is provided by the Fab Foundation.

What is a Fab Lab?

Fab Labs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access to tools for digital fabrication.

What’s in a Fab Lab?

Fab Labs share an evolving inventory of core capabilities to make (almost) anything, allowing people and projects to be shared.

What does the Fab Lab network provide?

Operational, educational, technical, financial and logistical assistance beyond what’s available within one lab.

Who can use a Fab Lab?

Fab Labs are available as a community resource, offering open access for individuals as well as scheduled access for programs.

What are the responsibilities of users?

Safety: not hurting people or machines

Operations: assisting with cleaning, maintaining and improving the lab

Knowledge: contributing to documentation and instruction

Who owns Fab Lab inventions?

Designs and processes developed in Fab Labs can be protected and sold however an inventor chooses, but should remain available for individuals to use and learn from.

How can businesses use a Fab Lab?

Commercial activities can be prototyped and incubated in a Fab Lab, but they must not conflict with other uses, they should grow beyond rather than within the lab, and they are expected to benefit the inventors, labs and networks that contribute to their success.