Makerspace

This is a reflection page for all the Makerspace Tools I’ve learned to use

Table Saw

The table saw is one of the coolest machines in the Makerspace. Although it looks scary at first, it is actually quite easy to use. You can use this machine to cut pieces of wood fast and very accurately. You just set up your measurement, put the wood against the wall, and then slowly move it through. I used this to make the wood bottom of my penny hockey “ice”. One of the biggest safety concerns on this machine is the kickback zone where wood can come flying out and backward. You can’t stand in the kickback zone and must wear goggles when operating this machine.

Milter Saw

This machine is smaller to use than the table saw and is for cutting smaller pieces of wood. This machine is just as easy to use but is not as safe and as precise as the table saw. You put the piece of wood you want to cut under the saw, hold the handle button, and slowly move it down. I used this machine to make the walls on my penny hockey set. A safety concern on this machine is cutting off fingers and chip off so we wear goggles and are cautious when using this machine.

Laser Engraver

This is for sure one of the coolest machines in the Makerspace. You can make an image on Adobe illustrator and then upload it to the Laser Engraver and you can engrave almost anything you want. It was really fun to use to add customization to my penny hockey set. There are really no safety concerns while using this machine, the only one is to make sure that no fire starts which is extremely unlikely. If so all you have to do is open the top and the fire will stop.

Band Saw

This machine is also very helpful. I used it to make the players on my Peny Hockey set. You can take smaller pieces of wood or other things and run them through in order to cut smaller pieces from a longer piece. It is pretty easy to use and the only safety concerns are not cutting yourself and making sure nothing flies back and hits you.

Drill Press

This is also a very cool machine in the makerspace. This is what you can use to cut perfect circles into wood you are cutting. I used this machine to make the goals of my penny hockey set. All you have to do is hold the piece under, turn the saw on, and lower it using a lever. Again the only safety concerns are stray pieces of wood flying out and also not cutting yourself.

Cordless Drill

This is a very efficient and easy to use tool. I used this tool to drill the holes for my players in my penny hocket set. All you have to do is turn the drill on, make sure it is spinning the right way, and push down. Make sure you don’t push at an angle or have the drill spinning counter clockwise. Also, you have to have a piece of wood under so you don’t cut the table. The only safety concerns for this tool are scrap wood flying out, as well as not cutting too far or cutting yourself.

Nail Gun

This is a great tool to have in the makerspace. I used this tool to nail the walls to my penny hockey “ice”. This is a very dangerous tool to use because of how easy it is to mess up. The main thing you want to do is make sure your fingers are out of the way as well as being parallel with the table. You don’t want to be at an angle so the nail stays in the board and doesn’t come out the top or bottom. The biggest safety concern is not nailing your finger to anything.