Workshops at universities are increasing their efficiency by implementing reliable machinery, more professional tools, and well-trained personnel. As the design process becomes every year more open to more disciplines, fab labs are currently used not only by designers or engineers but by scientists, artists, architects, anthropologists and so on.

We designed a concept of the idealistic workshop where automation, safety systems, and real-time information help every user to have a unique experience during their fabrication or prototyping processes. The process leads to design a system that solves four main drivers: 

The whole system was called MyToolbox, a framework of interconnected systems that take control of the machines and help non-expert users become capable of operating dangerous ones.

The software also has an inventory of the tools, spare parts, and replacements that are used every day. That way, the user can select tools from the warehouse and add them to their account for a limited period of time. When delivered, tools are checked-out automatically by a RFID system so managers can keep track of missing instruments. Finally, the stress problem could be solved by implementing the ToolCart that allows users to transport efficiently a bunch of tools to the work space.