C-SED Lab FAQ
Questions & General Inquiries? Please direct all emails to c-sed-lab@umich.edu
How can I get access to the lab?
- Submit a C-SED Lab Application here (one for each person receiving training)
- After your application is accepted you and all team members listed on the application will be sent Core Safety Content to review.
- Complete the Knowledge Check safety quiz (linked at the end of the Core Content). Review your responses, but you do not need to get 100%.
- After completing the safety quiz you will be sent an invitation to schedule an appointment for an orientation and/or tool training.
- Finally, you will receive a Survey & Access Agreement Form that you will need to complete.
Once all of the above steps are complete, you will be able to use the lab. You will be sent a door code to obtain access. If you are on a team, all team members must complete the steps above before using the lab.
- Orientation (30 minutes) – a walk-through overview with one of the lab managers of the lab space, storage areas, safety rules, logistics of using the lab, resources, and tools available. This does not include training with any of the power tools. We recommend signing up for this training if you want to use the space and resources but do not plan to use any of the power tools.
- Level 1 Tool Training (1 hour) – entry level power tool training including the orientation training with power tool training using the miter saw, bandsaw, drill press, and hand drill. This is the most common training students sign up for and we recommend this training for most fabrication.
- Level 2 Tool Training (1 hour) – advanced power tool training using the table saw, router, and planer. The Level 1 Tool Training must be completed before you can sign up for the Level 2 Tool Training. We recommend this training if you would like to advance your skills in different power tools, or if your project may require the use of these other tools when discussing with a lab manager.
Any student is more than welcome to sign up for higher-level training at a later point in time if they choose to do so, whether for their co-curricular project, personal project, or general skill-building/interest!
An example of a project completed in the C-SED Lab
If I completed my training in a previous academic year, do I need to get trained again?
If you completed the in-person lab training in a previous semester or academic year, you do not need to repeat it. We do, however, ask that you re-read the online safety content, take the quiz again and sign a new access agreement. You will need to follow these steps in order to receive the new door code for a new academic year.
If I completed my training in a previous academic year, do I need to get trained again?
If you completed the in-person lab training in a previous semester or academic year, you do not need to repeat it. We do, however, ask that you re-read the online safety content, take the quiz again and sign a new access agreement. You will need to follow these steps in order to receive the new door code for a new academic year.
Do I have to be on a project team to be able to use the C-SED lab?
Nope! The C-SED lab is an inclusive and open workspace to meet the needs and curiosities of Michigan students. If you have personal or independent learning projects that you would like to pursue, you are more than welcome to apply to gain access to the space.
An example of a project completed in the C-SED Lab
What can I make in the C-SED lab?
The tools we have in the lab are suitable for making many things out of wood, basic electronics, plastics, and fabric. The lab cannot be used for machining metal parts or spray painting. Creating drug paraphernalia or weapons of any kind in the C-SED Lab space is strictly prohibited.
What do I do if I want to make something but don’t know how?
The C-SED Lab Managers are experienced in designing, fabricating, building, and making all kinds of things. Booking a consultation with a lab manager or expressing interest during a lab reservation slot can help you make a plan, figure out materials, and help teach you what it takes to do your project.
Can I store things in the lab?
Yes. The C-SED lab has an assembly area dedicated to assembling and storing materials & prototypes. During your training, a lab manager will review the storage spaces. For bigger items or use of the storage shelving, please email c-sed-prototyping@umich.edu with your team name (your name for personal projects), the items that need to be stored, and how large the items are so we can keep track of who items belong to and for how long they need to be stored. In general, just make sure you label what’s yours with the team and project name (or your own name for personal projects), team lead full name and uniqname, and date. Please make an effort to keep your items tidy and in the appropriate storage space.
Can I use the assembly room space if I haven’t been trained?
No, you must have completed an in-person training before using the lab.
What resources are available in the lab?
We have power tools, hand tools, various electrical components and testing equipment, consumables such as scrap wood, scrap fabric, 3-D printing material, adhesives and glues, paints and stains, sewing thread and needles, and more! We review a lot of these items during training.
What do I need to do to prepare to use the lab?
Besides reserving a time slot with a lab manager if you wish to use machines or power tools, please make sure you wear close-toed shoes and bring a friend who is also trained to be in the lab so you are not alone in the space for safety reasons.
Do I have to sign in every time I come into the lab?
Yes. Whether you are coming in with another trained student or your team, during a lab appointment, or training, you should always sign in when you come into the space. It helps us collect data on how many people use the space which helps us continue to operate.
When is the lab open?
You can access the lab at any time, but not alone! For safety reasons, you must always have another person with you that has also been trained if you plan on coming in outside of lab appointments. In addition, not all of the tools will be available 24/7. If you would like to use power tools, make sure to make a lab appointment with one of the lab managers.. One of them needs to be in the lab when larger machines are being used.
How do I make a lab appointment?
In order to make sure that the equipment you are planning to use will be available, you will need to make an appointment with one of the lab managers. If you are a trained student and would like to make an appointment, find the email that was sent to you after doing the safety quiz, and make an appointment using the link to sign up for training in the lab.
Signing up for a consultation with a lab manager is not the same thing as making a lab appointment.
An example of a project completed in the C-SED Lab
What if I forget the lab code and/or I lose the link to sign up for an appointment?
Send an email to c-sed-lab@umich.edu.
Will the C-SED lab be open in the summer?
At the end of the school year, we contact students who have approved access to the lab to take an inventory and ask on a case-by-case basis if they will need access to the lab or store any materials/equipment. We will then follow up about if we can accommodate your needs and storage options with you directly. Any students or teams that don’t need the space in the summer will need to remove items by the indicated date, or they will become C-SED property and may be disposed of.
Where can I read more about the C-SED Lab Procedures & the tools available in the space?
Check out the C-SED Lab webpage or C-SED Lab Guidelines Policies Document.