Instrument Scheduling

Schedules for instruments in the Microfab Lab are handled through the Agilent iLab system. Please review the information, below.

Once you have become a Microfab user, we will create an iLab account. Please follow these instructions:
- Login or Create Account (username is your email address)
- Schedule equipment
- When you are ready to actually use a piece of equipment:
  Go to the "Kiosk" and START your session. This will enable the instrument.
- When you are finished using a piece of equipment:
  Go back to the "Kiosk" and END your session. This will release the tool, so that someone else can use it.
iLab
- Use this link to schedule instruments ahead of time, check instrument availability, and review your instrument usage history.
iLab Kiosk
- Use this link to start or end a session on an instrument. Kiosk should be used when you are in the lab to start a session or end a session now. You can also use the Kiosk to start a "walk-up session", if you have not scheduled the instrument in advance, but it is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! As long as someone else has not reserved the equipment, you can start a "walk-up" session directly from Kiosk.
The equipment will be reserved for 15 minutes into the reserved time. If, after 15 minutes, the person who reserved the equipment does not start it, you can create a walk-up session from Kiosk and take over the equipment.
No, iLab is now integrated with Tufts servers, your Tufts credentials will access your iLab account.
No, when you become a micro/nanofab user we will preload your billing info and it will appear in a drop down menu. No need to memorize.
No, you must be logged in for the entire process time. While you are running you prevent someone else from using the instrument, you must be logged in for all the time others are unable to access the instrument.
iLab gives you 15 minutes from the start of your reservation to login and officially begin. If you miss the 15 minute window you will have to start a walkup session or make a new reservation. Note that you can start a session up to 15 minutes early.
Each instrument has a minimum usage time, about the time it takes to perform a single process run. Rushing through the process as quickly as possible will not reduce the charges, better to work carefully and methodically.
Let the lab director know right away so we can zero out the charges, put the instrument offline and start repair work.