Observations from AWFS 2017

The turnout for this year’s AWFS Fair at the Las Vegas Convention Center is proof that the woodworking industry is primed for expansion. At the ShopBot booth, attendees were able to check out a fully-loaded PRSalpha 96-60 with Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) and vacuum hold-down, see a Desktop MAX in action, and hear about how the rotary indexer is allowing users to rethink what’s possible on a traditional CNC router. The team also held a special cocktail event at the Strip’s famous restaurant, The Barrymore, where those interested in CNC got to mingle with ShopBot team members and see what makes being a ShopBot community member so special.

One of the unseen heroes in the ShopBot booth was FabMo, ShopBot’s new CNC software platform. FabMo provides fast, smooth, motion and incredible ease of use because it allows our CNC tools to be run and managed from any device – phone, tablet, PC, Mac, iPad, etc., and to be run wirelessly or wired. Anyone who watched the snappy cabinet-cutting of the PRSalpha ATC saw FabMo in action. FabMo makes CNC more efficient; it makes CNC easier to use; it makes your CNC better. We’re currently shipping FabMo on Handibots and Desktop products and will be moving it to full-size tools this fall. Shortly after that, FabMo will be available as a control card upgrade for all older ShopBot tools.

ShopBotters at Work

The Stars Align for Syzygy Woodworks

Keith Larrett's Syzygy Woodworks combines his experience installing cabinetry with the dependability and precision of his PRSalpha to create stunning, unique built-in furniture for his Palm Coast, FL community. Read all about his unique story and business in the latest ShopBot Spotlight over at the ShopBot Blog.
 

More Than a Tool!

Teacher Devin Wilson shares another story from within the education community. In this installment, he talks about how the ShopBot Desktop MAX has been used by students to express their appreciation for people in their lives—whether they are teachers, family, or others. Read more about his observations and what his students are creating in his latest blog post.

ShopBot on the Road

2017 CTE Summer Conference

ShopBot’s TJ Christiansen was a busy instructor/presenter at North Carolina’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Summer Conference in Greensboro, NC, July 23-27. On two of the four conference days, TJ got the opportunity to teach teachers how to incorporate CNC into their classrooms and lessons. Ten teachers attended each of four professional development sessions:

Intro to CNC • Cutting Your School Logo
CNC in the Classroom • 3D Carving

Prototyping and Production Across Platforms: Laser and CNC at Digital Fabrication for Educators, July 2017

The last of Sallye Coyle’s three summer sessions of the Digital Fabrication for Educators Workshop was filled to the brim! Educators from a wide variety of geographical areas, as well as education levels, came to ShopBot to learn not just about CNC, but about how digital fabrication methods and files are all interconnected.

While it is always a good idea for the attendees to come to the session with some ideas (or even files) to work on, one attendee of this particular workshop came up with an idea while traveling to the actual workshop. Read how he put his time at ShopBot to good use in Sallye’s latest blog post.