posted
Shopping the CNC Market for routers..Does anyone use the Shopbot routers for signmaking. Prices are good...but don't know how versatile the can be.
------------------ Signs Solutions Matthew Rossi Midlothian, VA, 23113 rossi7@mindspring.com
Posts: 139 | From: Midlothian, Virginia | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I saw a ShopBot in action and was quite impressed considering their low cost. They are definatly a bare bones model but the demo I saw was routing single pass letters in oak and it seemed to do it well. Since that demo ShopBot has made some major improvements mainly eliminating the cable and pully drive system. The accuracy made a major jump with that move.
In my area there is no way I could justify a $35,000 router, so if I buy one it will be a ShopBot.
The big thing in making the router work for you is the 3D design software. The software I was most impressed with is from Art Cam and costs more than the ShopBot, but with that software I'm convinced that it can do everything I will want it to do.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
posted
I'm with Dave, I couldn't afford one of those super-expensive routers in my little corner and it probably would take decades to pay for itself. I would like to see the ShopBot at work too.
Dave, do you reckon they would have a booth at the upcoming Orlando Signbusiness Show? That would give me a good excuse to go.
------------------ "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." Albert Einstein
Failure to advertise is a lot like blinking in the dark. Nobody, but you, knows what you're doing.
posted
I'm also looking at a router table..Don't forget guys you can do some sub jobs for carpenters, cabinet makers etc etc. I'm looking at a 5 year pay back period. If not it will be shelved. Three or four 18 hole golf courses would help!
------------------ Mario G. Lafreniere aka Fergie.
jnsigns@onlink.net Chapleau, Ontario home of "The World's Largest Game Preserve" Spring is upon us,in Shania Twain Country. Farewell snow,here comes the mosquito!
posted
I own a shopbot and I like it. It's not for people who are not handy with assembling things however since it's a kit which you put together yourself. It will take you the better part of a weekend to assemble it and then some additional time to fine tune your system.
You do need to take your time when assembling certain parts, in order to insure it gets set up correctly. If you are the impatient type who easily gets aggravated at having to loosen and retighten bolts to realign things, then you will be aggravated until you get things aligned at right angles and parallel and level. Once you have it set up though, it works great.
Regarding software, it must use it's own file format (.sbp) to send info to the router, however it comes with conversion software which will take your .dxf or .hpgl or g-code files and convert them into .sbp files. SignLab is one software that allows you to save or output in the .sbp file format with no conversion necessary.
About 3-D software: Yeah it does cool looking stuff, but do you think you can make any money making things that take several hours of routing time to produce? 3-D machining takes tons of time and unless you are making a mold of something that will be mass produced, it's just not economically worthwhile to use a computerized router to carve 3-D. Even 2.5-D takes lots of time. Cutting letters, cutting out flat parts and shapes in various materials, engraving into materials, cutting sign blanks and the like, routing panels or parts for cabinet makers or other trades are where you would be able to make money.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to e-mail me.
Incidently, I talked with the person at ShopBot who is responsible for advertising and gave her Barb's e-mail address regarding advertising here. I also e-mailed Barb info regarding this, so hopefully we will be seeing ShopBot ads on here soon. Their web site is at http://www.shopbottools.com and they also have a bulletin board located at http://www.talkshopbot.com
------------------ EmpY® is also known as Mayo Pardo. Known to wander Australia, currently in Elgin IL. I cut stuff on my router table. 847 931-4171
we have looked into the shopbot ourselves. i thought that the woman at shopbot told me that artcam would work on it. could be wrong. the whole thing seems to be a pretty good deal.
however, i have been paying attention to people selling used rputers. it seems to me that there is going to a glut of routers on the market. a lot of trades, other than signs, are using cnc machinery in there stuff, too. sign people buy them thinking they are going to make the big dinero making signs only to find out that you still need talent and a customer base to suceed. i have seen 2 year old router systems with software that would have run $35-50k to purchase new. bankruptcy sales and auctions are excellent places to buy them. a local sign shop bought a 4 x 8 camtech, 2-3 years old, for $10k at the bankruptcy auction. go figure....
b/t/w... i have talked to shopbot at least five times and mentioned here to them everytime. i gave them barb and steve's phone number and e-mail. still don't see them here. i wouldn't get my hopes up. c'est la vie...
have a great one!
------------------ Bruce Bowers DrCAS Signtech
"how great are His signs..." Daniel 4:3
i am a proud supporter of this website!
Posts: 6464 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic