For the price of a gym membership, plus they offer classes on using tools, software, ect...

I found the article on CNN. I can't wait until they make it up to the north east I heard they are making an announcment in New York soon !

http://www.techshop.ws/

 

Now that is just badass.

 

No excuses now, I have to go learn to weld so I can create things i see in my head...
Besides the little voices!

 

That sounds sick!

 

I'm a member at the Menlo Park location. Really kicks *** and the projects some people work on just blow my mind. The founder is constantly making deals to get equipment and latest technology available for members. Recently acquired about $1mil in computer workstations and software from Autodesk. There's also a couple "bat" phones (no numbers or dialing) in the workshop where you just pick them up and someone answers at the US Patent office

Free Devil's Canyon beer at the workshop every Friday too
http://www.devilscanyonbrewery.com/

 

wow This is a really incredible idea. I hope it picks up steam and makes its way across north america. What are their regulations in regards to making things that are going to be sold for a profit?

 

Think they have the tools to make a railgun? I just can't make the barrel hard enough inside to shoot it more than once...

This sounds really cool. I know there are lots of people that only lack access to heavy tools to make something amazing. I know I'm one of them atm.

 

warehouse

 

wow that's awesome... wish i still lived in portland...

but I do have a friend that owns a machine shop and they do gov't contracts and have almost every tool imagineable and every tool I could ever think of using/needing

i.e/ making couplings for my wastegates/Intercooler piping this weekend on the CNC and cutting out some "dinosaur skelton puzzles" on the plasma/laser cutter this weekend...

 

thats a little bit more expensive than "the price of a gym membership". but its still alot cheaper than funding your own shop for hobby purposes.pretty good idea.

 

Yeah, I was just going to go with it...lol.

Cool idea.

 

Such a cool idea, it would be awesome if these really caught on. They could make a killing from guys like me unable to invest in high quality expensive tools, and it would be fair paying to use their equipment.

 

do they supply the parts needed for ur project?

 

it is a great idea, but i think you'd have to have a pretty big membership to pay for all that equipment, not to mention all the people showing members how to use it.

 

You have to take a safety and basic use class before you can use most of the equipment. You need previous experience to use the Tormach and I believe you have to pay a little extra when you use the 3D Printer.

As far as making things for profit, they encourage it and don't ask for any cut of anything you make. I've made and sold around 1300 units of a product that I made using their cnc router.

I was able to get a special promotional membership deal, so my fees are much lower than what is posted on their website. If on schedule, the SF location should be opening next month so I'm pretty stoked.

 

I had this idea.....about 10 years ago in college. Called it Rent a Wrench. You came in to a shop, signed waivers based on membership or on a day by day basis....fees were member based or flat fees for non members. You could work on a project per diem........it was a project and never went anywhere because....I was young and had no loot (still dont).

 

I like how they provide training at a low cost for people. Outside of the community colleges, there just aren't many choices for mfg training.

The equipment on the reservation list seems pretty low end for that kind of money per year tho , but I may just be picky. Most of it you can find in hobby garages.

 

can you say LIABILITY issues???
i mean just wait till someone looses a finger, hand, or life.....no way can this last.
insurance would be rediculous, and waivers done mean ****. you cant waive your right to sue for gross negligence.

 

Q How Long Has TechShop Been Open?
A TechShop opened on October 1, 2006.

Q Does TechShop Carry Liability Insurance?
A Of course, we have liability insurance and we require members and people who take classes at TechShop to sign a Liability Release Waiver. We also require members to receive safety training on machines and equipment before they can use it. We don't want anyone to experience an injury. We always strive to build a safety-conscious culture at TechShop.

It's been ok for 4years so far, so knock on wood?

 

They need to build one of these in New England. We would have a field day with one of these places in Rhode Island or Massachusetts.

 

I think im gonna hit this place up.. welding and the carbon fiber classes are exactly what i have been looking into for some race car DIY.
I also have a friend in the signage biz.. he has a silk screening set up at his shop and has no clue on how to use it..
With a class from this place he can start to do something with the idle equipment.