posted
For a few years now, I have been increasingly interested in shopbot routers and am amazed at the beautiful work they produce. Thinking about the time when I can scrape up the $5,000 for one, since my 16 year old needs all the extras with high school proms, clothes, football, dental, rides, etc. it gets pretty pricey, and he's worth it! But, soon, I may invest in one and see the fun projects produced. How many of you have one of these marvelous machines? What is your experience with them and which are your favorite projects routed? Which materials do you find more favorable to work with and why?
[ May 20, 2004, 12:08 AM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Hey Deb! I saw your topic before I saw your name & clicked to mention Empy having one... but of course you know that already. You say "scrape up the "$5000" Is that a typo? I've never looked into the ShopBot, but I kinda want a Gerber router & I'm looking at $50,000 for that with the neccessary accessories. Are the shopbots also in that range?
Good luck getting yourself in the position to get one!
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Oh I love routers, I love them I love them I love them, does anyone who owns one not love it???? I have had a shopbot and it is a good machine to start with BUT (Behold The Underlying Truth) it really is not made for the signmaker and they even warn you about that, and you need to be somewhat capable of a little bit of fabrication and assembly work, regardless of what brand of router you buy if you have not worked with one before there is a pretty big learning curve (read that you will waste a lot of time and material learning before you can turn out jobs knowing what you expect your machine to do) there is so much to it at first, feed rates, router speeds, bits, depths, not like vinyl you are working in a multi dimensional world, some people can picture it and get it right away some dont. The Gerber router is a awesome machine I sold them for yrs I serviced them and trained people how to use them it is a great machine and for you "Doug" especially since you are already in the Gerber world with your other equipment if you didn't live in that world I would say that you could save some bucks and got with a different machine, but it is a good reliable machine and will serve anyone well, but it has that Gerber price....but all the good things that come with that price as well. But there are other options for the rest of the world that doesn't want to pay those prices, but more than the machine itself I would tell anyone shopping for a router to look at software as well and find a good fit for you as well as that is one of the major learning curves that is overlooked by the expense and excitement of adding a router to your life
-------------------- Dan Streicher Slidell, LA Posts: 445 | From: Slidell, LA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Ray Skaines in League City, Texas has one and is very excited about what it can do. He can tell you about some gatherings that are like Letterhead meets for users of those machines.
713/332-1234
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Do your research. As with all CNC milling devices, you get what you pay for, even if you don't need what you pay for.
Shop Bots are "hobby level" routers IMHO and will do some very nice work up to a certain level of folk craft art, small engraving and light cutting. There is money to be made in those markets that will help your bottom line $$$.
Try leasing to own, through GE Capital, for instance. The work you do on the router will make the monthly payments, after a couple months of working through the learning curve.
Study up for 4 months, ask shop boters how they make money with it, how they sell, what they can and cannot do with their router.
Then if you still feel this is a good option for you, go for it. ( we took 9 months of hard intense looking and soul searching and went with a Wart Hog by GlennTeck.
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I think William Debekker has one and the new guy around Dale Kerr if I'm not mistaken. So does Jean Shimp.
We almost went that route. I'll tell you the one thing with ShopBot that I wish we had with MultiCam is fantastic support both technical and customer service oriented. MultiCam could get a few tips from them.
I love my router but don't have much positive to say about the company otherwise. Especially the lies I was told before buying it.
Like Dan said, software is a biggie! We got Enroute3 Plus and have a boat load of problems since day one. Wish I had ArtCam or maybe even Profile Lab. Live and learn right!
Also keep in mind that if you don't pay extra to ShopBot you have to assemble it yourself and it is very critical that everything is square and lined up properly or you'll have drastic results.
I'm sure others that have one will chime in with a lot more info.
Good luck.
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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I was looking at some videos of their product the other day. I own a Vytek router but was amazed that the shopbot could be purchased for around $10,000 with a good spindle motor. One of the things I would like to add to my router is a vacuum hold down table. Most use a sacrificial MDF table with a lot of people using double sided tape to hold down their work.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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We're interested in ShopBot too. Over the years, they have received all sorts of endorcements from users. It's time they joined us as Letterville Merchants. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a ShopBot rep here in Letterville to answer all your questions?
I'm just in the process of emailing their Marketing person to come read all your comments. Have any of you actually spoke with ShopBot regarding Letterville? Remember! Have a new Merchant mention your name as the one who sold them on Letterville and we'll send you $50 for a dinner on Steve and Barb.
-------------------- Barb Shortreed 144 Hill St. E. Fergus, Ontario Posts: 2380 | From: Fergus, Ont. | Registered: Sep 2000
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WE all stand by our decisions to buy this and that, and would hate to admit making mistakes!
I looked at the shopbot type of router, not in the flesh so to speak, but thinking it would be a great entry level machine etc etc.
I then thought that maybe I was better off buying Gerber as I had all Gerber equipment and software here....approached the local Spandex distributor, who had a used 404 with 7hp Perske spindle and vacuum table in stock (they had had it for over a year) but after numerous attempts to even get them to call me back and them wanting the same money they were asking a year ago (about $18,000) + $700 extra for Artpath which I thought was included with all routers, I gave up.
Looked then at Multicam and AXYZ....thought more about the monthly cost and longevity of the machine, as a small shop thought that an ATC was a nice but expensive addon, but did think a vacuum pump would be a good thing to have and a mist wand system for cooling when cutting aluminium etc. AXYZ had a neat S-mouse for quickly setting the surface each time you change a tool, I opted for a standard spindle but they do a quick change collett too.
I also thought a 5ft x 8ft table was a good size, actually now have a 5ft x 10ft which handles all the larger sheet sizes we have here.
I have a 10hp Elte spindle, and am really happy with it so far.
My monthly costs are about $500 which over here equates to about 4 hours work, its easily covering itself in the early stages of owning it and saves me lots of time on fabrication.
I'm sure you will benefit from whatever you buy as others have said there's lots to think about!
I run it using Signlab, and thats seems trouble free, AXYZ have their own version of Signlab called Toolpath Studio.
I'm sure you would be more than happy with a Shopbot...just need to think about what type of work you want to do, etc etc.
When I started sandblasting I bought TIP equipment as people had recomended it, found it slow, and hobby quality, I then bought from Clemco Industries, industrial blasting equipment with air filters and hood a proper pot and deadman, never regretted it wished thoughthat I hadn't bought the hobby stuff in the begining.
Do your research and find the right product for your business.
posted
Thanks again! I do read the shopbot website, as it is very interesting and do know some owners and have marveled at the quality of work that comes forth with this machine. It is interesting as to who owns these machines and/or has done the research. I may inquire about your products you produce with them! although, right now I am just racing the clock today, this has been awesome to get some of your responses!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Sorry for missing this post earlier.. Deb My shopbot is the second router I have owned my first was a Camtec so I have used so called professional tools also. I have had my Shopbot for over 2 years now and have had very little problems And would really recommend the machine to anyone Plus they have upgraded the machine since I bought Mine and will cut even faster. I beg to differ with Dan about the Machine not designed for Sigh Making. It is Ideal for sign making. We are making signs here not rocket parts. I have machined Alum Air cleaners and many other items people said you couldn't do.. Consider one thing Deb on what your looking to do. Make signs or Shuttle parts. For the price of a GERBER You can Buy a ShopBot,ArtCam Pro,Rhino,(3d Modeling Program)Signlab a Plotter and Take a vacation To Hawaii and Visit Doug. And still have some money left over for materials and training. Don't let any of these companies fool you into thinking your going to get a finished sign off the machine there will always be something to sand or that you forgot to do in the design. Its just a tool You get out of it what you put into it.
I would be Happy to put my machine up against any of these Higher priced machines on making a sign. I May not get it done as Fast but I will be laughing all they way to the bank as all My equipment is paid for. And Isn't that why we started our own Business
Feel free to call me if you want to talk more about the Machine. (Edited for Phone #) 719-276-9338
[ May 21, 2004, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: William DeBekker ]
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