The idea
Every maker knows the feeling: the part you need is definitely somewhere in the house, you just have no idea where. This project is an attempt to actually fix that instead of living with it.
What it does
Physical organization — french-cleat wall storage, modular bins, dedicated 3D-printer and electronics storage — paired with InvenTree tracking what’s in each location, so the digital inventory reflects a real, hierarchical set of physical locations rather than a vague “it’s in the garage somewhere.”
How it works
Storage is built around a french-cleat system with modular bins underneath it, organized by category (3D-printing supplies, electronics, general hardware). InvenTree models those physical locations hierarchically, with an eye toward QR-code-linked lookups and a digital map of where things actually live.
Interesting challenges
The interesting connection isn’t the shelving — it’s tying a physical location hierarchy to its digital representation so the inventory system is actually faster to check than just looking around the shop.
Progress and outcomes
The french-cleat and bin system is in place, with InvenTree tracking inventory against it. QR-code-linked lookups and a full digital location map are further along the roadmap than what’s built today.
What comes next
Rolling out QR-code lookups tied to physical bins, and refining the location hierarchy as the shop grows.