After-hours Fun with Capacitors at Work?

Chiggy_Von_Richtoffe asks "Hey, Folks! I start a new job at a small manufacturing plant (capacitors and small run custom circuit boards) in a few days, which itself is kind of cool. What is even more cool is that their facilities include an electron microscope, programmable high temperature ovens (think kilns), rapid cooling chambers (liquid CO2) to test component robustness, a lapping machine, all the kinds of ceramics i can think off, as well as equipment for die cutting, electroplating, and a few other industry related tasks. This of course fills my mind with wicked designs for homebrew projects, but i am always looking for new ideas to try. Given this kind of workshop what sort of (non-destructive, and fully legal) DIY projects could you come up with?"

Permission?

[karnal]

Make sure you have permission to do any of this. I know you didn't state that you did NOT have permission, but you also didn't state you DO have permission to use any of these toys "after hours"...

On a related note, in my early years as a sysadmin some people were "let go" from a company I worked for because they were using the company assets to play games on. Now, this was after hours, and nothing was destroyed, but management finding out about what was happening (from network traces) was all it took to say "See ya!"

Of course, I could just be over-reacting, thinking you'd be using the facilities just for fun. You might just be willing to be a customer of the company you work for. I guess you didn't spell that out either....

Just dot your i's and cross your t's.

What kind of first impression are you giving?

[GuyMannDude]

Obviously, getting permission is important. But even if you get permission, do you really want to be playing games with work equipment right away? I would strongly recommend waiting until you have become a respected and valued employee before you pull stunts like using work equipment for non-work projects. Hey, I'm a technical manager and I read slashdot damn near every hour -- does your new boss? If s/he sees your post and can easily figure out who you are, what are they going to think about you? You haven't even started work and you're preoccupied with how to play games? That's not the kind of employee I want working for me.

My advise? Concentrate on doing good work and impressing your co-workers and management before you even think about playing around. You can repost your Ask Slashdot question in six-months (and don't include so damn many details about yourself and your job next time).

GMD

The scanning electron microscope

[HotNeedleOfInquiry]

Loads of fun, just be sure you're checked out on it by someone who knows what they are doing. Before you look at anything organic, make sure it's allowed. A running mechanical wristwatch is incredible.

safety first

[fred fleenblat]

Seriously. The equipment you describe, and the chemicals that are in use at places that have that kind of equipment are pretty dangerous if misused.

Follow instructions and don't mess around unless you want to wear an eyepatch (or two) for the rest of your life.

Permission

[faqmaster]

"It is better to ask forgiveness than permission."

Be sure and post links to videos of the resulting explosions.

Re:What kind of first impression are you giving?

[Anonymous Coward]

No kidding. All of these nanny-boss warnings are really depressing to read.

When you (the original poster) start your new job, some of your most expensive and highest-performing test gear will say "Hewlett-Packard," "Tektronix," or "Agilent" on it. That equipment was designed by people who were hired, given the key to the company storeroom, and politely asked to go home and take a shower once in awhile.

Nothing excellent has ever grown from a culture of micromanagement and managerial niggling.