I'm doing my master's thesis in a research group in Germany (experimental physics). The group is pretty big, there are multiple experimental setups at the moment, that are maintained by different people. The topic of my thesis needs me, together with a Ph.D. and a postdoc, to work mainly on one of the setups, that I am now familiar with. The 3 of us work as a team, the hierarchy is pretty low, and I actively contribute to the research. Our research predominantly aimed for a publication - It is clear to the other two that I also will write my master's thesis about this experiment, but in the team's decision-making and dynamics and our daily lab work, despite sometimes mentioned, the fact that I will write a thesis doesn't take up much space.
My team is however also expected to work on other tasks, that somehow are related to the setup I am working on: One is the follow-up experiment that is supposed to succeed the current setup, the other is a software project related to the setup, and such tasks.
The key point is that none of these tasks will have an effect on the current experiment during the remaining time period of my thesis, some even are "support work" for other setups. Despite this, I am expected to take part in those tasks, which use up a good amount of time.
The problem for me is, that, different from my team, I am not receiving any funding/payment. I am contributing to our research topic, which is beneficial to the group, and I understand that my incentive to do so is to be able to write a thesis and have an academic degree. Of course, I am not as experienced as the rest of my team, and that's why I am fine not being paid. However, the fact that during this 1-year research, I essentially have to live from saved money leaves a sour taste in my mouth, when the work I do unpaid then benefits other experiments/setups.
Now I'd like to know if is this a usual thing, and simply regarded the "part of the deal" that I have to accept, or if this is something that I should try to stop.