Goliath by Springa

The Goliath CNC robot bears the name of a biblical giant, yet it is anything but bulky and heavy, weighing in at only 15 kg. What is large about it, however, is the difference it makes compared to other CNC machines. Thanks to a well-thought-out design and construction, the innovation lies in how it allows approaching the work process. Goliath is positioned directly on the workpiece, which can be up to three metres long, and machines it by moving light-footedly on multidirectional wheels. The robot does not have to be guided by hand. Instead, it is run by a microcontroller with wireless radio transmission. Thin measuring wires connect the CNC robot via magnetic connections with sensors that serve to delimit the working area, on the one hand, and monitor Goliath’s position, on the other. Using triangulation, a geometric method for optical distance measurement between three reference points, it calculates its position on the workpiece up to 100 times per second. The compact and portable design of Goliath closes the gap between small CNC milling machines for home use and large industrial machines with its precision. While larger projects can be realised only to a limited extent with small home-use mills, units in industrial use are stationary and costly. Goliath, in contrast, is a portable CNC robot that can be used for cutting, milling and engraving a wide range of flat workpieces made of wood, soft metal or plastic, using computer-aided CAD data. It is not only in fab labs and maker spaces that users are likely to show interest in Goliath; industrial companies can also benefit from its use, as the robot allows even complex cutting work, engravings and decorations to be produced in a digitally simplified approach.