Thread: ShopBot

So what are we then? Chopped liver?

I thought that between us all, we supplied a pretty good support network.

The thing about Murphy's Law is that it is A LAW. To try and sidestep any of nature's laws is like trying to deny gravity. What is -- is.

Originally Posted by Wolffie

I am just about to declare defeat
Where would one go and look for a ShopBot?
I am not allowed to get something that does not have a good support network so the Chinese imports are out of the question.
I need something where Murphy's law cannot get me again.
Cheers
Wolffie

I have a Shopbot Buddy 48 with spindle and love it......works out of the box with no issues and their online training and product support (even on weekends) is excellent. Very well made and engineered......
ShopBotTools CNC Routers

Originally Posted by Bob Willson

So what are we then? Chopped liver?

I thought that between us all, we supplied a pretty good support network.

The thing about Murphy's Law is that it is A LAW. To try and sidestep any of nature's laws is like trying to deny gravity. What is -- is.

Sorry, didn't mean it that way
I meant warranty etc.
After the problems I have had, I am sorry I didn't listen to the warnings.
4 months after paying $7.000 the thing still isn't working right
Not happy Jan

Cheers
Wolffie

Originally Posted by simops

I have a Shopbot Buddy 48 with spindle and love it......works out of the box with no issues and their online training and product support (even on weekends) is excellent. Very well made and engineered......
ShopBotTools CNC Routers

Bought here in OZ?
Isn't that site in the States?
Cheers
Wolffie

Yes in the States. It is USA made not Chineese. Had it shipped here. Ok dearer than Chineese stuff but you get what you pay for. I prefer to pay a little extra and get build quality that I can rely on especially for high value machinery! Warranty is excellent as is their online training ( ok means getting up at 3AM!!!). Any problems they get back to you straight away.....not that I have had any technical issues just a question on software.
Once I had the electrician wire it in I was up and running cutting parts within the day.

Thanks
Any problems with changing to 240 volts?

Cheers
Wolffie

Nope setup for Australian power requirements.....just had to tell them prior to purchase and they did the rest.....they sell to other parts of the world.
It is single phase setup (i don't have 3 phase) hence was only able to go up to a 2.2 hp spindle but that's more than enough for my needs.
The electrician put in a dedicated 20 amp CB and hard wired the unit up.

Cheers

Thanks Simops
I also have only single phase but most machines are 15amps wiring.
Do you have any problems with the table moving forwards and backwards instead of the gantry doing it?
Sorry, I still get confused with XYZ
Cheers
Wolffie

Wolfie,
At first I did but once I correlated the CAD/CAM program orientation with the XY orientation on the table I was fine. It's just that the way I have my machine and laptop positioned (due to space limitations) was such that it was somewhat confusing between the drawing on the screen and the table.

The table movement can be a little confusing at first but you overcome this apparent reversal quite quickly.
You can zero the XY pretty well anywhere you want as long as it correlates back with your drawing and where the XY is placed there. So far i've just used the XY zero position based on the proximity switches and when I specify my stock size in the CAD/CAM drawing I make sure I reference it from the same XY position. I calibrate the Z zero to the surface of the stock material but others prefer to the spoilboard surface.....no probs as long as it is specified in the CAD/CAM setup.

The Shopbot comes with Partworks 2D and 3D which are licenced copies of Vetric's Vcarve Pro and Cut3D. It also comes, of course, with it's own proprietary control software.

For the parts I cut it is not rocket science but I've only cut 2D.....I'm sure it can be alot more complex and skilled once you go 2.5D & 3D cutting!!!

Cheers

Thank you for that Simops
I am really doing all my research this time, it has been an expensive learning curve.
Cheers
Wolffie