Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
iLabs
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1.Go to iLab portal
https://tamu.corefacilities.org/
2. Click sign-up
3. Use your TAMU user login (net ID and password)
4. Choose your course name from the PI list (ZACH-FEDC : General Usage)
5. Select your time zone
6. Click Set
7. Our staff will approve your membership in the core. After that approval, you will be able to schedule equipment.
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iLab uses a navigation structure that relies on a left-hand navigation panel (typically hidden) for access to all high-level system areas, combined with several navigation elements at the top of the screen that provides access to various system functions. The main area of the screen contains the currently active interface.
- Show/Hide navigation: The left-hand navigation panel is usually hidden, but can be shown (and hidden again) by clicking on the on three horizontal bars at the top-left of the screen.
- Home: When you log into iLab, you will automatically be taken to your home page. You will see a welcome from the core, as well as a brief description of the core. Additionally, you may see some steps to get started. From here, you may access service requests, messages, your cores and institutions, and all features available in the left and top navigation panels.
- Core Facilities: Click on this section header to list and search all core facilities at your own institution, as well as at partner institutions and other outside institutions.
- my cores (Core Administrators and Staff): Clicking this link displays a list of the cores of which you are an administrator and staff member. You can also hover over this link to bring up a pop-up interface, from which you can quickly select a core.
- my reservations (all Users): Displays an overview of all of your current, upcoming and recent reservations in iLab.
- view requests (PIs and Lab Managers): Provides access to all service requests order through your Lab / Group
- invoices (all Users): Provides access to all of your invoices
- time entry (Core Administrators and Staff): Access an interface that allows you to log your time against certain project IDs (if enabled)
- publication tracker (Institutional Administrators, Core Administrators and Staff): Provides access to an interface to track publications to which your core’s work contributed (if enabled).
- Reporting: The Reporting interface allows you to run reports on all data in iLab that you have access to.
- Manage Groups: Click on this section header to show a page with all groups, departments, cores and institutions you have access to.
- my groups (PIs and Lab Managers): Provides access to all Labs/Groups of which you are a member
- my departments (Institutional Administrators): Access the departments at your institution
- my cores (Core Administrators and Staff): Clicking this link displays a list of the cores of which you are an administrator and staff member. You can also hover over this link to bring up a pop-up interface, from which you can quickly select a core.
- [Institution Name] (Institutional Administrators): The institutions to which you belong will display here. Click on an institution to be taken to the home page.
- people search (all Users): Find people in iLab and perform certain management functions, depending on role.
- purchase orders (Institutional Administrators): Access an interface to view all open and pending purchase orders (if enabled)
- Search cores and services: You may use this tool to search for specific cores and services. Enter a key term or the first few letters and click Go! Your results will display on the page.
- my profile: Click here to view and edit your user profile
- System upgrades: This link gives you access to all messages regarding the system and updates/feature/bug fixes of the iLab software.
- HELP: The Help link brings you to iLab’s customer support portal
- logout: Click here to logout of the system.
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1.Go to i-Lab portal : https://tamu.corefacilities.org/
2. Login as “TAMU” user.
3. You can search for the relevant lab(s) by clicking on the sandwich button on the top left of the webpage. Next, search for core facilities.
4. Click on interested lab to view the equipment list
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1.Click on “Schedule Equipment”
2. Select the appropriate category
3. Click on “View Schedule”
4. Click and drag the calendar to reserve the equipment.
5. Type in your name
6. Choose the ZACH-EDC: General Usage for lab
7. Click “Next”
8. Complete the form (if applicable)
9. Click “Save Reservation”
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1.Scan the QR code at the main entrance. It will direct you to iLabs kiosk login page.
https://tamu.corefacilities.org/service_centers/4520/equipment_kiosk/dashboard
2. Scroll down the page until you find the name of the labs that you are planning to do the experiment.
3. Click on the link and sign in using your TAMU credential
4. Your reservation should show up under the My kiosk session heading
5. Click “Start”
6. Click Logout and use equipment so that others can use the Kiosk while you use the equipment.
7. Logout from the Central Authentication Service.
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1.Log into the iLab Kiosk
2. Click Finish
3. Confirm finish on the pop-up
4. Logout from i-Lab
5. Logout from CAS
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If allowed, the kiosk interface can also be used to create a walkup session that starts immediately. To do so, click on the button that says ‘Start Walkup Session’ in the left-hand side of the screen. You will then see a list of resources available for creating a walkup session. Choose a specific resource in the Equipment panel.
- Select the equipment you want to create a session for.
- The middle panel will display the schedule for the selected equipment
- Start a new session. A pop-up will ask the planned length of the session. Click “Create Session” to immediately start a session.
- Click this link, available under the right-hand profile menu, to bring you back to the reservation display
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The “My Reservations” interface can be accessed from the left-hand side of the overall navigation, providing an overview of current, future, and past reservations. Note that it is only available if you have already made reservations with a Core.
- Hamburger Icon: Clicking on this icon, opens up the left-hand menu.
- Overview of reservations: The main section of the My Reservations interface lists your reservations organized by reservations for today, future reservations, and past reservations.
- Favorites: From here you can view and directly access any resources that you have marked as a favorite.
- Recently used: From here you can view and directly access any resources you have used recently.
Engineering Service Center
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The Engineering Service Center is a recoverable cost center for the Fabrication and Prototyping Shops. Nonacademic, departmental and research jobs are charged back to the respective PI (Principal Investigator) or department head.
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Any TAMU entity that does research or is governed by the TAMU system?
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You will need to fill out the Service Request form and select the “Engineering Service Center” for service type.
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Yes, you will need to setup a billable account through iLabs and reserve time on the available machines.
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When you are submitting your request, in the “Provide a brief description of your part(s)” please specify that you would like a quote for the work to be done. If you want the material to be quoted as well, specify that also.
File Templates
Project Design Center
Workspaces
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We have 4 Soldering Stations with Electronic Measurement equipment, 1 specialty soldering station with Microscope, 1 #d Scanner Station, 1 Sewing station, and 2 construction Zone Stations. There are machining spaces in the machine shop.
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No, most are locked down. If you need a piece of equipment ask the technician on duty for help.
Project Tables
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Obtain access privileges, register your team, then request a tablespace. All forms are found on the FEDC Resource web page.
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Only your assigned team. All other students will be asked to stay away from your project.
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Workbench comes with an equipment shelf, power strip, built-in locking cabinet, light. 4×4 table comes with a rolling cart, power strip, and 2 chairs.
Storage Spaces
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On your assigned workspace, cabinet, rolling cart or you can reserve a locker.
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Link parking is a 4×4 table that is stored in the basement of the FEDC. It can be brought up and used in one of the Link parking workspaces. Link parking is for teams that use the FEDC less frequently than others.
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Yes, see the technician on duty. We can only store items for a week.
Equipment Checkout
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Be a registered user with access privileges and know your UIN number.
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Most items are for the day (generally 4 hours). They stay at your work table or at the work stations.
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Yes, you can request a semester-long reservation. You will be responsible for the item.
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Generally NO. You must have written permission from the FEDC manager to remove an item form the FEDC.
Drone Usage
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No drones can be powered up with blades attached or flown inside the FEDC or Zachry without the Facility Manager present and in visual range. Testing must be tethered no more than 1 meter on the designated drone testing table in RM 113.
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Yes, all drones must have an FAA registration number on the body of the drone.
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Unless you have an FAA drone pilot license and a flight plan you cannot fly on campus because we are in the Easterwood Airport exclusion zone.
Prototyping Center
3D Printing
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Low Fidelity machines offer a quick and low-cost way to test the functionality of your ideas. All are FDM-style machines that extrude plastic filament through a heated nozzle to build the part layer by layer. The primary material is PLA, but can also use ABS, PETG, TPU, Nylon, etc.
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The Fischer EDC has various Low Fidelity machines available for prototyping. A list of these machines can be seen below:
- Dremel 3D45
- Ultimaker S5
- Ultimaker 3
- Ultimaker 2+
- Essentium HSE 180-S
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High Fidelity machines can produce fully finished and functional parts ready for use. FDM-style machines extrude plastic filament through a heated nozzle to build the part layer by layer. Materials available are PLA, ABS, ASA, PC-ABS, Nylon 12, ULTEM 9085.
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The Fischer EDC has two High Fidelity machines available for prototyping. A list of these machines can be seen below:
- Stratasys F370
- Stratasys Fortus 400mc
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These machines spray micro-droplets of photopolymers that are cured with UV light to build the part layer by layer. Materials available are the full acrylic-like VeroColor suite, Clear, Amber, and rubber-like Agilus30.
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The Fischer EDC has two Polyjet machines available for prototyping. A list of these machines can be seen below:
- Stratasys J750
- Stratasys Eden 260V
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These machines cure the resin with a light/laser beam to build the part layer by layer. Materials available are Grey and Clear, with different engineering-grade materials to be made available upon need.
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The Fischer EDC has one type of machine available for prototyping which is the Formlabs Form 2.
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These machines create green parts similar to FDM that are then subject to further chemical and thermal processing. Material available is 17-4PH stainless steel.
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The Fischer EDC has various BMD machines available for prototyping. A list of these machines can be seen below:
- Desktop Metal Studio System Printer
- Desktop Metal Studio System Debinder
- Desktop Metal Studio System Furnace
Laser Cutting
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Laser cutting and engraving is a process where a CNC laser is moved in the X-Y plane to cut or engrave a material. Because there is no Z movement, laser cutters cannot create blind holes or slots – they can either engrave just the surface or cut all the way through a given material.
Material properties and laser power affect how thick a piece of material can be cut. Also affected are the width and angle of the kerf created by the laser cut: thicker and lower-melting-temperature materials will have larger and more obtuse kerfs.
For the FEDC, you must provide your own material for us to cut/engrave. There is no charge for general academic laser cutting services to COE undergraduates. Service Center requests for research will be charged labor fees.
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The Fischer EDC has two types of laser cutters the VLS 3.60 BY UNIVERSAL LASER SYSTEMS and the ILS 9.75 BY UNIVERSAL LASER SYSTEMS.
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The following materials below can be cut on the laser cutter at the Fischer EDC:
- Wood
- Plywood/Composite woods
- MDF/Engineered woods
- Paper/Card Stock
- Cardboard (may catch fire)
- Cork
- Acrylic/Lucite/Plexiglas/PMMA
- Thin Polycarbonate <1 mm (might discolor or smoke/burn)
- Delrin
- Kepton tape
- Mylar
- Solid Styrene
- Depron foam
- Gator foam
- Cloth/felt/hemp/cotton (no plastic coatings)
- Leather/Suede (real leather only)
- Magnetic Sheet
- Non-chlorine rubber
- Teflon
- Carbon fiber (non-epoxy)
- Coroplast
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The following materials below CANNOT be cut on the laser cutter at the Fischer EDC:
- PVC (emits pure chlorine gas)
- Thick polycarbonate >1 mm (catches fire)
- ABS (emits cyanide gas)
- HDPE/milk bottle plastic (catches fire)
- Polystyrene Foam (catches fire)
- Polypropylene Foam (catches fire)
- Fiberglass (creates fumes)
- Coated Carbon Fiber (creates fumes)
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The following materials below can be etched (not cut) on the laser cutter at the Fischer EDC:
- Glass
- Ceramic Tile
- Anodized aluminum
- Painted/coated metals
- Stone/Marble/Granite/Soapstone/Onyx
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One is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GJ3cRhpSKyCq9KGJ64OMQWvSpn0e3Vjf/view
Also, you can create your own in AutoCAD. Create the profile of your pre-cut material – be sure that it will fit in one of our lasers (a good practice is to use 11.75” x 23.75” or 23.75” x 35.75” for the machine size). Fit the parts you want to be cut into your material –straight edges can be shared. The laser software uses color to determine whether to cut or engrave. Use Red for cutting, and Blue for engraving. Be sure that for all line properties, you select “ByLayer”.
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For parts drawn in AutoCAD, save as a .DWG or a .DXF. For parts created in 3D software, save as a .DWG or a .DXF, but pay special attention to the saving options, particularly the saved view and units/scaling.
For example, a SolidWorks part can easily be saved as a .DXF file. Just be certain to check the preview to ensure you have selected the correct view.
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Many people enjoy creating 3D objects using laser cutting. This can be done in several ways:
- Slicing: Much like 3D printing, your part can be sliced at your material thickness. Then profiles can be cut out and glued together.
Boxes/Shelves: Simple 5-sided to complex multi-hinged and angled boxes can be made using laser cutting. Designs can be assembled in 3D CAD programs and then exploded drawings used to cut the parts, or they can be drawn directly in 2D CAD-like AutoCAD. For better assembly, crenellations are often used to provide a greater surface area for glue/epoxy and also help to hold the part together. There are many websites that will get you started with these designs such as:
Anything: If you can design it to be made from two-dimensional pieces, we can cut the pieces! We have seen clothing, 3D puzzles, furniture, art, and more.
Vinyl Cutting
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Accordion content
File Templates
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Accordion content
Fabrication Center
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We have Popup classes that are offered throughout the semester for the equipment including welding classes as well. These classes will teach you the basics of operating the machine as well as how to safely operate them.
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Students are not allowed at this time to use the CNC Machines. You will need to submit a Service Request in order to get your part machined. You can schedule a time with the Fabrication Center staff if you would like to video or observe the machining of your part.
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You will need to go to the Fischer EDC Service Request and fill out the information on the form. Please make sure to include your part file and Dimensioned Drawing on the form. A short word document included in the zip file detailing how many parts and what type of material is helpful. Once you have submitted the request bring your material to the Fabrication Center with your name written on the material so we can identify your material.
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Yes, you will need to provide your own material. The Fabrication Center does have the ability to order material. However, if you need us to supply the material, you will need to provide an account number for us to charge the material cost to.
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The Fabrication Center Processes the request on a First-Come-First-Serve basis. We usually can finish a request in 3 or 4 days. There is an order of priority that we do follow: Undergrad Capstone or class projects, Competition Teams, and then Research. We do have one Machinist dedicated to doing Research requests.
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No, we encourage the students to make their own parts; however, you will need a Red Badge. You will also have to demonstrate to the Fabrication Center staff that you know how to safely operate the equipment that you will be using. You will need to provide your material and have a Dimensioned Drawing from a CAD software on hand to use the equipment while in the Fabrication Center.
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You must request access to the Fischer EDC and complete all of the Safety Training. This includes obtaining your Red Badge. You will also have to have an active iLabs account so be added into our system to utilize the Fabrication Center.
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You must request access privileges to the Fischer EDC and complete all of the Safety Training. This includes obtaining your Red Badge. You will also have to have an active iLabs account to be added to our system to utilize the Fabrication Center.
Once you have completed the training you will need to make a reservation in iLABS to reserve the piece of equipment that you will be using. When making the reservation you will need to provide an account number for billing. All Grad students are charged for the use of the equipment in the Fabrication Center. The cost for unassisted use in the Fabrication Center is $18.00 per hour. When you arrive for your reservation you will sign-in on the KIOSK outside the Fabrication Center. Once you have signed in, your time will start. Upon completion, you must sign out to end your time.
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There are two companies that the FEDC recommends for purchasing materials MSC Industrial Supply and W.W. Grainger, Inc. The point of contact we have for these companies can be found below.
MSC Industrial Supply Co.
Ralph Walton
- Government Account Executive
- Address: 4540 Kendrick Plaza Drive, Suite 190 Houston, TX 77032
- Ph: (713) 862-8665
- E-mail: ralph.walton@mscdirect.com
- Website: www.mscdirect.com
W.W. Grainger, Inc
Phillip Lopez
- Public Sector Account Manager
- Address: 1408 W. Villa Maria Rd Bryan, TX 77801
- E-mail: Phillip.Lopez@grainger.com
- Website: www.grainger.com