MakerLab Badging & Equipment Reservations
About MakerLab Badging Reservations
Learn how to use high tech equipment independently in a 2 hour (or less) training appointment. All badging appointments are held at IdeaSpace. Once you've completed a Badging session, you can reserve IdeaSpace equipment for 2 hours at a time.
We require you to make both a Badging Appointment and an Equipment Reservation to complete the required training on how to use the equipment to earn the badge.
Once you earn a badge, then you can reserve the equipment to use on your own at IdeaSpace. At that appointment all customers will be required to submit a form agreeing to CRRL’s MakerLab Agreement, MakerLab Guidelines for Use and Safety and Computer Use Policy before earning the badge and scheduling any future equipment reservations.
Please see video below for specific steps on making Badging and equipment reservations. If you have questions, email ideaspace.appointments@crrl.org or call IdeaSpace at 540-372-1144.x7800.
Please watch this video before you make your first badging appointment.
Maximum of one equipment reservation per day and two equipment reservations per week. Additional same day equipment reservations are possible if equipment is available. Contact IdeaSpace to request.
Equipment reservations are from 30 minutes up to two hours*. On the day of your reservation, if you need to use the equipment longer and no one has it reserved after you then you can extend your time.
Reservations are held for 30 minutes and then released if you do not show for your time slot.
* The 3D printer is 2 hours but limited to one reservation per unit per day in case the job takes more than 2 hours.
Are you ready to book a MakerLab Badge appointment and/or reserve equipment? If you want more details, badge details are listed in alphabetical order below.
3D Printing Badge
3D Printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the process of creating a 3D object one layer at a time. 3D Printers use a 3D model to know where to print. To see what kinds of objects can be printed, check out Thingiverse.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
- Complete the three-part Level One 3D Printing Video Course on our YouTube channel here, opens a new window.
- Sign up for Level Two and demonstrate independent use of the 3D Printer to a staff member.
- Earning the 3D Printer Badge allows you to use our Dremel and Ultimaker 3D Printers independently at IdeaSpace. 6th grade+.
3D Scanner Badge
3D scanning allows you to turn a real-world object into a three-dimensional computer model. The 3D model can then be 3D printed or imported into any modeling software, or even animated in programs like Blender.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
- Complete the in-person Level One badging session.
- Earning the 3D Scanner Badge allows you to use our 3D Scanner at IdeaSpace. 6th grade+.
AV Booth Badge
IdeaSpace has a 10’x12’ soundproof audiovisual booth for all your recording needs.
Our studio desk is set up outside the vocal booth and comes equipped with a computer, monitors, and a Focusrite Clarett 8 PreX audio interface. Inside the booth are two condenser microphones, a 4k studio camcorder, and a green screen.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
Drawing Tablet Badge
A drawing tablet is a pressure-sensitive input device that allows the artist to create digital art, animation, and 3D models with a stylus pen. Huion GT-220 Drawing Tablets are available at IdeaSpace.
Drawing Tablets are available to check out here. No badge is required.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
- Complete the in-person Level One badging session.
- Earning the Drawing Tablet badge allows you to use the Drawing tablet at IdeaSpace. 6th grade+.
Embroidery Machine Badge
Machine embroidery is a process that uses computer-guided stitching to create designs on various materials and garments. The Janome Artistic Digitizer software offered at IdeaSpace allows you to prepare custom designs for embroidering. Our Janome Memory Craft 15000 has multiple embroidery hoops, including an AcuFil quilting hoop. This machine also has free-motion quilting capabilities.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
- Complete the Level One in-person badging session. Material is provided for the badging session only. You will need to provide your own materials for future sessions.
- Earning the Embroidery Badge allows you to use Embroidery Machine independently at IdeaSpace. 9th grade+.
Laser Cutter Badge
A laser cutter can cut or engrave a material using a high-powered laser to quickly create complex designs. Our Glowforge laser cutter is housed at IdeaSpace and allows you to engrave using a .jpg or .png file and cut using a .pdf or .svg file.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
- Complete the Level One in-person badging session. Material is provided for the badging session only. You will need to provide your own materials for future sessions.
- Earning the Laser Cutter Badge allows you to use the Glowforge laser cutter independently at IdeaSpace. 9th grade+.
Serger Badge
A serger is a specialty type of sewing machine. Sometimes referred to as an overlocker, it uses an overlock stitch that does not come on sewing machines. It uses three or more thread sources to create this overlock stitch and create a professional-grade binding for fabric.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
- Complete the Level One in-person badging session. Material is provided for the badging session only. You will need to provide your own materials for future sessions.
- Earning the Serger Badge allows you to use the Brother Serger independently at IdeaSpace. 9th grade+.
Sewing Machine Badge
Using a sewing machine you can quickly sew or stitch fabric or cloth together. The sewing machine works by mechanically sewing the two threads together, and includes settings for custom stitches and length.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
- Complete the three-part Level One Sewing Machine Course on our YouTube channel here, opens a new window.
- Sign up for Level Two and demonstrate independent use of the Sewing Machine to a staff member.
- Earning the Sewing Machine Badge allows you to use the Janome Sewing Machines independently at IdeaSpace. 9th grade+.
Video Conversion Badge
With the video conversion station, you can convert your old VHS tapes into .mp4 format. This allows you to preserve old videos digitally without worrying about them degrading over time. Bring a flash drive or cloud storage login to take your converted videos home with you.
Note: video conversion can take a long time, depending on what you're converting.
How to Earn the Badge + The Perks
- Complete the Video Converter Course on our YouTube channel here.
- Sign up for a MakerLab Badging appointment and demonstrate independent use of the Video Conversion equipment to a staff member.
- Earning the Video Conversion Badge allows you to use the Video Conversion station independently at IdeaSpace. 6th grade+.
This project was made possible due to the generous support of:
The Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund of
The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region
