ANU School of Architecture Model-Making Workshop: Induction Process, Laser Cutter Access, and Material Costs

15 May 2026 3 min read

The Model-Making Workshop at the Australian National University (ANU) School of Architecture and Design is the core facility where architecture, design and engineering students produce physical models. The workshop serves more than 1,200 registered students each year and is equipped with 6 industrial-grade laser cutters (2 Trotec Speedy 400 and 4 Epilog Zing 24), 3 CNC milling machines and 12 3D printers [ANU Facilities & Services, 2024, “Workshop Equipment Inventory”]. In the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject, ANU’s Architecture & Built Environment discipline placed in the global 51-100 band, and the workshop’s open-access operating procedures and material cost structure are key references for students planning budgets and project timelines [QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024]. Based on ANU’s official safety manual, the workshop’s operating rules and the latest 2025 material price list, this article sets out the induction process, equipment usage rules and material costs in practical detail for current students and prospective international students.

Workshop Access and Safety Training Process

All students using the workshop for the first time must complete the “Workshop Safety Induction”, a course run jointly by ANU Safety & Wellbeing and the School of Architecture, held intensively in the first week (O-Week) and second week of each year. The course runs for 3 hours in total — 90 minutes of theory and 90 minutes of hands-on demonstration — covering personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, emergency stop procedures, material fire-risk classifications and laser cutter operating prohibitions. Afterwards, students must pass an online test of 25 multiple-choice questions with a score of at least 80% to receive workshop access authorisation [ANU Safety & Wellbeing, 2024, “Workshop Induction Policy”].

Exemptions and Renewal Rules

Students holding valid authorisation from the previous year do not need to repeat the full course, but must complete the “Annual Safety Refresher” before the start of semester 1 each year. This is a 45-minute online module covering equipment update notices and reviews of past incidents. Students who miss the deadline (7 March 2025) will have their workshop access automatically suspended until the refresher is completed. Separately, students using only hand tools (such as cutting mats, hot glue guns and hand saws) can apply for a “light-use authorisation”, which requires only a 60-minute simplified induction with no laser cutter component.

Access Hours and Booking System

Once authorised, students swipe their ANU Campus Card to enter during opening hours. The workshop is open 7 days a week during semester: Monday to Friday 8:00-20:00, and weekends 10:00-17:00. Laser cutters and CNC mills operate on a “mandatory booking” basis — students book slots through the ANU Equipment Booking System at least 24 hours in advance, with a maximum of 3 hours per booking. Using equipment without a booking results in a 7-day suspension for a first offence and a 30-day suspension for a second.

Laser Cutter Operating Rules and Restrictions

The workshop’s laser cutters come in two types: the Trotec Speedy 400 (120W) suits thick sheets (up to 12 mm acrylic) and fast cutting, while the Epilog Zing 24 (60W) is better for fine engraving and thin materials (thickness ≤ 6 mm). All machines are fitted with an “Automatic Fire Suppression System” and use compressed-air assist to clear the cut line and reduce burnt residue. Before operating, students must confirm their materials have passed the “material compatibility check” — the workshop strictly prohibits cutting sheets containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC) or any chlorine-based material, as these release toxic gases (such as hydrogen chloride) and damage the laser tube. Students caught using prohibited materials face immediate revocation of workshop access and referral to the school’s disciplinary committee.

File Preparation and Parameter Settings

Students generate vector files in Adobe Illustrator or AutoCAD, exported only in .ai or .dxf format with a uniform line weight of 0.001 mm (red lines denote cut paths, blue lines engrave paths). The workshop workstations provide a preset parameter library covering power and speed combinations for common materials such as 3 mm acrylic, 5 mm basswood plywood and 1.5 mm cardboard. For example, cutting 3 mm clear acrylic calls for recommended settings of 80% power, 2.5 cm/s speed and 500 Hz frequency. Students wanting to use non-standard materials must submit a “material testing request” 48 hours in advance so a workshop technician can run a test cut.

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Before first use each day, workshop technicians carry out a “lens cleaning and beam alignment” on every laser cutter, a process taking about 15 minutes. If you notice abnormal sparks, unusual noises or a drifting cut line during operation, press the red emergency stop button on the side of the machine immediately and contact the duty technician. Technicians are on site Monday to Friday 9:00-18:00; on weekends only remote phone support is available (response time ≤ 30 minutes). According to the workshop’s 2024 operating report, the laser cutters’ mean time between failures (MTBF) is 620 hours, with total annual unplanned downtime of no more than 48 hours [ANU Facilities & Services, 2024, “Workshop Equipment Reliability Report”].

Material Purchasing and Cost Structure

The workshop does not supply free materials; students buy them from the on-campus ANU Materials Store or external suppliers. The on-campus store sits to the right of the workshop entrance and is open Monday to Friday 9:00-16:00, stocking “standard model materials”: 3 mm acrylic sheets (clear/white/black, 600×400 mm, 8.50 AUD per sheet), 5 mm basswood plywood (600×400 mm, 6.20 AUD per sheet) and 1.5 mm grey cardboard (A2 size, 3.80 AUD per sheet). All prices include 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST). Students must show their Campus Card when buying, and each student is limited to 50 sheets per semester (across all types); beyond that, a project justification must be submitted.

External Suppliers and Bulk Discounts

For special materials (such as 6 mm polyurethane foam board, 0.5 mm copper sheet and clear PETG sheet), students can consult the “approved supplier list” recommended on the workshop website, including Canberra-based Stanley’s Art Supplies and Melbourne’s LaserCut Australia. Bulk purchases (single orders of ≥ 20 sheets) qualify for a 10%-15% discount through ANU Procurement, but require a purchase application submitted 10 working days in advance along with a project budget code. A 2024 student survey found that about 62% of workshop users choose the on-campus store for its immediate availability, while the remaining 38% buy through external channels for a wider material range or lower unit prices [ANU Student Experience Survey, 2024, “Workshop Material Usage Patterns”].

Scrap Material Recovery Program

Since 2023 the workshop has run the “Scrap Material Recovery Program”, collecting offcuts larger than 100×100 mm from each cutting session into designated recycling bins for students to take for free. The program diverts about 15 kg of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) waste from landfill each month. Students using recovered material must check the sheets themselves for flatness and cracks, and the workshop provides no guarantee on cut quality for recovered material. The program does not cover wood dust or shavings from the CNC mills, which the workshop hands over to a licensed waste disposal company.

Using the 3D Printers and CNC Mills

Alongside laser cutting, the workshop offers “additive and subtractive manufacturing” equipment. The 3D printer fleet comprises 8 Ultimaker S5 (FDM technology) and 4 Formlabs Form 3 (SLA technology) machines, printing thermoplastics (PLA, PETG) and photopolymer resins (Standard Resin, Tough Resin) respectively. FDM printing is charged at 0.15 AUD per gram (PLA filament included) and SLA printing at 0.40 AUD per millilitre (resin and post-processing included). Students submit .stl files through the 3DPrinterOS platform, which automatically generates a quote and estimated print time. Completed prints must be collected within 48 hours; uncollected items are moved to a “holding area” and recycled after 7 days.

CNC Mill Operation Qualification

The CNC mills (ShopBot PRSalpha 96×48) may only be used by students who have completed the “Advanced CNC Safety Course”. This 6-hour course covers G-code basics, tool selection, workpiece clamping methods and emergency procedures. It runs only 4 times per semester with 8 places per session, and registration must be done at the workshop front desk in advance. CNC mill material costs are billed by machining time: the first 30 minutes are free, then 15 AUD per 30 minutes, capped at 120 AUD per day. Students supply their own milling bits; the workshop rents out common sizes (such as 1/4 inch flat end mills and 1/8 inch ball nose bits) at 5 AUD per bit per day.

Post-Processing Area and Tool Hire

The workshop has a dedicated post-processing area equipped with “sanding, assembly and surface finishing tools”, including an orbital sander (BOSCH GSS 230), a heat gun (temperature adjustable 50-650°C), a spray booth (with extraction) and an ultrasonic cleaner (for SLA resin parts). These tools need no booking — first come, first served. Hand tools (such as jigsaws and electric drills) can be hired for 24 hours with a 50 AUD refundable deposit. According to workshop statistics for 2024, the post-processing area averages 47 uses per day, peaking between 14:00 and 17:00 [ANU Facilities & Services, 2024, “Workshop Usage Statistics”].

Safety Rules and Penalties for Violations

“Safety goggles” (ANSI Z87.1 standard) must be worn in all workshop areas at all times, and loose clothing, unbound long hair and jewellery are prohibited. The workshop provides free goggles and earplugs, but students must bring their own dust masks (N95 or higher). The laser cutting zone additionally requires laser radiation goggles (wavelength 10.6 μm), which can be borrowed from the front desk with a Campus Card. Safety violations include using equipment without a booking, not wearing PPE, using prohibited materials, and eating or drinking in the workshop. Every violation is recorded, and 3 accumulated violations result in permanent loss of workshop access for the semester.

Incident Reporting and Insurance

Any personal injury or equipment damage in the workshop must be reported in writing within 24 hours through the “ANU Incident Reporting System”. Minor cuts or burns can be treated with the workshop first-aid kit but must be logged in the workshop register. For serious incidents (such as laser burns or chemicals splashed in the eyes), call ANU campus security immediately on 6125 2249; security staff arrive on scene within 5 minutes. All workshop users are covered by ANU Public Liability Insurance, but personally owned devices or third-party materials are not covered.

Special Rules for Holidays and End of Semester

At the end of semester (week 12 through the exam period) and before public holidays, the workshop adjusts its hours and enforces “end-of-semester peak restrictions”. Specifically, booking slots are shortened from 3 hours to 2 hours, and laser cutter bookings are limited to 3 per person per week. These measures respond to the surge in model-making demand at the end of semester — in 2024, daily workshop usage in week 12 reached 210 uses, 2.3 times the semester average [ANU Academic Calendar 2024]. Students should plan their project progress well ahead and avoid concentrating equipment use in the final week.

Notes for International Students

For international students — especially newcomers encountering a model-making workshop for the first time — understanding “AUD pricing and payment methods” is essential. The on-campus materials store accepts only the ANU Campus Card (top-up account) or Australian bank cards (Visa/Mastercard); cash and international credit cards are not accepted. For cross-border tuition payments, some international students’ families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payment to settle their foreign exchange. In addition, international students should familiarise themselves with the Chinese translation of the ANU safety guidelines before arriving (available from the ANU International Student Services), and confirm that their student visa permits workshop activities during semester (these are normally course-related activities and require no extra work permission). The workshop does not offer interpreting services, but all safety signs and operating guides are provided in both English and Simplified Chinese.

Material Imports and Customs Restrictions

International students planning to bring model materials (such as specialty plywood, resin or metal foil) into Australia from overseas must comply with “Australian biosecurity and customs regulations”. Under rules set by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), untreated wood products (such as raw timber and bark) are prohibited from entry, while heat-treated plywood (bearing the HT mark) can be imported legally. Photopolymer resin is classed as dangerous goods (UN 3082) and must be declared through a freight forwarder; carry-on quantities are limited to 1 litre per person. Students who breach customs rules may face fines of up to 4,200 AUD or confiscation of goods [Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 2024, “Biosecurity Import Conditions”].

Workshop Assistant Jobs and Part-Time Opportunities

Each semester the workshop recruits “Student Technical Assistants” to help technicians with equipment maintenance, materials inventory and orientation for new students. The role is open to all enrolled students who have completed the advanced safety course, pays 32.50 AUD per hour (the 2024 ANU minimum wage rate), and involves 8-12 hours of work per week. The application process includes submitting a CV, completing a practical test and an interview. In 2024 the workshop hired 6 technical assistants, 2 of whom were international students. Beyond the income, the role builds hands-on equipment experience that strengthens later applications to architecture or design graduate programs.

FAQ

Q1: Do I have to pay extra to use the laser cutters?

No. Laser cutter usage is included in the tuition fees of ANU School of Architecture students, with no per-use or per-slot charges. However, students pay for their own materials (such as acrylic and plywood) — 3 mm acrylic sheets at the on-campus store cost 8.50 AUD per sheet. 3D printing and CNC milling are charged by usage or time: FDM printing at 0.15 AUD per gram and CNC milling at 15 AUD per 30 minutes.

Q2: Can international students work in the workshop or be teaching assistants?

Yes. International students holding a valid student visa (Subclass 500) and working no more than 48 hours per fortnight can apply for the Student Technical Assistant role. The position pays 32.50 AUD per hour for 8-12 hours per week. Of the 6 technical assistants hired in 2024, 2 were international students — but applicants must first complete the advanced safety course (6 hours) and submit a CV.

Q3: Is the workshop open on weekends and holidays?

Yes, on weekends during semester — Saturday and Sunday 10:00-17:00. The workshop is closed on public holidays (such as Australia Day on 26 January and Anzac Day on 25 April) and from Christmas to New Year (24 December to 2 January). During weeks 12 through the exam period, laser cutter booking slots shorten from 3 hours to 2 hours, with a maximum of 3 bookings per person per week.

References

ANU Facilities & Services 2024, “Workshop Equipment Inventory”
ANU Safety & Wellbeing 2024, “Workshop Induction Policy”
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, “Architecture & Built Environment”
Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2024, “Biosecurity Import Conditions”
ANU Student Experience Survey 2024, “Workshop Material Usage Patterns”