Not just a handy workshop but a learning centre, too

You have a broken chair and want to fix it or you’re wondering if you could repurpose it into a shelf but you don’t have the necessary tools.

Don’t sweat, just head to any of the makerspaces in Bengaluru and you will get access to not just equipment but also mentors who will help you transform that idea of yours into reality. A makerspace is a community centre that provides technology, manufacturing equipment and educational opportunities to people.

As the people running these spaces say, there is no age limit, all you need is an idea. This spirit is reflected in the diverse ‘makers’ they host from people as young as five and as old as 70. People are making gazebos for their homes, 3-D printed jewellery to gift their spouses, automated road sweeping robot for academic projects, and what not. Twelve-year-old children are using makerspaces to build IoT (internet of Things) prototypes.

One such makerspace is Workbench Projects, on the Halasuru Metro station premises. “The concept of makerspaces came to India from the West where people in a neighbourhood would set up a shed to share tools,” said Pavan Sheth, a systems engineer at Workbench Projects.

Also a co-working space for startups, Workbench Projects has homemakers as members who come in to use laser machines to cut clothes and then stitch them on the sewing machines. It was started by Pavan Kumar and Anupama Gowda in a 15 by 20 feet garage and now they have a space of 5,500 square feet for curious people to tinker around. Makerspaces are equipped to materialise every pet project of yours — tools for carpentry, metalworks, digital fabrication, laser machines, 3-D printers, robotic kits and electronic labs. You can walk in and get a daily pass or membership.

THE workshop

THE (Think Happy Everyday) Workshop, in HBR Layout, offers an hourly pass, too, for flexibility. Founded last year by Anabelle Viegas and Craig Dmello, THE Workshop is a ‘makerspace, mentorspace and mindspace’ where people can learn from each other and take part in research project.

Children seem to be really loving the concept. Viegas said, “We have been getting enquiries from a lot of children for things like IoT and C++.”

Another makerspace, IKP-Eden in Koramangala, is a hardware product incubator and co-working space as well.

Don’t know the difference between a plier and a wrench? Makerspaces also conduct workshops on everything from making boomerangs, robotics and modifying a cycle into a washing machine. THE Workshop offers cross-disciplinary workshops with aspects of both design and electronics like one in which designers and coders collaborated to make smart furniture. Mentors with expertise in mechanics, electronics, robotics and carpentry will always be around to guide you to complete do-it-yourself projects.