Labs, Shops, and Studios

L3 CNC Machine Shop

2 W 13th St, 3rd floor • Hours

Open to: all New School students who have had necessary training with equipment and processes

Current Queue
Color Code Reference:

Not Processed	Processing	On Hold	File Failed	File Ready for Pickup	Student Received	Reservation

ORIENTATION SCHEDULE

Please click on desired date and time you wish to sign up for. Note: Can only sign up 3 days in advance. If all 10 spots have been filled you will be wait-listed. We encourage all those who are wait-listed to show up for selected day because sometimes there are openings.

L3 CNC Shop

The CNC Machine Shop at 2 West 13th Street (see map) supports both digital and manual machining with various equipment such as multiple ShopBot and Roland CNC routers, as well as manual vertical mills and machining lathes. With proper training and supervision, students can use this equipment to fabricate projects to high levels of precision out of foams, wood products, plastics, waxes and metals.

The CNC/Machine Shop also has a Casting and Epoxy Room (more info below) for plastic casting and rubber mold making, as well as a spray booth and airbrush room nearby. Students must use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and only work with materials from the Approved Materials List, unless given direct approval from the shop manager.

CNC TRAININGS

Before students can use the CNC Machine Shop, Training must be completed by all students & faculty interested including those who want to use drop-off service. If you only need access to the Casting Room, please check in with the Technician ahead of time if you have not had a previous orientation.

Trainings take place in the L3 CNC Shop on the 3rd floor Room 306 of the 2 W 13th St. building and last around 1.5 hour.

Click the “Mandatory Orientation” button at the top of the page to reserve a spot at one of the CNC Trainings.

If faculty members plan on assigning CNC specific projects, please reach out to CNC Shop to coordinate.

CONSULTATIONS AND RESERVATIONS

Once you have completed the orientation, you will need to plan for specific pre-CNC events before you may use the Shop. First, are Consultations, in which you schedule a sit down with a technician to prepare files for CNC use. Design Help/Material Advice is located at E2 CNC Shop in 25 E 13th St. These do not require a scheduled visit, feel free to stop by any time the E2 shop is open. This would take up to 20 mins for open dialogue between technician and person(s) being guided. During this time, advice on best machining approach and basic file correction will be given. Once your design file has been prepped you will sign up for a CAM consultation located at L3 CNC Shop in 2 W 13th St. These scheduled consultations may be reserved using Webcheckout Patron Portal. This would take up to 1 ½ hours for CAM file setup, precise stock measurement, and service submission.

FILE PREPARATION CHECKLIST

All files MUST be in inch units!

2D Toolpaths

Are my vectors closed curves?(for pockets) No overlapping segments? No duplicates?
Have I saved my vectors as a .ai; .dwg; .dxf?
- (may choose any one of these options)
- No hatches on your files

3D Toolpaths

Are my meshes solid?
Does my model have undercuts?
If so, acknowledge that those will not be cut
Have I saved my mesh form as a .stl?
Have I accurately measured my stock material?
- (length/width may be measured by ruler/tape measure; thickness must be measured by digital caliper to 0.001” tolerance)

CASTING ROOM

In order to use the Casting Room, students must wear goggles, gloves, a tyvek suit and a respirator with appropriate cartridges. These items are all sold in the Making Center Material Store.

The following materials are approved for use in the Casting Room:

Bio Based Casting and Coating Epoxy
Entropy Resin SAP CCR

Two Part Epoxies
West System Epoxy
Z-Max

Casting Plastics
Smooth-On 300 Series
Smooth-On 320 Series

Casting and Mold Rubbers
Smooth-On Dragon Skin
Smooth-On Encapso K
Smooth-On Mold Star
Smooth-On OOMOO
Smooth-On Brush On

Casting Foams
Smooth-On Flex Foam-it
Smooth-On Foam-it

For safety reasons and precautions, no other products or materials are allowed without direct approval from the shop manager. Talk to the CNC/Machine Shop staff if you have any questions

CNC Closed Schedule

Refer to this schedule for times the shop is closed for open use.
This would include open time to use the analog machines & the casting room. You will still need to sign up for a consultation if you plan on using the CNC equipment.