QR Codes on Tools / Around the Space

Adding the missing tool model names or numbers would be a nice improvement as well.

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Ok, updated the links on the tool page!

2 Likes

Thanks Max!

Here’s some browser console code to grab all the tools

child_text = (elem) => [...elem.childNodes].filter(elem => elem.nodeType == Node.TEXT_NODE).map(elem => elem.textContent).join('');
copy([...$$('.cooked li > a')].map(e => [child_text(e.parentNode).replace(/^\s*\-\s*/, '').trim(), e.innerText, e.href]).map(l => l.join("\t")).join("\n"))

And here’s using command line tools qrencode and imagemagick to build nifty QR codes, abusing the 30% redundancy in -l H qr codes. A 96x96 px logo works well.

#! /bin/bash
logo="logo.png"
while IFS="," read -r model tool print induction lone url
do
if [ "$print" == "Y"  ]; then
	filename=$(echo "$model $tool" | sed -r 's/[^A-Za-z0-9_]+/_/g; s/(^\_)|(\_$)//g')
	filename="./out/$filename.png"
	[[ $model = "" ]] && label="$tool" || label="$model"
	[[ $induction = "" ]] && i_text="No Induction" || i_text="Induction Required"
	[[ $lone = "" ]] && l_text="Lone Work Permitted" || l_text="No Lone Working"

	qrencode -s 10 -l H -o "$filename" "$url"
	convert -size 570x770 xc:white -gravity Center "$filename" -composite "$logo" -composite -background none -font Helvetica -pointsize 60 \
	-gravity North caption:"$label" -geometry +0+25 -composite \
	-gravity South caption:"$i_text" -geometry +0+50 -composite \
	-gravity South caption:"$l_text" -geometry +0+0 -composite "$filename"
fi;
done < <(tail -n +2 tool_list.csv

I will keep this comment updated as we complete the process.

6 Likes

SIGNAGE: I like the idea but make them easily to be changed/removed ex: screw on signage or stickers.

LINKS: Links can easily break which make QR Codes useless by time.

It’s better one QR PER AREA that leads to a menu site than one unique QR per tool/machine. This way has less maintenance, can be easily changed and the pages can be easily updated.

Our tool pages have been pretty static for a number of years. We can change the stickers if that changes.

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Are you familiar with the tool page?

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Ok fair enough if its kept maintained. Aesthetically wise can be a bit overwhelming too to have a lot of QR around. These are my suggestions but I’m curious how it will turned around.

Yeah, I discovered it after some visits when I asked if there’s some sort of inventory.

It’s part of the new discourse user guide and the new member guide as well :slight_smile:

2 Likes

We now have a standardized header on the woodshop tool pages thanks to @mbg!! (with only a little pestering :slight_smile: )

I have setup the workflow to generate qr codes with induction+lone working for each tool in a csv on the Mac in the space.


I have attached them to a few tools and given Max his but I’m curios if @CNCtechs @textilestechs @electrotechs @lasertechs would like to join the fun. I printed them at 16 per page but other sizes might be appropriate on other tools.

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So… I’ve got some Laser Laminate (like the red sign above the laser cutter) with me atm which i was going to experiment and propose a laser-cut (hopefully durable) way to have QR codes in the space.

My initial thoughts were having Red laminate for tools that need inductions, and Green laminate for tools that do not need inductions.

Next time i’m in the space I’ll do a mockup to see what people think :slight_smile:

2 Likes

I love the sound of that. The printed out QR codes are an amazing start but I think a bit easy to miss. Something like that sounds like it would be much more obvious.

Thank you again @Kyle for the effort you’ve put into this! I’ve put them on the tools in the wood shop and need to make and print out a few more. As a part of this, I’ve also been reorganizing and adding information to some of the tool pages. For example, I’ve taken the information on hand planes out of the general “hand tools” page, and moved them to their own, here. I’ve also linked some videos I’ve reviewed and show proper usage to help with learning the tool as well.

My goal is to have this information as easy to access as possible.[quote=“Kyle, post:25, topic:20985, full:true”]
We now have a standardized header on the woodshop tool pages thanks to @mbg!! (with only a little pestering :slight_smile: )

I have setup the workflow to generate qr codes with induction+lone working for each tool in a csv on the Mac in the space.


I have attached them to a few tools and given Max his but I’m curios if @CNCtechs @textilestechs @electrotechs @lasertechs would like to join the fun. I printed them at 16 per page but other sizes might be appropriate on other tools.
[/quote]

3 Likes

Throwing my support behind this. I’ve always liked tracking tools back to their pages to capture induction info, maintenance, etc. In my professional life it was serialisation to a database of inspection and testing but QR codes work equally well here I think.

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This sounds great. For textiles we can have some linked to how to thread a sewing machine, how to rethread the overlockers etc etc.

Part of my NY resolutions for this year is to review and improve the Textiles tools pages including videos etc.

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That sounds cool! My hope is to preserve the text bits so that crucial info is understandable without any previous knowledge.

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This was the vibe i was thinking (of course dependant on how well it reads on the laminate) - I’ve added a line about Lone Working (i think it’s only needed when Lone Working is not allowed)

Black = Engrave
Blue = Cut

I think the induction required bit should be explicit as the signs are most helpful to those new to the space.

What automation around qrcode generation are you using? My hope was that we could use a system that could regenerate these on the fly.

My thoughts were having different coloured tags - red for needing induction, green for not needing induction. So it can be identified at a glance.

I just used google the QR code generated for the mock up - but Ruby has new data merge features…but if we’re lucky might include a QR generator - will report back once i’ve had a play

Having it both encoded in the colour and explicitly spelt out gives some redundancy and helps people know that the colours aren’t just a artistic choice :smiley:

2 Likes