I recently learned of a business where it shares equipment to design and build projects for a membership.Thursday February 10th, 2011 I paid a visit to one of their newest locations in San Francisco, in fact the paint was still drying on the front entrance. I am confident not everyone has a full welding shop, machine shop, electrical design workbench, wood shop, textile equipment, 3D scanning, 3D printing, high end computers and classrooms loaded with the latest and greatest software such as AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor and more at their house. For those without access to all the equipment to design and build whatever your heart desires, TechShop is the solution you have been looking for. You can let your inner "Maker" out.

 

Good explanation of TechShop from their website: http://www.techshop.ws/

You can think of TechShop like a fitness club, but with tools and equipment instead of exercise equipment. It is sort of like a Kinko's for makers, or a Xerox PARC for the rest of us.

TechShop is designed for everyone, regardless of their skill level.

TechShop is perfect for inventors, makers, hackers, tinkerers, artists, roboteers, families, entrepreneurs, youth groups, FIRST robotic teams, arts and crafts enthusiasts, and anyone else who wants to be able to make things that they dream up but don't have the tools, space or skills.

I met with Mark Hatch CEO and founder Jim Newton who incidentally was a advisor for a season on the television series Mythbusters. These two guys have a great deal of experience and a complete shop for members to learn and to use. They have five locations now and plans to expand to many more cities.

The TechShop Slogan "Build Your Dreams Here"