With spring semester in full swing, UC's 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace is gearing up for one of its busiest times of the year. February, affectionately dubbed "Febrication," is a crucial period for seniors to start their capstone projects as they compete for access to the in-demand makerspace tools. As noted by the makerspace director, Benjamin Jones, students are encouraged not delay their projects, warning that "March or April may be too late." This push for an early start is in response to the rush that the facility experiences during those months, according to a report by UC News.
Students have the opportunity to book time and complete necessary tool certifications during this time. Olivia Belk, the unit coordinator, highlighted the importance of getting in early, stating to UC News that they "steadily increases as the spring semester progresses." It's noteworthy that last April, the makerspace saw a 50% increase in visits compared to preceding months, emphasizing the need to promptly secure resources.
"Febrication" not only alerts seniors to jump-start their projects but also offers a variety of workshops and certifications. These sessions are critical, as many tools require safety certifications or in-person guidance due to the inherent risks involved. Equipment like metalworking machines, laser cutters, and a variety of woodworking tools fall into this high-demand category. Workshops fill up fast, and the Ground Floor Makerspace team urges students to complete their training during February before the rush of March and April hits.
Some of the most sought-after sessions are for metalshop and woodshop basics, laser cutting, MIG welding, and plasma cutting, along with manual mill operations – a precursor to CNC mill certification. To ease the pressure, the makerspace also offers private certifications for groups of three or more. "We know getting into the makerspace for training can be difficult,” Belk says. “That’s why we offer the option for students to request private certifications for their group … we typically hit our by capacity by April, though, so scheduling these now while we have availability is crucial.” She added, as reported by UC News, that potential users should "scheduling these now while we have availability is crucial," since the makerspace typically hits capacity by April.
