Instructor FAQs

To use equipment, students must have their Materials Fee paid or an active M-Pass. Find more info about these payments here.

Some equipment requires a permit to use. You can find the various permits required on each respective equipment page, as well as a general summary for non-CoE users on the M-Pass page.

Yes, though space and equipment is subject to availability. Please send your request to maker-contact@engr.wisc.edu

Note: Classes are typically not able to meet in the Makerspace for an entire semester (e.g. every MWF 1-3pm). To maximize utilization across CoE, we usually require that classes only meet in the Makerspace on days when equipment use is required by the entire class (e.g. electronics benches).

The Makerspace sells 3D prints and other materials in the mini-mart listed here.

Students can pay for materials at the check-out window with (1) wiscard, (2) credit card or a (3) Payment Account (see below).

Payment Accounts:

Only Principal Investigators, Instructors, or Financial Processors may set up a payment account. This account provides students and/or researchers funds for the Makerspace and/or TEAM-Labs equipment. Account owners may allow the funding string to pay for students’ materials fee ($50) or M-Pass fee ($100). To set up a Payment Account, please fill out this form with your funding information.

Accounts may take up to 5 business days to be created. These accounts do expire and will be billed monthly. Once the account is created, you will receive a live link to your account. This link updates every five minutes and remains live throughout the duration of your account.

Note: This link will open a new window with a google form. Please email maker-accounts@engr.wisc.edu with questions.

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Only Principal Investigators, Instructors, or Financial Processors may set up a payment account. This account provides students and/or researchers funds for the Makerspace and/or TEAM-Labs equipment. Account owners may allow the funding string to pay for students’ materials fee ($50) or M-Pass fee ($100). To set up a Payment Account, please fill out this form with your funding information.

Accounts may take up to 5 business days to be created. These accounts do expire and will be billed monthly. Once the account is created, you will receive a live link to your account. This link updates every five minutes and remains live throughout the duration of your account.

Note: This link will open a new window with a google form. Please email maker-accounts@engr.wisc.edu with questions.

Only Principal Investigators, Instructors, Financial Processors, or Secondary Account Managers may modify a payment account.

Modifications include updating the expiration date, authorized users, funds, funding information, and other account information. Please use this form to submit a modification request. Note updates may take up to 5 business days.

Please note: This link will open a new window with a google form. Please email maker-accounts@engr.wisc.edu with questions.

The Makerspace offers instructional content for most of the equipment in the space (e.g. 3D printers, laser cutter, electronics, etc.). These “Learning Modules” may be used by instructors and/or students freely without approval.

Click here for the Canvas page where all the content except the quizzes is available.

If students and/or instructors would like more structure and instructional support by staff (and access to the quizzes), check out InterEgr 477 below, which uses these modules as part of a 1-, 2- or 3-credit course.

May the students in my class use the equipment in the Makerspace?

In short yes, but only during your lab session when you and/or your TAs are present and leading the instruction. If your students will come back on their own outside class time, they must have the appropriate permits and have paid their fee. Obtaining a valid permit requires a fee and training. Students without a permit + fee will not be able to check out equipment on their own (e.g. VR headset, hand tools, etc.). We recommend having the instructor/TA check out the needed equipment beforehand.

For more information on obtaining permits, see here. To see which machines require a permit see here.

Does the Makerspace staff teach the lab / workshop / demo for my class?

• In short, no; however, our student staff will:
  • Train you and/or your TAs beforehand on the Makerspace equipment.
  • Be available in a limited capacity during your lab to ensure you have the equipment needed + oversee safety.
• You and/or your TA will need to:
  • Generate the instructional content yourself, use the Makerspace + TEAM-Lab “Learning Modules” and/or have your students enroll in InterEgr 477 (see sections below).
  • Teach the content to your students.
• Check out this page for tips / suggestions for using the Makerspace for your class or group.

Does the Makerspace have lessons I can use when teaching my class in the Makerspace?

Yes! The Makerspace offers instructional content for most of the equipment in the space (e.g. 3D printers, laser cutter, electronics, etc.). These “Learning Modules” may be used by instructors and/or students freely without approval.

Click here for the Canvas page where all the content except quizzes is available.

Note: While the instructor and/or TA must handle any instructional activities during set lab times, instructors are welcome to assign modules to their students and have their students come in during Project Support times for assistance from the Makerspace student staff.

What if I want to meet in the Makerspace regularly for the entire semester?

Your students will likely be required to have a permit and pay the materials fee. Please fill out the form below & we will respond as soon as we can.

Do you have a course or lab you’d like to have at the Makerspace?

Please email maker-contact@engr.wisc.edu to inquire about having your course or lab in the Makerspace.

• There are typically 75 workshops per semester.
• If instructors require their students to attend a certain number of workshops per semester, instructors need to create a Workshop Assignment ahead of time (see below). We recommend:
  • Requiring 1 to 3 workshops per semester.
  • Creating an assignment in Canvas where the due dates are spread out over the semester.
  • Making the final workshop due well before the end of the semester (e.g. 2 or 3 weeks before the end). Since the workshops are taught by the Makerspace student staff, the number of workshops offered drops significantly towards the end of the semester when the staff become busy.
  • Using this example Canvas assignment with a due date for workshops (click here for a Canvas screenshot example):

Upload the picture of your ID placed on the “Certificate of Workshop
Competition” for the workshop you attend.

Please ask the Makerspace staff running the workshop if you cannot
find the certificate, which will be available only at the end of the
workshop.

Below is an example of what the certificate looks like before the
Makerspace staff adds the workshop specific info:

We would be happy to provide a tour to any UW-Madison course at the Makerspace.  Makerspace tours typically take 15-20 minutes and cover the equipment used in the space, our collaborative work areas, and resources available to users. If your class is 10 people or fewer, no reservation is needed – just come to the front desk and ask for a tour – simple as that! If the desk worker has stepped away, please ring the doorbell mounted on the desk and wait for them to return.

If your class is larger than 10 people and/or you have a question regarding tours, please contact: maker-contact@engr.wisc.edu

Note: if you want your students to experience more than a short tour, please see the options listed above: Project Support, Workshops, etc.

We look forward to seeing you at the Makerspace!