Now the woodshop move is complete, we can start work on expanding the metal workshop. We had some useful initial discussion here: https://bristolhackspace.discourse.group/t/metal-workshop-expansion-planning/3925 and the intent is to capture issues and decisions in this wiki

We have decided to split the workshop into 2 parts:

Machining : Lathe, Mill, CNC, Pillar Drill etc.

Fabriation : Welding, Grinding

Clean Area 95% Done

Update Floor Plan

Identify if remaining objects left behind from wood shop move are junk or treasure

     Dispose of the above if junk
     Relocate to other areas
     Find a home for it in the area

Paint walls

     Remove raw plugs etc. Machine shop done.
     Fill screw holes. Machine shop Done.
     Get paint and brushes. Done
     Paint them. As of 2026-03-29: Machine shop done
     

Paint floor

     Prepare floor. Remove tape etc. Machine shop done.
     Get paint and brushes. 2.5L of floor paint in workshop. Machine shop done.
     Paint machine shop. Suggest we first paint the area where the CNC will go, and then move the CNC. Done.
     Paint second half.
     

Move equipment to final positions.

     Move CNC. 2026-03-29: moved but needs repositioning.
     Move Lathe. We plan to do this next, once we have worked out a good way to move it.
     Move Small items
     

• Fire sensors: The metalshop currently has two, and if we keep the strip curtain, it needs to stay somewhere between these sensors. This does give us a little bit of play for moving the strip curtain up or down the room if desired.
• Hotworks only insured for welding and griding.
• Welding only within an arc-shielded environment.
• Welding and grinding only within a non-flammable environment. Update: Requirements for grinding need to be clarified. Not as strict as for welding.
• Welding needs ventilation so either next to the roller shutter or fit the large welding extractor we have in storage.
  • Moving the welding away from the roller shutter would require negotiation with the landlord.
• Old woodshop has the mezzanine supports which have Intumescent paint. Hotworks might damage the paint?
• The welder needs a 16A supply which we have by the shutter (plus another in the old woodshop which was installed for the jointer).
• Wall behind the current wooden metalshop bench has a removable lower panel for access to the laser room.
• Duncan prefers to keep the door into his half of the building accessible.
• Lathe positioned with access to feet, 100cm? to the right to allow for maintenance (including removing of thread screw), 50-60cm to the left to allow for access to the gears and for long workpieces, 40-50cm behind to allow access for maintenance. 80cm working area in front. Note: coolant system is below the lathe and its possible future use is still in discussion.
• We need to ensure there is access to the extractor fan connected to the Laser Cutter.

https://wiki.bristolhackspace.org/resources/install_standard

• Welding in an area where there is no chance anyone will accidentally enter. The current layout is not ideal.
• Grinding should be available even when welding is being done
• Lathe in a position where workpieces that protrude out of the left side will not cause a hazzard
• Group machines that are commonly used together
• Separate dirty and/or noisy machines from cleaner/quieter machines
• Provide smaller 'precision' machines in addition to the larger machines. E.g. benchtop lathe, mill, drill. The intention is that these would appeal to people not confortable with using the larger machines, and would also be more appropriate for smaller workpieces e.g. model-making.
• Workbenches in the centre of the room (following the woodshop layout). The current plan is for a small but robust workbench in the centre of the machine room. Possibly it will be bolted to the floor.
• Hackrack (metalshop-specific)
• Consumables (drill bits, cutters, blades etc.)
• Nuts & bolts and other common fixings

All new equipment needs a proposal. Some of the suggestions may not be practicable.

• Milling machine e.g. 626 Turret Mill - Metalworking Milling Machine
• Pillar drill + float-lock vise
• Sheet metal bender
• Guillotine (sheet metal cutter)
• Induction heater and/or Electric kiln. Rejected 13-01-2026 due to safety concerns.
• Induction forge + tempering setup. Rejected 13-01-2026 due to safety concerns.
• Plasma cutter e.g. ArcDroid CNC plasma cutter. Discussed 13-01-2026. Need advice.
• Water cutter. Unlikely to be feasible.
• Heavy-duty metal fabrication workbench.
• Standing belt sander to use with metal

• The metal CNC will be in the metalshop. Probably RHS of old woodshop.
• We will move the lathe into the old woodshop. Probably against LHS wall (looking in from the front), just inside the old woodshop.
• The welding area will stay where it is. (13-01-2026)
• Plan is to split the workshop into 3 areas: Engineering workshop (old woodshop) for 'clean' operations, welding & grinding area for the most dirty, and the remaining area for those in-between.
• The existing curtain to be retained but possibly moved towards the front of the building.

1. Grinding. There is a wide range of use-cases to consider. Some may have stricter contraints (ventilation, hotworks area) than others.
   • Hand tools. Under consideration.
   • Tool sharpening. TBD
   • 'Sword-making'. Hotworks area only.
2. Extraction for Lathe and (proposed) Mill. Intensive operations using cutting oil or coolant may create a lot of fumes. Do we need to plan for an extraction system?
   • Assume not for now. We want to keep open the possibility of short production runs which might require the use of a coolant system.
3. 3-phase electrical supply. Second-hand machines using 3-phase are much more common and much cheaper than those that run on single-phase. We have 3-phase to the building and there appears to be nothing stopping us making it available in the metal shop. Machines that might require 3-phase:
   • Lathe (currently has its own 3-phase converter)
   • Mill
   • Pillar Drill

Several options. So far the only complete proposal is: https://bristolhackspace.discourse.group/t/metal-workshop-expansion-planning/3925/37

Other possibilities:

1. Move the welding area to the far end of the old woodshop, making use of the extractor. https://bristolhackspace.discourse.group/t/metal-workshop-expansion-planning/3925/53.
   • Rejected for welding. Still a possibility for some types of grinding.