Getting started for makerspace users

Pinpoint records your visit and the equipment you use. This guide covers checking in, selecting tools, updating tool usage, and checking out.

Before you begin

Bring your UMD ID card and complete the required training for any equipment you plan to use. You'll create a Pinpoint account on your first visit.

Visit your makerspace

1. Choose a makerspace from our participating locations.
2. Visit during its regular operating hours.
3. Look for the Pinpoint kiosk near the entrance or front desk. The welcome screen identifies the space.

Create your account

1. Swipe your UMD ID at the kiosk.
2. If this is your first visit, review your pre-filled account information and select Create Account.
3. Continue to the check-in purpose page. Returning users skip account creation.

Choose a check-in purpose

Select a check-in purpose, such as a class project or research, to tell the space why you are visiting. Continue to tool selection. Spaces can skip the purpose step, so you may go straight to tools. If the space skips tool selection, complete check-in on the purpose page instead; no tool usage is recorded for that check-in.

Select tools

Select the equipment you intend to use, such as “Laser Cutter #1.”

• Search for a tool by name.
• Browse tool categories and use the arrows outside the grid to move between pages.
• Select all the tools you plan to use. Use Review selected in the footer to review them, then All tools to return to browsing.

info

Some equipment requires training through Parchment Digital Badges. Follow our Parchment Digital Badges setup guide to connect your account. At a kiosk, use the displayed QR code on your phone to complete the connection.

Tools you cannot use appear unavailable. Additional credential required explains any required credential and shows earning information when supplied. Ask space staff if instructions are missing. Account connection help appears after the credential information; linking an account does not earn a missing credential.

Complete check-in

1. Select the tools you intend to use. Your check-in purpose carries forward from the previous step.
2. Select Complete check-in to save your selection.
3. If no tools anywhere in the space’s catalog are available to you, or the space makes tool selection optional, the same button reads Complete check-in without tools. Otherwise, select at least one available tool to continue.
4. Wait for Check-in complete before leaving the kiosk.

The final action records your visit and selected tool usage together. A search or category with no results does not bypass tool selection when an available tool exists elsewhere in the catalog.

Cancel discards an unfinished check-in without recording a visit. Cancelling an update to an existing visit leaves that visit active.

Your selection records intended usage during your visit. It does not grant exclusive access to equipment.

Update tool usage

If you need additional equipment during your visit:

1. Swipe your UMD ID again.
2. Select Update tool usage.
3. Select the additional tools and choose Save tool usage.
4. Wait for Tool usage saved.

This adds usage to your existing visit. To leave your usage unchanged, choose Cancel. If no tools in the full catalog are selectable, the completion action reads Keep current tool usage and also leaves the visit unchanged. Otherwise, Save tool usage requires at least one selected tool.

If saving fails, your selection remains available so you can try again. If Pinpoint cannot confirm the result, follow the retry prompt before leaving.

Check out

1. Swipe your UMD ID at the kiosk.
2. Select Check out.
3. Wait for the confirmation screen.

caution

Check out when you leave so staff have an accurate record of who is in the space. If your visit ends through automatic checkout, you may receive a reminder email and a reminder on your next visit.

Need help? Ask a staff member or email eds@umd.edu.