Well no one has one on my block, I don’t have the software and no mention if it’s going to made available to the masses. So this leaves me, my planer and sander doing just what I always have.
“mass customization” welllllll… it’s good to see that they have someone doing hype for them.
But hey, sounds like they have it all together. Wonder what they’ll charge Joe Average to have a blank shaped?
Ohhhh, five axis! this assures that the cut is always perpendicular to surface. It also ensures a damn expensive machine. Other machines do compensation for this and get acceptable results. Some use circular cutters which makes them virtually 4 axis.
I wonder what the machine costs?
Edit: Darcy hand shapes are using their services. Hand shapes straight from the machine…
Any luck getting into the Precision website?
I just get the opening page but no active links
Edit: Darcy hand shapes are using their services. Hand shapes straight from the machine…
Haavard, this made me raise an eyebrow, too.
Nothing personal against Glen DARCY who makes very fine boards, nothing personal against all those guys using machines for production, but isn’t it about time to protect a “hand-crafted” label? Shaping a surfboard from a rough blank can hardly be compared to sanding off a few machine ridges, IMHO.
Now, I don’t want to start a war between pro or con-machines. Just point out that those who use them should stand behind their choice and clearly write “machine-shaped, hand-finished”, not “hand-shaped”…
Actually, power-planer shaping from a rough foam blank can hardly be compared with shaping a olo board from a koa tree with a stone axe…
This machine, a shaper terminator, a cybernetic organism: living tissue over a metal endoskeleton.
the machines only as good as the shaper that runs it and finishes the boards
Click on the surfboard on the opening page. 
You’ve got to admit that’s an amazing machine. It reminds me of the polishing machine used at Taylor Guitars. Saw it on a documentary. Computerized and gets as close to perfect as is possible. Also repeatable and fast.
Yikes! Kind of scarey. I hope the Chinese don’t get hold of one. Surfboards could get real cheap.
But I’m STILL going to keep making custom boards for people who appreciate handmade, personalized surfboards.
Doug
…these machines are fantastics for mass produced whatever
but for surfboards…are useless…for money…are very usefull
I dont want waves full of new comers
and dont come here blah bling about the perfection of the shape, etc
you know the waves aren t “perfect”, the plugs arent perfect, the glass arent perfect, the windsurfboards arent perfect, the human body arent perfect, life is no perfect
what s perfection?
all this device are invented only for more money
money always win and always won
the change in surfboards is via materials or new ways of using old techniques and materials, like Burger
the machines only as good as the shaper that runs it and finishes the boards
amen to that… anyone with cad or CNC experience can tell you there are machine or CAD operators and then there are master machine or CAD operators… some guys can work miracles with this technology… others simply use it…
will be interesting to see this evolve into custom shaping and see if it is sucessful. Cad can be very difficult to use properly where subtle blends and sweeps are concerned and a surfboard is all sweeps and blends.
rif.
it’s uncanny but the music playing
in the vid clip of the shaping demo is
the same de dee deee music that is going on in my head
ALL THE TIME
when I am driving,
when I am surf ing,
when I am sleeping,
right down to the ddarth Vader exhale at the end.
YES THIS IS THE FUTURE OF RIDING PERFECT WAVES!!!
I cannot wait to see where they make the perfect waves to go with these perfect boards.
THEY ARE PERFECT!!!
congradulations to all the perfect guys
amazing
the admissions to the perfect wave centers
will assuredly be only availiable to the guys with the perfect boards
that have accurately been replicated to fit the perfect conditions
at the perfect wave centers…Thank the machine age for this perfections.
all the imperfect waves
with unpredictable winds
and uncontrolable tides and
inconsistent swells will no longer
be so damn irritating.
aAND…
the cleanliness of the wave centers will
keep the new generation of surf wear clean
not like dropping yoour shorts
on the dirty parking lots of asphalt and dirt.
Good bye YUCCH.
…ambrose…
throw off the shackles of nature and
coincidental unpridictable wave riding forms
on irregular waves.
yea…forget the shaping machines we’ve got enough of them already…where are the perfect wave machines.
It’s like watching Satan building a surfboard and stealing our soul…
…where are the perfect wave machines.
Nice answer!
Those who turn their nose up at shaping machines, I’d love to see what their reaction would be to grinding overhead barrelling perfection, and a different wave at the touch of the button…
Of course i’d rather have a wave like that out in nature, but it woul take strong resolve to stay with the “romantic” side of surfing when confronted by that… hehehehe
Kit
agreed
shaping machines are for making money
so some semi retired baby boomer can pump out a few more under his surf label
and buy a few more investment properties that he can increase the rent on
maybe put in a swimming pool and and extra month in the mentawhais
I wonder if people had this discussion when electric planers first hit the market. I don’t think shaping machines are any more the “tools of the devil” than power tools, and a CNC machine does not guarantee a nice shape. Pre shapes in small numbers are pretty accessible too I believe, so nothing to fear in regards to getting left behind I think. Not to mention, shaping is part of the process. People can turn out machine shapes to Africa I feel, the foams still going to get soggy if it’s not glassed properly. To cap it all off for me, I don’t care if it’s hand shaped or machine shaped so long as it goes well. I’m not trying to have a go at anyone, just my two cents worth.
well i have to say ,im impressed …
the last time i spoke to Sam and Mark was about 18 months back and Sam was outlining his vision for holding and flipping the board …
and now , there it is …
these 2 guys together and youve got a very talented team …
ive known Mark since i was a teenager , and anyone who beats you at chess 4 out of 5 on a regular basis , definitely has got the goods in the inteligence department (well the other option is i could be a dumbass)…
i watched Mark build his first cnc early 90s , originally designed for foiling centre boards and rudders …
kinda cool , coz we had factories 20 meters appart …
the tech is getting better all the time …
machine v hand ??
mixing stick v cupachino machine ??
long walk and swim v 737 to indo ??
its all supply and demand …
because of cheap labour the demand for volume has gone overseas …
so what about customs ?
sorry to say to all the purists out there , but without shaping machines there is nothing else that can keep production commercially viable domestically …
for a guy who enjoys the craft and pleasure of building his own board , nothing changes …
for a guy who is in the surfboard business to make a living …
then the logical direction is to make it profitable , without making it lower quality …
the cost of this machine is about the same as paying 3 professional hand shapers for the year …
or if your in China you can get 150 or 200 hand shapers for the year …
so the reality is , having a machine in China doesnt add up …
having one locally does …
silly , i wouldnt worry about board builders making mega money to buy another investment property at the expense of the little guy …
i think a look at the bank balance of even the biggest names in the business will soon tell you that a touch of hollywood can really make things look bigger than they really are …
regards
BERT
all those resources,energy,money to make more money
and make more pupe potatochips to end up as land fill
and another 20 new beginners per week at currumbin
impressive!
even if it were used to make compsand
its way overkill
5 boards a week would flood NZs market
let alone 5 a day.
I think a look at the bank balance of even the biggest names in the business will soon tell you that a touch of hollywood can really make things look bigger than they really are …
regards
BERT
Hi Bert,
Please tell me exactly how one gets to look at the bank balances of the biggest names in the surfing industry, because THAT idea sounds like hollywood to me.
Altho i suppose that u have your secret methods hmm ?
Actually some of the small players here in NZ are rolling in dosh so I’m sure that the Al Merricks, Gordon Merchants, Randy French’s are doing fine wouldn’t you agree ?
.
i spose by boomer standards
they are poor!
can only afford a 2006 toyota prado
and not a 2007
maybe they should try the selling cars
im in the working poor generation
and im pretty well paid by most standards
still renting though
as are all my 30 somethingmates with kids
the whole made in china thing is the legacy of the greed and self interests of the majority of the baby boomer generation
global warming
yup
child slavery in the third world
yep
deforestation so they can have there nice qwila outdoor barbyQ area
yep
unaffordable homes for the next generation
if its not one thing
its another
the irony is their kids are gunna put them in a nursing home anyway
cuz there no love there
it was lost in their pursuit of the dollar
how many board made from that machine will have a decent glass job i wonder
i already know
none
they will all be 4 oz fall aparts
so they can keep producing more boards
instead of making one that lasts many years
thats what i dig about this site
there some old crew that still believe in the good things in life
mateship, craftsmanship,their environment, and their kids
and not greed for more beyond their personal needs