Core77

TechShop is one of those things that makes so much sense you wonder why it hasn't been around forever. Based in Menlo Park, CA, it's a massive, public, subscription-based machine shop and fabrication studio that actively encourages the mechanically curious to get their hands dirty and start making things. In addition to all the routers, laser cutters, welding equipment and RP machines they run, TechShop also offers low-cost classes to get newbies building as quickly as possible. Founder Jim Newton walks us through a few of the toys they brought over to demonstrate, and mentions a bit about expansion plans too (Portland, OR and Durham, NC by the end of the summer, seven more locations next year--check the website to see where).