About MakerStop

Born Out of Necessity, Designed for Efficiency.

The MakerStop wasn’t just an idea—it was a solution to a real problem.

When my fabrication business started picking up steam, truckloads of material began arriving at my home workshop—a two-car garage that had to function as a fully equipped fabrication shop. Staring at the mountain of raw stock, I knew I needed a way to process material faster, more accurately, and with fewer mistakes—or risk falling behind.

From a Simple Idea to a Fully Automated System

The first prototype was a semi-automatic fence, using a tape measure and a carriage on V-wheels. It was an improvement over a static stop block, but reliability was an issue. I had built CNC machines before, so I knew how to physically construct an automated fence system—but the missing piece was the software.

That’s when I turned to Python—or more accurately, ChatGPT. With barely any programming knowledge, I relied heavily on AI to help me write the custom control application for MakerStop. Line by line, bug by bug, I worked through the process with ChatGPT doing most of the heavy lifting. After months of testing, scrapped designs, and countless kilograms of 3D filament, the MakerStop V1 was born.

The Results? Game-Changing.

✅ Huge efficiency gains – No more time wasted measuring and marking.
✅ Near-zero cutting mistakes – Precision every time.
✅ Increased profitability – The MakerStop allows me to run a fabrication business from home efficiently.

I’ve benefited greatly from the open-source community over the years, so this is my way of giving back. The STL files and MakerStop software will be available soon under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial License, so others can build and use it for personal projects. Partially assembled kits and accessories will also be available for purchase on the website soon.

I can't wait to see MakerStop in the wild!

Dan

Have questions? Get in touch - info@makerstop.com.au