Tangible Workshop

Tangible Workshop Gold Coast based business designing and manufacturing equipment to make life more fun and easier for those with a disability and their families.

Tangible Workshop was created because we found that much of the rehabilitation and accessibility equipment for children with a disability seemed to not to be suitable for large sections of the community. We decided that as part of that community we had some insight into the needs and wishes, and that we could also manufacture product locally. We have some very skilled small businesses here in South East Queensland and by using all our knowledge then we believe we can come up with sensible, cost effective solutions to problems that exist.

Ok, so a crazy situation, a friend is paralysed from the neck down and has a company over every night to turn him in his...
05/03/2025

Ok, so a crazy situation, a friend is paralysed from the neck down and has a company over every night to turn him in his bed at his house (stops sores and other things) .Due to the cyclone they have said they cant come tomorrow as they are advised its unsafe for their staff to drive (I dont blame them for that at all). However the suggested alternative was to take him to a 'cyclone drop in centre' and when visited they say they cant help as staff are not medically trained, after a call to 13health for over an hour the outcome was " sorry the only option is taking and dropping him at a hospital' we have no way to deal with things like this. I bet he is not alone in the situation.

Well its beginning to look a lot like Christmas, the shopping centres have carols playing, the Christmas Trees are up an...
07/12/2024

Well its beginning to look a lot like Christmas, the shopping centres have carols playing, the Christmas Trees are up and the car parks are a nightmare. I am unsure if we will run another batch of Buggies before we close for the year, but we still have some stock, both intermediate and adult are available for almost immediate dispatch. The run lately has been on juniors which was a bit or a surprise as the intermediates are the most common request as they are from 30 to 85Kg, and 1m to 1.7m tall so suit most people.
The other thing that has stood out is that lately again its gone back to NDIS approved sales rather than the family clubbing together to purchase a beach wheelchair for a member.
Anyhow wishing you all the best whatever you do over the holiday and a however your year has gone- a better one next year.
Our aim is to spend the holiday 'playing' on some new stuff you will all see early next year!

Its coming together, the composite arrived the other day, the cutting plans are sorted, and most of the other parts have...
02/12/2024

Its coming together, the composite arrived the other day, the cutting plans are sorted, and most of the other parts have been here for a while. I wont enthrall you with the single balanced brake handle that is balanced and pulls the disk brakes on both rear wheels (and includes the handbrake). But its coming together nicely now!
Couple of other projects also ongoing but we will talk about them closer to the time.

02/11/2024

A quick Tangible Update, during the move we had a couple of 'incidents' one involving me being unable to walk properly for a month or more, and some lazer issues that we are still solving. Well its looking like another move is on the cards as this place is not working (just as well it was a short term rental).
At the same time there seems to be more than a few 'late night' projects on the go in collaboration with some other groups (thanks Pete at Remarkable) which are now coming together and next week end I will be talking the Inclusion Innovation Day at Queensland University of Technology and then judging.

Well we are now to the 3D model stage, the first part to print to check (the 3D model is created from the cut files for ...
11/10/2024

Well we are now to the 3D model stage, the first part to print to check (the 3D model is created from the cut files for the full size unit which are shrunk and 3d modeled to fit in the resin 3D printer. We will make this in ABS simply for ease. I have already printed off the wheels and now the real fun starts with a scale model of the full assembled tub. As you can see we are keeping with the same layout as on the buggy as it works so effectively for so many people and really makes things that would be impossible to do in an ordinary Beach wheelchair, and if it works on the beach and in the water it will work off road.

We have completed the move, took a bit longer than anticipated and I still have a few more hospital visits lined up to e...
01/10/2024

We have completed the move, took a bit longer than anticipated and I still have a few more hospital visits lined up to ensure recovery. The next stage is the re-setting of the Laser but some additional things have been going on. The new Off-Road junior Getabout Buggy is now being worked on and most of the parts are here, the drawings are done and its now awaiting the panels to be sorted.
I must give a big shout out to both Remarkable and Toyota for their belief in what we are doing and the great help given to move it forward over the last couple of weeks, we had the basics sorted but I am really excited by the final prototype design ideas and I feel it keeps in with the theme and style. that influenced us at the start. It should be easier and faster for everyone as we all know Red goes faster!

And here are the wheels along with how the seating will look.
26/09/2024

And here are the wheels along with how the seating will look.

As some of you may know we have just got back from some time in Melbourne, We were invited by Remarkable.org to spend a ...
26/09/2024

As some of you may know we have just got back from some time in Melbourne, We were invited by Remarkable.org to spend a few days with the incredible people at Toyotas R&D site in Avalon. So we can announce that things are moving forwards and I hope to have some photos up shortly of the Off-Road version of the buggy, not the artist impressions but the real thing. We are waiting for the next set of Prototype panels to be cut and 'painted'.
Our aim is to make a light weight cross country/off road version of the Getabout Buggy with interchangeable wheels at the rear with disk brakes( to suit different terrains), steerable wheel at the front, adjustable suspension/seating systems and a hybrid seating system that also can incorporate the ability to stop pressure sores and remove localized heating. The aim is also to make it smaller so its easier to fit in a car.
Just a coloured shots of some early cad files

I can say we are back, after an incredible few day. We were invited by Remakable.org (thanks for the wonderful job Pete ...
19/09/2024

I can say we are back, after an incredible few day. We were invited by Remakable.org (thanks for the wonderful job Pete & Kate) to go to Melbourne. Remarkable have been working with Toyota for a while and we were one of the 6 companies selected to learn about Toyotas business and processes system (3 Aus and 3 US). we then were invited to present to their R&D team, product development team and specialist in production techniques (Toyota is one of the few companies that still does car development here in Aus). They then have spent the last day and a half working with us on the new Off Road Buggy we have been working on in the background. This now looks less like the original idea in some ways and closer in others. This is designed to be lighter weight, more maneuverable and to be used off road (not in the water), this got bumped forward after I was with Peter when he took part in the 5K Bridge to Brisbane as part of the Spinal Life team the other week and I saw so many people with issues that took part. To say he looked exhausted at the end was an understatement, imagine covering 5K in a wheelchair controlled by only your chin controller. the major issue was the heat which meant you were wet with sweat and had to constantly stop yourself sliding off the chin controller. So congratulations to everyone who took part, Congratulations to the Spinal Life team

We are just making another set of Getabout Buggies as the last batch of Intermediate buggies have all gone, it will be a...
11/09/2024

We are just making another set of Getabout Buggies as the last batch of Intermediate buggies have all gone, it will be another week before we have finished this batch. We do still have a few juniors and Adults in stock, but we find that the intermediates are the ones so often found to meet people’s needs.
A few months ago, we were at the Sydney ATSA Independent Living Expo, after being invited by Remarkable.org & the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, now I can announce that we are off to have a few days working with Toyota in Melbourne on the latest project also with Remarkable.
So what comes next, our feeling is that a simple light weight child’s off road buggy is next and that is what we are meeting Toyota about. The seating system in the buggy works for many more people than existing systems so this is the basis for it, along with a composite tub and a pivoting front wheel. We have just made the composite tub and have wheels, disk brakes with handbrake, and even a front jockey wheel to make turning easier after discussions with many users of our product and many others. Its going to be most interesting and we will learn a lot I think.

This was something we made a number of years ago, a simple "Voice Box" which can even be set into a spare wheelchair tab...
25/08/2024

This was something we made a number of years ago, a simple "Voice Box" which can even be set into a spare wheelchair table, allowing simple communication while out. The local mens shed made the boxes for the school, then the kids painted their boxes. It was a nice fun way to create some low cost assistive Communication .
Parts:
2 x Recordable Voice Module for Greeting Card Music Sound Talk chip musical IG
2 x 60mm Round Illuminated Arcade Video Game Player Push Button Switch LED Light
Both are easily available from E-bay for a few dollars.
Craft Wood Pencil box (recommended size 220mm x 100mm x 70MM(deep) available from many craft stores (optional)
Cut the play button off the wires and either crimp or solder onto the tags on the switch for the button, these can be connected either way around.
The contacts on the button should not be connected to anything as they are for button illumination which is not used as it requires too much power(Pic1)
Fit the switch into the switch holder using the locating tabs, locate the one on the long tab first then rotate the switch into place until it locks.

Do this to both boards (or more if you want more)!
Test that by pressing the remaining micro switch the light comes on and you can record using the microphone, and when pressing the switch it plays what you have recorded back. Depending on the board you purchased this could allow between 10 and 30 seconds of recording time. Playback will be quiet as there is no resonance box behind the speaker(Pic2)

Box Holes:

Cut 2 x 25mm holes into the box top to allow each button to be fitted, ensuring there is room for both buttons side by side with a gap between.
Secure the buttons into place using the retaining nut.
Test the unit, you will now find it is considerably louder as the pencil case acts as a resonance box behind the speaker, ensuring sound and clarity.
Simply record what you wish to be repeated for each of the buttons, and erase and change as you wish(Pic3)

2 Buttons can be simply Yes and No, alternatively add more buttons, or smaller buttons for a more words. The total cost was less than $30. for the whole unit with parts like the buttons and circuit boards available of Ebay and Amazon for only a few dollars, you can also use a small battery pack to allow the batteries to be easily changed as they get weaker.

There is a lot happening here at the moment, much of which we can't disclose for at least another few weeks.We may have ...
22/08/2024

There is a lot happening here at the moment, much of which we can't disclose for at least another few weeks.
We may have created the Getabout Buggy for small kids, but we have always been surprised that so many that leave here are intermediates. The original buggy we made was a one off, just for us, we thought we were alone with our needs and thats why our one had the supports and pommel, and the first couple did not. It was when the calls started, we were far from alone and so many were in the same situation as us.
The difference while I was happy to drill and alter things as our needs changed I saw no reason why we could not make these parts adjustable to suit anyone. Then the requests for different sizes started and other 'special requirements'. It made us understand how many of us had children with special needs that just were ignored.
then it was the 'fun' additions like the pontoons and stabilizers, after all why not - however I have not changed my mind at this point and got an electric motor and propellors- even though I might love to do it I am not sure its really too sensible

Address

Gold Coast, QLD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+61411121312

Website

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