About the Workshops

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Overview
Our Bloomsbury Workshop
Our Stratford Workshop
Using Our Workshops
Workshop FAQs

Overview

The Institute of Making has two multi-material workshops that offer members access to a wide range of equipment and making processes. Our workshops are supported by our friendly and knowledgeable technicians, who are on hand at all times. Our Bloomsbury workshop is currently open for members to pop in and use, while our new Stratford workshop is in the process of being set up.

Institute of Making members can access our workshops during our normal opening hours, and book tool trainings through the members porthole of our website. Membership is free and open to all UCL staff and students, following registration our website and the completion of a New Member Induction session in our Bloomsbury workshop.

Members of the public cannot currently become members, but they can sign up to our mailing list to hear about our free public events, activities and material extravaganzas.

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Our Bloomsbury Workshop

The Institute of Making Bloomsbury workshop is a friendly and inclusive space that we like to think of as a dream garden shed. Our original Materials Library and a wide range of tools and equipment share one 250m² open-plan space, enabling our members to get involved in a plethora of making processes and materials experimentation.

When logged in, members can find out about the Bloomsbury workshop opening hours here.

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Our Stratford Workshop

The Institute of Making Stratford workshop is a large, open-plan studio and multi-materials workshop, surrounded by a number of specialist rooms offering dedicated spaces for ceramics, CNC machining, electronics, 3D printing, plastic processing, metal work, textiles, food and the Materials Library.

The Stratford workshop has been designed to expand the depth and breadth of what we can do in Bloomsbury, whilst also maintaining our experimental, hands-on, celebratory approach to all aspects of materials and processes. The space is currently in the process of being set up and not yet open for members to drop-in and use.

When logged in, members can find out about the Stratford workshop opening hours here.

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Using Our Workshops

As a member, you can drop in and use our workshops at any time during our opening hours. You don't need to come with a big idea, and what you make doesn’t have to be work-related, although it can be. Whether you want to learn how to throw a pot on the wheel, mend your trousers or prototype an innovative new form of heart valve, the Institute of Making welcomes you.

Our friendly and knowledgeable team of technicians are here to help you with your project and questions. The best and most efficient way to speak to our technicians is by coming into the workshops, rather than by emailing them.

The technical team won’t make things for you, but they will teach you how to use the equipment yourselves, and advise you on materials and/or design. Certain equipment will require you to undertake specific tool trainings, which is bookable either through our website or directly with a member of staff. Our members are also able to book specific equipment through the tool database.

Become a member

A 5 meter wall covered in tools, arranged neatly and nested in custom made holders.

Workshop FAQs

Explore the frequently asked questions about our Workshops below. Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Get in touch with us at members@instituteofmaking.org.uk

All current UCL students and staff are eligible to become members of the Institute of Making. We are currently unable to accommodate Alumni or non UCL members, but check our events page for regular public open days, Materials Library discovery sessions, research events and masterclasses which are free and open to everyone. Please do join our mailing list to be kept updated on all such events and opportunities to visit.

If you're not at UCL but keen to access workshop facilities, head to Open Workshop Network to find an open access space near you.
Information on how to become a member is found on our Membership page.
Membership of the Institute of Making and access to our faculties is free.
If you've been inducted and your card is still not giving you access to the workshop, please check you are using our members entrance door. If it’s still not working get in touch and we'll enable it for you.

If you have been issued a new card or changed your position at UCL you may need your card to be reactivated. If you have graduated from or left UCL, we can no longer give you access to the workshops - but please do sign up to our mailing list to keep in touch about our free public events, activities and material extravaganzas.
Unfortunately, we do not host work experience placements.

We currently run a paid internship scheme for UCL staff and students which is advertised through our website and mailing list.
Our Bloomsbury workshop is open for members access Tuesday - Friday, with a late opening on Wednesday. You can check our exact opening hours once you have completed your Members Induction.

Our Events usually run Monday - Friday, and we also host occasional weekend events for members and the general public, such as the Festival of Stuff.

We are closed over UCL holidays and for occasional new members inductions, maintenance days and events. You can find out about any unexpected closures on the news announcements area of the member's dashboard.
Yes! As soon as you've completed your new member induction you can drop in any time during our opening hours and chat to one of our technicians. If the workshop is particularly busy, we might arrange another time or date with you to discuss things properly.
Check out our tools database or drop in and have a look around.
For general information about how to use our workshop, check out the Workshops page.

We operate a traffic light system with our tools and equipment:

Green tools include all hand tools and some power tools, such as our pillar drills and sanders.

If it is your first time using this tool you must ask a technician to come and ensure competency beforehand. You should request a demonstration or supervision by a technician if you are unsure of how to use a green tool or need a refresher at any point.

Yellow tools require a specific tool training (a little extra induction).

These include 3D printers, band saws, laser cutters, routers, planers, sewing machines, domino jointers and circular saws. Once you have completed your tool training and demonstrated competency it will be noted on your member profile.As with green tools, you should request a demonstration or supervision by a technician if you are unsure of how to use a yellow tool or need a refresher at any point.

Red tools are technician only.

Members can’t use these pieces of equipment, but they can ask a technician to use it for them. For all green and yellow tools and equipment, technicians can stop members using the machinery if they deem a member to be unsafe.
If you would like to bring your own hand tools, please speak with a technician first so they can check they are safe and are aware they are yours.

We are unable to allow you to bring your own power tools.
You can buy a few materials from us including acrylic, laser grade plywood and vacuum form sheet. They can all be purchased on the UCL Online Shop.

Please make sure you check the availability of these materials with a technician before any purchase.
If your print is over 100g the price is 54p per 10 grams. Prints smaller than this remain free.

To calculate the price of your print please use this spreadsheet. When you load your model into Cura, the software will estimate the amount of material required. Enter this value (either as a length or weight) in either of the green cells (weight or length cells).

Once you have worked out the cost, please log on to our shop and pay the amount specified on the spreadsheet using a bank card.
We’ve got a selection of glues, nails bolts, screws, and sandpaper for you to use free of charge (however, if you are planning to make a full-scale replica of The Eiffel Tower out of our two inch nails, you should buy your own). We can give you advice on specialist fixings and where to get them locally, if required.
We don't have any dedicated project storage space.

You will need to take your project away at the end of the day - unless it's massive, curing, drying etc. If this is the case, please talk to a technician beforehand, who will check if there is enough space to keep your project. You can then get a label, add a collection date, and take it to a technician to sign off. Any work left without a label is thrown away or recycled. The ceramics area has its own system, which a technician will explain when you are inducted in this area.
The Institute of Making is not a bookable teaching space but we do host occasional events in partnership with external people when the nature of the event aligns with our interests. If you would like to talk with us about partnering with us for an event or activity that you thin our facials are perfect for, please get in touch via our contact page.
Yes, you will. Please get in touch with us to discuss how we can best make it work for you via members@instituteofmaking.org.uk

Our Bloomsbury workshop has a step free entrance and a lift down into the main workshop. There is no lift to our internal mezzanine, but most of the tools up there are mobile and can be brought down.

Our Stratford workshop has also a step free entrance, and an internal lift allows you to travel between the ground and first floor giving you access to the entire workshop.
If you are sensitive to certain sounds, you can still come and work in our space. Please get in touch with us to discuss how we can best make it work for you via members@instituteofmaking.org.uk.
Absolutely, that's what we're here for! You don't need any experience and we can work with you to learn as much as you like. Come in and talk to a technician - you do not need to make an appointment.
You do not need to be re-registered. You can come in as normal until you graduate or leave UCL. Once you've been inducted on a tool you won't need to redo it, but if you need a refresher on any of the machines at any time, don't hesitate to ask! You must refresh your members induction every 5 years. This Induction Refresher will update you on any new systems and processes in the workshop and Materials Library, as well as changes to health and safety protocols.