I knew my post would get a rise out of some people. Can you please give one good example of how this tool could be used in industry where there isn't already something better in place?
Well, duh. Why would this be used where something is already better in place? It likely wouldn't.
That's just a horrible attempt at validating your opinion.
Fortunately, it's a great big world, and there's plenty of places that DON'T have ANYTHING in place, let alone something better.
Why would anyone use a crappy CNC router when they already make really nice ones?
Because "really nice ones" are more expensive and require significantly more training.
How many of these handibots do you think are going to end up in the hands of professionals?
It depends on what you class as "professionals" - I can see a number of applications for something like this - a small, portable unit capable of doing some cool work with a minimum of training, given the apps that they intend to have available for it. While it's likely a bit more complicated than "point-and-click", it's not appearing to be something that's going to require a large investment of training time or CNC experience to operate.
Would you want to count on this to make a living or would you buy a real machine?
Again, it depends on the level of business one is doing. Certainly, one can't deny that there's better machines out there, or machines better suited to certain tasks, but something like this also allows a lot of folks to start playing with the technology and prototyping or utilizing for lower production tasks.
Once the initial kinks have been worked out (and it looks like they've already adjusted some - they've built stiffer mountings for the router, and changed the make/model of router to one better suited for the task), once it's gone into regular production, I'd be seriously interesting in going in on one with a friend, to start making some custom brackets and mounts for a few different vehicle projects. I think the relatively low cost (based on what some of the KS reward levels were) would end up paying for itself in a short period of time, plus having the on-demand ability to build something, tweak as needed, then re-build.
It's a widget who's only purpose is fiddling around in a garage. It's not for actual work. So that would make it a toy. It falls under the same category as HF mini-mills and 3 in 1 lathe drill presses.
Says you, with absolutely zero experience with the actual device. Why does the existence and production of this device threaten you so?
