Form Follows Function

One of our old friends from the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms, Jonathan Ward, sent us photos of some really lovely privacy screens that he made on a ShopBot PRSalpha. He currently works at the FabLab at Incite Focus in Detroit, MI and when they recently moved to a new Detroit location with lots of open spaces, they needed privacy screens that were versatile enough to be used in the separation of public spaces from shop space.

Jonathan and Incite Focus’ Director, Blair Evans, collaborated on the design using a FabMo app that Jonathan had created called PicPerf. The screens were then fabricated and assembled by the Incite Focus team.

Interested in finding out more about the screens, or having them make a set for you? If so, you can contact Incite Focus directly via email: info@incite-focus.org


For those of you unfamiliar with FabMo, it is an open-source, digital fabrication and motion platform of software and hardware originated by a team at ShopBot Tools. It is open-source and is available to be used and adapted by anyone, to run every digital smart tool imaginable, today and tomorrow. ShopBot's Handibot® Smart Power Tool currently comes equipped with FabMo to provide wireless access to the tool. It will soon be available with other ShopBot Tools as well.

One of the most interesting things about apps developed for FabMo is that they run in your web browser so anyone can explore them and generate their own patterns and toolpaths. Click here to give PicPerf a try.

Re-evolution of an Idea

In January, Bill Young posted a story on the ShopBot blog about a project he developed. He utilized both his Desktop MAX tool and a Handibot® Smart Power Tool with an indexer to create some beautiful firefly luminaries.

One of the recipients of a luminary, Autistry Studios, got so inspired by it that they used it as a jumping off point for a project of their own. The day after they received their luminary, they were asked by Giving Marin, a group of local (Marin County, CA) businesses who have come together to support non-profits, to create tabletop decorations for an event. They took the idea of the luminary and made modifications so that they could use their in-house ShopBot PRS gantry tool to cut all of the parts. How did they turn out? Autistry Studios' Executive Director, Janet Lawson, said it herself: "The lanterns were a huge success!!"

Suggestion Box: Online Training Topics

We're looking for your input as we continue to put together our schedule for 2019 online training sessions. Are there topics you'd like to see covered? Guest instructors you think would be a good fit? Have a suggestion for a different day and/or time for the online sessions? Please email us your requests for consideration: tjchristiansen@shopbottools.com

Our online trainings are archived and made available on our website, so whether you missed a training on a topic of interest, or you want a refresher from a training you participated in, you can access them for free.

Want to be notified about upcoming online training sessions? Sign-up on our website to receive alerts.

Digital Fabrication for Educators - Three Sessions Available for Summer 2019

This 2.5-day workshop begins with design and machining using ShopBot tools, then moves into cross-platform training involving other digital fabrication tools (i.e. laser cutters and 3D printers). There is also time specifically allotted for independent work and collaborative development.

Digital Fabrication for Educators is currently scheduled for three sessions this summer: June 13-15, 2019; July 18-20, 2019; and August 8-10, 2019. Give us a call at 888-680-4466 to sign up for one of the workshops today!

Tip of the Month

Naming Toolpaths (.sbp files)

When saving toolpaths with bit changes, consider saving them as individual files. Doing this will help the tool operator know what file and bit they are about to run. Use a naming protocol that numbers the files in the order which they cut along with a description and bit size. You can abbreviate words like pocket as "pkt" or a 1/4" up-spiral end mill as ".25UEM". Create a separate folder of these files for each job and give the job a name, something that will work as a reference in the future for locating that particular job. You should avoid using any special characters or spaces in your file names, but a period or underscore can be used. The goal in following these steps is to make it more convenient for you (or other tool operators) to locate and run files as easily as possible.