Harvey, a woodworking tool company, has launched their new Alpha A-15 intelligent bandsaw, which is advertised as being the first next-gen tool of its kind.
Featuring the merging of “advanced technology with mechanical precision,” Harvey boasts that their new bandsaw will redefine the product category and bring the woodworking industry into a new era.
Harvey’s announcements claim that A Thing that Never Existed Before has Finally Arrived. Let’s take a closer look.
Features include a digital control panel with touch screen display, nickel-plating for “a rust-free experience,” a 4-pole motor with built-in mechanical brake, upgraded blade guide system, Big Eye rip fence system, and voice-controlled LED worklight.
At the heart of the control panel is a 7-inch touch screen.
Built-in sensors allow for visualization of blade tension, table tilt angle, and blade speed.
It doesn’t seem to measure actual blade speed, but instead detects belt pulley position. There are 2 photoelectric sensors, one for each speed setting.
Based on what I’m seeing, it seems you get 2 speeds but not variable speed; Harvey says the high speed 4300 FPM setting is for cutting hard wood and dry materials, and the low speed 2300 FPM setting is for cutting wet or green wood.
Harvey says the A-15 bandsaw has “structural optimization for enhanced stability.”
There are 2 safety shutoff sensors, so that things don’t start spinning when the cabinet doors are open, 2 emergency E-Stop buttons, a tension sensor, and the sensors for belt positions.
Harvey designed the blade guide with a built-in viewer, and added fine positioning adjustment knobs on both sides.
It includes a voice-controlled LED worklight. Harvey says that they plan to introduce more voice-controlled features in future updates.
Dust extraction ducts are fully enclosed within the cabinet for improved performance.
Harvey says that the first 50 “brave buyers” will get a Pioneers Edition bandsaw with exclusive privileges such as a limited numbered badge and 5 year warranty.
At the start of the announcement, Harvey’s founder introduced “Mr. Jumper,” their robot dog.
I think that Harvey is trying to draw parallels between the robot dog and the sophistication of their new modernized band saw.
Here’s the full announcement:
At the time of this posting, the new Harvey 3HP 15″ Intelligent Bandsaw is priced at $6,789 with $399 shipping to the contiguous USA. Their other 15″ bandsaw, the HW615Pro, is currently $3,099 with $299 shipping.
Discussion
The new Harvey bandsaw definitely integrates more modern technology than most machines I’ve seen, but I’m not sure I’d call it “Intelligent.”
Time will tell if there’s a market for a $7K bandsaw with touchscreen display and voice-activated worklight.
Some of the other features sound nice, such as the interior dust extraction duct. That’s a smart design that I can see as being potentially beneficial, but is it “intelligent?”
