Prototyping network
What are the different workshops ? Who are the coaches? How can you access the workshops ? What are the equipments available?
You are a BA/MA student and want to prototype or have a question? You have an idea of a project?
You have two options, either :
-
You join our forum slack for prototyping at EPFL and ask your question -
Come at the welcom desk of the SPOT or if you have a technical question, ask it directly to a coach in prototyping
Makerspace to support open ended projects
SPOT
Student Prototyping and Outreach Tank
SKIL
Student Kreativity and Innovation Laboratory
Makerspace for materials and structure
Project in elaboration
The prototyping network
There is a lot of workshops at EPFL to help you (bachelor and master students) in prototyping your project, the video at the bottom of this page gives you a first overview.
First of all, there are three different types of physical spaces depending on the level of danger:
- Free – the 1st circle of access
- Accessible from 8am to 11:30pm after an online training
- You can do ideation, meetings, computer assisted design, assembling parts, access basic tools such as a screwdriver.
- You pay for consumables only
- Under supervision – the 2nd circle of access
- Accessible under supervision at given times (office hours usually) after a specific training on the equipment (and for safety) by a coach
- You can access more advanced tools: drills, laser cutters, CNC, 3D printers, pick and place stations, welding stations.
- You pay for consumables only
- Subcontractors – professional expertise
- Machines not accessible for students, you can subcontract machining to a professional
- You can benefit from professional expertise and professional equipments to develop more complexe parts
- You pay for services and consummables
How to access resources in the 1st circle?
To access “free access areas” you need to follow and complete these steps
Please note that the spot is open from 7am to 7pm during semester, Monday to Friday. You can come to ask your question even if you did not follow the process here under
- Do this training online, if your project is not in the list of projects, please ask the supervisor of the project to contact Julien Delisle
- As mention in the online training above, you also need to do this safety training on moodle (General safety and DLL prototyping with the quizz at the end)
- Once step 1 and 2 are done – the supervisor of your project will be notified and will have to validate you as a student in the project
- Wait 24h to have the camipro access to the following resources:
- Access the envelop of the SPOT building at night (between 7pm to 11.30 pm) during the week days (on the weekends only for MAKE projects)
- Access the basic storage area – stock 1 DLLEL -1 54
- (Only for MAKE projects) – Access the computer rooms and specific softwares – ELH 112
- (Only for MAKE projects)- Access the meeting rooms – DLLEL 1 10, 12 and 14
- (Only for some MAKE projects) – Access the area to store bigger prototypes – stock 3 DLLEL -1 54
These resources are already allowing you to make progress at the beginning of your project. For more advanced equipment, see the “2nd circle with under supervision” areas here under
What are the physical space with “free access” areas ?
1 The SPOT : You will have access to basic tools in the SPOT. If you are in a MAKE project, you will have access to meeting rooms and IT resources as well.
How to access resources in the 2nd circle?
To access “under supervision” workshop you need to follow these steps:
- Complete the same training as for the free access areas (online training, see above),
- You also need to take an appointment with a coach for a specific training in the workshop you want to access (physically) to learn how to use more advanced equipments.
- The coach will grant you access when you know how to use the equipment
What are the under supervision workshops ?
1 The SPOT
- Mechanical workshop with – lath, driling machines, small CNC for metal, welding TIG/MIG, sewing machines, laser cutting for metal/plastic and wood – Write to Ivan Tomic to take an appointment or come at the SPOT during office hours
- Electronics workshop with soldering stations and pick and place equipment, 2D printer for PCB – Write to Sylvain Hauser to take an appointment or come at the SPOT during office hours
- 3D printing room with filament and resines – Write to Sebastien Martinerie to take an appointment or come at the SPOT during office hours
- The immersive room to work on virtual reality and augmented reality projects
2 The SKIL
To get access to the SKIL (which is an undersupervision workshop by itself), you need to complete a security tour with one of the coach there to be able to use tools such as wood working equipments, CNC for wood, laser cutting machine plus some specific trainings for other machines (you can register on the SKIL’s website right above). In the SKIL you’ll find (among others) competencies for general prototyping, wood structures and processing of composite materials.
How to access resources in the 3rd circle?
What are the professional workshops?
For more advanced workshops to produce more complexe parts, please take a look at the following workshops –
Please, for bachelor and master students, come first at the SPOT and SKIL to try your idea before contacting one of these advanced workshops (these workshops are normally dedicated to research laboratories)!
1 ATME (Workshop of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering)
2 ATMX (Workshop of the Institute of Materials)
3 ACI (Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing Workshop)
4 ATPR (Workshop of the Institute of micro-technic for Production of Robotic parts)
5 AFA (Additive Manufacturing Workshop)
6 PLTE (ENAC technical platform)
