ACR Wiki

Safety & Operations Manual

Last updated 8/19/2026 by polycarbonate

Power Tools & Rotating Machinery

Drill / Impact Driver

Safety Rules

  • Wear safety glasses and work gloves.

  • Push the driver directly inline with the fastener; do not drive at an angle.

  • Verify the bit is securely clamped in the chuck/collet prior to use.

Operating Procedure

  1. Insert the battery and install the correct bit.

  2. Regulate driving speed using the variable-speed trigger.

  3. Remove the battery and return all components to their designated storage when finished.

Angle Grinder

Safety Rules

  • Wear safety glasses and gloves; tie back long hair and secure loose clothing.

  • Clear the spark path of flammable materials and bystanders (sparks travel toward the user from the bottom of the disk when the handle is facing the operator).

  • Keep hands away from the spinning abrasive wheel.

  • Secure all workpieces in a vise or clamp before grinding/cutting.

  • Maintain a firm, two-handed grip on the tool handles during operation.

  • Allow the wheel to come to a complete stop before setting the tool down; never rest the tool on the wheel surface.

Operating Procedure

  1. Clamp the workpiece securely in a vise or fixture.

  2. Connect power.

  3. Engage the power switch to bring the grinder to full speed.

  4. Gently feed the abrasive edge into the material without forcing it.

Rotary Tool (Dremel)

Safety Rules

  • Wear safety glasses and tie back long hair.

  • Avoid contacting spinning bits or cut-off wheels during operation.

  • Secure small parts in a vise rather than holding them by hand.

Operating Procedure

  1. Secure the workpiece in a vise or clamp.

  2. Connect power and verify accessory tightness.

  3. Switch on the tool and let it reach operating speed.

  4. Lightly apply the bit to the workpiece without excessive pressure.

Drill Press

Safety Rules

  • Wear safety glasses and tie back long hair.

  • DO NOT wear gloves around the spindle.

  • Secure all workpieces using clamps or a drill press vise to prevent rotational snagging.

  • Keep hands clear of the plunge path and rotating chuck.

  • Maintain an appropriate feed rate; do not plunge excessively fast.

Operating Procedure

  1. Insert the safety interlock key into the power switch.

  2. Align and secure the workpiece beneath the bit.

  3. Turn on the machine.

  4. Pull the feed handle to plunge the bit steadily through the material.

Belt Sander

Safety Rules

  • Wear safety glasses and tie back long hair.

  • DO NOT wear gloves to avoid entanglement hazards.

  • Keep the area clear behind the direction of belt travel in case a workpiece is ejected.

  • Use holding fixtures or pliers for parts too small to grip with fingers at a safe distance.

  • Disengage the workpiece immediately if the belt stalls.

Operating Procedure

  1. Insert the safety interlock key into the switch.

  2. Switch on the sander.

  3. Press the material firmly and evenly against the abrasive surface without overloading the motor.

  4. Switch off the tool and wait for full stop after use.

Bandsaw

Safety Rules

  • Wear safety glasses and tie back long hair.

  • DO NOT wear gloves; gloves can catch in the blade and pull hands into the cut zone.

  • Maintain a minimum 4-inch safety buffer between bare hands and the blade.

  • Use push sticks, pliers, or locking clamps for small parts.

  • Position hands to the sides of the cut line—never directly in front of the blade.

  • Cut strictly away from the body.

  • If a cut must be backed out, turn off the motor and wait for the blade to stop completely before removing the stock.

  • Do not force material into the blade. If the blade stalls, cut power immediately, back the piece out, and restart.

Operating Procedure

  1. Insert the safety interlock key into the switch.

  2. Adjust the blade guard to within 1/4 inch of the stock thickness.

  3. Power on the saw and feed the stock through smoothly.

  4. Power down and wait for the blade to stop before clearing off-cuts.

CNC Mill / Router

Safety Rules

  • Mandatory training required: Authorization is required before operating, regardless of outside experience.

  • Wear safety glasses; tie back hair and secure loose clothing.

  • DO NOT wear gloves around the spindle.

  • Verify the spindle has completely stopped before changing tools.

  • Ensure toolholders and collets are torqued to specification prior to operation.

  • Keep chip paths clear during cuts (especially in aluminum) to prevent material fusion and endmill fracture.

Operating Procedure

  • Follow machining operation protocols and routines as documented in dedicated training.

Thermal & Soldering Equipment

Soldering Iron

Safety Rules

  • Do not contact the metal barrel or tip while energized or cooling.

  • Always return the iron to its stand when not actively in hand.

  • Always run the local fume extractor during soldering.

  • Switch off or unplug the station immediately after use.

Operating Procedure

  1. Power on the soldering station and activate the fume extractor.

  2. Clean and tin the tip before soldering components.

  3. Power down the station and allow the iron to cool fully before leaving the station.

Heat Gun

Safety Rules

  • Wear heat-resistant gloves.

  • Do not direct the airflow toward skin, flammable substances, or unintended plastics.

  • Switch the unit off before setting it down to eliminate ambient fire hazards.

Operating Procedure

  1. Plug in the tool.

  2. Clamp or fixture the target workpiece securely.

  3. Turn on the heat gun, direct heat evenly across the target area, and power off immediately upon completion.

  4. Allow the nozzle to cool completely before storage.

Gas Torch

Safety Rules

  • Wear safety glasses and gloves.

  • Keep open flame away from combustible materials, body parts, and pressurized lines.

  • Never leave the gas regulator open without an active flame.

  • Protect gas canisters from impacts, crushing forces, and excessive heat.

Operating Procedure

  1. Crack the gas valve slightly.

  2. Ignite the gas using a dedicated striker or built-in ignition.

  3. Adjust the valve to achieve the desired flame profile.

  4. Shut off the valve fully and allow all components to cool before storage.

Pneumatic & Manual Tools

Air Compressor

Safety Rules

  • Do not point the discharge nozzle directly at bare skin or at close range.

  • Do not carry or pull the compressor assembly by the air hose.

  • Maximum Pressure Limit: Never pressurize VEX pneumatic reservoirs above 100 PSI.

Operating Procedure

  1. Insert the battery pack.

  2. Securely clamp the chuck to the tank/system Schrader valve.

  3. Depress the trigger while monitoring the pressure gauge.

  4. Stop immediately once the target pressure is reached (≤ 100 PSI).

Bench Vise

Safety Rules

  • Keep fingers clear of the jaws when closing.

  • Do not overtighten or use cheater bars on the handle.

Operating Procedure

  1. Place the workpiece between the jaws.

  2. Rotate the lead screw handle clockwise to clamp; rotate counterclockwise to release.

Manual Saws (Jigsaw / Panel Saw)

Safety Rules

  • Wear protective work gloves when handling blades.

  • Keep hands away from the cutting teeth and blade path.

Operating Procedure

  1. Secure the material using clamps or a vise.

  2. Make steady, controlled strokes along the cut line.

  3. Return saws to their designated wall mounts after use.

Thread Taps

Safety Rules

  • Always apply cutting/tapping fluid during operation to reduce friction and tool stress.

  • If resistance spikes, do not force the tap; reverse the rotation to break and clear the chips before continuing.

Operating Procedure

  1. Align the tap perpendicularly to the pre-drilled hole.

  2. Rotate the tap handle clockwise to cut threads.

  3. Frequently reverse rotation counterclockwise (half-turn) to break chips.

Digital Fabrication & Electronics

3D Printers (Bambu Lab)

Safety Rules

  • Do not touch the print nozzle/hotend at any point during preheat, printing, or cooldown.

  • Check the build plate temperature display before touching; wait until the surface cools before removing printed parts.

Operating Procedure

  1. Prepare models using the Bambu Studio slicer (configure correct printer model and material profile).

  2. Export the sliced .gcode file to a microSD card or send via direct network job.

  3. Insert the card into the machine, select the file, and start the job.

  4. Monitor the first layer adhesion visually before leaving the machine.

LiPo (Lithium Polymer) Batteries

Safety Rules

  • Never crush, puncture, disassemble, drop, short-circuit, or overheat LiPo cells.

  • Do not cut power leads (unless authorized during specific wiring protocols).

  • Store and transport all batteries inside designated fireproof LiPo bags.

  • Never charge batteries unattended or leave them charging overnight.

  • Damage Protocol: If a battery swells, gets hot, or shows physical damage, place it directly into the sand bucket and notify a safety officer (Hugo, John, or Kirill).

  • Fire Response: DO NOT USE WATER. Smother the battery completely using the dry sand from the orange safety bucket to cut off atmospheric oxygen.

Operating Procedure

  1. Inspect the battery for damage, swelling, or compromised leads before each use.

  2. Charge only in designated charging zones using fireproof bags and balanced charge profiles.

  3. Place fully charged or depleted batteries back inside protective storage bags immediately after use.