Accessing Equipment/Software/Services for your Project

Please do NOT pay for equipment, software or services for your Project!.
We have a budget to buy things for you, and can lend you equipment - but it’s very hard to claim money back if you spend it yourself. Note that this budget is finite so we won’t be able to buy so you will need to carefully justify expensive equipment services (>£150).

Options are below:

Bookable Sessions with the Tech Hub

You can book sessions with the tech hub using their form this allows you to ask for support and/or how to purchase/borrow equipment/services that you might need.

Use tools and equipment, including 3D printing and laser cutting

The Hackspace and the General Engineering Lab in the Queen’s Building have 3D printers, laser cutters and other equipment you can use free of charge. You can find all the details, including the online inductions you need to take before you use the equipment on the Engineering Technical Services Blackboard (you must be logged into Blackboard).

There can be queues for the 3D printers as they get very busy, especially around deadlines. Don’t assume that you will be able to walk in and use them whenever you want - try to set up your jobs first thing in the morning or at the end of the days, and don’t care about the colours you’ll use.

If your supervisor is an HCI academic, you might also be able to use equipment in the BIG Lab - talk to them about what is possible.

Borrow equipment

If you want to borrow equipment for your project (including mobile phones, Arduinos, VR or AR equipment etc), email the Faculty of Engineering Tech Hub at FSE-tech-hub@bristol.ac.uk or drop into the Tech Hub (as you walk into MVB from the main entrance, turn left immediately after you go through the main door).

In your email, make sure you include which unit you’re on, and the sorts of things you need.

Buy equipment you can’t borrow

If you want to use equipment that you can’t borrow because it is not held in stock, or that would be too difficult to return after the end of your project (for example, you are building something that needs circuit boards, wires, connections etc), there is a dedicated procurement process you must follow.

You can find full details, including a downloadable form and an automated approval process, on the Engineering Technical Services Blackboard page under “Requesting Items for your Project (Procurement)”.

You should discuss your requirements with your supervisor before submitting a request.

Access online services/APIs

If you need access to online services (for example, cloud computing platforms, development accounts, APIs such as OpenAI, or other digital resources), there is a dedicated automated process for requesting these.

Details can be found on the “Cloud Services & Digital Resources” Blackboard page, accessible from the main Engineering Technical Services Blackboard page.

Please note: We will monitor usage. If your usage appears likely to exceed what we can afford, we will contact you in advance and may need to cap or stop the service.

Access Blue Pebble

If you need to use the High Performance Computer, email Shawn, Andrew and Sarah.