Open hardware for local manufacturing

Industrial machines,
open to everyone.

REFAQT designs open-source motion modules, and the machines built from them: for milling, laser cutting, turning and measuring.

So that high-quality parts can be made close to where they are needed, when they are needed.

Three machines built from AQTUATOR CS stages: a fibre laser cutter cutting a steel sheet, the Qarve 5-axis milling machine, and a coordinate measuring machine with a touch probe on a granite bed.

First product · Early access open

AQTUATOR CS

A sealed linear-motor stage, only 60 mm high, with 0.1 µm absolute feedback, 2 m/s and 512 N peak force. It is the building block of every REFAQT machine.

See the stage →
Render of the AQTUATOR CS linear stage

Why we exist

Manufacturing is built for mass production. We build for local.

The problem

Today's factories are built for mass production. Big plants need big series, big stock and long transport. The result is waste, CO₂ emissions, and products that nobody can repair.

What is needed

Small, modular machines that make high-quality parts locally and on demand. Machines that anyone can buy, build, repair and improve.

Our mission

We build small modules and machines that make local, on-demand manufacturing of mechanical parts possible.

How we work

Open designs. A network that builds them.

01

Open designs

We publish every module and machine under the CERN-OHL-S licence. Anyone may copy, build and change the design. If you share a changed design, you share it under the same licence, together with the designs it comes from.

02

Marketplace and partners

We sell machines, modules and parts. Partner members build them and give support to customers. Partners get bulk prices on parts, design and product tracking, build instructions that fit their own workshop, and technical support.

03

Commercial licences

Do you want to build our design into a closed product? A commercial licence removes the duty to share, so your own design can stay private.

04

Custom engineering

We help you adapt a module, or design a machine for your process.

Our plan

From one module to local production.

We start small and grow step by step. Each step makes the modules better and cheaper, and that makes the next machine possible.

  1. We are here 1

    Linear and rotary stages

    We develop the motion modules. Suppliers make the parts for now.

  2. 2

    A CNC milling machine

    A 5-axis machine, built from our stages.

    3

    Other machines

    Laser cutting, turning and measuring, on the same modules.

  3. 4

    We make our own parts

    Our machines make the parts for our stages and machines. Machines that make machines.

  4. 5

    Local production

    Partners make parts and machines in many places, close to their customers.

What we learn in every step goes back into better modules.

Join us

We are building a cooperative with a mission.

  • Contributors govern REFAQT

    The people who do the work decide where REFAQT goes.

  • Contributors share the profit

    Your return follows how much you contribute.

  • We are looking for members

    People who help with our developments and business, and companies that offer our modules and machines to their customers.

Get in touch

Tell us what you want to build.

Do you want to contribute, become a partner, or need a machine for your process? Send us a message.