FabLab Tools

Tool Tiers

Tier 1 (No instruction required, users may use/check-out at will)
Drills, hot glue guns, snips, pliers, files, hammers, rasps, caulk guns, wrenches, hand saws, tape measures, box cutters and xactos, clamps

Tier 2 (Minimal instruction required)
Dremels, soldering irons, hot wire cutters, chisels, orbital sanders, calipers,

Tier 3 (Staff/student worker instruction OR completed orientation required before use)
Laser Cutters, Table Saw, Dado Saw, Miter Saws, Planer, Joiner, Panel Saw, Air tools

Tier 4 (Staff instruction required, staff must be present)
CNC mill, FabLight, Felt loom

Tier 5 (research only, staff/faculty must be working with you)
KUKA Arm, Digital knitting machine, Sub dye printer

Tool Tips and Tricks

Hand saws
-Small hand saws are for thin material (~1/8th inch) and soft material such as soft wood, plastic, and lightweight foam
-Large hand saws are for thicker material; wood (over ¼ inch,) thick plastic (not 3D prints, as they are too delicate,) large dense foam

Hammers vs mallets
-Mallets are for fitting joints into place, tapping chisels, and pushing down any flat surfaces. Not used for nails, screws, staples, or anything that is sharp and protruding from material.
-Hammers are for inserting nails into material, breaking down assembled projects, and removing nails/staples from material.

Drills vs drill presses vs drivers
-Drills are a convenient, quick way to put holes in any material. If you have the right bit, you can put holes in wood, plastic, metal, foam, or almost any other material you have. Handheld drills are less reliable for drilling straight down or at specific angles, as it is hard to keep them lined up and see exactly how the bit is going in.
-Drill presses are great for drilling into material (of any type/thickness) while ensuring the holes are straight and lined up precisely where they are supposed to be. The drill press surfaces can change angles and be adjusted so that the holes are at exactly the right angle.
-Drivers are used to drive screws/bolts into material. There are a variety of bits for different types and sizes of screw heads. Drills can be used with these bits but are not as effective for this purpose.

Drill bits
-Regular drill bits are used to drill holes in material at any depth. You can go all the way through your material or stop short at whatever depth you need. They vary in size from 1/16th inch up to 1 inch.
-Forstner bits are used to carve a circular divot in material but not go all the way through it.
-Hole saws are for cutting holes out of material, going all the way through whatever you are cutting.

Clamps
-C clamps: for heavy-duty clamping, will leave marks on project material so wood pieces between clamps and material are essential
-F clamps: for large or small material, have wider openings than C clamps, and have pads on them but will still leave marks if clamped tight enough
-Pinch clamps: for smaller projects, important to use thin wood pieces between clamps and material if material is not hardwood as the clamps can leave dents in your material.

Heat guns
-Heat guns are meant to be used on plastic materials to mold and shape them either on their own or around a mold.
-Heat guns have temperature settings that can be adjusted by using the + and – buttons on the tool. Do not use temperatures over 500 degrees.
-Heat guns should be fully cooled down after using them. There is a power button on the tool that starts the cool-down process; please do not just unplug it and walk away or put it back immediately! The tool needs to properly cool down before being unplugged or put away; skipping this step can cause damage to tools and materials and can even set things on fire.