Where Engineers Gather

The TechShop chain is the modern watering hole for engineers and people who like to make things.  The average facility runs about 17,000 square feet and has the tools of the trade - - from sewing machines, metal lathes, and mills to $200,000 computer-controlled contraptions that can cut precise patterns out of metal.  For about $100 a month, you can become a TechShop member and use all of this equipment.  For an additional charge, you can attend classes that vary from Welding 101 to drawing 3D models on a computer.

Our innovative future probably starts at these types of watering holes.