Machine and Material Credits
The Design Lab stocks and resells selected materials for students to purchase and use. Please speak to a technician before purchasing materials so that we can check our stock levels.
When using select machinery we will request you purchase “credits” through the CAI store (linked here or red button above). These credits go towards maintaining the equipment and replenishing any materials that are used.
| Machine | How you will be contacted |
| 3D Printing | Emailed an invoice after you send us your .3mf file |
| Electronics | Speak with a technician |
| Laser Cutting | Select material and closest size you are cutting (instructions below) |
| Vinyl/Sticker Cutter | Speak with a technician |
| Waterjet Cutter | Speak with a technician |
| Vacuum Former | Buy full sheets via CAI store |
Laser Cutter Information:
All materials stored on the island need TO BE PAID FOR. You can do this by scanning the QR code which will take you to the CAI Creative Store.
On the Creative Store, select your material and the size you will need for cutting, then pay.
Example (pictured):
My design can fit in a 200 x 150mm square of 10mm acrylic
I would purchase 2x 100x100mm credits via the CAI store
The black drawers by the laser cutter house scrap materials that can be used for free – you can place any still usable offcuts in here.
Materials used for the laser cutter can be found on our Laser Cutting page.
3D printing Information:
When you send through your .3mf files and your selected materials via our form, a technician will price your job and send you an email with how many credits you need to purchase.
Please pay via credits AND send us a recipt of your purchase so we can tick you off. If you do not pay then we reserve the right to refuse your future print jobs.
Water Jet cutting:
The waterjet cutter uses Garnet sand as the cutting medium; it is sold by the Kilo. A technician will price up your cut and ask you to pay via credits.
Please view our Waterjet Cutter page to see what size and type of materials we can cut.
