Relay Box

This is the guide for the relay / tool power access control boxes.

The guide for the doors is available here: https://wiki.bristolhackspace.org/access_control/door

The boxes are controlled by a NFC card reader towards the bottom of the box and a button at the top of the box.

The red status LED displays the controller state and the orange indicator lamp shows the power is provided to the tool.

When a box is locked and ready to go the status LED will “breath” changing from low to high brightness over a couple of seconds.

Tap your card or fob on the NFC sensor towards the bottom of the box over the “N” logo in the diagram above. The box will check with the induction system that you have the required inductions to operate the machine and turn on the power to the tool. The status led will turn off and the indicator lamp will turn on. If the box can not reach the induction system or the required inductions have not been completed (or have expired) the red status LED will flash three times. Occasionally an invalid or corrupt value may be read from the NFC, take your card away from the NFC sensor for five seconds then retry.

When the status lamp is on you can use the tool.

When you have finished with the tool press the button to log out.

Some tools (mostly woodshop saws) will automatically log out if not used for more than 20 minutes.

If the box is not logging you on first take your fob away from the NFC sensor for five seconds and try again. If this still doesn't work then try the following:

• Check your induction status on the members site https://members.bristolhackspace.org/ (you must be on the “Bristol Hackspace” wifi) some tools require both an in-person induction and a quiz, for some tools the inductions expire
• If the members site is unresponsive or doesn't behave as expected check the “enrolement portal” PC in the laser room. If both are not functioning contact the committee
• Check the status of the tool on https://status.bristolhackspace.org/ this will show a red box with an error message when a login is rejected.
  • If the tool status is INITIALISING or OFFLINE it has likely lost it's network connection - try turning it off and on again. Find the wall plug connected to the tool and switch this off for five seconds then switch it on. Some tools like the metal mill require the three phase / transwave to be running before the access control box will operate.
  • If there is a “MAIN - ACCESS” error double check your induction status, if this is valid it is likely that the box has been configured as the wrong machine. Contact the committee on the forum (this can usually be rectified remotely).
  • If there is a “PN532” error push the logout button and wait 5 seconds before retrying. Even if this fixes your issue please contact the committee on the forum. The NFC reader will likely fail completely soon.
  • If the status is WAITING push the button, the status should return to AVAILABLE you should now be able to login.