I can't see the point of it. Most of us buy far more tools than we need - shopping for tools is fun - and rummaging about in the tool box and sorting the screws by size is work therapy. What we really need is a toolbox that recognizes us and keeps other peoples fingers out, or triggers an alarm if the guy who borrowed our 6" adjustable spanner last Thursday hasn't returned it yet.
A cool enhancement to the software would be to identify specific tools needed either by color code or a numbering system. Trying to find a wrench for a oil pan plug often envolves grabbing a few wrenches in hope of getting the right one. There are colored sockets now that would tie into sucha scheme perfectly. Good job! BTW, why are the drawers so noisy?
Nice job! I've wanted to build something like this for a while, but I don't have the materials or (most likely) the engineering ability. Thatd be a very cool thing to have in a workshop.
We ran out of time but were going to add either and RF ID reader for touch screen access or password login. That way the toolbox could also keep track of who had what tools. Unfortunately we ran out of time and were unable to impliment this idea. We are still looking into a way to utilitze the toolbox if the power does go out. The UPS is a very good idea we haven't thought of that yet. Yes the device was pretty expensive especially with the cost of the tool box and touchscreen.
It was alot of fun putting together. The project was a semester long project for our Mechatronics class. Construction time took pretty much the entire time due to the fact that it was worked on outside of class and some parts were hard to come by. We do not currently have any plans for marketing it to consumers because the entire project was relatively expensive with the parts we used.
Really cool project. The touch screen could also be used as a lock to keep unauthorized people from stealing your tools, should they be able to pick the simple tumbler lock on the lid. Also, what do you do when the power goes out? You would need a pretty hefty battery and inverter to get access to your tools. Maybe a big computer UPS would be sufficient. Also, this thing has got to be quite expensive to make. It has a lot of "cool factor" though.
Thank you. The idea of applying it to a kitchen is a great idea. The addition of an iPad or other tablet is a idea we did not think of and will be considered it if a Smart Toolbox version 2.0 is made.
Wow a fun application for DIY enthusiasts. I could see similar applications in the kitchen--a great way to organize all your fun kitchen gagdets and make them readily accessible for that complicated recipe. Also seems like an application that lends itself to the inclusion of an iPad or another tablet model for searching/reading through instructions. Nice work.
Using almost 200 light-emitting diodes in the front and back of the new 2014 CTS, Cadillac designers are showing how LEDs can change the character of a vehicle.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
4 
