Smart Power Access Control for Maker Space Equipment - Trying to keep expensive tools safe while still letting people collaborate
Working in IT at UNIPOD Rwanda, I kept seeing the same problems with our maker space equipment. People would break expensive machines because they didn't know how to use them properly, or sometimes equipment would just disappear.
MAKERGATE is my attempt to fix this. It's basically a smart power switch that only lets trained users turn on machines. You need both an RFID card and a PIN code, and it keeps track of who used what and when.
Someone forgot to turn on the chiller for our laser cutter and damaged the laser tube. This was expensive and could have been prevented if only trained people could use the machine. That's when I knew we really needed something like this.
Uses an MFRC522 chip to read ID cards quickly and reliably
4x5 matrix keypad for entering your PIN code as a second security layer
Relay that actually controls the power to the equipment
Nokia 5110 screen that shows status and instructions
Wall-mounted box with all the controls in one place for easy use
Central brain that handles authentication and power switching
Simple web page for managing users and checking usage logs
Early sketch made in Pixlr to show what I was thinking
This was when I finally got all the pieces working as one system. Made a custom circuit board, wrote the software, and assembled everything.
Spent time thinking through the whole project - what I needed, how much it would cost, and whether it would actually work in the real world.
Decided to make this open source so other people can build and improve it. Also thought about how it could become a real product.
ESP32 microcontroller with WiFi for the main control and network connection
MFRC522 RFID reader (13.56MHz) plus 4x5 keypad for two-step security
Nokia 5110 LCD (84x48 pixels) to show status and instructions
5V relay that can handle up to 10A for controlling equipment power
AMS1117-3.3V regulator with capacitors to keep everything stable
Designed to fail safely with automatic shutdown and protection diodes
Custom PCB designed in KiCad with all the connections mapped out
Protective case designed in Onshape for laser cutting with precise holes for components
Custom RFID holder and mounting bits printed in PLA plastic
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Everything put together with proper cable management and secure mounting
Here's MAKERGATE in action - from scanning your card to turning on the equipment
The system checks your RFID card and PIN code, then gives you access to the equipment with clear feedback about what's happening.
Connect to the internet for remote user management and monitoring
One central system managing access to several different tools
Better reports on who's using what and when maintenance is needed
Mobile app for managing users and checking on things remotely
This project is released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. Feel free to use it, modify it, and improve it - just give credit and share your improvements back with everyone.