Is This The One?

I`ll withhold judgment until someone credible here in this forum has tested and assessed its worthiness as a viable detailing tool.

It has been a long time in the making and my real concern is the "problems" and short-comings" from previous test or beta models at detailing and SEMA trade shows.

So is this tool available now to the general public through its website list of dealerships??? No Manufacturer`s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) , as far as I could see, either.
 
had a chance to use this last weekend but didnt take as im just happy with my cordless flex triplets.

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I saw the prototype last year in person and it is a cool polisher. The only thing was that it was heavy. Would be killer on the shoulder working on those side panels.
 
As an enthusiast I will have to pass but I am sure a professional would love this machine . As stated above lets see what others have to say.
 
The Guz said:
I saw the prototype last year in person and it is a cool polisher. The only thing was that it was heavy. Would be killer on the shoulder working on those side panels.
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Have you ever used a mid 80`s Craftsman rotary? Those things must have been 10 pounds or more.
 
wannafbody said:
Have you ever used a mid 80`s Craftsman rotary? Those things must have been 10 pounds or more.
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I have not had mine out of the drawer in years..... 10.6 lbs on my shipping scale (holding the cord in the air). Paid $45 for it back around 1977.
 

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Civicclutch said:
had a chance to use this last weekend but didnt take as im just happy with my cordless flex triplets.
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Civicclutch:
Which Flex cordless machines do you have?? I assume you make that statement while the do-it-all single polisher idea appeals to you, what ever you feel are its shortcomings are is not enough to replace/displace the current polishing machines you have. I also assume you have seriously invested in this "cordless revolution" for a reason and love the convenience of no cords for your particular correcting and polishing detailing tasks.

I should probably throttle my pessimism with the realism that this much balley-hooed and long-awaited machine is FINALLY here. I know that with any new design, there will be trade-offs and design compromises. That is just the nature of mechanical design and mass production. As alluded to by those who have used and tried the proto-types/demo versions say it is heavy and vibrates a lot and wonder if those attributes/characteristics will negate the advantage of having a user-selectable orbital stroke or rotary motion.

Then we have not even mentioned the selling price. Some of you have mentioned in other posts about this machine that the polishing machine market has shifted to cordless and wonder if the timing of this release is too late and this machine is already obsolete. I would hope not. I REALLY would like this machine to be the next big thing in detailing like microfiber towels, clay mitts, water-activated sealants, and ceramic/graphene coatings that have been game-changers to the detailing process for all of us Autopians
 
Lonnie said:
I know that with any new design, there will be trade-offs and design compromises. That is just the nature of mechanical design and mass production.
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Likely! It`s something I`m recently learning about. Designs, trade off, compromises.

Lonnie said:
Then we have not even mentioned the selling price. Some of you have mentioned in other posts about this machine that the polishing machine market has shifted to cordless and wonder if the timing of this release is too late and this machine is already obsolete.
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I think I saw one of their spokespeople say it would be about 700$ Some will say that`s steep. Factor in you get 5 machines in 1, and I`m not so sure it`s that much. Two Rupes machines and you`re almost already there.

I do want to see this machine take off. Such an idea! I love it. I`m still not seeing a whole lot of people going cordless, or at least they`re not talking about it. Body shop guys will still likely be using their rotaries.

Either way, it`s nice to have another option out there. One that is unique, no less.
 
As long as we are dreaming or sky-blue (AKA outside-the-box) thinking about features we (I) would like to see in a polishing machine, here is my list of features/items I think would benefit the end-user:
1) Digital read-out of RPMs or a stall-warning on DA`s
2) Digital read-out of force being applied (like incorporating a load cell)
3) Digital read-out of pad temperature.
4) Digital Paint Thickness Gauge readout as you polish
5) Data-gathering telemetry computer program of the above"polishing data" items, along with micro-GPS locations of the machine (speed and movement), for statistical analytics of how the polishing was done (great training tool of polishing techniques. Think Formula 1 racing data and how it analyzes the driver at a track during the race for improvement)
OR a head-up clear glasses (like wrap-around safety glasses) display of that data as the detailer/operator uses the polisher
6) Quick-change backplate sizes
7) Voice command with a user-definable "name" for your machine (Roboto, power On. Roboto, change the speed to xxx PRMs. Roboto, change the stroke to rotary)
8) High torque, low watt/amp usage brush-less rare-earth magnet motors (electrical efficiency)
9) Air-bearing or magnetic-levitation bearing spindle (near-frictionless)
10) Titanium or ultra-composite metal/fiber frame for less weight (I did not say it would be cheap!)
11) Wireless or wi-fi power-source (no cord, no battery pack)

Geeze, Captain Obvious, why not a polishing machine robot with Artificial Intelligence that will do the correcting and polishing for you, including selecting the pad size and type and dispense the polish or compound. George Jetson would be proud...(Google it; you will laugh at the reference. Remember I am old(er))

Edit: After looking at all the polisher data info I wanted displayed, the polisher would need to have a "dashboard" of digital read-outs that rival most sports cars OR have a single LED readout display that is user-selectable OR can be allowed to scroll through the display of the various data info at user-defined time intervals. As we in engineering used to say of any conceivably impossible design idea, "Go ahead, Edison; invent one."
 
Lonnie said:
6) Quick-change backplate sizes

10) Titanium or ultra-composite metal/fiber frame for less weight (I did not say it would be cheap!)


Geeze, Captain Obvious, why not a polishing machine robot with Artificial Intelligence that will do the correcting and polishing for you, including selecting the pad size and type and dispense the polish or compound. George Jetson would be proud...(Google it; you will laugh at the reference. Remember I am old(er))
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6) YES! I`ve actually been thinking about this. 3M has their quick-change thing for rotary machines, and you have to use double sided pads.

10) I remember when another user mentioned he`d love a carbon fiber body for his Flex 3401. That would super neat.

Captain, i don`t know if it was real, but I did see a robot arm machine doing some type of polishing on a car. If I can find that video, I`ll post it. And hey, we still don`t have flying cars! Sorry, George Jetson, not there yet!
 
John U:
Well now I know where some of the Dealer-Installed Swirl Option (DISO) comes from. I would LOVE to inspect that exterior under/with a Scangrip light after the "Auto Butler" system is applied.
 
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