Blog

27/10/2011  |  0

Learn. Design. Engineer. Prototype. Make.

AssentWorks Ready to Open Doors

Beginning on November 1st, Winnipeg entrepreneurs, inventors, and tinkerers will have a new place to create.

AssentWorks, the brain child of founders Michael Legary, Kerry Stevenson and Dave Bernhardt, is a non-profit prototyping facility and makerspace that features close to $150,000 worth of prototyping, electronics, metal and wood working equipment. The grand opening was today and I along with 50+ other interested individuals and members of the media were fortunate to get a sneak-peek.

Entering the 3rd floor location at 125 Adelaide, I was greeted by Kerry and Dave who handed me a map to allow for a self-guided tour.

The first stop was a massive CNC router machine that can carve or cut any design into wood panels. Next was a woodworking station featuring a collection of all the basic woodworking tools, from saws to sanders and everything in between. The tool crib followed, and is an area that will make anyone with a home workshop or space in their garage feel like theirs is inadequate! Around the corner was a CNC Mill machine which I am told can automatically carve your design from a chunk of solid metal.

An assortment of drills and brakes as well as welders are available to shape and cut metal to turn designs into reality. For prototyping purposes, the 3D printer can replicate any object and the laser cutter can etch a logo onto just about anything. There is also a chemistry room that enables testing to determine if your creation can withstand both +50C or -50C temperatures. Finally, there is a planning room which features floor to ceiling white boards.

The facility will offer access on a monthly or annual fee basis and will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And with the number of creative minds in our community, AssentWorks will be home to the birth of many new and exciting Winnipeg-made products and businesses.

If you're interested in membership, know a company that would like to become a founding sponsor, or simply want to learn more about AssentWorks, visit their website at www.assentworks.ca.

Let us know what you think about this exciting new space for entrepreneurs and inventors by providing feedback in the comments section.

Evan Andrew is a Business Development Coordinator with YES! Winnipeg, providing assistance in four key sectors: Energy & Environment; Information, Communication, Technology and Media; Manufacturing; and Financial Services and Insurance.