Ultimate Workbench Upgrade

Let's take a look at what's included in Hackster's $10,000 Ultimate Workbench Upgrade Grand Prize along with holiday gift ideas for makers.

35 minutes ago

Win a workshop makeover!

How would you spend $10,000 to upgrade your workbench? Hackster’s elves have been hard at work preparing the ultimate maker’s giveaway for this holiday season — a curated selection of tools, hardware, and machines that will be shipped to one lucky community member as the Ultimate Workbench Upgrade.

More details on the giveaway and how to enter can be found here.

Need a gift for a maker in your life?

Look for the gift emoji (🎁) throughout the list below. These items are all under $50 and make great presents for the makers in your life this holiday season.

What’s included in the Ultimate Workbench Upgrade?

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3D printing station

This printer setup comes with a built in laser cutter!

Bring your ideas to life with Bambu Lab’s new H2S printer, a powerhouse featuring a massive 340 x 320 x 340 mm print volume and adaptive airflow for precise temperature control. The integrated AMS (Automatic Material System) allows multicolored 3D printing with up to four different spools.

What truly sets the H2S apart is its versatility. Beyond 3D printing, it can cut plywood and acrylic with a 10W laser, carve paper and vinyl with a blade, or even draw with a pen attachment. This all-in-one fabrication hub will quickly become the cornerstone of your upgraded workspace.

To get you started immediately, we’re including a “Filament Starter Pack," so you can begin printing the moment it’s unboxed. For inspiration, explore some of the incredible 3D-printed projects shared by makers on Hackster.

Fill out your tool chest

Sure, a pair of pliers and a screwdriver can handle most quick fixes, but why not equip yourself for anything?

If you’ve ever forced the wrong screwdriver into a screw just to make it work (and stripped the head in the process), Wiha’s “28 Piece Insulated Pliers-Cutters and Screwdriver Set" will be a welcome upgrade. Not only does it include a complete set of flathead, Phillip, Robertson, and Xeno screwdrivers, but the set also contains numerous pliers, cutters, and crimpers.

Sometimes using manual tools can be a little cumbersome, but with Dewalt’s "Power Tool Combo Kit" you'll have the machines to finish any project efficiently. This kit includes a drill, impact driver, circular saw, flashlight, grinder, reciprocating saw, Bluetooth speaker, and battery charger.

And when precision matters, reach for the Starrett “Stainless Steel Electronic Slide Caliper." With an accuracy of 0.0005 inches and an easy-to-read digital display, this caliper ensures perfect measurements every time, switchable between inches and millimetres.

An electrical engineers dream soldering station

Don’t burn your fingertips!

Build your dream electronics lab with a complete bench setup. The “Rigol DS1054Z Digital Oscilloscope," “Multicomp Pro Programmable Power Supply," and a “Fluke 117 Multimeter" give you the tools to measure, test, and troubleshoot circuits with accuracy.

We’re also giving away six tools that will have you set up for soldering success. Keep your workspace protected with a “Soldering Heat Map" and your lungs clear with a “Hakko FA400-04 - Smoke Absorber." Using the spring loaded “Omnifixo M4.4" you’ll be able to hold PCBs securely while soldering them with the powerful “Pinecil v2" soldering iron. If you run into any trouble the “ENGINEER SS-03 Solder Sucker" will help desolder components efficiently with its silicone tip nozzle. For SMD reflow or repair, the “Atten ST-862D" hot air system is an invaluable addition to your at-home electronics lab.

Get started with microcontrollers

It’s like an engineer's Lego set!

Project-based learning is one of the best ways to explore the world of microcontrollers. Pick a project: a robot, a lamp, or even a home automation system, and learn as you go.

Start with the basics of microcontrollers using the “Arduino Plug and Make Kit" and follow seven guided projects including: a weather reporting system, hourglass timer, eco watch, game controller, sonic synth, smart lights, and touchless lamp.

With your confidence in Arduino established you can start creating dozens of different self-guided projects using the “37 in 1 Sensor Expansion Kit." Of the 37 different sensors a couple of standout components include: joystick, ultrasonic distance sensor, inertial measurement unit, and an LCD module. Check out the numerous project guides on Hackster for a ton of inspiration!

And for the ambitious makers, create and program your very own “Petoi Robot Dog Bittle." This robotic dog can run, jump, track objects with an inbuilt camera, follow voice commands, detect touch and gesture commands, and learn tricks like shaking paws.

Optimize your workshop infrastructure

We’re giving you a lot of tools, it’d be rude if you didn’t have a way to organize them!

Out of sight, out of mind. Anytime a tool ends up stashed in a drawer it inevitably is forgotten. Having all your new tools hanging on a “Wall Control Pegboard” will ensure they stay front of mind, encouraging you to dive in and work on your projects while keeping your workbench clean and organized.

For small hardware like nuts, bolts, and bearings, Durham’s “Steel Compartment Box" offers a robust, long-lasting storage solution. And for delicate electronic components such as sensors, boards, and switches, the Bosch “i-Boxx72-10" provides adjustable compartments that fit everything from small resistors to full-size Arduino boards.

Start your own library

These books will inspire you to create!

Electronics can seem like magical black boxes that miraculously do the impossible. The book “Open Circuits: The Inner Beauty of Electronic Components" pulls back the veil by slicing components open to show you within. You’ll see the inner structure of LEDs, integrated circuits, and potentiometers, deepening your appreciation for how these parts function.

Build on that knowledge with “Practical Electronics for Inventors," an accessible guide that explains the underlying physics and principles of modern electronics. It’s the perfect foundation for designing and building your own circuits.

While this theoretical knowledge is invaluable it can become a little daunting. “Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It" is an inspirational guide for makers that focuses on the practical realities of embarking on DIY projects. It embraces the messiness and chaos that can arise; instead of shying away from it, Adam Savage encourages you to embrace experimentation, learn from your mistakes, and to use the resources you have available to you.

A year of subscriptions for free

Think of how many streaming services you can spend money on instead!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the power that you’ll have with your Ultimate Workbench Upgrade, don’t worry! We’ll set you up with two beginner friendly intro classes by Bob from I Like To Make Stuff: “Fusion for Makers" and “Arduino for Makers." These tutorials will help you get comfortable with your new equipment and start creating right away.

You’ll also receive a one-year Fusion license, giving you access to CAD modelling and design tools, perfect for preparing 3D files for your Bambu Labs’ H2S printer.

And to share the joy of making, we’re including a one-year CrunchLabs Hack Pack subscription: a fun, hands-on learning experience to share with an aspiring young engineer in your life.

Enter now!

One lucky maker will receive the Ultimate Workbench Upgrade. Will it be you? Don't miss your chance to win.

Will Donaldson

I like to tinker with things