We have 3 Epilog Laser Cutters in our Labs. This is a red dot tool, meaning we require a trained teacher presence at or near the machine whenver it is in use. Over time, students may operate this machine independently as long as there is a trained adult in the space at the same time. 

Our Labs are always set up "make ready," which means we have sewing and embroidery machines out with necessary tools like fabric scissors, extra needles, thread, and fabric scraps kept right at the station. These are red dot tools, because very sewing machine is unique and requires a bit of orientation before jumping in. When working in our Lab spaces with students, we are a fan of the Singer Heavy Duty sewing machines, which hold up pretty well to our wear and tear. 

Also standard in all "certified" FabLabs, we have a woodworking bench space with vice, clamps, hand tools, and power tools. Our Innovation Lab features a separate "Fabrication Zone" housing all this equipment, separated from the rest of the lab by a keycoded lock - this room is considered a "yellow dot room," meaning Mrs. Delia or another trained teacher will join students any time they wish to work in that space. At the Upper School, all of our woodworking tools are part of the Woodshop, managed by TJ Gainley. 

The Ryobi Miter Saw is a RED DOT tool in our lab which means adults are the only ones who operate it. Our students assist with measuring and setting up the material and machine, and holding the end of the plank while a teacher operates the equipment. In this video we explain some of the safety features we use with this machine, and with our woodshop in general. 

Mrs. Delia takes us on a tour of the Ryobi Bandsaw we use in our Hawken Innovation Lab woodshop. This is a RED DOT tool, but students do use this with very close supervision and hands-on guidance. Learn how to safely set up the machine, what safety equipment is required, how to turn on the machine, and push a piece of wood through to get a clean cut. Of course, we'll wrap up by showing how we vacuum the machine to reset the space!

The Ryobi drill press is used to make a hole in a piece of material by lowering a spinning drill bit down into material clamped to a stage. This tool allows us a lot more control and precision than a portable power drill, but it is connected to a table top so it can't be moved around at all. We start using the drill press during our PreK visits to the Innovation Lab or in any student project where we need to make a hole. Watch Director of the Innovation Lab, Mrs. Delia, show you how to set up the machine, exchange drill bits, drill a hole, clean up the machine, and of course, how to be safe when working with Power Tools!

The Drill Press is considered a "red dot tool," meaning students may use this tool alongside an adult, or with very close supervision by an adult, depending on their readiness and training level.

The "Innovation Zone" areas of our Makerspaces are full of fun, easy-to-use, safe, green dot tinkering materials meant to build creativity and provide many different materials to prototype with right at our students' fingertips. From pipe cleaners to buttons, paper towel rolls, bins of cardboard, newspaper, glues, tapes, clips, to the tools to work with all these supplies, our students are constantly creating in this high-activity areas of our Makerspaces. We keep all of these supplies out and make-ready, so they are easily seen and accessed by everyone. 

Some of our favorite speciality tools to use when working with these open maker tools are the Canary Cutter, Zip Snip, Crop-A-Dile Punch, and Popsicle Stick Cutter.