Thanks for noticing and replying to my post, @dan. I met with Bailey and the other nice members of your team at the NYC Maker Faire this past Oct. 1st. I enjoyed chatting with them while waiting to have my luggage tag engraved and cut.
At the good Housekeeping Institute, I designed and built test fixtures to evaluate, compare and rate many consumer products, ranging from wood floors and tiles, BBQ’s, paint, toys, TV’s and DVD’s, computers, game consoles, DIY hardware and tools, to digital cameras, gadgets and Holiday gift ideas, etc.
I would take the following approach to evaluating and reporting on my beta unit: With my engineering hat on, I would check the GF for functionality of any features that it has built in and considered ready to use (in accordance with your instructions), then, I’d use different materials (i.e. paper, cardboard, leather, fabric, wood, acrylic, etc.). I would repeat this often (daily, or at regular intervals) to test for repeatability, precision (cutting circles, thin features, etc.), and durability. Of course, reporting confidentially on my findings, and posting publicly what I would be at liberty to report on the forum.
Then, with my consumer/end-user hat on, I would test things like wood veneer cutting and engraving to make inlays in gift boxes and other items… Next, I would cut templates in 1/4" wood, and align two identical pieces (with thin dowels and lasered holes) to make a 1/2" routing template for routing hinge mortises in cabinet and box door projects. For my electronics projects, I’d fabricate front panels for project enclosures, acrylic and wooden gears and parts for my robotics (I had mentored and taught young people for the Science Olympiad competitions, and taught special-needs kids how to build their own line-following robot based on the Arduino Uno).
Finally, I would like to test and try making artistic projects (tea candle holders, lamps, toys, etc.) using a myriad of materials from paper, acrylic, cardboard, wood, etc.
I am going to stop now so I don’t bore you or any readers on the forum.
Best regards,
Steven Zara