Xeni Jardin Tours TechShop

BoingBoingTV's incomparable Xeni Jardin took an extensive tour of TechShop, interviewing founder Jim Newton and several on site users of TechShop.

TechShop is a chain of open access workshops containing various high-tech (read: expensive) manufacturing equipment that anyone can use. Hobbyists and small businesses bring ideas to TechShop and bring them to life. The concept gets around the significant problem that most people can't really accommodate an industrial scale laser cutter and 3D printer in their garage or wallet.

Xeni's chats with TechShop users show how they work together on projects, sharing skills and ideas to produce unique items. Visible during the video: a Dimension 3D printer.

Oh, and Xeni - Don't fall out of that 3-wheeled car!

Via BoingBoing TV

Alternative to TechShop?

TechShop is a very popular service for skilled manufacturing hobbyists who just don't have the space or funds to own their own 21st century fabbing equipment. TechShop addresses their needs by planting multiple well-equipped shops in various cities. But are they the only option? Fabbaloo has identified a potential competitor: eMachineShop. 

Well, not exactly. TechShop requires you (or your agent) to show up at a TechShop facility and operate the equipment. eMachineShop has a slightly different approach that is more in line with conventional 3D printing services: use their custom software to develop a model, upload it to eMachineShop and let their professional technicians operate the equipment. 

Custom software permits some interesting features: Ability to accommodate many 3D model formats; Instant and accurate pricing; Integrated ordering; Provide "comments to the machinist" for special instructions.

eMachineShop is definitely not a consumer option, and is focused on serious hobbyists and any manufacturing operation that would normally make use of a machine shop. 

One negative: eMachineShop's custom software is Windows only. 

Via eMachineShop

Second Level Servicing

"Second Level Servicing"? What's that all about? Well, it goes like this: services like TechShop provide access to high-power fabrication equipment that anyone can use simply by dropping by a TechShop. However, Breakpoint offers another possibility: He'll drop by TechShop and build your project for you, thus creating a service on top of a service. This is a great idea for those who just don't have enough time or skills to do the work themselves, yet still want to take advantage of the terrific services offered by TechShop. 

Via Breakpoint's LiveJournal and also TechShop

1,000 TechShops?

We've posted about TechShop before, but at a recent meetup in Portland, Oregon, visitors learned about TechShop's plans for opening a new shop in that area. While the discussion is a bit clipped, there are tons of details about TechShop operating procedures, equipment and future plans. One ominous nugget said:

the COO is from Kinko's Corporate, who thinks they can build 1000 in 10 years. Four Bridgeport mills in each shop.. do the math. Each shop should have the same core equipment, similar to Menlo Park.

We've pondered the possibility of a Kinko's-like operation providing 3D print and fabbing facilities on a regional basis, but this sounds like it's much closer to reality than we had suspected. The COO is actually from Kinko's!

Via PerlJam.net