The Inventor’s Best Friend
Inc.:
Jim Newton, 44, previously ran Laurel Systems, a user interface graphics company. He subsequently taught a metal shop class at the College of San Mateo. When he stopped teaching, however, he no longer had access to the campus lathe. So he got the idea for TechShop.
TechShop is a chain of workshops that cater to inventors, tinkerers, and hobbyists. Each location will house a variety of equipment, from manual milling machines, lathes, and welding furnaces to 3-D printers and computer-assisted design software.
Much of the equipment is bought secondhand on eBay or Craigslist. The company will operate like a health club, selling memberships–$30 for a one-day pass, $100 for a monthly pass, $1,200 for an annual pass. Members can reserve equipment in advance or simply show up and putter around the facility.
TechShop will organize clubs and classes to help people develop projects and learn new skills.
Photo by Robyn Twomey.
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