Archive for July 30th, 2008
July 30th, 2008 | 
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While searching for a SolidWorks model of a presser foot for a sewing machine, I ran across the site of a place called the TechShop. I must have been living under a rock all this time, because I had never heard of anything like this before. This place is a public access workshop, like a Kinko’s, only full of all kinds of equipment that can be used to work on almost any kind of project you can possibly imagine: milling machines, sheet metal working equipment, welding stations, plasma cutters, tubing and metal bending equipment, lathes, equipment for working on plastics, and even a Dimension BST 3D printer. All kinds of neat stuff, all under one roof, and available for anyone that needs to get some project done or simply wishes to learn how to use the equipment, since they also offer classes and assistance from instructors. There’s one of these in Menlo Park, not so far away from my place, so I’m thinking about going on a little “field trip” one of these weekends and tour their facility (yes, that 3D printer is making me insanely curious). So, I’m wondering, have you ever tried a place like this? If so, did you become a member or just visit every now and then? Is it really as good as it sounds? Is it worth the cost?
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