DMSE Breakerspace home

The MIT DMSE Breakerspace is a materials exploration lab open to all undergraduates.


Reserve Instrument Time

Use this page when you are ready to work independently on an instrument for which you have completed Breakerspace training. Reservations are managed in LibCal and require an MIT Kerberos account through Touchstone.

View all instrument availability in LibCal

Use LibCal’s screen-reader and keyboard-friendly reservation view.

Reservation Rules At A Glance

Rule What it means
Reservations open three days ahead LibCal allows instrument reservations up to three calendar days before the session. At midnight, the next eligible date becomes available.
The trained reservation holder must be present Make the reservation under your own Kerberos account and remain in the lab for the entire session. Only trained users may operate instruments. Do not share credentials or log in for another person.
A reservation is held for 10 minutes If the instrument is unoccupied 10 minutes after the reservation begins, the holder forfeits priority and the instrument becomes available first come, first served. A late holder may use it only if it remains available.
The next reservation starts on time Finish data export, cleanup, and shutdown or handoff before the next reservation begins. Turn over the instrument on time and reserve additional time later if needed.
Cancel time you will not use Use the management link in your LibCal confirmation and cancel as soon as you know you cannot attend. If you cannot find it, email dmse-breakerspace@mit.edu.
Guests may observe, but may not operate instruments Remain with your guests and ensure they follow lab rules. Guests who want hands-on access should complete the relevant training.

Whole-Lab Reservations For Teaching And Organized Activities

Formal teaching exercises, orientations, organized group activities, maintenance, and other approved activities may require the entire instrument lab to be unavailable for ordinary reservations. Whole-lab reservations are arranged by Breakerspace staff; they are not self-service bookings.

Request a whole-lab reservation at least one week in advance by emailing dmse-breakerspace@mit.edu. Earlier planning is strongly encouraged for recurring sessions, large groups, activities using several instruments, or sessions requiring staff support, sample review, or participant training.

Include:

  • the course, program, or activity;
  • the requested date and time, including setup and cleanup;
  • expected attendance;
  • the instruments or parts of the lab involved;
  • the responsible instructor or organizer and participating teaching staff;
  • any training, access, staffing, sample, or safety needs; and
  • reasonable alternative dates or times, when available.

Staff will review existing reservations, staffing, safety, and the proposed activity before approving the request. A request is not confirmed until the organizer receives written confirmation from the Breakerspace. Staff will add the activity to the appropriate calendar and make affected instrument times unavailable.

Whole-lab reservations are intended for activities that genuinely require coordinated or exclusive use of the lab. Individual project work and routine instrument use should continue through the normal instrument-reservation process.

Before You Book

  • Confirm that you have completed in-person training for the specific instrument and reviewed Safety And Lab Use.
  • Check the relevant instrument page for sample limits, preparation requirements, and the operating guide.
  • Book only non-hazardous samples. Ask staff before booking if your material is unusual, difficult to prepare, outside the examples covered in training, or uncertain in safety or instrument compatibility.
  • Estimate the whole session, including setup, sample loading, data collection, file export, cleanup, and shutdown.
  • As an initial norm, keep each reservation to one hour or less. Contact staff before booking a longer uninterrupted session when the method genuinely requires it.
  • Know where you will save your data. See Files And Data if you need a refresher.

How To Book In LibCal

  1. Open the calendar for the instrument you need. Bookable dates extend through three calendar days ahead, with the next date becoming available at midnight.
  2. Select a start time, then choose the end time. LibCal displays availability in 15-minute blocks.
  3. Select Submit Times and sign in through MIT Touchstone with your Kerberos account.
  4. Review the instrument, date, and full time range before completing the booking.
  5. Keep the LibCal confirmation until the session is finished; it contains the information needed to manage the reservation.

Problems At The Time Of Your Booking

Problem What to do
Your tap access or workstation login does not work Follow Access And Account Problems.
The instrument is unavailable, damaged, or behaving unexpectedly Stop. Find a Breakerspace staff member in the lab, ask in #breakerspace-help on Slack, or email dmse-breakerspace@mit.edu.
You need help choosing settings or interpreting results Use the instrument page first, then follow Project And Method Support.
You need staff time rather than instrument time Contact the team directly. Staff consultations are not currently booked through the instrument calendar.