Desktops at the C.F. Martin guitar factory

In the Custom Shop area of the Martin guitar plant there were two ShopBot desktops being used to cut pearl and abalone. They were using Aspire as the CAD/CAM software.

AND to think that i cut out of the corner of my garage.

Good tool for detailed repetitive work or one of a kind stuff. Surprised they are not enclosed. I've read the dust of of pearl is really bad for you. Perhaps the dust system is a little more powerful than mine.

Pearl and abalone dust is not toxic, but it is very unhealthy to breathe. The particles are sharp edged and the lungs find it difficult to expel them, resulting in silicosis, a nasty, debilitating lung disease.

Here is an example of what they are cutting