Mike Hepburn

Below are some of the most important tips for maintaining your laser cutter/engraver. Proper and consistent maintenance of your laser cutter/engraver will enhance the longevity of the machine, ensuring it can perform at an optimal level, while keeping replacement parts costs down. Why maintain your laser machine? The intensity of the laser cutting process constantly creates fumes, smoke and debris...

The humble hand file has been the tool of choice for smoothing, honing, cleaning and deburring various materials since the Stone Age. Today, hand files are now generally made from high carbon steel and come in many shapes and sizes, making them fit for a multitude of purposes. Everything You Need to Know About Hand Files A file has the...

Dust is a constant and enormous health risk in all lines of industrial work, including the school workshop. You may not be able to see it, but microscopic particles of silica, wood, asbestos and other nasties can travel deep into your lungs, leading to potential long-term diseases. Therefore, knowing how to handle hazardous dust in the workshop is extremely important...

Science Fiction is rapidly becoming Science Fact, thanks in part to those technical wizards in the space industry. We have all benefited from the spoils of the decades-long space race, because of the incredibly useful products and procedures it has spawned.  Many familiar products can be either directly or indirectly contributed to space technology research and development, such as: Camera...

When the System7 design crew first gathered around to discuss their next generation of workbenches, one of the main considerations was how to make the strongest workbenches in the world. The benches also had to adhere to government regulations. They had to be suitable for a wide range of students, including the wheelchair bound. They had to be made in...

Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution, and it is happening now! The first industrial revolution emerged in the 18th Century, and saw the rise of factory production, which included mechanisation, steam power and water power. This was followed by the second industrial revolution in the 19th Century, which revolved around mass production and assembly lines using electricity. In the...

Thanks to the Omicron variant, COVID-19 is making a major resurgence - just in time for the new school year. Consequently schools are looking for the best strategies to protect students and staff. One of these strategies is the use of HEPA air purifiers in the classroom. In support of this, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control...

Do your students need a little boost to keep them engaged and eager to participate in your learning activities? Below are 8 strategies that aim to encourage better classroom engagement. I know the temptation of dumping those large chunks of critical Curriculum. After all, you know your stuff backwards, and you want our future Captains of industry to benefit from...

More Projects from Tools for Schools We recently had the honour of revisiting one of our school workshop fit outs. Over the past four years, Tools for Schools has been chosen to fit out Hazel Glen College, an impressive, modern K-12 school in Doreen, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne. It was so satisfying to see the equipment and consumables...