(Updated 11/05/2025)
Planning your visit is easy! You can always walk-in, but if you are seeking advice on a project and/or need to meet a specific deadline, making a reservation is always better.
The BMCC Makerspace is a tinkering lab and not a dedicated production facility. We will always do our best to support BMCC students, faculty and staff, but taking on any project beyond a single prototype will be at the discretion of the lab manager and their availability.
Please Note:
- Hours are subject to change due to events/classes, check our calendar for updates, and follow our Instagram account to stay informed.
- If emailing after the last hour of the day, the email will not be addressed until the next working day.
- Consultations (walk-ins and reservations) need to start at least 1 hour before closing time.
- Please clean up and save your work 15 minutes before closing time to allow the space to close in a timely manner.
Hours Fall 2025:
Mondays: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Tuesdays: 2:00 – 7:00 pm
Wednesdays: 9:00 am-1:00 pm | 4:00 – 7 :00 pm
(Lunch 1-2pm; Club Hours 2-4pm)
Thursdays: 2:00- 7:00 pm
Fridays: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 2:00 – 5:00 pm
(Lunch 1-2pm)
Please be advised for schedule changes on the following days– check the calendar or Instagram for details.
September 22nd -24th
October 1st – 2nd, 13th – 14th, 20th, & 24th.
Summer & Winter hours are limited and reservation only due to prioritizing maintenance and upkeep. Self-study visits are encouraged, but email the lab manager before arriving.
Services:
- General Tours: Get to know the Makerspace and its tools! Get inspiration for projects and get to know the lab manager.
- Project Consultation: Get advice on a specific project. Walk-in, or make a reservation. While we encourage you to come in physically, under certain circumstances we can provide a virtual consultation.
- Guided Equipment Usage: The Lab Manager is here to onboard you with the 3D printer, vinyl cutter, and other equipment available in the space. Please note: the laser cutter cannot be self-operated and will always need to be operated but the Lab Manager.
- Self-Study: Self-study people do not need to make a reservation, but it is encouraged to make sure that machine is reserved for your use. This is only limited to the vinyl cutter and 3D printers as students cannot operate the laser cutter alone.
- Laser Cutter/ 3D Print Reservations: Need a print done but not able to come to the Makerspace? Simply contact the Lab Manager and have your pieces made to order and pick them up at a later date.
- Workshop/Event Hosting: We accommodate small scale events or workshops in the lab that require the equipment or with materials provided by the host.
Walk-Ins:
Walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged– however reservations are prioritized. The lab manager can assist you with your project, give you access to some of the material and equipment, or simply show you around the space if it’s your first visit. Walk-ins are recommended for things like self-study, tours, initial production guidance, or general questions and not productions.
Reservations:
Reservations guarantee that time and your project is the priority. Please book time for a consultation as soon as possible to provide you guidance on materials and where to obtain it BEFORE production. This can be done fully through email, Zoom, or in-person during Open Hours.
Initial Consultation:
Please include the following information in your email:
- What you’d like to do: Is this a Makerspace tour, a project consultation, a one-on-one onboarding for a particular software/equipment, or reservation for using the equipment?
- Scope of Project: Is this a class project, or a semester long project for another purpose?
- The day(s) and time block(s) you would like (maximum is 2 hours a day).
- The machine you plan on using (if known)
- The material you plan on using, please include links if it’s material you plan on purchasing so that the Lab Manager can vet it (if known)
- Other CUNY Students: the email of the professor of which class project you’re using the space for.
Production:
- Please try to book a consolation as soon as possible and a production reservation at least 1-2 weeks before your project’s due date so it can be produced in a timely manner.
- Please send files at least 1-2 days before reservation to allow any me to make sure the file has been set up as per our output guidelines
- Templates are provided for students to follow to assist in speeding up the process.
Please be early or on time. Your reservation is your allotted time and if you arrive too late, you may have to reschedule for another day as we may not be able to produce things in time. Please be mindful and contact the Lab Manager if you are late or need to cancel a reservation. We recommend contacting you as soon as possible before your appointment.
Hosting an Event or Class:
If you wish to host a class or event in the Makerspace, email Anna Pinkas, and CC the Lab Manager. Please make sure to check our calendar for any current scheduling. Please try to make sure to reserve the space 1-2 weeks before your planned event date at the latest to allow us to coordinate and prepare on our end. We recommend for space limits, capping your event to 25 people or less.
Bulk Production in the Makerspace:
I must stress this again: the Makerspace is primarily a space for the community to prototype, experiment, and work– we are not a production studio/lab service like Reprographics. While we do occasionally produce things for Departments and Clubs for events, this is usually out of good grace and not when it conflicts with our priority of student projects.
That being said, please refer to our following guidelines below. Not following them will leave you subject to limited or no production done.
- Contact the Lab Manager with initial consultations as soon as possible. Production lead time must be 2-3 weeks before the deliverable date/event.
- The Department/Club/Group must provide Lab Manager with a finalized design production ready per described in our output guides/consultation. Any major additional edits will not be made.
- Materials must be provided by the Department/Club/Group. Certain things might be available through the Makerspace but not a guarantee.
- Templates are provided here
- If providing only a logo, design is subject to following pre-made templates for final production.
Makerspace Production Limits:
- Color Printing: 20 pages per semester. Limited to 8.5 x 11” (letter) or 11 x 17” (tabloid)
File Type Accepted: PDF (Ideal), JPG - Print & Cut Stickers: 2-5 Pages at Manager’s discretion; Design size dependent.
File Type Accepted: AI/SVG (ideal), EPS, PSD, OR Large scale (more than 3000 x 3000 px) transparent PNG @ 300 DPI (acceptable) - Silk Screening: 5-10 Items per semester or Event.
File Type Accepted: AI (Ideal), SVG, EPS, or PDF (acceptable) - Laser Cut Keychains/Pins/Jewelry (General Swag): 50+ Items, dependent on material provided.
- Laser Cut Keychains/Pins/Jewelry (Events): 100+ Items, dependent on material provided and/or confirmation of numbers for the event
File Type Accepted: AI/SVG (ideal), EPS, PDF (acceptAble) - 3D Printing: 2-3 Files per week; Subject to print time. Not available for bulk production.
File Type Accepted: STL (ideal), OBJ (acceptable)
Arriving at the Makerspace:
Where is the Makerspace?
The Makerspace is located in Room S608 in the 199 Chambers Street building. Take the escalator up to the 6th floor, where you will see the Media Arts Technology Office and the vending machines. Take the left hallway down until you see the brick wall with two wooden benches. In the recess on the left you will see the Makerspace door (It may be somewhat obscured by the white pillar).
If using the elevators from the 2nd Floor, you take the left to the hallway and walk all the way down until you see the brick wall with two wooden benches. On the left you will see the Makerspace door. As of 2025, we now have a bulletin board and display case outside to the left and right of our door.
Signing-in and Out:
You can use this Link or the QR Code in the Makerspace. You may be asked by the Lab Manager to do so as well. Under “Item” you can put in walk-in, tour, or consult in general, but if using a specific machine, name the machine. Self-study without equipment can just fill in as “general lab use” or “self-study.” Reservations can be put down as “Reservation”.
Once you have signed in, you are free to self-study or use the equipment. If this is a reservation, then you may expect the Lab Manager to be prepared with whatever you requested.
Makers can expect a 15 minute warning before closing. This will allow you to save work or otherwise clean up.
