Book Your Digital Fabrication Slot on ORB

Late Arrival and No-show Policy

Please think of ORB equipment bookings in a similar way to restaurant bookings.

You may still be able to use a machine without a booking if it is available. However, if another student has booked that machine, you may be asked to finish and leave the machine by the start time of their booking.

For this reason, it is important to estimate how much time you need as accurately as possible before booking a slot.

What Your Booking Covers

Your ORB booking reserves the machine time only.

It does not automatically include:

Technician supervision
One-to-one tutorials
File preparation support
Troubleshooting support

If you need a tutorial or additional support, please speak to a technician at least two working days in advance so we can check availability and arrange a suitable time.

You can still come in without arranging support in advance, but if the technicians are busy, you may need to wait or come back another day.

If You Are Late

Please arrive on time for your booking.

If you are more than 15 minutes late, your booking may be cancelled and the machine may be released for walk-in use.

If you know you are going to be late, please contact the technical team in advance. Where possible, we may be able to hold your booking for up to 30 minutes.

Please note: This cannot always be guaranteed and will depend on machine availability, staff availability, and how busy the lab is.

Why This Policy Matters

This policy may not make a big difference during quieter periods. However, during busy times, especially around assessments and deadlines, it helps students avoid waiting repeatedly without being able to use the machines.

Please be considerate of other students and only book the amount of time you realistically need.