Proposed Final Project: Smart Power Access Control for Maker Space Equipment

As an IT Operations Specialist at UNIPOD Rwanda, I work daily with maker space equipment and witness firsthand the challenges of managing access to dangerous machinery. Currently, we rely on lab access control and basic key switches and verbal permissions, which has led to several concerns:

• Difficulty tracking who uses which machines and when
• Limited ability to ensure users are properly trained
• No automated way to prevent unauthorized access to the device
• We are using Access control for the door only and once in, you can use any machine
• Challenges in monitoring machine usage for maintenance

These real challenges inspired me to develop a smart power access control system that will help manage and secure access to our equipment like laser cutters, CNC machines, and other potentially dangerous tools.

Based on my few experiences in the maker space, I'm designing a system that will provide:

• Enhanced safety through proper authentication of trained users
• Detailed usage tracking for better maintenance planning
• Real-time remote monitoring capabilities for supervisors
• Emergency shutdown functionality for safety
• Integration with our training certification

Example of what happend

Recently, we had an incident where an untrained user attempted to operate our laser cutter without supervision. Unfortunately, the laser tube was damaged by forgetting to turn on the chiller, which highlighted the need for a more robust access control system. This project directly addresses such safety concerns while also improving our ability to manage and maintain the equipment effectively.

I used figma to Draw or Sketche, if you what to why I picked Figma for sketching? Click Here

But first you can visit my sketching if you want the see it better. Click Here

Design Concept

Planned Design throughout:

• Compact wall-mountable enclosure
• Front panel with LCD display and keypad
• Integrated RFID reader area
• Prominent emergency stop button
• Status LED indicators

System Architecture ideas

Key Components:

• Main controller connection layout
• Power control circuitry
• Authentication module integration
• Network connectivity design
• Safety system architecture

User Interface Mockup

Interface Elements:

• LCD screen layout and menu structure
• User feedback indicators
• Web interface dashboard design
• Mobile app concept (future enhancement)
• Admin control panel layout

Device Mockup using pixlr on week 2

see how i did it

Device cover 3d design using freecad on week 2

see how i did it