I think the video link said $2,500.
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
I think the video link said $2,500.
candikid
Well-known member
Last edited:
Hey, thanks for posting this. Normally I get all my tech news from Gizmodo, io9 or dslreports, etc...
Anyways, pleasantly surprised to see info about something like that here. I look forward to a few years after its release, when more people have had time to work with it. I bet we will see some cool creations start to come out after that point.
kevinwilly
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2013
- Messages
- 43
So this is kind of bizarre... here I am logging onto garagejournal to see if anyone has reviewed the rolling tool boxes I saw at costco today and there's a Handibot on the front page!
Why is that bizarre? I'm sitting next to the guys that created it. I'm part of the development team at ShopBot.
This kind of caught me off guard, to say the least. I'm glad that news of this tool is getting around! We're pretty proud of it over here, and there's a lot of cool ideas that people mention that they want to use it for. We've had several groups of people come through here for training on the tool already, so I've sat and chatted with several of them.
The neatest thing that this tool does that nobody has mentioned is that it goes TO the work surface, instead of the work surface coming to the machine.
For instance- we've developed a vacuum puck system that will stick the handibot to a wall so you can do carvings right on the wall. I think we've got video of it somewhere.
To answer some questions, this acts just like a normal shopbot when doing toolpathing... it comes with a special version of Vcarve Pro made just for the Handibot (we're tight with the guys over at Vectric and got them to make it for us). ShopBot controllers will also directly run Gcode if you wanted to go that way.
The cost is going to be $2695, and it's going on sale to the general public the second week of December. Details will be hitting the main shopbot website within the next two weeks. We're still building the tools from the kickstarter campaign, so that's the only reason it's not already on sale.
As far as there being no "push-button" CNC out there... that's kind of our main goal with the handibot. We are developing a bunch of different apps that you can run from a mobile device to cut pre-planned files with. Since every handibot is identical, and they all have homing switches, it'll just be a matter of putting in the bit that the app says, lining it up, and hitting go. We're making it all open source so that anyone can develop new apps, as well.
I'd love to answer any questions you guys have. Hopefully the mods/admins don't mind me jumping in here. If I'm crossing any lines, I apologize. Just send me an email or PM and I'll knock it off if I need to.
So does anyone know if those Trinity tool boxes at Costco are any good? I think that's the reason I logged on here....
Why is that bizarre? I'm sitting next to the guys that created it. I'm part of the development team at ShopBot.
This kind of caught me off guard, to say the least. I'm glad that news of this tool is getting around! We're pretty proud of it over here, and there's a lot of cool ideas that people mention that they want to use it for. We've had several groups of people come through here for training on the tool already, so I've sat and chatted with several of them.
The neatest thing that this tool does that nobody has mentioned is that it goes TO the work surface, instead of the work surface coming to the machine.
For instance- we've developed a vacuum puck system that will stick the handibot to a wall so you can do carvings right on the wall. I think we've got video of it somewhere.
To answer some questions, this acts just like a normal shopbot when doing toolpathing... it comes with a special version of Vcarve Pro made just for the Handibot (we're tight with the guys over at Vectric and got them to make it for us). ShopBot controllers will also directly run Gcode if you wanted to go that way.
The cost is going to be $2695, and it's going on sale to the general public the second week of December. Details will be hitting the main shopbot website within the next two weeks. We're still building the tools from the kickstarter campaign, so that's the only reason it's not already on sale.
As far as there being no "push-button" CNC out there... that's kind of our main goal with the handibot. We are developing a bunch of different apps that you can run from a mobile device to cut pre-planned files with. Since every handibot is identical, and they all have homing switches, it'll just be a matter of putting in the bit that the app says, lining it up, and hitting go. We're making it all open source so that anyone can develop new apps, as well.
I'd love to answer any questions you guys have. Hopefully the mods/admins don't mind me jumping in here. If I'm crossing any lines, I apologize. Just send me an email or PM and I'll knock it off if I need to.
So does anyone know if those Trinity tool boxes at Costco are any good? I think that's the reason I logged on here....
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
The video showed some kind of rail that mounted to the work piece that gives it long "X" movement. Somehow the need to add a similar track (tracks?) to give it long "Y" movement. 4' x 8'
With this capability, you have the equivalent of a plasma table ! A router with the proper bits CAN cut both aluminum and steel plate.
With this capability, you have the equivalent of a plasma table ! A router with the proper bits CAN cut both aluminum and steel plate.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I don't think steel is in the cards for a machine like this. Aluminum it would depend on grade and temper. 5XXX series aluminum's are difficult enough on a mill, (it's about like machining bubble gum)
kevinwilly
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2013
- Messages
- 43
Yeah, we've come up with a lot of prototypes of a "creeper" system that will index the machine automatically along longer lengths. We're working on a final design to release that would do that. Just met on it yesterday, actually.
Aluminum is no problem, at least for the 6000 grade stuff, which is what I cut on almost a daily basis. 5000 series can be a pain, but they are less machinable in general. Great for bending, though.
Steel- you would need a different cutting head that is lower RPM. At the kind of speeds a router spins at you just generate too much heat. Plus the machine is not rigid enough to handle the cutting force. You can do thin sheet metal, but that's about it.
For larger CNC routers, there is supposed to be a couple companies that make CAM programs that do a special toolpath with special bits so that you can cut steel. I've seen the videos and they've sent me some bits to play with but I haven't had a chance to play with them yet...
So with some heat shielding and a fan you should be able to rig an oxy/act torch to it for steel.
I just cut some 6061 1/4" curved reinforcing plates out by hand using a jig saw. They are about 18" long X 4" wide and both aren't identical. I didn't count how many blades i broke and how much sweating and cursing I did and I still have to grind/sand the profiles smooth to a nice flowing contour for the proper finished look.
Yeah, I could see a use for one of these.
I just cut some 6061 1/4" curved reinforcing plates out by hand using a jig saw. They are about 18" long X 4" wide and both aren't identical. I didn't count how many blades i broke and how much sweating and cursing I did and I still have to grind/sand the profiles smooth to a nice flowing contour for the proper finished look.
Yeah, I could see a use for one of these.
I don't see one ever in my garage, but as a rental tool from Home Depot, or if a neighbor owned one, or a local shop setup to handle small jobs, could be sweet.
I know my speaker building friends will go nuts wanting one to make speaker baffles and other cabinet parts. One application I've seen using normal CNC on wood is to make horns for compression drivers using stacked layers of CNCed sheets.
My thought is that I don't have the skill to make a jig and use a router, but this tool might allow me to design a part and make it without any special skills.
Some random project thoughts;
Face plate for a HTPC (home theater PC) or other HiFi box.
Kitchen drawers with a carved image of contents maybe within some overall carved design.
Instrument panel for a car, or center console.
SnapOn logo for HF tool boxes.
Tool box accessories, holders etc.
These will come with the option for a LASER cutting head right?
I know my speaker building friends will go nuts wanting one to make speaker baffles and other cabinet parts. One application I've seen using normal CNC on wood is to make horns for compression drivers using stacked layers of CNCed sheets.
My thought is that I don't have the skill to make a jig and use a router, but this tool might allow me to design a part and make it without any special skills.
Some random project thoughts;
Face plate for a HTPC (home theater PC) or other HiFi box.
Kitchen drawers with a carved image of contents maybe within some overall carved design.
Instrument panel for a car, or center console.
SnapOn logo for HF tool boxes.
Tool box accessories, holders etc.
These will come with the option for a LASER cutting head right?