BONUS TABLE

New hardware is almost complete! Just got our newest version back from the anodizers. The anodizing coats the aluminum protecting it from scratching and corrosion. We are working on two final prototypes. Notice the black rubber foot (on the foot) in the center - ooohhh ahhhhhh - Bonus Table will not scratch your floor, no sir. 

Eric and I took a trip to the CNC lathe factory (reminds me of C & C Music Factory each time I write it...everybody dance now...) to check up on the progress of our prototype leg parts. It was awesome to check out the place, meet the folks behind it, and see just how quick and efficient the CNC machines work. We're really excited to partner with this shop - They're focused solely on CNC turning, so they really know their stuff. They were completely willing to work with us on prototype quantities, AND as we grow they'll be able to supply us at quantities in the 100s or even 1000s. That's a huge benefit because often prototyping is approached differently than production, and at the production level there are all these new concerns to iron out. 

It's official - spec drawing are done, the renderings are done - it's all in the robotic hands of CNC lathe. We should have parts in the next two weeks - pretty exciting! 

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We're finishing up our sketching for a computer-cut run of legs. We have been working with a East Coast-based CNC turning shop to take our legs from prototype level to production ready. Their expertise helped show us where our current iterations were either difficult or inefficient to do on a CNC lathe, while opening us up to new ideas that are really only achievable with a computerized machine. Still love the lo tech sketching pencil on paper though! 

Streamlining our original leg bracket and feet for Bonus Table. The original bracket (in black) was overly complicated so we took another stab at it. Creating the second rendition, pictured in brass, we created a slimmed down more easily produced version. Now it's off to get pricing for production! The final version will be made in aluminum - nice and light with the option to anodize in sooooo many colors! 

A favorite part of Bonus Table prototyping is the ability to create color palates. These are some of the first colors we experimented with.

Here's Eric creating a leg segment with an ol' fashion lathe. It's awesome for prototyping and free form shaping! Getting consistent forms is difficult with this method, again CNC lathe is the answer.  

Going through our process picture archive for this project. Here's the system we "developed" to create the basic dowel form that we then shape into a fun design. Its a frankenstein mash-up of a lathe and a router, we call it frankroutn'lathe. One of the important aspects of the Bonus Table design is that all leg pieces line up with another end to end, always. That's a tall order for a conventional wood lathe without resorting to homespun techniques. This begins to show how using a more advanced CNC lathe would save soooooo much time. 

We are part of Bushwick Open Studios! We'll be showing off Bonus Table and asking for your feedback. Come visit us - they'll be beer and snacks!