Hi gclayton,
I’ll just elaborate on a couple of David’s responses because we are very excited about the Smart Tool “apps” and defining the development framework for them.
We have probably been a bit too distracted in the last couple of months with the physical side of Handibots – in particular, finalizing a basic design to begin development work that would be stable for some period for those doing accessories and apps. We wanted to make sure that the Handibot mechanicals were as supportive as possible for developers depending on processes such as registering between positions and tiling larger files. You’ll soon see in the store some simple jigs to help illustrate our thinking on how these functions can be readily accomplished.
As well, we have wanted to make sure those accessories such as a rotary indexing axis and an automated “creeper” (for registering across a board) would be available to help define some of the additional functionality that can be driven through a Handibot. I’m expecting you will see a final version of these accessories in the next month, as well, in the store and fully documented so they help contribute to other projects.
With respect to app development, we’ll soon be releasing a first descriptive explanation of the process that outlines how we expect apps to emerge and options for distributing them. You will see that fundamentally, most job- or task-oriented apps will accomplish their purpose by generating and passing a toolpath file to the Handibot – much as a toolpath file can be passed from the V-carve, CAM software. Ultimately, the app will greatly simplify or hide the CAD/CAM process from the user. In the short run, though, we felt that the V-Carve software did a good job of illustrating for anyone interested in development of Smart Tool apps the basic underlying workflow that would need to be accomplished and the nature of the entity, the toolpath file, which would need to be passed to the tool. Watch for a more complete early description of this framework in the next few weeks. We will also be providing an example of how a simple app works – and a discussion of formats and strategies for toolpath files.
The new Control Card (and open source motion control) is coming along well. We hope to have the first version ready for testing by late spring. We will make the new card available to all Handibot owners at our cost. With respect to the wireless, because the card is being developed for all ShopBots in general, the wireless connectivity for Handibots (and other optional functionality) will probably be available as a “shield” type of device that is added onto the card.
For those interested in seeing Handibots doing a variety of things, many of which are not already posted, you might want to check out the video that Bill Young is working of for use at the upcoming JLC show in Providence:
Handibots in ActionLook forward to more information on app development in coming weeks.
Ted