Welcome to Telstra Creator Space
Telstra Creator Space is an accessible fabrication lab located in the University of Melbourne’s innovation precinct, Melbourne Connect. It’s a space where technology and creativity combine to form innovative solutions.
Telstra Creator Space is open to all students, academics and staff at the University of Melbourne.
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Design Fabrication Review
Do you have a draft design or drawings but not sure how to bring it to life or do it in a sustainable way? Request time with a Telstra Creator Space team member.
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What's on
Checkout the hands-on events and workshops this throughout the year open to the University of Melbourne students, staff and academics
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Interactive virtual tour
A student-led project has provided you the opportunity to explore the space, equipment and amenities at your leisure
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Vision
Telstra Creator Space will support the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology to prepare outstanding graduates and achieve global impact through our teaching and research, together with our partners.
Feedback and suggestions
If you have feedback about the Space, share your thoughts through this survey to let us know what your experience of Telstra Creator Space was like.
Virtual Tour
Telstra Creator Space features an extensive range of industry-grade equipment and tools. All you need to do to start using them is to register and then complete the required training.
Not sure what equipment you need to use? Explore the information on this website or come in and speak to a Telstra Creator Space team member for guidance.
Areas
Telstra Creator Space has a number of specialised areas dedicated to different aspects of making. From idea through to finished product, there is an area in which you can work on each stage of your prototype’s development. All areas require General Maker Training to access, and some require further training.
General Maker
Ground floor, basement
The General Maker areas are for designing and building your early prototypes. There are whiteboards to plan and sketch designs, cardboard and glue for making mock-ups and hand tools like saws, drills and hammers for building prototypes.
You’ll also find drop-in design desks with dual monitors, docking stations and power available to finesse your CAD designs here. We are a hands on learning space, so please schedule your studying and zoom calls in study spaces around campus and away from our concierge area.
Required training: General Maker Training
Electronics
Ground floor, basement
The Electronics areas contain the equipment needed to make, test and analyse the electronic aspects of your projects as well as soldering rework stations.
Required training: Introduction to Electronics and Soldering
Test Bed
Ground floor
The Test Bed is a large, open area for testing prototypes, conducting user testing, and hosting events and exhibitions.
Required training: General Maker Training
Wood Shop
Basement
The Wood Shop contains traditional wood working machines which can be used to cut, turn, sand and shape wood and plastics. These machines are all connected to a dust extraction system and have a trained staff member to assist in their correct and safe method of use.
Required training: Wood Shop
Metal Shop
Basement
The Metal Shop contains traditional metal fabrication machines for cutting, bending, drilling, grinding and assembling steel and aluminium structures.
Required training: Metal Shop
Machining
Basement
CNC machining
Accurately cut and form materials here with automated control and programming to bring your mock-up to life.
Required training: CNC Mill, CNC Lathe, CNC Router
Traditional machining
Accurately turn, mill, drill and bore various materials using conventional machining processes.
Required training: Manual lathe, Manual mill
Services
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3D printing
Any University of Melbourne student or staff member can submit jobs online to be 3D printed. Completed jobs can be collected from The Hive in the Telstra Creator Space foyer.
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Event support
Telstra Creator Space supports student clubs and faculty members to run hands-on events in the Space. Please email us with your ideas and we’d be happy to help host your event.
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Design fabrication review
Do you have a draft design or drawings but not sure how to bring it to life or do it in a sustainable way? Request a review with a Telstra Creator Space team member.
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3D scanning
Artec Leo and Artec Space Spider are available for use in Telstra Creator Space.
Upcoming events
Telstra Creator Space hosts hackathons, workshops and meetups for faculty and student clubs throughout the year.
Are you a UniMelb student club or a part of the university interested in hosting an event at Telstra Creator Space? Please check out our event guidelines and contact us with your ideas and we’d be happy to help host your event.
View our Winter 2023 events schedule
Face-to-face training
We are running face-to-face training sessions throughout the year including SWOT Vac, Exams and the Winter & Summer break. Early in the semester we increase availability to accommodate coursework students, however do scale back and pause session towards in the final weeks to increase access to equipment and space.
To book a face-to-face session, please ensure you have registered for Telstra Creator Space by following the instructions on the Start making page, enrolled in the training course and completed the required eLearn modules.
Past events
Event guidelines
We ask that events held in Telstra Creator Space align with FEIT guidelines, in that they are one or more of the following:
- Educational
- Not for profit
- Part of the Melbourne Connect Community and or UoM (direct student and or staff)
- STEM/STEAM recruitment related to UoM
and not:
- UoM Alumni activity that does not meet points 1. AND 2. above
- Recruitment activities from non-UoM educational providers
- Unaligned external organisations
FEIT reserves the right to reject event proposals at its discretion.
If your event matches the criteria, you’re good to go! Contact telstra-creatorspace@unimelb.edu.au with your ideas and we’d be happy to help host your event. Need help refining your ideas to bring them into line? Feel free to contact us as well.
Want to step into Telstra Creator Space and learn how to use industry-grade tools and equipment for yourself? Great! We’re thrilled to have you join our community.
Telstra Creator Space has a range of equipment ready for you to use to bring your idea to life. To ensure your safety, we’ll need you to follow 2 steps to get making.
The training is designed to be practical, effective, and short. The process ensures that your maker space education is useful. We want you to learn what you need to get started straight away. Plus, training sessions are a handy way of learning skills that are being used right now in the industry as well as giving you a solid foundation for developing future skills.
Here’s what you need to do before entering Telstra Creator Space.
Using Telstra Creator Space for your subject/course work? Check out this 3 minute video to get you started.
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Register
Complete the User Registration and accept the Terms of Access and Use.
Complete the User Registration
Note: It may take up to 45 minutes for the General Maker Training to appear in TrainMe once you have registered.
While you wait, please familiarise yourself with what to do when coming to Telstra Creator Space.
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Enrol in and complete General Maker Training
Access to Telstra Creator Space is granted on completion of General Maker Training.
The training consists of two components. The first involves three eLearn modules in TrainME, a UniMelb Learning Management System. These are best completed on a laptop or desktop.
The second is a face-to-face session with a Telstra Creator Space team member to become familiar with the workspaces, amenities and equipment. Note: Towards the end of semester, face-to-face session delivery will be paused to ensure sufficient access to equipment and space for coursework projects.
When you have completed General Maker Training, your UoM card will be updated with swipe access to both the ground floor and basement and you will be able to use workspaces, equipment and lockers.
When coming to Telstra Creator Space
We’re committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. We want you to be comfortable, so please introduce yourself and ask questions.
In the interest of safety, please adhere to the following:
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Bring your UoM Card, for your use only
Your UoM card is essential for you to access Telstra Creator Space and use the equipment.
Allowing someone else to use your card, including swiping someone else in, is a breach of the Terms of Access and Use and will result in penalties.
If you are joining us for a tour, please sign in at the Telstra Creator Space Concierge.
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Wear closed-toe shoes
Entry will not be granted to anyone who is wearing open-toed footwear, no matter how hot the weather is.
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Bring in safety glasses
We will provide you with your very own safety glasses in your General Maker Training face-to-face session. Use the signage and equipment and standard operating procedures to understand when you need to wear them. They must be worn when necessary.
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Long hair must be tied back
Unobstructed vision is required at all times and reduces the risk of your hair becoming tangled in the moving parts of equipment. Tie it back before entering Telstra Creator Space.
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No food or drink
Have your coffee, lunch and snacks before you come in. Closed water bottles are permitted.
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No loose clothing or jewellery
Loose clothing and jewellery are not permitted. They pose a serious safety risk as they may become tangled in the moving parts of equipment. We also do not recommend wearing polyester clothing as it is a highly flammable material.
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Clean up after yourself
Users are responsible for returning the tools, materials and chairs they have used to the correct locations and for cleaning their workspace, including COVID cleaning. Also remember to wash your hands after soldering. Our team members are highly skilled and are there to provide guidance and support to users, not to provide a cleaning service to Telstra Creator Space.
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Take 5 before you start
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Report incidents and equipment issues
Inform a team member of any near miss or injury occurring in Telstra Creator Space. Report any issues or breakages of tools and equipment.
We can’t maintain the safest possible environment for everyone without your help.
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Communicate openly
Telstra Creator Space is a collaborative environment, one where you're encouraged to work with others to innovate. A key part of this is communication. Introduce yourself to other users and the Telstra Creator Space team members.
Our team members have a wealth of knowledge they are willing to share to support you in your making so please reach out if you're unsure of anything.
Ask first:
- If you’d like to bring in your own materials, such as paints and adhesives, as, in the interests of everyone’s safety, certain hazardous materials are banned.
- If you don’t know the right tool or material to use, or what’s best to shape your material. For example, treated pine cannot be cut using the laser cutter as it is hazardous.
- If in doubt about anything at all.
Tell us:
- About any near miss or injury occurring in Telstra Creator Space.
- If there are any issues or breakages of tools and equipment.
- What you think - feedback is important to keep the space meeting your needs.
We can’t maintain the safest possible environment for everyone without your help.
Materials
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology provides a basic materials inventory for projects of all types to use. In line with The University of Melbourne’s Sustainability Plan 2030, we encourage users to prototype using drawings or designs in CAD before physical prototyping.
Before bringing in your own materials, please check the Telstra Creator Space accepted and banned materials list. If your material is not listed, please ask.
Depending on the project, there are various ways to source your materials.
Project type | Channel | Notes |
Coursework |
| Guidance to be provide via your subject coordinator |
Capstone |
| *To access ‘in kind’ materials, groups are encourage to attend a Design Fabrication Review with a Telstra Creator Space team member to understand your needs |
FEIT Clubs and Societies |
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Personal |
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Prototyping materials and off cuts
What’s an off cut?
An off cut is piece of waste material that is left behind after cutting a larger piece.
Re-purposing rejects, seconds and factory off cuts
From time to time, Telstra Creator Space sources a variety of items from Reverse Art Truck to assist in topping up our 'prototyping materials' for open ended projects.
What’s in your ‘prototyping materials’ collection?
It’s random and can change daily! For example, we could have PVC Pipes, string, or small bits of dowel. It's best to come in and check it out.
How you can contribute
Turn your waste, off cuts into something usable for someone else by placing it in the signed Prototyping materials and off cuts locations in Telstra Creator Space.
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Materials
Telstra Creator Space provides users with basic materials inventory to assist with making and honing one’s making skills. We do our best to maintain our stock levels and encourage you to only use what you need for projects you are working on in the space. Note the materials inside the Wood Shop and Metal Shop are for those trained users only.
- General Maker - Fasteners, sandpapers, adhesives, lubricants, seals, bearings
- Laser Cutting – MDF*, Clear acrylic*
- Metal Shop (trained users only) – Mild steel*, aluminium*
- Wood Shop (trained users only) – Some timber*, plywood*, MDF*, dowel*
- Electronics – Resistors, capacitors, voltage regulators, transistors, switches, sockets, inductors and much more!
*consider checking the Prototyping materials and offcuts locations first!
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Self-Sourcing
Do you have something you want to bring in?
Some materials may let off toxic dust when being cut; this can be a health hazard, or can damage the equipment. For your safety and for the equipment in the space, please be aware of accepted and banned materials in Telstra Creator Space.
If unsure please check with a team member before purchasing.
Considering glues, paints and flammable substances
Please consider the safety of all glues, paints and potentially hazardous substances. All chemical materials must have an adequate MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) to be brought into Telstra Creator Space.
For more information, see the University's health and safety chemical management guidelines. Here you can find information on Safe Data Sheets, and access GoldFFX.
Chemical management guidelines
Note: the Safe Data Sheets information and GoldFFX access page is only accessible with a university username and password.
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Towards a circular economy
The University’s approach to the procurement and use of products, services and materials has stimulated a more just and circular economy and catalysed change in our campus communities.
Read more about Just and circular economy - Walking the talk in our operations in our Sustainability Plan 2030
Consider dissembling your project to help The University reach its target:
The University has reduced the flow and improved the circularity of materials passing through the University. Telstra Creator Space has the tools, space and equipment to help you give your project its next life.
Equipment training
We have a variety of training courses available in TrainME for you to enroll in to learn something new or extend your skill set. The following courses are available post completion of your General Maker Training:
- Laser Cutting
- Introduction to Electronics and Soldering
- Reflow Oven
- Wood Shop
- Metal Shop
Upon request for a project, you are working on, we offer Vacuum Former, CNC Machining (coming soon) Manual Mill and Lathe. Please book into a Design Fabrication Review consultation to kick this off.
All courses include eLearn module/s with one or more face-to-face sessions with a Telstra Creator Space team member for you to familiarise yourself with the procedures and gain confidence. Please note that you need to complete the applicable prerequisite training to be able to view and enroll in the equipment courses in TrainME and for the best user experience. Complete the eLearn module/s on a laptop or desktop.
Once you have completed an equipment training course, your UoM card will be updated within 2 hours with swipe/card insert access to activate that equipment.
Regular usage of the equipment is required to maintain your access.
Explore the equipment on each floor and see what equipment you can train in.
Other FEIT training offerings
Outside of Telstra Creator Space, The Experience Series brings you events and initiatives that connect you with industry, enhance your professional and technical skills and brings you together with other students.
- MATLAB
- SOLIDWORKS
- Python
- Report writing
- Presentations
- Academic English
Check out their website for more details
Using the space
We know that when projects are due, time is of the essence and access to the equipment and space is critical, as such, we strongly encourage you to plan ahead.
We are currently operating both floors on a just in time/first in best dressed basis. We encourage you to use the space for making activities only.
Bookings are required for
- Groups over 6 people across the space
- Test Bed
- Tours
- Filming
Please contact telstra-creatorspace@unimelb.edu.au with your request.
A new way to submit and track your 3D printing in Telstra Creator Space has arrived!
3D printing is available to everyone with a University of Melbourne email address. Please allow 5 days for this to be ready for collection, as position and number in the queue and size of print influences our service.
- Head to https://www.3dprinteros.com/
- Select “My Account” (top right hand on the page)
- Select SSO (Single Sign On)
- Search for “ University of Melbourne” and select
Getting Started (One time signup)
You will receive a welcome email from Michael at 3DPrinterOS noreply@3dprinteros.com. As you are signed in through SSO you will not require the password that is provided.
Need assistance with 3DPrinterOS? use the pop up chat or select Support from the menu bar to activate the chat bot
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Prepare
New to 3D Printing? It’s highly recommended that you complete the eLearn, Fundamentals of 3D Printing. This contains the basics of 3D printing, assistance in assessing if 3D printing is right for your project, and assist you in creating a high-quality finished product.
Note: This is available to users whom have completed the User Registration. Check out the Start Making for more.
Telstra Creator Space recommended Solidworks CAD or Fusion 360 (Computer Aided Design) software for developing your models. Check out Software for students - Student IT @ UniMelb
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Submit
Navigate to https://www.3dprinteros.com/ and log in
Naming Convention
- Select Files from the menu bar
- Rename your STL for printing using the naming conventions below
Purpose Project Name Format Example Coursework CourseCode_ProjectName_WorkshopNo_GroupNo MCEN30014_Gear_WS2_Grp4 Capstone Capstone_ProjectCode_ProjectName Capstone_I-21-WAND-021_Gear Research Research_ProjectName_Faculty Research_ProjectWhiteGear_FEIT Other Other_ProjectName_Faculty Other_PersonalProject 3. Select the Add files button
4. Drag and drop your STL file/s into the window or select from computer.
Slicing
5. Select the Slice button and adjust the following to prepare it for printing
a) Select Printer Type available in Telstra Creator Space
Printer Guidance MakerBot 5th Replicator+ Default standard PLA – perfect for prototyping Ultimaker 2+ Coming soon!!! MakerBot Z18 PLA. For taller items above 457mm FlashForge Request a Design Fabrication Review and bring along your drawing Markforged Mark Two Request a Design Fabrication Review and bring along your drawing b) Review and edit specifications for your print as required:
- Part needs to be within the dimensions of the build plate depending on which slicer is selected.
- Ensure that a raft is selected to help keep the part anchored to the build plate.
- Parts should not be touching the edges of the build plate as this will cause warpage or distortion due to the large surface area.
- Part with overhangs greater than 45 degrees need support material. Ensure that support is selected to ensure parts do not fail.
- Avoid solid parts as shell thickness is more than adequate and this will save on print time.
6. Select the Open slicer for<printer> button
7. Review and edit slice specifications as required
8. Select the Open slicer & toolpath preview button
This view will display the camera, layering of the print, the supports, quantity of filament used and the estimated print time.
Add to Queue
9. Select Print button
10. Select Radio button (the circle button) on jobs you wish to add to queue
11. Capture in Notes any information that may assist the team member to complete your job
- A description of what the part is is for. Be as descriptive as possible as this helps determine if 3D printing is the right method to use or can another fabrication option be used.
- For any capstone please include your supervisor here
- Due date for completion (+ 5 days)
12. Select Queue to add to queue
13. Select Files from the menu bar, Projects, to see your job queued
Yellow print button adds it to the queue. We will print this for you post reviewing your file!
If you have questions regarding the technical aspects of printing your design, please capture this in the notes area or even better, visit the team members on the ground floor in Telstra Creator Space.
(Please see the concierge and request to speak our 3D printing expert, Nasser)
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Review
Leave this to us!
Telstra Creator Space team member will do a review and allocate it to the next available printer. Any feedback about your files/ will be noted against your job and email sent through 3DPrinterOS. Help us complete your print by responding in a timely way.
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Print
Green light? You will receive an automated email : Your object was sent to the printer
A set of automated emails from 3DPrinterOS noreply@3dprinteros.com will keep you up to date of your job progress or any if any issues arise. You can manage these through your Profile Settings.
Upon completion, You will receive an automated email : Your object has been printed successfully. But wait! Over the next few hours (during opening hours) of our team will harvest it for you and place it in The Hive for collection.
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Collect
The Hive is located in Telstra Creator Space foyer near the Concierge.
Your Hive number is the same as the printer is was completed on. You will find this in your 'Your object has been printed successfully' email eg. TCS 3.3
Be aware that due to the high number of print requests, your print may be placed in the same Hive number as an earlier request. Please be mindful of other users and only collect your work.
If you do not collect your item within 1 week (7 days) of its completion it will be recycled.
You do not need to have completed General Maker Training to collect your print.
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Recycle
Finished with your 3D Print? Pop it in the pink drum in the Hive for recycling.
