Richard Leshner
Member
- Messages
- 129
- Location
- Contoocook, NH
it said the video was private...
Stu I have a question which I am not sure you can answer but i will add it to the debate on this machine.
Rob Keeble said:Can this machine act as a cnc machine or is it stricktly meant to be a carver only?
I do not think they are looking to sell hundreds of thousands of units, the market for these machines as a whole is not huge.Rob Keeble said:I am struggling to see the broad appeal of a unit like this. It seems very narrow since a cnc even home made units i have seen on other forums and for which plans are sold on the internet, can carve a sign but also cut out a mortise and cut out patterns of components.
This is a specialist, or enthusiast machine for sure, this is no tablesaw.Rob Keeble said:I just find that the total time regardless of operator efficiency to carve something like you have done to be way to long for my patience. Granted this would take place in your sound proof box and could be left to run while other tasks take place but i seem to be missing the big hook that the manufacturers feel is out there to justify the development.
Rob Keeble said:I guess they must have done the research to ascertain the interest in a unit like this and the price point.
Rob Keeble said:Is it intended to be able to "carve" out in brass or aluminum or even steel or only plastics and wood and man made soft type substrates?
Thanks for the propsRob Keeble said:I mean here we have you the tool maker with pretty good all round skills from computers to machinery and you are going through a significant learning curve. Whats the average joe thats reaching an age where he no longer wants to have to learn the whole world of cad cam software going to do if he bought one.
Rob Keeble said:Seems to me its got a long way to go in evolution before it reaches the "must have" "easy to use" mass market.
I think that you are correct, but most of the problems come from guys not willing to learn the CAM software well enough to run it efficiently, they want a cnc machine that works like their toaster, put bread in, push button and out comes a 3D Faberge Egg The do not realize that just because the bought the machine does not mean they can run it well. Lets take the wood lathe for an example, if you buy the best Oneway Mayo lathe out there, and a bunch of tools etc, does that make you a turner? Nope it makes you prepared to possibly become oneRob Keeble said:There are many comments (i have read by guys that have either bought or built their own cnc machines ) where the guys say they have built or bought the unit but its now collecting dust and only used from time to time.
Rob Keeble said:I have been on a mailing list for the Gorilla CNC introduced in Canada and now taken on by General to be distributed and manufactured and of interest to me was to observe their emphasis in the marketing of providing workshops with the biase towards how to make the cnc in to a viable business tool. Granted their starting point to get into the market is around $8k up and then you have shop bot that has a mini unit and you can get in at around $6k US. So i struggle to see where a carver only unit is going to find a niche here at a price point that makes it attractive to a hobbiest joe like me where i will find a meaningful role for it in my hobby shop.
Whats your thoughts and what have the Geetech guys indicated here?