One of the initiatives to promote a resource sharing economy, is integrated tool and equipment sharing through fablabs, hackerspaces, and makerspaces. Properly managing access to machines is critical from a safety perspective, and to enable correct billing for users. ToolSquare designs and manufactures access control solutions for shared tools and equipment, and tasked Ingeniunda with the design and development of control electronics.
To design a suitable access control system, Ingeniunda conceptualized and prototyped an embedded system featuring Bluetooth, Wifi, NFC, and a complete user interface with touch screen display. The power electronics in the back-end switch high power circuits, with circuit board designs laid out such that despite the compact size, regulations regarding electrical clearance are observed. To fit the functionality within the envelope specified by the customer, Ingeniunda designed two separate circuit boards with board-to-board interconnects to implement all the desired features.
With experience in regulation and certification, Ingeniunda prepared the formal certification process and guided ToolSquare through the certification process. Ingeniunda engineers checked regulatory requirements, and modified designs were necessary to pass EMI/EMC tests as well as quality control. Following regulatory certification, Ingeniunda coordinated supply chain management and volume production.
