Our DEC Makerspace is located in room 306 of the Jerningan Library. This space will provide our Students, Staff, Faculty, and Community easy access to the most innovative technologies for designing, creating, exploring, inventing, and tinkering in every field of study.

It is a hands-on, multipurpose space where users can learn, collaborate, design, explore, and create!

Regular Hours:

Mon-Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm

After hours & Weekends, by Appointment Only

We require at least 24 hours' notice to review and approve after-hours requests. To ensure your request for Saturday or Sunday service is processed in time, please submit it by the preceding Friday.

Printing

• Flashforge 3D Printers (4)
• ROLAND-Large Format Printer/Vinyl cutter
• HP Color Laser Jet Printer

Crafts

• Baby Lock 6-needle Embroidery Machine
• Sewing Machines(2)
• Heat Press
• Cri-Cut: cutter, hand-press, cap-press, and mug press.
• Laminator
• Binding machine
• 44" Cutter

Computers

• 24" iMac with M1 chip (4)
• 27" Microsoft Surface Studio (4)

Audio Visual

• Full PodCast Studio
• Green screen
• Video Camera
• Photography equipment
• Video/Audio editing software
• light boxes
• CLEAR TOUCH 6000K series 65" monitor

Scanners/Cutters

• Glowforge Pro
• Afinia 3D Scanner
• WideTEK36 Art Scanner (Located in South Texas Archives- Jernigan Library, Rm. 316)

Other

• soldering station
• large format cutter
• documentation area

Spaces

• Collaboration/ The Ed tables (4)
• Brainstorming sitting areas (2)

General Use Procedures

1. The DEC Makerspace is a collaborative learning space for current TAMUK students, faculty staff and community.
2. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
3. Patrons are required to have a Current TAMUK ID to use the equipment and must check in with DEC Makerspace staff before operating equipment.
4. Patrons must have a signed User Agreement Form on file.
5. Patrons must be trained on the safe and proper use of equipment by DEC Makerspace staff before they will be allowed to operate any equipment.
6. Patrons must immediately report all problems or concerns, including all actual or potential injuries or accidents, to DEC Makerspace staff.
7. Patrons must immediately discontinue use of equipment and alert an DEC Makerspace staff member if the user suspects any equipment malfunction.
8. Patrons must not attempt to repair any equipment.
9. A patron’s repeated failure to follow all instructions and directions given by DEC Makerspace staff may result in dismissal from the DEC Makerspace.
10. A patron’s failure to operate the equipment properly and safely may result in the user’s loss of access to the equipment and/or monetary damages being charged to the user to replace or repair the equipment.
11. Beverages and food are not permitted near the equipment in the DEC Makerspace.
12. Patrons must allow enough time to work on projects and work at a pace that is comfortable; rushing will compromise safety and increase the chance of damaging equipment.
13. The patron agrees that the library is not responsible for any manufacturing defects in the quality of workmanship or materials inherent in any of the tools or equipment.
14. If patrons do not know or are unsure how to do something in the DEC Makerspace – ASK! patrons should never try do something they do not know how to do.
15. Patrons shall treat each other respectfully, sharing their knowledge whenever possible.
16. Items are to be returned in the same condition as they were received, barring normal wear and tear. The patron agrees to pay for loss or damage to any items and further agrees to accept the staff’s assessment of fair restitution for damage, delinquency and/or loss of items in part or total.
17. The library is not responsible for any lost, damaged or stolen property the patron may bring into the lab.

Fees and pickup procedures

1. There will be a charge for any library supplied materials and consumables.
2. Prices will vary depending upon the type of material uses.
3. Patron supplied materials must be approved by the DEC Makerspace staff prior to usage.
4. The DEC Makerspace reserves the right to refuse usage of any patron supplied materials.
5. The DEC Makerspace does not have room to store projects; items created within the lab must be picked up within 7 days from the start of the project.
6. If items are left after 7 days from the start of the project, they will be considered abandoned and will become property of the DEC Makerspace to dispose of or display at the discretion of the DEC Makerspace staff.
7. Items must be picked up by patron who created them with presentation of a proper TAMUK ID.

Prohibited use procedures

1. To ensure that the DEC Makerspace is an ethical learning environment, the creation of the following objects is prohibited at the discretion of the Library administration:
   1. Any project prohibited by local, state, or federal law;
   2. Any project that is unsafe, harmful, dangerous or poses a threat to the well-being of others.
   3. Any project that violates another’s intellectual property rights. For example, you cannot reproduce material subject to copyright patent, or trademark protection.
2. The Library administration reserves the right to refuse any fabrication requests deemed inconsistent with TAMUK’s policies and procedures.

Waiting list policy

During periods of high use, the DEC Makerspace may implement a waiting list for in-demand equipment, such as the 3D printers and the laser cutter. This waiting list is not a reservation system but serves to keep track of who is next in line for certain machines and allows users to comfortably work elsewhere in the space until their turn comes. Please abide by the following guidelines to keep the waiting list system running smoothly:

1. When entering the lab, please check in with a staff member to be added to the waiting list for the equipment you wish to use and receive your number.
2. Work with the staff to ensure that your files are clean and ready for machining. By properly preparing your designs before your number is called, you will help the staff to minimize lag time between machine uses. It is the user’s responsibility to inspect their models before printing, both for the fidelity of the model and to insure the correct settings and quantity of items are set to run.
3. Work with the staff to maximize your bed usage for 3D printing and laser cutting. You may only occupy one 3D printer at a time but may group multiple files together to maximize the bed area. Bear in mind that if there is a flaw in one of these models, if could result in all the models failing to print properly.
4. You may only receive one number, or place in line, at a time. This will allow the lab to serve as many users as possible.
5. Come prepared with a TAMUK ID card with Flux Cash to pay for lab consumables used during your visit, such as 3D printer filament.
6. It is incredibly difficult for staff to predict what your wait time will be. File errors, machine errors, the high variability in print times and other users forfeiting their place on the list all affect how quickly the lab can process these jobs.