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Maker Hub policies and procedures are outlined below.

Access |  Safety |  Equipment |  Materials |  Banned Projects |  General |  Policy Violations | Spouses & Dependents

Access

Elon students, faculty, and staff are welcome to use the Maker Hub. Reservations are not needed to visit the Maker Hub. You’re welcome to stop by or call us at (336) 278-3523 (Downtown) or (336) 278-3517 (Colonnades) during open hours.

COVID Updates

The Maker Hub follows the policies set forth by the University. Click here to see the latest Healthy Elon Policies. 

Safety

Safety is a shared responsibility in the Maker Hub. You must follow all safety rules posted in each location and comply with the instructions of Maker Hub Consultants. If you see someone doing something unsafe, talk to the person or the Maker Hub Consultant.

Safety Zone rules

The Safety Zone, a section of space in the Maker Hub – Downtown with more potentially dangerous tools, has additional safety rules. When in the Safety Zone:

  • Wear safety glasses at all times.
    • Hearing protection and dust masks are also available if you’re using loud or dusty materials. Personal protective equipment is available just outside the Safety Zone.
  • No long sleeves, ties, dangling jewelry, or any other loose-fitting clothing.
  • Tie long hair back (hair ties are provided).
  • Wear non-slip, closed-toed, dry footwear. No flip-flops, heels, sandals, or similar footwear is permitted.
  • Do not wear gloves while operating saws.
  • Ensure the curtain around the Safety Zone is fully closed.
  • Keep the Safety Zone clear of obstacles.

Injuries

If you are injured at any time, please alert the Maker Hub Consultant on duty.

  • There is a first-aid kit available in each Maker Hub location for minor cuts and burns.
  • If the injury is more severe, call Elon Campus Safety and Police at (336) 278-5555 and ask for assistance.
  • If the injury is life-threatening, call 9-1-1. A phone is located behind the front desk in the Maker Hub – Downtown and under the TV in the Maker Hub – Colonnades.
  • Location address to give 911:
    • Downtown: 130 N Williamson Ave, Elon, NC 27244 in Elon Town Center
    • Colonnades: 696 E Phoenix Drive, Elon, NC 27244 in Colonnades – Allen Hall

Equipment

Our goal is to make the Maker Hub welcoming to all students, faculty, and staff. You are able to use most equipment in the Maker Hub without any official training. If you’re not sure how to use something, Maker Hub Consultants are always available to help.

Some advanced equipment requires training. Learn more about training by visiting the Maker Hub’s Moodle Site. If you are not enrolled in the site, click “Enroll me” on the next screen.

Training is required to use the following tools:

  • Laser Engraver in Downtown
  • CNC Router
  • Power Saws
  • Drill Press
  • Glowforge in Colonnades

Tools must be used safely, in accordance with the user manual, posted signs, and trainings. If you break something, that’s okay. It happens. Tell a Maker Hub Consultant.

Materials

Materials in the Maker Hub are available for FREE to Elon students, faculty, and staff for use in coursework, research, or personal projects.

When using Maker Hub materials, please:

  • Do so responsibly.
  • Work on your project inside the Maker Hub. Taking materials to work on somewhere else is not allowed. We do this so others can see what you’re working on and learn from you.
  • Materials can’t be reserved. Please don’t stash materials in a storage bin to work on later.

Supply your own material

You should supply your own materials if:

  • You plan to sell what you make (see below).
  • You require a lot of materials to build a big project (i.e. a table).

Get your material approved

We need to ensure that the material you supply is safe to use on the laser engraver, CNC router and saws. Therefore, if you plan to use one of those tools on the material you provide, we need to review it first to verify it’s safe to use with our equipment. Tell us more about your material and upload a photo of it here (an active Elon account is required to complete the form). Attaching a receipt and/or including a link about where you purchased the material will speed up the review process.

Material recommendations

If you need to purchase your own material, below is a list of vendors we’ve used in the past.

  • Smokey Hill Designs is a local seller of laserable materials. They have plywood, MDF, and acrylic, all of which are safe to use in the Downtown laser. And because they’re local, you can save on shipping by picking up your order in person from their warehouse.
  • Baltic Birch plywood from the following online stores MakerStock and Inventables.
  • If you need larger sheets of plywood, visit the Hardwood Store of North Carolina in Gibsonville. They sell plywood in 5 feet x 5 feet sheets that they will cut down into smaller pieces. Plywood from Lowes or Home Depot is not recommended for use in the laser engraver.
  • Acrylic can be purchased from Smokey Hill Designs, MakerStock, Inventables, and Delvie’s Plastics.
  • Untreated lumber can be purchased from Lowes or Home Depot.

Selling a project

Entrepreneurs are always welcome in the Hub! The Hub is a great place to work on initial designs, prototypes, and one-off projects. When you’re ready to produce large quantities of something, you’ll need to work with a proper manufacturing facility as we don’t have the equipment or the infrastructure to support that kind of large-scale production.

Available materials

See what’s available in each location on our Tools & Equipment page. 

Banned Projects

Weapon making is banned

The university policy on weapons states that no weapons are allowed on campus, including the Maker Hub. The creation of weapons, parts of weapons, or life-like replicas is prohibited in the Maker Hub. Examples of weapons include, but are not limited to the use of any object as a weapon or in a threatening manner; guns, rifles, pistols, bullets, explosives, BB guns, airsoft guns, paint pellet guns, bow and arrows, slingshots, bowie knives, daggers, switch-blade knives, metallic knuckles, throwing stars, and any other weapon of any kind. This policy includes parts of weapons, ammunition, defensive as well as offensive weapons, and any item deemed a weapon by Maker Hub staff. Items deemed by Maker Hub staff to be in violation of this policy will be confiscated by the Maker Hub.

Limited Exceptions for Costume and Prop Projects

Costume weapons could be allowed if they meet strict safety guidelines. Talk to a Maker Hub Consultant for more information on what is permitted.

Smoking & drug paraphernalia are banned

The Maker Hub prohibits the making or modification of drug paraphernalia and smoking/vaping products. This includes, but is not limited to, roach clips, bongs, pipes, hookahs, blow tubes, papers, scales, and vape pens. Items deemed by Maker Hub Consultants to be in violation of this policy will be confiscated by the Maker Hub.

Continued violations of the Maker Hub policies can result in the revocation of Maker Hub privileges. For more information, see the Consequences for Policy Violations section below.

General

Always comply with the instructions of Maker Hub Consultants.

Food & drink

Food is allowed in the Maker Hub at the big tables. Drinks must have a closable top.

Cleaning up

Messes can pose a safety hazard. Please clean up after yourself, which may require you to sweep, vacuum and wipe off any surface you use in the Maker Hub.

Project storage

The Maker Hub has limited space for temporary project storage. In the Maker Hub – Colonnades, you’re welcome to use space in the cabinets for temporary project storage. Write your name on the project with the masking tape provided. In the Maker Hub – Downtown, use the shelves built into the rolling whiteboards for storage. Please write your name on the shelf with the marker provided. Once the project is complete, please remove it. Any items left after the semester will be ours. 🙂

E-Waste

Electronic components like circuit boards, wires, LEDs, and others should be placed in the E-Waste bins located in the Maker Hub – Downtown and at other bins throughout campus.

Policy Violations

Consequences for policy violations

All Maker Hub policies are posted on the website and users are responsible for learning and following the policies. Knowingly or unknowingly violating policies comes with consequences. The exact consequences vary depending on the nature of the situation and will be decided by members of the Office of Information Technology. Possible consequences for violating these policies include being asked to leave for the day, being banned from the Maker Hub, notifying Campus Safety and Police, and any consequences issued through our Office of Judicial Affairs. The severity of the consequence(s) will be matched with the severity of the policy infraction(s).

Spouses & dependents

Spouses and dependents of Elon faculty and staff who are age 18 and older with a valid Phoenix Card may use the Maker Hub during normal operating hours. Spouses and dependents must contact the Maker Hub via email before visiting for the first time.

Dependents of Elon faculty and staff who under the age of 18 may use the Maker Hub only when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with a valid Phoenix Card. A parent or legal guardian must be present and supervise dependents the entire time they are in the Maker Hub. Dependents younger than 18 may attend Maker Hub events and workshops when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Spouses and dependents cannot be certified to use advanced tools at this time. The required trainings for the laser engravers, CNC router, and power saws are only accessible to users who have an Elon username.

The Maker Hub has the right to limit the amount of materials dependents may use in our makerspaces.