CNC Router vs 3D Printer

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by IanW

At this point, I envision myself using the device as a tool for personal and school projects (I'm a junior in college), as well as possibly for FRC. I would like a personal router or printer as opposed to using the tools at my college's machine shop because I would like to have unfettered access. That is, I want to be able to use it for projects outside of classes without having my motives questioned, so to speak.

What is the problem with using school equipment for your own projects? I would think most schools would be ecstatic to have students doing cool stuff with their machinery. At RPI the hand tools were free, and the 3D printers/router/laser/water-jet was available to us at cost, which is stupid cheap compared to buying it yourself. It seems like it might be worth talking to a Dean about student access to machines, because most schools are ecstatic to have students doing their own projects on top of classwork.