Using the
Baum Family Maker Space
The Baum Family Maker Space is available to all Viterbi undergraduate students regardless of their major.
- Individual students who simply wish to work on a project of their own.
- Students enrolled in a class and need to use the Maker Space to fabricate something for a class assignment.
- Members of a Viterbi competion team, some of which have their team headquarters in the Maker Space.
Below are some "Frequently Asked Questions" about accessing the Maker Space.
When is the Maker Space open for use?
Starting in the Fall 2022 semester it is planned to have the Maker Space open for use during the following times.
- Monday through Friday: 11:00am to 10:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm
- Sunday: Access on Sunday is being planned but hours are not yet finalized
Please note that this schedule is likely to change during the academic year to accommodate the needs of students and project teams. Access to the Baum Family Maker Space during non-hours of operation is strictly prohibited.
How do I get started using the Maker Space?
All students using the Maker Space must attend a short orientation session to familiarize themselves with the facility and its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). This session will allow the student to do work in the facility and take additional training on the use of various tools available in the Maker Space.
The Orientation and Safety Training is currently being done Monday through Friday evenings from 5:00pm to 6:00. Students may come to the the Maker Space at that time and attend one of the sessions.
For more information see Baum Family Maker Space Standard Operating Procedues.
How do I Iearn how to use the tools and equipment?
To ensure safe operation of the Maker Space, additional training is required for student to use any tools beyond the basic unpowered hand tools. Training is conducted by the Maker Space staff and the length of the training depends on the complexity of the tool or piece of equipment. Students can discuss acquiring additional training with the Maker Space staff any time after they have completed the Orientation and Safety Training. Due to other demands on the Maker Space staff they may not be able to provide the training right away so students should not wait until the last moment to request training for a particular tool.
For more information see Baum Family Maker Space Training.
How much does it cost to use the Maker Space?
Usage of the Maker Space and the tools available is free for Viterbi undergraduates. Students and teams are only charged for various consumable items, such as the material use in 3D printing, or material such as metal stock.
For more information on costs see the Service and Materials Costs web page.
How do I buy material to use in my project?
- Individual students: Some small items like nuts and bolts are available in the Maker Space and students can use items from this supply at no charge. For larger material, such as metal stock to be machined in some way, it can be purchased from the Maker Space using USCard discretionary spending.
- Students in classes: If use of the Maker Space has been assigned by faculty teaching a class in the Viterbi School of Engineering, material for the required work will be provided at no cost. If a student wishes to include additional enhancements to their class assignment, this can either be paid by the department the class is in, or by student themselves.
- Team members: All material used by Viterbi teams must be paid for by the teams. All materials will be sold at the actual price USC paid for these items.
Can I store my project and materials in the Maker Space?
The Maker Space has some limited amount of storage space available to allocate to students and classes for storing projects. Due to the limited amount of space, storage can only be given to people who are actively using the Maker Space each semester. We cannot allocate space for storing projects that you don't plan to work on for the next several months. Please contact the Maker Space at bfms@usc.edu for more information.