Inventions, ideas blossom at MindGear Labs
MindGear Lab’s address is 8331 Madison Blvd., Suite 200B. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – Creative-minded individuals can prototype inventions, learn in seminars and research their ideas at MindGear Labs, LCC.
“MindGear supports the Huntsville/Madison community by providing fab lab equipment for the general public and local businesses,” owner Rob Adams said.
“Our lab is geared to help individuals and companies develop prototypes of their ideas so that they can then pursue funding to go public,” Adams said. Individuals can use lab equipment to create displays, wall art and business marketing materials.
Adams and director of operations Tia Wheeler provide a relaxing environment for members to share ideas, work on projects and just ‘hang out.’
MindGear’s two major services are equipment access and classes. “Our space has all the digital fabrication equipment and tools you would expect to see in a fab lab – CNC mill, laser and vinyl cutter, 3D printer, electronics workbench and more,” Wheeler said. “Our employees, Sara and Micheal, help (members).”
Adult classes concentrate on “getting the most out of the fab lab.” Electronics classes ran the gamut from basic electricity to building a robot with an Arduino. Classes are available for children seven years and older.
A few years ago, Adams first envisioned MindGear after seeing ‘fab labs’ in Washington D.C. while working rotation at his day job. He met Wheeler, a D.C. native. They started the lab after returning to Huntsville.
They opened MindGear in Madison for proximity to residential areas and Cummings Research Park. Madison has “a strong community feel that we want to be a part of,” Wheeler said. “Starting in a slow economy … has driven us to manage costs well and start up less expensively.”
In partnership with TechStars, MindGear has organized Rocket City Inventors Club, which meets monthly to discuss facets of inventing/patenting.
MindGear’s address is 8331 Madison Blvd., Suite 200B. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and open for private functions, like school field trips.
For more information, visit mindgearlabs.com or Facebook/MindGear Labs.
