I am responsible for setting up a new middle school course in design for next September. I was looking longingly at laser cutters, knowing that we could never make that sort of investment. Luckily, I happened to find cutting machines instead. The Silver Bullet looks like an excellent option - it appears to be top-of-the line, but has the price tag to match. Because I am in Canada, I will have to pay duty and the exchange rate is not on my side right now In the end, it will likely be double the price for me.
However, I am still considering this... I teach at an all-boys school with one-to-one laptops and the opportunity this brings to integrate the computer technology with fabrication is so exciting.
Has anyone used this in a classroom environment? How do you manage it... do you let your students manage it? How often do you have to replace blades and/or mats? Please describe your experiences and convince me.
Thanks for your help!