Until recently, buffing under the Taylor roof was a mostly manual process, but new robotic applications are transforming the nuanced "art" of hand-buffing into an exact science — one that yields a smooth shine with greater consistency and without the physical rigors associated with hand methods.

Hand-buffing is subject to the subtleties of the person behind the buffing wheel. While a factory may have any number of buffing experts, individual buffing styles invariably enter into the picture, compromising consistency. Unlike CNC machines which operate in an X, Y, and Z plane only, robots can operate in six dimensions, filling in the curves of a three dimensional axis. That means an incredibly precise, consistent robotic arm movement and a uniform buff across our entire production line.

Next on the horizon is a robotic finish applicator, installed in early 2005. Hand-spraying results in as much as 70% "overspray", meaning that most of the finish that's intended for the guitar actually ends up elsewhere. Testing indicates our new robotic sprayer will reduce the overspray percentage down to the single digits.

Whether buffing or finishing, robots are yet another tool that helps us meet our aim of building a better guitar with better use of resources.