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Changes for page How to Use the RPS

Last modified by Alex Troyer on 2025/05/29 17:23
From version 6.20
edited by Alex Troyer
on 2025/05/29 15:01
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To version 6.13
edited by Alex Troyer
on 2025/05/29 14:56
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1 1  == Accessing the Space and Equipment ==
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3 3  The Rapid Prototyping Studio is available to the following individuals only:
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5 5  * Currently enrolled MEEN Majors
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18 18  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
19 -How you use the RPS will also vary by use case. There are currently 3 use cases available at the RPS: Academic, Research, and Personal. Please review these use cases below to determine the rules for your specific use case. Academic and Personal use cases must go through the standard training and self-use process outlined above, while Research use has alternative options.
20 +How you use the RPS will also vary by use case. There are currently 3 use cases available at the RPS: Academic, Research, and Personal. Please review these use cases below to determine the rules for your specific use case. Academic and Personal use cases must go through the standard training and self-use process outlined above, while Research use has alternative options
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21 21  == Academic Use (Self-Use) ==
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23 -Academic use is any reservation for an assignment in a **non-research** MEEN course. Research courses must use the pathway for research requests. Academic use is also available to instructors teaching a MEEN course, as long as it is related to that course.** It is the instructor's responsibility to contact RPS Staff within the first 2 weeks of the semester to request credits for their course.**
25 +Academic use is any reservation for an assignment in a **non-research** MEEN course. Research courses must use the pathway for research requests. Academic use is also available to instructors teaching a MEEN course, as long as it is related to that course.
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25 -* All students with an assignment that uses the Rapid Prototyping Studio will be given credits prior to the start of their assignment. The number of credits will vary depending on expected usage, as agreed between RPS Staff and the instructor.
27 +* All students enrolled in a MEEN course which uses the Rapid Prototyping Studio will be given a set number of credits for free prior to the start of their assignment. The number of credits will vary depending on the expected usage for that course, as agreed between RPS Staff and the course instructor. **It is the instructor's responsibility to contact RPS Staff prior to releasing an assignment to request credits for their students.**
26 26  * Academic reservations that exceed a student's credit balance must be approved by their instructor in writing, usually via email. Once approval is received, RPS Staff will add an agreed upon number of credits to the student's balance to allow completion of the assignment.
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28 28  == Personal Use (Self-Use) ==
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30 -All students who are actively taking a MEEN course are given an allowance of 15 credits for personal use during that semester. This can be used on any of the machines in the shop, and can also be used for academic assignments
34 +All students who are actively taking a MEEN course are given an allowance of 15 credits for personal use during that semester. This can be used on any of the machines in the shop.
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36 +* To get trained, log in with your NetID and make an appointment using the training slot on our [[reservation system>>url:https://reservations.rapidprototypingstudio.com/schedule.php?]].
32 32  * If a personal reservation exceeds your credit balance, you have a few options:
33 33  ** You can purchase additional credits from our [[online store>>url:https://tamu.estore.flywire.com/products?storeCatalog=5754]]. Credits are non-refundable, but do not expire, except upon graduation. Credits can also be transferred to other students upon request.
34 34  ** On equipment where the reservation includes material charges, you can get a credit discount by bringing in your own material, provided it meets our quality standards for use in our machines. Please note: If you are bringing in your own material, you will need to have RPS Staff manually return the credits to your account balance, and possibly create the reservation for you.
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36 36  //PLEASE NOTE//: Personal reservations may only use a maximum of **2 printers**. If more are needed or a bulk batch is requested, you must come in to the RPS to discuss your project.
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38 38  == Research Use ==
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40 40  Research-related parts can be fabricated at the RPS through 2 different methods: Self Use (generally faster and cheaper, but requires training on the equipment to be used,) and iLabs Requests (RPS staff will make everything for you, but this method takes longer and costs more.) Please note, researchers are not allowed to use the Joint Machine Shop for self-use at this time. Currently this equipment can only be used by staff, so these fabrication requests must go through the iLabs route.