Table saw

[MaSonZ]

Not sure what you mean, there are plenty of robots that build stuff.  There are plenty of other options for cutting materials, but generally not available, due to cost, to the average woodworker.  A table saw is a pretty basic concept, and can be made relatively cheaply.

On top of all that, I think you'll find many people who build stuff wouldn't want a robot to do all the work for them. 

+1 to all mentioned points...... Robots can make things look "cleaner" but it takes away from the artistic side of physically making a piece of custom furniture or lawn chair.

[FiLtH]

A few years back a carpenter friend of mine was doing some trim work with a table saw while I was in the bathroom doing some finish plumbing. I heard him yelp as he cut the tip of one of his finners off.  Since then I have called him 9 and 7/8ths.

[Penguin]

+1 to all mentioned points...... Robots can make things look "cleaner" but it takes away from the artistic side of physically making a piece of custom furniture or lawn chair.

There's no reason that one couldn't make a very complex and beautiful design for the robot to cut, and then do the finishing work by hand.  Machines like the ProtoTrax are surprisingly precise, and programs like Autodesk Inventor are surprisingly capable.

-Penguin

[dkff49]

There's no reason that one couldn't make a very complex and beautiful design for the robot to cut, and then do the finishing work by hand.  Machines like the ProtoTrax are surprisingly precise, and programs like Autodesk Inventor are surprisingly capable.

-Penguin

And also take the joy of creaying and finishing your own work. Robots would also take out the personal touch that is noticeable on anything that is made by hand.

[Penguin]

I don't see how a chair with a custom hand-sanding is any different from a full custom job other than the risk.  Assembly and fitting would also be done by hand.  Robotic cutting would be like the difference between using a standard-size pen and just pouring the ink really carefully.  The pen just makes it more reliable, but keeps your artistic freedom intact.

-Penguin

[dkff49]

The cutting and shaping of the pieces is where henreal pride comes from. What you propose would be mo different than buying the unassembled furniture at the store.

To be honest I can tell the difference between furniture made in factory and handmade. Most would not but those that do the work themselves with pride can tell.

[Jayhawk]

I don't see how a chair with a custom hand-sanding is any different from a full custom job other than the risk. 

-Penguin

Exactly, you don't see because you've never had the joy of building something yourself.

I'm an amateur, so maybe not the best example, but here is a table I recently built.  I could have easily bought a table and assembled it, but that takes the joy out of creating.

[Penguin]

I didn't mean to suggest that we ought to buy the parts pre-made, I meant to suggest that having robots make our artistic visions come to life would be far more reliable and safer than making the parts ourselves.  I have had the joy of making things myself, and out of a variety of materials including wood, aluminum, and polycarbonate (we custom-tool many things on our robotics team).  Having the Proto-Trax do the fine milling really makes the fit-and-finish smooth while still allowing us to create innovative and unique robots.

-Penguin

[Jayhawk]

Fair enough, but here are the facts, most woodworkers would not buy a robot because:

1)  They probably wouldn't be able to afford it
2)  They probably wouldn't have room for it
3)  They just plain don't want it

[dkff49]

I am not trying to knock your idea penquin but it's not seeing my vision come out as much as it is making it come to light with my own hands. Drawing it out with CAD and watching a machine spit it out is mo where near the same as shaping and formin wih my own 2 hands.

Most will tell you it's the crafting not the vision that the are lookin for.

Either way everyone has there own expectations for me I would never stay in woodworking if I could not do all the shaping and cutting myself and the table saw is a necessary piece of equipment when crafting any piece.

[Penguin]

Ah, the joys of historical reenactment...

I kid, I kid.  Have fun, and count to ten when you're done!

-Penguin