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How Do I?The Makerspace is located on the third floor of the Old Post Office. It is a hands-on creative space for members to invent, collaborate, and design as they transform their ideas into reality.
A full teen or adult Idea Exchange membership and a signed waiver is required for equipment use.
Contact the Old Post Office at 226-533-2767 with any questions or to make a reservation.
Makerspace Equipment
The laser cutter is a computer controlled cutting machine. Designs created on your computer can be cut or engraved into material such as wood, glass, fabric and more. Use the laser cutter to make custom signs, engraved cutting boards, engraved glassware, architectural models, 3D puzzles, and more.
Help Guides and Videos
With our 3D printers, users can design and create real items, including prototypes. These 3D printers lay down material, layer by layer until the full design is rendered. Our members have created jewellery, ornaments, and more.
Print posters, collages and other designs up to 24" wide with our archival quality, large format printer. Select from a variety of paper and canvas types to make your art and photographs stand out in any setting.
Idea Exchange has a variety of Cricut machines and Cricut tools available for our members. Use our Cricut Design Space Software to access 1000s of beautiful pre-made projects or to design your own. Make custom greeting cards, t-shirts, mugs, and more.
This machine makes it easy for you to personalize and monogram many different items. The Janome Memory Craft 500E comes loaded with preset images and fonts that you can choose from, with an easy to use touch screen panel. You can even make your own designs using the Artistic Digitizer software. We have many different colours of thread, and various sizes of embroidery hoops, including a hat attachment, to do both big and small projects. All you need to bring is the fabric or item you want embroidered.
More Makerspace Equipment
Take and Make Kits
Our Take and Make kits come ready to assemble with instructions and everything you need to make your creation come to life.
Notice: Take and Make service is temporarily paused so that submitted items can be completed in a timely fashion. We will do our best to complete already submitted orders by December 23. Take and Make service will resume in early January.
Makerspace Pick-up Service
Notice: Due to a busy holiday season, we can no longer accept additional Makerspace pick-up orders or Take and Make orders for completion within our typical timeframe. We will do our best to output your design but there is no guarantee it will be done before the holidays.
How Do I Use the Makerspace Pick-up Service?
To submit projects, you will need a valid Idea Exchange membership and then follow these five steps:
- Step One – Create your Design File
For all projects, include any and all instructions in a readme file, a printout, or in the email.
We will accept the following types of design files:
- Laser cutter
- Designs created in any 2D drawing application
- The file extension must be one of the following: .pdf, .cdr, .svg, .ai, .dwg, .dxf
- Only unfinished, natural materials are used (e.g. wood, fabric, clear glass for etching)
- 3D printing
- The file extension must be one of the following: .stl or .obj
- Large format printer
- The file extension must be one of the following: .jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .svg, .tiff
- High resolution images are preferred
- Include the desired size and the paper type (glossy, matte, plain) of the printed image(s)
- Pinback buttons and magnets
Please note:
- Design files must be complete. Staff will not design projects.
- Idea Exchange reserve the right to refuse incomplete designs.
- Quality of finished product will vary, depending on quality of design submitted. Idea Exchange is not responsible for any manufacturing defects in the quality of workmanship or materials inherent in any of the tools or equipment.
- It is the member’s obligation and responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright, patent, trademark or other use restrictions. Idea Exchange is not responsible for violation of intellectual property laws.
- Idea Exchange reserve the right to refuse any projects that violate our policies, are unsafe and/or are unlawful.
- Laser cutter
- Step Two – Submit your Design File
- Members can submit design files to oporeception@ideaexchange.org or drop-off USB and materials to the Old Post Office during opening hours.
- All materials submitted must be labelled and include your:
- First and last name
- Telephone number and email address
- Idea Exchange membership number
- Complete instructions for build
- A maximum of three (3) jobs per member will be accepted per week.
When using your own authorized materials with our laser cutter, there will be a $2.00 fee. This helps to cover basic machine, filter, and maintenance costs.
- Step Three – Wait for Staff to Contact You When the Job is Complete
Notice: Due to a busy holiday season, we can no longer accept additional Makerspace pick-up orders or Take and Make orders for completion within our typical timeframe listed here. We will do our best to output your design but there is no guarantee it will be done before the holidays.
- Staff will produce designs and call or email you when the job is complete.
- We will do our best to complete jobs within seven (7) days. Larger jobs may require more time. Completion times may also vary due to volume.
- If longer than seven days is required to complete a job, Makerspace staff will contact you to arrange timing for job completion and for pickup.
- Step Four – Pay for Material Costs
- For curbside pickup, any material costs incurred must be paid for by credit card in advance
- In-person pickup can be paid at the reception desk by cash, credit card, or Interac
- Material costs are as follows:
- Step Five – Pick Up Your Completed Project
- To pick up your Makerspace project or kit, please enter the building through the main entrance doors and speak to staff at the first floor Reception desk.
- For contact-free pickup, call 226-533-2767 during open hours and staff will bring your items to the door.
