Automated router fence and lift

[juss1]

Not something I would ever purchase  but pretty cool.  I've seen an automated fence and lift before but I don't recall seeing one that can move simultaneously with one another.  Kinda of like a cnc even though the guy on the video makes sure to say it's not one at the start.  It's made by nextwave who makes the shark cnc.  The price point seems high but it would also theoretically replace other jigs and tools so who knows.

 

[Packard]

If I were to pump all that money into a router, I would only do it with a true shaper. Shapers (with built in fences and built in lifts, include a stand or a cabinet, end up costing less than a router table plus all the accessories you would need to catch up with the standard shaper.

 

[Peter Kelly]

I'm wondering who's going to fork over $2k for this thing....

 

[Mini Me]

If I were to pump all that money into a router, I would only do it with a true shaper. Shapers (with built in fences and built in lifts, include a stand or a cabinet, end up costing less than a router table plus all the accessories you would need to catch up with the standard shaper.

I sort of agree but there are advantages to having digital control on a router table where the shaper requires manual set up each time. We developed our digital table to be cheaper than a normal router table and lift and have the digital control as a bonus. The one in the video lacks job memory where ours has a 200 job memory which is a huge advantage and uses a 9" touch screen. The Shark version does make it easier to go digital but it is a bit exxy.

 

[festal]

That video reminds me of the worse version of Ron Popeil

 

[festal]

Stumpy's reply in the video is interesting.  looks like there was a previous version that they promised to release updates to the app but ended up abandoning it and releasing this version.  Which might end up being the same issue with this version.

 

[usernumber1]

i agree with that comment as well. i was looking at the Ready2Lift and the company behind it was just not there for such a complex solution. I think it's a wonderful product but until it's made by someone more reputable it's going to be just a short term novelty

went with incra ls 17 positioner and their router lift. i'd replace it with an automated one if incra were to have such a product

 

[Mini Me]

I might be wrong but this looks like the classic trick of we'll give you a router table if you do a video for us.

 

[Cheese]

I might be wrong but this looks like the classic trick of we'll give you a router table if you do a video for us.

You think so?

"We haven't really scratched the surface of what this thing can do..."

It is pretty neat but it is also a "sort of one trick pony".

I like that they've leveraged their CNC digital implementation knowledge into this product, however it is still overall fairly compromised in what it does. If what your needs are, are within this machine's domain, then good for for you. However it will still be restrictive for some folks needs.
Holistically, just nice to see people thinking outside the box, let's keep moving forwards.  [smile]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I really like the idea and innovation of such a thing, but....I don't see it doing anything that there isn't already a way to do it. Sure, it's "all in one", but like I always say, "anything that does many things, does none of them well". At best it does one well, but it's a very expensive way to do that one thing.
Usually things like this have a pretty steep learning curve, something which wasn't addressed.

The thing about doing biscuits with a straight bit, is impressive, but do you really need to do that? I definitely do not. My DeWalt biscuit jointer was destroyed in the fire, over 3 1/2 years ago and I never replaced it. The thing sat in a cabinet for the last few years of it's life anyway, DF500 sent it packing.

It might be a fun toy to play with, for stimulating the creative times, but that's a pretty stiff price. 

 

[Packard]

They make biscuit slot bits for routers.  You end up with a more generous slot working that way, but I don’t think you compromise much otherwise.

For mounting face frames, a continuous slot on the edge of the plywood probably simplifies things.

I still use my biscuit jointer, but not as much as I should.  After construction I sometimes think, “a biscuit would have worked better here.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I have never seen a case where I think a biscuit would be better, acceptable?....yes. Better? no.
Better than nothing, yes.
The only thing anyone could ever criticize the Dominos over is cost, not only the machine itself, (which a lot of people do) but the consumables too. I feel like that has to be a nit-picky thing though. If you are in for the machine, the Dominos shouldn't be a problem. However, you could make them yourself. I'm not really seeing that as a thing with biscuits, but they are cheap as dirt anyway. It would cost more to make them than just buying a bag.

 

[luvmytoolz]

It has some nice smarts built into it, but I must admit watching him doing the biscuit slot, and then proceed to struggle with holding the end piece at the right angle, I thought it really looks like a solution looking for a problem.

Sometimes just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Still, it's an interesting machine.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

It has some nice smarts built into it, but I must admit watching him doing the biscuit slot, and then proceed to struggle with holding the end piece at the right angle, I thought it really looks like a solution looking for a problem.

Sometimes just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Still, it's an interesting machine.

Yeah, the one he showed with the "perfect fit" couldn't have been the one that bobbled in the video.