MakerLab Badging & Equipment Reservations
MakerLab Badging appointments are one-time training appointments at IdeaSpace required for each piece of equipment you want to use independently by earning the badge.
Minimum age to get badged is Grade 6 and different age restrictions apply for each piece of MakerLab equipment: see Making Equipment and Media Equipment.
Plan for at least an hour for each badging appointment however the length varies by equipment. After you’ve been badged, you may make up to two 2-hour equipment reservations per week to work independently. Staff are available to assist as needed.
START HERE: Making a MakerLab Badging Appointment and Equipment Reservation
We require you to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to complete the required training on how to use the equipment to earn the badge.
Once you earn a badge, then you can reserve the equipment to use on your own at IdeaSpace. At that appointment all customers will be required to submit a form agreeing to CRRL’s MakerLab Agreement, MakerLab Guidelines for Use and Safety and Computer Use Policy before earning the badge and scheduling any future equipment reservations.
Please watch the instructional video for specific steps on making Badging and equipment reservations.
If you have questions, email ideaspace.appointments@crrl.org or call IdeaSpace at 540-372-1144.x7800.
Maximum of one equipment reservation per day and two equipment reservations per week. Additional same day equipment reservations are possible if equipment is available. Contact IdeaSpace to request.
Equipment reservations are from 30 minutes up to two hours*. On the day of your reservation, if you need to use the equipment longer and no one has it reserved after you then you can extend your time.
Reservations are held for 30 minutes and then released if you do not show for your time slot.
* The 3D printer is 2 hours but limited to one reservation per unit per day in case the job takes more than 2 hours.
Making Equipment
3D Printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the process of creating a 3D object one layer at a time. 3D Printers use a 3D model to know where to print. To see what kinds of objects can be printed, check out Thingiverse.
Earning the 3D Printer Badge allows you to use our Dremel and Ultimaker 3D Printers independently at IdeaSpace. For 6th grade+.
How to Earn the Badge
- Watch the three-part Level One 3D Printing Video Course on our YouTube channel here, opens a new window.
- Make a badging appointment and equipment reservation to complete Level Two and demonstrate independent use of the 3D Printer to a staff member. See badging instructions here.
*Required to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to earn the badge before you can reserve the equipment to use independently.
3D scanning allows you to turn a real-world object into a three-dimensional computer model. The 3D model can then be 3D printed or imported into any modeling software, or even animated in programs like Blender.
Earning the 3D Scanner Badge allows you to use our 3D Scanner at IdeaSpace. For 6th grade+.
How to Earn the Badge
Make a badging appointment and equipment reservation to learn independent use of the 3D Scanner. See badging instructions here.
*Required to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to earn the badge before you can reserve the equipment to use independently.
Using a sewing machine you can quickly sew or stitch fabric or cloth together. The sewing machine works by mechanically sewing the two threads together, and includes settings for custom stitches and length.
Earning the Sewing Machine Badge allows you to use the Janome Sewing Machines independently at IdeaSpace. For 9th grade+.
How to Earn the Badge
- Watch the three-part Level One Sewing Machine Course on our YouTube channel here, opens a new window.
- Make a badging appointment and equipment reservation to complete Level Two and demonstrate independent use of the sewing machine to a staff member. See badging instructions here.
*Required to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to earn the badge before you can reserve the equipment to use independently.
Machine embroidery is a process that uses computer-guided stitching to create designs on various materials and garments. The Janome Artistic Digitizer software offered at IdeaSpace allows you to prepare custom designs for embroidering. Our Janome Memory Craft 15000 has multiple embroidery hoops, including an AcuFil quilting hoop. This machine also has free-motion quilting capabilities.
Earning the Embroidery Badge allows you to use Embroidery Machine independently at IdeaSpace. For 9th grade+.
How to Earn the Badge
Make a badging appointment and equipment reservation to learn independent use of the embroidery machine.
A serger is a specialty type of sewing machine. Sometimes referred to as an overlocker, it uses an overlock stitch that does not come on sewing machines. It uses three or more thread sources to create this overlock stitch and create a professional-grade binding for fabric.
Earning the Serger Badge allows you to use the Brother Serger independently at IdeaSpace. For 9th grade+.
How to Earn the Badge
Make a badging appointment and equipment reservation to learn independent use of the serger.
A laser cutter can cut or engrave a material using a high-powered laser to quickly create complex designs. Our Glowforge laser cutter is housed at IdeaSpace and allows you to engrave using a .jpg or .png file and cut using a .pdf or .svg file.
Earning the Laser Cutter Badge allows you to use the Glowforge Laser Cutter independently at IdeaSpace. For 9th grade+.
How to Earn the Badge
Make a badging appointment and equipment reservation to learn independent use of the laser cutter. See badging instructions here.
*Required to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to earn the badge before you can reserve the equipment to use independently.
Media Equipment
IdeaSpace has a 10’x12’ soundproof audiovisual booth for all your recording needs.
Our studio desk is set up outside the vocal booth and comes equipped with a computer, monitors, and a Focusrite Clarett 8 PreX audio interface. Inside the booth are two condenser microphones, a 4k studio camcorder, and a green screen.
Earning the AV Booth Badge allows you to use the booth and all of its equipment independently at IdeaSpace. For 9th grade+.
How to Earn the Badge
*Required to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to earn the badge before you can reserve the equipment to use independently.
A drawing tablet is a pressure-sensitive input device that allows the artist to create digital art, animation, and 3D models with a stylus pen. Huion GT-220 Drawing Tablets are available at IdeaSpace.
Earning the Drawing Tablet badge allows you to use the drawing tablet at IdeaSpace. For 6th grade+.
Drawing tablets are available to check out here. No badge is required.
How to Earn the Badge
Make a badging appointment and equipment reservation to learn independent use of the drawing tablet. See badging instructions here.
*Required to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to earn the badge before you can reserve the equipment to use independently.
With the video conversion station, you can convert your old VHS tapes into .mp4 format. This allows you to preserve old videos digitally without worrying about them degrading over time. Bring a flash drive or cloud storage login to take your converted videos home with you.
Earning the Video Conversion Badge allows you to use the video conversion station independently at IdeaSpace. For 6th grade+.
Video Conversion is done in real time. The length of time required will depend on the length of the video.
How to Earn the Badge
*Required to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to earn the badge before you can reserve the equipment to use independently.
This project was made possible due to the generous support of:
The Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund of
The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region