Caring for the Space

All members are responsible for taking care of Fat Cat Fab Lab's physical space. Everyone must chip in to keep the place clean and organized for others. This includes putting tools and materials back where they belong, making sure power tool batteries get recharged, emptying waste baskets, cutting down scrap material for garbage, sweeping, cleaning off tables, making sure AC's, lights, and equipment are turned off when not in use, taking care of the fridge and kitchenette, etc.

= Garbage and Recycling =

Bags go out Monday's & Thursday's (except Federal holidays) after 5 PM, directly in front of Cellar Dog (75 Christoper St).

Please be sure to apply an orange Action sticker to each bag/bundle!

Put out up to:
 * 2 black bags of garbage.
 * 1 blue/clear recycling bag of glass/plastic/metal.
 * 1 blue/clear recycling bag of paper.
 * 1 bundle of cardboard. Cardboard should be broken down and taped up into packs.

If it's after 11 PM, look to make sure there are still bags there, otherwise it's too late. Packs go inside the metal fence around the tree in front of 75 Christoper (the garbage people are very specific).

= 3D Printer Maintenance =

Our 3D printers are used heavily. There are certain regular checks that need to be done. Full maintenance and repairs can be found on the 3D Printing page.

Oiling
The 3D printers need to be oiled when bars are dry. Use sewing machine oil (mineral oil) in the 3d printing area--do not use grease! Apply oil to:


 * X, Y axis beams supporting the head (smooth, shiny)
 * Z axis bars (smooth, shiny)

Actuate the print head to spread the oil around.

Turn on the printer. Navigate to 'Maintenance' -> 'Advanced' -> 'Raise Print Bed'. Once raised, select 'Lower Print Bed' from the same menu.

Leveling
Leveling is the process of making sure that the print beds are flat and leveled, and that print heads are the right space away from the plate at all points. Follow the directions provided by the printer screen to level the build plate with a Post-It note. Bed should be leveled like when you change the nozzle.

There's a file on each of the Ultimakers in a folder called 'UM-Tools' on most lab SD cards, called 'bedlevel_nozzel_0-4'. Print that, and a square zig-zag should be printed. You can use this to check your level and make on-the-fly adjustments if needed. Visually, and with your finger, test (feel) where is thick and where is thin. During the print, adjust the screws on the bottom of the plate (for Ultimakers), until the lines from the print are even across the plate.

= Laser Maintenance =


 * Talk to Joe Stilin, David Choi, David Gomez if you are interested in caring for the laser. Here is a list of maintenance tasks that need doing at different intervals.
 * Lens cleaning
 * Mirror cleaning (there are 3, two of which are easy to access)
 * Air filter cleaning/replacement.
 * Beam alignment (this is rarely done, usually after tube replacement)
 * Bed leveling (also rarely needed)


 * Mirror #3 is on the laser head.
 * Mirror #2 is inside the right side of the laser cabinet.
 * Mirror #1 is probably by the laser output.


 * Mirror #3 needs to be checked daily and cleaned if necessary.
 * Mirror #2 needs to checked weekly and cleaned if necessary.
 * Mirror #1 check and cleaning schedule is in the manual.

= CNC Router Maintenance =


 * Talk to the Board if you are interested in caring for the CNC. Maintenance tasks are:
 * Resurfacing the spoilboard (every 4-6 weeks depending on usage).
 * Greasing the Z ballscrew and Z linear bearings.
 * Greasing X and Y linear bearings.
 * Laser alignment.