Today the counter top man came to measure for solid surface and granite.
He used a…..
Digital Photometric templating system.
This is WAY cool !!!
First he gets out some stickers with 1″ circles on them and sticks them to the wall on both sides of all corners, inside and out. And sticks some at the corners of the bay window that the counter will go into.
He also had some plastic blocks with circles and a 1″ lip that went on the cabinet fronts where there will be an over hang.
Then he gets out three pieces of aluminum angle with a dot on each end.
These are for reference and the dots are exactly 46″ apart.
They are laid across the middle of the cabinets in no particular place.
The he just gets out a digital camera and takes 6 to 8 shots from different angles.
Then he goes back to the shop and downloads the pictures into a computer and the software determines the precise size of the counter top, and sends the dimensions to a CNC cutter which makes all the pieces.
He said that they usually set the accuracy to 1/16″ but it is capable cutting to 0.001″!!!
He didn’t say exactly how much it cost but who cares?????
“A lot” was all I got out of him
I definitely have to be there when the tops come back!!
Any one else seen any thing like this??
Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am an Experienced Professional!
Replies
I have a good friend in the granite business and he has one of these systems coming in. It sounds pretty neat, but I can't help thinking that the old full size template is a better way. I think he said that it cost either 8 or 12k.
I'm interested in seeing how it works.
Tom
Man, can I get one to tell my miter saw what to cut...ooooh, or maybe an implant in MY head,laser beams will shoot out of my eyes<G> sounds like the cat's hindparts, I want one... EliphIno!
In my past life I made maps from ariel photos (photogrammetry) we also took horizontal, overlapping photos of the faces of buildings, clay mock ups of automobiles (pre cad days) and in one case photos of a plaster ceiling in one of the English royal residences.From these we generated digital cross-sections and contour lines .In the case of the auto it was used to produce the dies for stamping ,the ceiling it was to determine where the plaster had sagged away from the lath.Closer to home stereo photos were used to re profile the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara. At University College in London stereo photos were taken of a naked man and the contours generated used to drive a laser to cut out a suit.The same technique has been used to make artificial limbs that match the existing one .Sorry If I've bored you all to tears but you gave me a flash back to my distant , almost forgotten past
Heres a "cool tool"...kinda lo-tech, and it only costs $30, but...for any of you electricians out there who are tired of hand driving cable staples into 12/2 and/or 14/2 wire, ARROW now has a staple gun that is design to shoot insulated cable staples. The gun is hand operated, and the spring is a bit on the stiff side, but the staples do drive in really well. Especially good in tight spots.
Davo
You think that is high tech?
How about my thermos? It keeps my hot drinks hot, and my cold drinks cold. It does this without being "told" which of the two tasks is to be done. It appears to not have any type of sensors, or microprocessors, and I've never hat to replace batteries, so it must be solar powered.
All that, and the lifetime-guaranteed type only costs about $30.
Now THAT is hi-tech.
But Ma'am, how do it know?
Joe H
Sorry, it aint high tech till Keith lays some flames on it.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=27432.1Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-
Did ya see a way for this to show where to scribe a wavy wall?
I'm thinking an older house.......or a newer bang up job......would take lotsa dots!
That tool sounds cool.....but doesn't sound cost effective over having a guy screw together a bunch of 1/4 ply strips. Don't take long at all....and they can scribe the strips onsite for the perfect template.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
It takes a while if you want the top to fit...who screws together 1/4" strips...try hot glue, maestro...you get what you pay for, unless yer getting hosed:- )
EliphIno!
Edited 3/21/2003 7:35:48 PM ET by bucksnort billy
the best stone top guy here does.
how long does a few self tappers into 1/4 X 3 wide take?
Not my job...but them guys is quick....
and the expensive stone tops come pre-scribed.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Biggest step function I ever saw in high tech tools was going from tuned meters to tracking spectrum analyzers in early 1970s'; coincidentally, the switch from slide rules to calculators was at the same time. BIG STEP
Valued the SA more than the calculator then though.
It's been my job...and don't those expensive tops come "pre-scribed" from field templates? Don't screw around! EliphIno!
I am anxious to see just how much fitting is needed for this top when it comes.
But............
The Fabricators called the HO this AM to ask which side they should put the small sink on.......
Mrs HO says I chose a sink w/ two equall sides!!!
so every one gets out thier paper work and all the model#s match, even the one on the box.
Seems the factory put the wrong sink in the box!!
But on a lighter note they chose a new style of Mannington laminate floor and the installers have fought with it for two days and cant get it to snap together right. So a 1/2 day floor install is going into it's 3rd day monday.
We respectfully declined anything to do with the laminate, except we repaired the subfloor and put down some 3/8 lou-anne.
Flooring looks like contact paper and has a wear layer about the same thickness.
Oh well............
Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am an Experienced Professional!
2 problems : #1 floor mechanics tryin to do a carpenters job most floor mechs are new to carpentry techniques.
#2 you are still using Louanne try pumpin Ethyl she's much better.
so now you've taken to arguing with me about using screws on a template vs hot melt glue?
You've got issues my friend....issues.
I could care less what ya glue and don't screw.....I only have to template the tops when I'm late on installing the cabs....otherwise...I let the counter top guy do it...just like the rest of the world.
So it's not my job often enough to care.
You really gotta start picking more creative ways of disagreeing with me....this one is way too contrived.
Later,
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Whoa there super dude, I've done this as a job, you haven't. I'm missing the contrived part about questioning your method. When some assclown's bs'ing, you've never minded or hesitated to show the error of their ways. Stick to what you know. It's tough to screw anything together for a template, self-tapping or not. EliphIno!
yeah......hard.
pinch the pieces together(left hand)....push down on the drill(right hand).
Tough to master.
1/4 ply/luan is a real bitch to work with.....stuff's like steel......maybe harder.
I'll be sure to let my counter top guy know he's been doing it wrong.....we better go tear all them counter tops out.......after all.......he didn't use glue.
assclown.
Jeff "super dude" Buck
......that part...I agree with....sounds like someone that'd hang out with Shaft......
watch yer mouth!
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
er whut? I get chastised by a a car salesman who makes stuff up<G> I'm duckin'
EliphIno!
Edited 3/28/2003 9:13:02 PM ET by bucksnort billy
if you two can't get along I'm gonna have to separate you.Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am an Experienced Professional!
watch yer clown-#### buddy...
I'm a bad Mother ......
Jeff "Shaft" Buck
glad ya memorized my bio....U got a crush er something?Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite