Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GOLIATH PRO (The first portable and automated milling robot tool enabling professional manufacturers to produce large-size objects in whatever place)
Teaser
Milling is a standard process adopted by a huge number of medium-to-small manufacturing companies, professionals, and makers for the production of both prototypes and end products. Such players, which include carpenters, furniture producers, artisans, architects, stand and...
Summary
Milling is a standard process adopted by a huge number of medium-to-small manufacturing companies, professionals, and makers for the production of both prototypes and end products. Such players, which include carpenters, furniture producers, artisans, architects, stand and scenography builders, as well as DIY enthusiasts and makers, have to face the following issues which highly impact their business:
• The high cost of professional milling machines, in the range of 50,000-300,000€, makes them simply not affordable for such players, also considering the related expenses for operation and maintenance. Even if such tools ensure high precision and allow manufacturing wide surfaces, they are bulky and heavy, have very large footprint, and require dedicated industrial environments.
• The low performances offered by CNC desktop milling machines. Professionals and makers can turn to a few affordable desktop tools available in the market, but such tools have very limited working surfaces, usually as wide as an A4 paper sheet (20 x 30 cm), which prevents them from producing whatever medium or big size product, such as chairs, tables, skateboards or skis.
As a result, SMEs and makers often rely on outsourced manufacturing services, which increases the costs for each piece produced, poses problems in terms of availability and delivery times, and above all prevents manufacturers from having full control over the production phase.
Springa has designed Goliath PRO, the first portable and autonomous robotic tool which removes the stationary boundaries of CNC machines, allowing users to produce human-scale projects wherever they want. Goliath PRO has the dimensions and price of a desktop machine, but endless possibilities and work area comparable to a professional one.
Goliath PRO can be positioned directly on the work surface: this innovative mode of operation makes it the first portable and autonomous robotic machine tool, with a work area wider than any desktop tool. This is a novel concept and an innovative approach, which overturns the paradigm of CNC manufacturing technologies.
The overall objectives of the feasibility study were:
Technical Feasibility:
- Collection of the user requirements
- Tests on the components
Business Feasibility:
- Consolidation of the business model
- Market analysis
- Economic and Financial projections
Work performed
The activities carried out during the Phase 1 project were aimed at the study of the technical and the business feasibility.
During the technical feasibility study, we interacted with several stakeholders in order to collect the user requirements in the manufacturing of the most diffused materials (wood, metal, plastics), with the aim to turn them into product specifications related to accuracy, repeatability, cutting speed, software and hardware interface. We also performed tests on the sensory system in order to improve the current design of the robot.
The business feasibility study allowed us to consolidate the business model by means of interactions with prospective customers. We defined a proper pricing strategy through a precise identification of the COGS, derived the market size by means of an in-depth market analysis and consolidated the value chain, including the distribution partners. The feasibility study included also the economic and financial projections for the 2020-2025 period.
Final results
Thanks to its unique design, Goliath PRO is poised to provide professional manufacturers with the following unique benefits:
- High-level performances, due to its unique high-end design. In particular, the final version of the robot is expected to reach performances that are comparable with professional CNC workstations.
- Very affordable price, thanks to its small size and the reduced bill of material. The price is in line with the most affordable nesting machines on the market and highly competitive compared to the price of current large CNC workstations.
- The first portable milling tool, due to its limited size and weight. Currently available milling machine need to be as large as the working area for the piece to be cut. Goliath moves around the piece, which allows it to keep a very limited size. The robot is designed with two handles on top, which enables it to be lifted to work either on table-tops or on the ground, to be used also outside the production site (for instance, in a construction site), and to be simply stowed after usage.
The introduction of Goliath PRO in the market will have a positive economic and social impact in a broad variety of industrial sectors, characterized by wood, plastics or metal processing. The increased work area and the cost-effectiveness offered by Goliath PRO will allow:
- Small enterprises and craftsmen to broaden their machining options, exploring novel possibilities to create brand-new products. At the same time, it will allow to optimize their current production, cutting down expenses and speeding up the deliveries.
- To create new business possibilities, giving life to ideas and projects by designers and makers which were unfeasible until the present day, due to the lack of a proper technology.
- As a consequence, to create new enterprises and new jobs.
Website & more info
More info: http://www.goliathcnc.com.