MN RFID System
The System
The RFID system was build in-house by Maker Nexus volunteers. We are proud of what we have created. If you'd like to know more about the system - or even join the development team - let us know. The project is open source, get it on GitHub.
Our system uses cards and other RFID tags that are MIFARE Classic 1K Card, 13.56MHz, 1K Bytes Memory, ISO14443A, Read/Write protect by password. Such as these.
What is the RFID system for?
You will find RFID badge stations in several locations around the shop. The RFID badge system serves several purposes:
- Who is in the shop?
- Do they have sign-off to use certain equipment?
- What equipment is being used over time?
- Help build community
Front Desk
It is important to know who is in the shop at any time. If there were an emergency situation, the RFID check-in system will help us account for everyone. When you enter the facility, tap your badge to the station at the front desk. It will read your card, check your membership status, then beep twice and display "welcome". Any other outcome should be discussed with the Manager on Duty. When you leave the facility, tap your badge again and the system will beep three times and display "goodbye".
Shop Area Sign-offs
Other badge stations are associated with sub areas of the shop. You may find a badge station at the 3D printers, textile area, laser cutters, etc. If you use equipment in one of these areas, please tap your badge on the reader. There is no need to badge-out of these areas.
If there is a sign-off required to use the equipment (such as for the laser cutters) the system will check that you have the required sign-off. For areas that don't have a sign-off (such as the electronics bench) the system will just log member usage.
Shop Area Usage
This logging is important for us. Not all equipment usage is in the reservation system. By tapping in to an area you let us know that the area is being used. This helps us prioritize investment.
Community Building
When you have checked-in to the facility your photo and name are shown on the monitor at the front desk. This lets other members know who is in the facility and helps them remember your name. We have found that this makes for a much friendlier and congenial atmosphere. It makes it easier for members to approach each other and get to know them.
About the Data
Sensitive member data is kept in our commercial cloud service, EZ Facility. This company maintains standards of data governance that protect sensitive data. Only Maker Nexus personnel have access to EZ Facility and they are required to have unique log on credentials using strong passwords.
Less sensitive data on machine usage is stored in a Maker Nexus controlled database. It is used for activity reporting and analysis. While this database has lower security barriers on it, the only sensitive information it stores is names. Access to this database is only provided to the Maker Nexus IT staff.
Door Unlock
Our system is used to unlock the front door. It requires two things:
- power from the 7/24 timer
- a valid MN Member RFID card
The power comes from a 7 day / 24 hour timer that is set to correspond to our business hours. Without this AC power the door will not unlock.
When an RFID card is presented, the system will decrypt the card and read a string burned in the card. This string is validated against data in our CRM system. If the card is validated, the unlock sequence begins.
To unlock, the RFID door read station publishes an encrypted unlock command on a secure wireless connection that can be subscribed to by any number of "RFID lock" devices. One such RFID lock device is located with the rest of our IT equipment. When the RFID lock device receives the unlock command, it activates the building infrastructure that controls the dual-solenoid door mechanism. We can add another RFID door read station or lock device anywhere where there is power for it.
RFID lock devices have a relay in them that can handle up to 30 VDC and up to 2 amps of current -- plenty for bright lights, loud sirens, or whatever.
The RFID door read station itself could be placed on the outside of the building, albeit it would need to be weather proofed and physically secured and, of course, need a source of power.
The activator that is in the door system today is by Command Access. It is not externally powered and must charge up a large capacitor for some seconds (current limited, to meet low voltage building wiring standards) before it can activate the dual door solenoid system.
The Command Access Activator can be replaced by an Adams-Rite "Power Supply". The latter costs a few hundred dollars and needs a licensed electrician to install it. The Adams-Rite Power Supply is powered off of AC and does not need any extra time to charge up a large capacitor to activate the pull-in coil of the dual coil solenoid in these doors.
Replacing Command Access with Adams Rite would save this extra 1-2 seconds and is likely what is in industrial door systems in most of these Silicon Valley tilt-up buildings (and one more reason why their response time is fast).