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Getting Started

RELab is a platform for documenting product disassembly. You create structured records of what a product is made of, how it comes apart, and what the components look like.

Those records are not just for private note-taking. The broader goal is that they can later be shared, compared, and reused as part of a larger open product-data infrastructure.

Create an Account

Section titled “Create an Account”
  1. Go to app.cml-relab.org or open sign up.
  2. Register with email and password, or sign in with GitHub or Google.
  3. Verify your email if prompted. Some features only activate once the account is verified.

!!! tip “Fastest path in” GitHub and Google OAuth skip the manual email-verification step. If you have access to either, use that.

Your First Product

Section titled “Your First Product”

Once you’re logged in, the core workflow is:

  1. Create a product record for the item you’re about to document (e.g. a power drill).
  2. Add identifying information: name, brand, model, any initial notes.
  3. Photograph the intact product before you open it.
  4. As you disassemble, create child records for meaningful components (e.g. battery pack, motor assembly, housing).
  5. Attach images, measurements, and notes at the level where they belong.

!!! note “Start simple” A partial record with good photos and honest notes is usually more useful than an over-structured one that takes twice as long. You can fill in gaps later.

Before You Start

Section titled “Before You Start”
  • Prepare a workspace with enough space for the product and separated components.
  • Good lighting matters more than fancy equipment, see Hardware for what works.
  • Have a device ready for photos. A phone is fine; a camera rig is optional.

Next Steps

Section titled “Next Steps”