Handheld CNC Router

[Modern Jess]

Apologies if this has been posted already. I did a search and didn't see anything.

Jimmy Diresta posted a video today, doing a test of a pre-production handheld CNC router. Yes, that takes a moment to absorb.

The basic premise is a platform that holds a small-ish off-the-shelf router. It's got a camera, and a display on the device shows you the line to follow. From there, the device compensates for some error in your hand as you follow the line, moving the router a limited amount in x and y while moving z up and down for the beginnings and ends of the tool path.

In essence, it is a very large format cnc router (infinite?) with a very small footprint. Oh, and it's pretty expensive, too. But since I'm never, ever going to have room for a large CNC router, this seems appealing, even while it can't do everything a full-blown CNC router could do.

Looks like they're not shipping yet, so I'll be watching to see how it progresses.

https://shapertools.com

 

[n20junkie]

That looks like a tool I want very badly

 

[rsanter]

I have been eyeing that. Yes it's a bunch of money but it it lives up to what they promote then it should be amazing

Bob

 

[paranoid56]

but you still use your hands to move the router and just trace the line on the screen? no CNC found.

 

[MFolks]

Maybe the same one(re-named),at www.rockler.com ?

 

[Modern Jess]

but you still use your hands to move the router and just trace the line on the screen? no CNC found.

It's more than that. You're following a line with your hands, but the router is actually being moved independently in x and y a small amount to compensate for human error. So the accuracy, in theory, is good to about 1/100".

 

[Modern Jess]

Maybe the same one(re-named),at www.rockler.com ?

Which one? They've got a bunch of full-size cnc router setups, but I don't see anything like this on their web page.

 

[firworks]

It's basically a CNC machine with a very small work area that you can move around. So if you want it to follow your design you need to drag the work area over all of the design and it will cut it out. Kinda like 3D Grade Control systems on Motorgraders / Track Type Tractors. You put the design into the system, then drive all around the site and it adjusts the blade to make the grade.

Here's another good video on it from Applied Science:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q8GFpSCK6Jk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Modern Jess]

It's basically a CNC machine with a very small work area that you can move around. So if you want it to follow your design you need to drag the work area over all of the design and it will cut it out. Kinda like 3D Grade Control systems on Motorgraders / Track Type Tractors. You put the design into the system, then drive all around the site and it adjusts the blade to make the grade.

That's a good analogy.

 

[paranoid56]

It's more than that. You're following a line with your hands, but the router is actually being moved independently in x and y a small amount to compensate for human error. So the accuracy, in theory, is good to about 1/100".

ahh, was hard to tell that on the video. makes it a little more cooler
i am kinda lucky and have a 2x4 cnc router setup in my garage so i just use that, but i like that this is super portable.

 

[Modern Jess]

i am kinda lucky and have a 2x4 cnc router setup in my garage so i just use that, but i like that this is super portable.

I wish I had room even for something that big. But big horizontal surfaces are precious in my workshop, so it was never on my list.

This, though, could fit in a cabinet, and then come out and cut out of a full 4x8 sheet of plywood on top of a workbench.

 

[paranoid56]

I wish I had room even for something that big. But big horizontal surfaces are precious in my workshop, so it was never on my list.

This, though, could fit in a cabinet, and then come out and cut out of a full 4x8 sheet of plywood on top of a workbench.

yea, in a 2car garage mine garage is full, as i also have a full size mill and a good size lathe. and you living in the bay area doesnt help lol $$$$$