MIT's Infinite Size CNC Router (opens in new tab)

Wouldn't it be more likely for the reverse to hold true? The razor-and-blades business model doesn't exactly apply here given the low level of technical sophistication required to print the calibration stickers. Constructing inkjet cartridges and machining modern razor blades are far more complex feats of engineering.

As the paper describes, the stickers can be applied "in any pattern so long as some tape is visible from every position that the device will move to". Thus, there is no need to align the stickers in a special pattern beforehand.

Anyone should be able to print similar calibration stickers on their own dime.

I imagine eventually they could do away completely with calibration stickers and just use regular surface tracking with any old plywood.

Isn't there a positioning system that it can use to track the router with accuracy? I'm not aware of any, but I'm sure it must exist.

The video demonstrates the use of the router with no additional explanation.

Observations from the video:

1) On the screen is a picture of the object, with a blue path representing the actual path of the router and a circle representing the fault tolerance of the system. Apparently, keep the path inside of the circle and you win.

2) The computer can move the router independently of its mount, within the tolerance represented by the onscreen circle.

3) It looks really easy to operate.

I have no idea how kosher this is on Hacker News, but I have mirrored the 480p version of this video for your viewing pleasure:

http://nacr.us/help/mitRouter.mp4

Especially since music is not essential to this clip. There is no "music" at all, just easy listening in the background. ;)

Hint: Use a (free) youtube proxy ...

By far the best solution I have found to this problem (I am german too) - preface the video link with 'ss'

Like this: http://www.ssyoutube.com/watch?v=-UmL7xZZSUk (remove the 'feature=player_embedded&' crap after copying the link to your url bar)

The great thing about this is: no extra software needed (though there is an extension and an bookmarklet) and it gives you links to all video resolutions. Proxtube didn't work for me when I tried it and most of the time I like to download the videos with a download manager, which speeds things up on my slow connection (though the Flash Player seems to have gotten faster on my netbook, both download and playback-wise.

One word: ProxTube

Getting a grip on the surface good enough to give you the control you need in the presence of sawdust is a lot harder than it looks at first glance. You might be able to make it work by putting a big magnet on the underside of the surface to attract the router, though.

My guess is for a sort of absolute positioning as opposed to the relative positioning of an optical mouse. A mouse produces deltas relative to your previous position, while the bar codes are always in the same place. The problem with relative positioning is that even a small inaccuracy will accumulate over time, resulting in edges being off in the end.

because optical mice aren't very accurate on a scale larger than one motion of a few inches

Of course, my question is answered by this: "A consumer version of the position-correcting router is being developed, to be released by a forthcoming startup." - No doubt the same people in this video, technology licensed from MIT. Company to be acquired by Dewalt within 24 mos. after commercialization.

The wood will move slightly when it's cut, so that won't work.

This is very cool and has a lot of potential, however a few comments. I have done a lot of hand routing and also have a 3-Axis CNC Router. Both hand routing and CNC each have their own Setup Costs. (1) I can see this device being very useful for artists and designers that are doing a lot of one-off shapes and designs (perhaps for Set Design, pattern makers, templates, etc). The setup costs to prepare CNC files for these types of Jobs account for the majority of the costs. (2) However I would guess that the majority of field (vs. shop) routing is done to "shape" the edge of wood (i.e. with a ogee or roundover, etc). Short of having an on site upside down router table, this is typically done (a) using a plunge bit with a top mounted guide for the Router guard to follow or (b) using a router bit with a small Guide Wheel that follows a top or bottom mounted template/guide edge. The router bits with Guide Wheels can not easily be used for plunge routing and are a pain to use in multi-pass scenarios. I don't know if they can get the precision, however I would think that if this team could offset their sensors to follow the middle of a piece of trim allowing someone to shape the edge of a piece of wood "FreeHand" (after applying some guide tape) and get away from Guide wheels, Clamps, Guides, etc. That would be a MAJOR use case. (3) After watching the Video, I would urge users to wear dusk masks when routing.