Our Departments
Meet our specialist areas


Woodwork
Woodworking will be supported at MakerSpace Ashfield with its own area, that allows members to go through the 5 steps of woodworking.
They are :
- Planning and Design
- Cutting
- Drilling
- Fastening
- Sanding and finishing
Planning and design being the most crucial part of the process.
With wood being a natural material, each piece will have its own beauty and flaws that can be enhanced by the wood worker into something functional yet beautiful to behold, with a homely smell and tactile feel.
So come on down and make something unique.
Woodwork is located downstairs in the basement.
Department Lead, Martyn Stone


Textiles
Hello and welcome to Textiles at Ashfield Makerspace.
If you have ever wanted to have a go at anything textile based now is your chance.
Come along and meet new people, share knowledge and have fun learning a new craft. You can get your hands on fabulous machinery and equipment, from sewing machines, overlockers and knitting machines to small weaving frames, and a wonderful embroidery machine, plus our fabulous long arm quilting machine.
We also have an extensive selection of hand sewing patterns for cross stitch and embroidery, needle felting and locker hooking supplies and textile books, patterns and magazines to inspire you.
There will be lots of information to get you going, from taster days and tutorials to sewing and craft groups. Wherever your crafting imagination takes you we can help you get there!
This is your space, run by its members just for them. So get involved, share your ideas and have fun.
Textiles is located on the ground floor.
Department Leads Lynda Barnes, Yvonne Morley & Teresa Jackson

CNC/Laser/CadCam
CNC is the friend you didn’t realise you needed. It takes your creativity and helps you produce a perfectly cut result. If you design a beautiful button for that beautiful knitted cardigan, your friend CNC can make another 5 exactly the same. If you can’t cut in a straight line, CNC can do it for you. Not only that but it can cut circles perfectly every time along with curves to die for. Whether it be a sign, a wooden box, a button, or a model windmill, CNC can help you achieve results you only could dream of. And then make copies when your friends see the result. If you can design it, CNC can help you make it real. The CNC equipment are CO2 and Diode lasers, 3D Printers and Router.
CNC is located both on the ground floor and in the Basement.
Department Lead, Matt Relf


Metalwork
In our Metalwork department we have a shared workshop space for light turning and basic fabrication.
Available equipment:
1 × Colchester DB10S lathe
Sheet-metal folder / fabricator (maximum 0.9 mm material)
Bench-top pillar drill
Small bench grinder
Bench vices
Hacksaws
Engineer’s files
Hammers
Spanners
Members bring their own material and any specialised tooling.
There is currently no space available for project storage.
Use is subject to induction and safe working practice.
Metalwork is located downstairs in the basement.
Department Lead, Leo T. Beaver


STUDIO
Record a book for a grandchild? Make a tutorial for your friends? Or use it as therapy to get your thoughts out. The podcast studio will be there to help you record your ideas to share or to keep for yourself.
With multiple cameras, microphones and state of the art tech, recording has never been easier at our Studio.
The studio will be located on the ground floor and is currently under construction. If you have an interest in podcasts and would like to offer help setting up our studio, email us at info@makerspaceashfield.org.uk
Department Lead, VACANT

Other Crafts
Fancy doing a bit of painting, some print making, or maybe try some enamelling? Other crafts is the place to be. It’s the place to go for anything that hasn’t already been mentioned in the other departments.
We have a large range of equipment and smaller inner departments.
Our wet/messy room is equipped with screen printing stations, a Pooki print press for lino cut printing, a small Prometheus Pro 1 kiln for enamelling , a mug press, and areas for Batik work and Microwave glass fusing.
We also have a large flexible open area perfect for paper crafts, book making, jewellery making, leatherworking and gathering with fellow like minded makers to share projects you’ve been working on.
Other Crafts is located on the ground floor.
Department Lead, Yvonne Morley

Electronics
Our Electronics department offers a shared bench space for soldering and basic electronics work.
Available equipment:
Soldering stations
Hot-air rework station
Multimeters
Basic bench power supplies
Basic diagnostic tools
Solder and a desoldering pump are provided.
Members bring their own components and wire.
Use is subject to familiarisation and safe working practice.
Electronics is located on the ground floor.
Department Head, Leo T. Beaver

Financing
Though we have an income generated from our wonderful members as a non-profit community group we also depend on donations and external funding to keep MakerSpace running. If you’re interested in getting involved in some fundraising, or if you have anything big or small you’d like to donate to us, please get in touch via email at fundraising@makerspaceashfield.org.uk and we’ll will get back to you ASAP!

IT & Digital
If we’re doing it right, you’ll never need us ;). Building access, subscription and equipment payments, training records, instructions and how-to guides, documentation, machine access and more, all delivered via each member’s key fob RFID tag which interacts with our bespoke Fabman Management System. …and if it doesn’t work, try turning in off and on again.
Department Head, Matt Relf
