An access system for open workshops

FabAccess

 

FabAccess - the Project

FabAccess is an access system that has been under constant development since 2018 and enables the flexible control of doors, machines and other devices/resources via app and/or RFID card. A lending function is also planned, as is the connection via OpenID Connect / SSO / LDAP. For example, once users have successfully completed a training course on how to use a tool, they should be able to unlock the corresponding devices themselves. Or members should be able to open the doors to the workrooms using a chip card (instead of a key) and immediately. There are countless application scenarios.

The system is based on the approaches and experiences of the individual workshops and is intended to ensure the broadest possible usability and incorporate existing systems. The first concrete idea for this was presented by Habitat Augsburg at the 2018 networking meeting and at the same time by Tasso Mulzer and David Amend at Fab:Universe in Siegen. Presentation/discussion of the project at #rC3.

We rely on object-based and generic interfaces. In addition to the control of all kinds of resources (machines, doors, etc.), the transfer of parameters to billing systems or monitoring should also be possible. All in all, the focus is on the greatest possible flexibility and the ability to be conveyed in principle.

The project is supported by the anstiftung foundation and was selected and funded in the eighth round of the Prototype Funds from September 2020 to February 2021, as well as from September 2021 to March 2023 as part of INTERFACER (Fab City).

Promotion of the DSEE

Currently (since November 2023) there is funding from the DSEE to introduce and improve FabAccess in 10 open workshops. Because many more than 10 workshops have applied and we want to enable as many as possible to participate, we have decided to fund an additional 11th place. All workshops that have applied can also participate in the process without financial support.

That's what the workshops get from us:

  • The FabAccess developers will be on hand with help and advice for all tasks
  • If the workshops need plug-ins for certain actuators (e.g. CNC machines) in order to connect them to FabAccess, the FabAccess team will program them for them.
  • 10 workshops receive €1000 for fees and hardware worth €1000

The following workshops are taking part:

What has been created so far as part of the DSEE funding? What will follow?

A brief timeline from 22.11.2024:

  • Various bug fixes in the source code of BFFH (FabAccess Server) have been incorporated. There is a lot to research in the activity log
  • A new CI/CD runner was set up to compile the FabAccess client architecture in the current version and make updated versions available in the various app stores (currently in progress) - Contact: Jonathan Krebs (Betreiberverein ZAM e.V.)
  • Lockers can be realized with FabLock Actor. A working demo was presented - with an IKEA Kallax shelf with 25 compartments. Many thanks to Joseph Langosch (thejokila)
  • the feature Single Sign On (SSO) via SAML or OpenID Connect (OIDC) is in progress and ready for testing soon - Contact: Jonathan Krebs (Betreiberverein ZAM e.V.)
  • MakerSpace Gütersloh and Hackwerk e.V. Aalen in cooperation with the general community: The FabReader in version v3 is being developed from Scratch and taking into account the previous experience of the old FabReader projects. A separate FabReader element group was formed for this purpose.
  • MakerSpace Gütersloh: Nous A1T Safebox as tamper protection for smart switchable sockets has been released
  • MakerSpace Bocholt: shares lots of information about FabHardware projects for three-phase applications, scripts and best practices (thanks Joris Bijkerk!)
  • Sternenlabor Plauen: a Sticker Generator for labeling items with FabAccess-Corporate has been created
  • 35 Services e.V. Berlin: a Docker guide for a user-friendly BFFH server setup is created
  • A central open source wiki (BookStack) has been created and bundles all meeting minutes, blogs, docs and community information on over 250 pages since the beginning in order to bundle and fundamentally structure the scattered resources. For this purpose, all search engine entries and chat histories from Zulip, Telegram and Element were turned upside down and meticulously read through and entered manually. The wiki is still being actively developed. The domain docs.fab-access.org now points to the new page! Contact: Mario Voigt / Stadtfabrikanten e.V. / FabLab Chemnitz
  • MakerSpace Leipzig: A sophisticated Config Generator facilitates the creation of bffh.dhall main configurations
  • several community calls to clarify questions and make suggestions as well as for general support for all interested parties. All calls were well attended and anything but boring. The recordings are hosted by Stadtfabrikanten e.V., among others
  • The RLKM UG dissolves. The core developers hand over the tasks to the community. New people are found and take over. Among others: Jonathan Krebs from the operator association ZAM e.V. from Erlangen and Mario Voigt from Stadtfabrikanten e.V. from Chemnitz
  • A FabAccess Showcase will take place in Erlangen as part of the VOW JHV 2024. Contact person is Mario Voigt / Stadtfabrikanten e.V. / FabLab Chemnitz
  • on 01.12. there's a networking at Sternenlabor Plauen
  • The FabAccess community will eventually meet at the Chaos Computer Congress (CCC) in Hamburg. This is still in the discovery phase.

Community, Code and Documentation

The programming is mainly carried out by developers from the BHT Berlin University of Applied Sciences, who can sometimes put in more time, sometimes less (keyword: financing). Since October 2024, the operator association ZAM e.V. has also been working on the implementation of features at the core of the software.

If you want to get involved and contribute or share your experience, be sure to continue reading! All information on how you can reach the community (e.g. Telegram and Element Channels) can be found on the wiki, which has been online since November 2024 and also serves as a central documentation platform for the installation and configuration of FabAccess and the associated satellites (hardware aka “FabHardware”, various interfaces and plugins, etc.). On the same page you will also find extensive information on the source code repositories and various collections of links.

This is the way to get to the Wiki

Contact persons at Verbund Offener Werkstätten

... are Anjusch Schmidt and Maximilian Voigt. if you have any questions about funding and billing or other contact requests.