Interview with Rupert, Lead Mechanical Engineer at Clawlab
What makes a professional tufting gun more than just a tool that “gets the job done”? According to Rupert, lead engineer at Clawlab, the answer lies in engineering—specifically in motor control, structural rigidity, vibration management, and material science. We sat down with him to unpack the logic behind Clawlab’s precision-built machines and understand why they insist on building like no one else.
Q: Let’s start with the structure. The gun feels compact but unusually solid. How did you achieve that level of rigidity?
Rupert: The outershell of Clawlab tufting gun is made from Toughened ABS resin. The remaining components are crafted from other specially modified high-performance composites that are resistant to fatigue and deformation.
This isn’t about looking tough. It’s about surviving thousands of high-frequency impacts and still staying tight, precise, and smooth. We approached the frame like you would a drone chassis: tight tolerances, full-metal assembly, and tightly integrated internal systems. That gives us rigidity most hobby-grade guns can’t match. You won’t feel the difference in the first 10 minutes—but you will in month six.
Q: Most guns in this category still use brushed motors. Why did you go with BLDC instead?
Rupert: A BLDC (brushless DC) motor is what you'd find in drones, robots, and industrial-grade tools. It offers a much better torque-to-size ratio, faster response time, higher energy efficiency, and significantly less heat and wear compared to traditional brushed motors.To put it simply: it’s stronger, smarter, and lasts longer. A brushed motor may save you money upfront, but it degrades quickly and its torque delivery is inconsistent. For creators tufting day after day, we didn’t want something that “barely holds up”—we wanted something you can rely on for years.
Q: The gun operates incredibly smoothly. What’s your strategy for managing vibration?
Rupert: That’s where our three-slider dynamic balance system comes in. We designed it using principles from automotive engineering—similar to how engines use counterweights to stabilize internal motion. This system redistributes motion forces to reduce peak vibration frequencies. That results in a much smoother and more controlled experience during use, and it significantly reduces wrist and hand fatigue over time.Other guns tend to bounce or vibrate unpredictably. Ours stays planted. For precision work and long sessions, that’s not just a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Q: Another thing we noticed: it’s surprisingly quiet. How do you reduce the noise?
Rupert: The noise in most tufting guns isn’t just motor hum—it’s mechanical impact noise: parts slamming, reversing, colliding at high speed. We implemented a multi-stage damping system inside the gun:
1. The momentum balance design is carried out between the moving parts to effectively reduce the vibration amplitude.
2. The moving parts are designed for extreme weight reduction, effectively lowering vibration energy and the vibration caused by additional deviations under different usage conditions.
3. A buffer layer is added to the side of the shell to absorb some of the remaining vibrations.
These designs can suppress structural vibration noise and airborne noise. It won’t make the gun silent—that’s not realistic—but it makes a massive difference if you’re working from home or in shared spaces. The goal was simple: less disturbance, more focus.
Q: You’ve mentioned using engineered composite materials. How do these perform compared to standard plastic?
Rupert: Ordinary plastic is fine for making toys, but it is not for high-strength tools.
Under long-term vibration, high temperature, or repeated mechanical stress, plastic parts are prone to deformation, fatigue, and even fracture, which is also the reason why many consumer-grade guns are prone to breakage. We use modified wear-resistant plastic alloy for the sliding bushing material, which, in the current usage scenario of the movement, has more than 10 times better wear resistance and durability than traditional copper bushings. In terms of structural design, a more compact design solution is adopted to reduce the momentum of the mechanism, greatly improving the rigidity during the movement of the movement and effectively reducing the stress on moving parts.
This type of design may not be easily noticed at first, but after six months, when your gun still looks as good as new, you'll know whether it's worth it.
Q: So let’s put it all together. In your view, what defines a truly good tufting gun?
Rupert: A good tool doesn’t distract you. It doesn’t make you overthink. It should feel like it’s listening to you—amplifying your instincts rather than fighting them.At Clawlab, we’re not chasing flashy features. We’re chasing reliability. Every design choice—the motor, the material, the internal balance—was made so the gun becomes invisible. What you’re left with is rhythm, flow, and results that feel effortless.As our conversation with Rupert wraps up, one thing becomes clear: Clawlab isn’t just refining tufting guns—they’re reshaping the entire making experience. Every mechanical decision is an invitation to create with fewer barriers and more control. For professionals and ambitious beginners alike, the Clawlab tufting gun isn’t just a machine. It’s a partner that learns your hands—and keeps up with your pace.
Behind Rupert’s desk hangs a slightly imperfect rug—edges a bit frayed, lines not quite straight. He made it years ago using the very first Clawlab prototype. “Back then, we were still tuning the motor response,” he laughs. “My hand went numb from the vibrations, but I finished it anyway.”
That rug carries every flaw of the early machine. But it also carries every hour of trial, error, and relentless iteration. “We keep it there to remind ourselves,” Rupert says. “We’re not here to build flashy things. We’re here to build tools that disappear into your hand.”
Today’s Clawlab gun has gone through seven structural redesigns. But that imperfect rug still hangs quietly on the wall—a reminder that great tools are forged in persistence, not perfection.
