Machine Access

This is a draft, un-approved nearly-stream-of-conciousness document which in no way currently reflects the views of MakeICT, its board, or its members - John

MakeICT Section Organization

• Equipment at MakeICT will be housed by section (wood shop, metal shop, pottery) etc.
• Each section will be maintained by a Benevolent Dictator. The Benevolent Dictator takes ownership and responsibility for the culture, and usage of the section and its equipment.
• Benevolent Dictators are appointed by the MakeICT board. There are no terms for serving.
• The Benevolent Dictator can appoint his/her own team to help maintain the culture of the section he or she maintains. Organization, function, documentation, formality, etc. is up to the team and Dictator.
• When initially setting up a section, the Dictator and his/her team are asked to prepare a rough estimate of equipment and needed budget for initial launch. The method and final submission they prepare for the MakeICT board is up to them. One possibility is to come up with 3 budgets for consideration: excellent, OK, and Slumming It.
• Since it is expected that the Dictator and team have thoroughly researched their proposal, minimal discussion and a quick approval is anticipated upon submission to the MakeICT board.
• Once the MakeICT board approves the budget for section launch, MakeICT members are then asked to vote on it. (I'd be interested in brainstorming if this is necessary/helpful, but I put it in to be consistent with our current purchasing system - John).

Equipment Usage

• Equipment in each section will be categorized as either Category 1 or Category 2, as determined and documented by the Benevelent Dictator and his/her team.
• Category 1 equipment includes hand tools, as well as consumer-end power and CNC tools
• Category 2 equipment is intended for professional precision work. These tools are typically expensive, fragile, and require a high skill level to use safely.
• When joining MakeICT, all members will sign a waiver releasing MakeICT from responsibility if an accident were to happen or somebody is harmed due to equipment malfunction, negligence or misuse of equipment on the premises.
• Category 1 equipment is intended for general-purpose use; access to this equipment is open to all members.
• Category 2 equipment is more specialized, expensive and fragile equipment. This equipment has a higher learning curve for use and can damage itself or an operator more easily.
• Category 2 equipment will be sectioned off in a restricted access area. This is as opposed to restricting access to the machine itself. This is a model already demonstrated at the Tulsa Fab Lab.
• If possible, the restricted access area for Category 2 equipment will be less conspicuous than the area for Category 1 equipment, to help foster the culture of openness and sharing.
• It will be at the discretion of the Dictator and his team to decide what equipment is designated as Category 1 and what is designated as Category 2.

Training

Organization and documentation for machines their usage, and their access will be up to the Dictator and his team. However, a few guidelines are recommended:

• There will be periodic training sessions for both Category 1 and Category 2 equipment.
• Equipment which is dangerous or not self-explanatory will have a warning along with a text link and QR symbol to this wiki for directions for usage as well as warnings.
• Users of the space will be categorized into 1 of 3 categories:
  • N00b
  • Solo flyer
  • Helmsman

notes from earlier writeup --- To help support safety while giving as much freedom to the equipment as possible, we will design a procedure by which members can increasingly gain unrestricted access to the equipment as their trustworthiness and skill with the machinery becomes established. While the details of this procedure are not yet flushed out, it will include a hierarchical set of privileges that members earn. For example with a sophisticated piece of equipment such as the laser cutter: any WSU student or community member may use the equipment but only when a staff member is present and with the assistance of a staff member By taking a test given by a staff member, a student or member can become a soloist on a piece of equipment, allowing him/her to use that piece of equipment without a staff member assisting. If a member becomes a soloist on enough pieces of equipment, he/she becomes a helmsman, allowing unrestricted access to the space. Established helmsmen can then graduate to become Greater-Than-Thou's, a role which allows them a similar set of privileges as staff members.

To be continued - John