Know when your machines stop. Without wiring a thing.
Software: $19 per machine per month (target)
Concept, not for sale yet. Tell us if you want it; that decides what we build.
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How it fits together
Scroll or tap a part. Press “See the 3D CAD design” to watch the model, built from our CAD, light each part up and show how it connects.
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01
The whole MachineState
A clip-on node reads a machine's stack light with a light sensor, then texts the owner when the machine sits idle or alarms.
02Brain
AtomS3 Lite (ESP32-S3)
The brain: it runs the machinestate firmware program
03
Lamp light sensor
Reads one stack-light tier through a black hood
AtomS3 Lite (ESP32-S3) · ADC pin (analog) · Lamp brightness voltage
04
Colour sensor (Haas)
Reads colour and flashing of a Haas beacon
AtomS3 Lite (ESP32-S3) · I²C (Grove port) · Red, green, white readings
05
Room-light sensor
Checks shop lighting to spot a leaking hood
AtomS3 Lite (ESP32-S3) · ADC pin (analog) · Room brightness voltage
06
Magnet back
Holds the controller on the machine's steel side
AtomS3 Lite (ESP32-S3) · Magnetic hold · Mounting only
07
USB 5 V adapter
Powers the node from a wall outlet, no machine wiring
AtomS3 Lite (ESP32-S3) · USB-C 5 V lead · 5 V power
08
All connected
6 key parts, one program, and your phone
What it is
A clip-on sensor that reads a machine’s stack light and texts you when the machine sits idle.
What it does
Who it's for
Owners and managers of small CNC and job shops with 10–50 machines.
How the parts connect
Every part, what links it to the brain, and how the data reaches your phone. A solid line is a cable; a dashed line is a radio link.
The program
void loop() {
uint32_t now = millis();
if (now - lastSample >= SAMPLE_MS) { // 50 Hz
lastSample = now; sample(); // analogReadMilliVolts per lamp
}
if (now - lastDecide >= DECIDE_MS) { // once a second, 2 s window
lastDecide = now;
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
if (decide(lamps[i]) != state[i]) changed = true; // on / off / flash
if (ensureMqtt() && (changed || now - lastBeat >= HEARTBEAT_MS))
publishLamps(); // ms/<shop>/<device>/lamps
}
mqttClient.loop();
}To your phone
Any phone
One screen for each job MachineState does.
Idle machineA mill finishes its job while the operator is on break. After 20 minutes with no green light, the owner gets a text.
Fault alarmA lathe stops with its red light on, perhaps a tool or door fault. After 5 minutes in red, the shop lead gets a text.
Daily reportEvery evening the owner gets one message with run time for each machine, so slow days and problem machines show up without a spreadsheet.
App screens with sample data. The interface is in development.
| Idle alert | Mill 2 idle 20 min | Once per stop |
|---|---|---|
| Fault alert | Lathe 1 in alarm 5 min | After 5 min red |
| Running again | Mill 2 running | After an alert |
| Run-time report | 6.5 h run, 68% | 6 pm daily |
| Offline alert | Node silent 10 min | On silence |
Outbound TLS only, with a unique login per device. No link to the machine; only lamp states are sent.
CAD design · Pilot design rev A frozen (6 units), production v1 specified; not built, nothing run on a real machine yet
| AI processor | ESP32-S3 (M5Stack AtomS3 Lite in the prototype) |
|---|---|
| Sensors | 4 analog light sensors (red, amber, green and room light) in black clip-on hoods · Optional magnet-mounted accelerometer for machines without a stack light |
| Connectivity | Shop Wi-Fi · Or our own 4G router, so nothing touches your network · SMS or WhatsApp alerts |
| Power | USB 5 V from an outlet on or near the machine |
| Enclosure | Small controller with magnets on the machine housing; light sensors in 3D-printed black hoods held on the lamps with zip ties |
| Dimensions | Controller 2.4 × 2.4 cm (prototype) |
| Inputs | Stack-light red, amber, green, plus room-light reference |
|---|---|
| Sampling | About 50 times a second; tells flashing from steady |
| No stack light | Magnet-mounted vibration sensor |
| Idle alert | Text after 20 minutes idle in shift hours (adjustable) |
|---|---|
| Daily report | Run hours, idle hours, longest stop per machine at 6 pm |
| Wiring | None. USB power only |
|---|---|
| Connection to the machine | None. It reads the lights |
| Network | Shop Wi-Fi or our 4G router |
Targets for production units; they may change during development.
Hardware: $150 per machine (target)
Software: $19 per machine per month (target)
Target pricing. Austin-area pilot, November 2026: two shops get a free two-week trial on three machines. If it is useful you keep it at $19 per machine per month; if not, we take it off at no charge. We are not taking orders or deposits.
Indicative launch pricing in USD, excluding taxes and shipping. Final pricing is confirmed before any balance is charged.
Community
MachineState is in development. Rate the idea, tell us what to change about the features, specs or price, and we'll build it with your feedback.
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Free shop trial · Austin area
Two shops get it free on three machines for two weeks. If it is useful you keep it at $19 per machine per month; if not, we take it off at no charge. Tell us about your machines and how you track machine time today.
A member of the IEMI Labs team will reply within two business days.
From the product lab · ideation phase
No. It only reads the stack-light lamps, so there is no wiring into the machine and no network connection to the control.
We use a small vibration sensor held on the spindle head with a magnet. It shows when the machine is cutting.
No. For the trial we can bring a small 4G router, so nothing touches your network.
You do. We use it only to run your trial and delete it if you ask.
Not yet. This is a prototype we are testing with real shops before we build it. We are not taking orders or deposits. Ask for a free trial if you run a shop in the Austin area.
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