[JamesCH95]

You could always try a totally different approach to get machine shop access.

Throughout college I got jobs working in and running labs and shops. Not only did I have fun jobs during the school year that paid decently, but I developed good relationships with the machinists and other lab/shop personnel. I (and a few others like me) were allowed to use various shops after hours and on weekends, when they were not normally open. One year I ran the ME prototyping lab (talk about unfettered access!) and my senior year I was empowered to start a welding lab. I wound up teaching a number of faculty and many students how to weld and was invited to sit in on the ME staff meetings as an adviser. I never had any issues getting anything made in a timely manor. It's amazing what a good relationship with the powers that be will get you.

TL;DR: turn your cash flow around by getting a job at a shop or lab in your school, play nice and earn trust to get expanded access, learn how to manage a shop (schedule, budget, safety, etc), balance competing interests, and wind up with some great experience.

I assume, of course, that this sort of thing is an option for you. You might need to set a precedent, but you'll never know if you don't try.