While at the ISA show in Vegas I got to see for the first time a CAD router in action. While I've seen lots of work these things can turn out, watching the machine was incredible.
I also saw some styrene foam hot wire machines at work during the show too. And I've long considered one of these machines for our shop.
The versatility of the router won hands down as I watched it work. The list of materials it could handle was just about endless.
I stood and watched the machine for a long while, not seeing so much what it was doing but instead seeing what I could make it do. As questions came into my head I peppered the comany representative constantly... can it do this, or this, how about that... was this idea possible?? I made constant reference to my portfolio I had handy.
I know we could build the computer files we would need to make the machine turn out magic. And I know in our hands this machine could help us turn out some amazing projects by applying this technology to our imaginative way of thinking. I think we could make this machine sing...
Greg Reid happened by, a sign fabricator I have long admired but never had the chance to meet. He had this same machine and did amazing things with it. We formed an instant friendship and soon he was answering my endless questions and making me think in ways I had never before considered.
He showed me an example of their logo which he had created using this machine. It looked great. He then pointed out that the photo showed a paperclip next to it... the logo was less than an inch long and was inlaid into a second piece. The machine offered incredible precision in ANY scale.
As everyone here well knows, the entry point for a machine of this type isn't cheap. It costs more than the value of both our cars (when new)put together.
But just maybe it might be the next major tool we purchase, enabling us to rachet our work up to the next level of excellence and then some...
-grampa dan
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Dan you wont be dissapointed when you get your machine!
Posted by Belinda Palmer (Member # 4628) on :
Dan check out Camtech in Calgary -Great Product! Remember to plan for 3D software (ArtCam) etc. I loved ours at the old shop.
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
Dan
we have a 4x8 router and a versacamm printer. we blow away ALL our competition with the equipment we have. The router was not cheap. we have a VYTEK router with a Perske spindle. They are made in Massachusetts I believe. The mechanics are super. Their customer service SUCKS. We have had it since 1999. in '01 we had a problem with something about the buffer in the controller box. We luckily found that the controller supplier for them was about 70 miles north of us. We had them come down and the were great. We have had no problems with it until last Friday. In the middle of a job it just quit. I called North East Electronics today and talked the the same tech person who came to our shop in '01. He pretty much diagnosed what was wrong over the phone. I sent him one of the computer boards out of the controller box today and he is going to check it out.
AXYZ has an awesome setup. I think they are from Canada somewhere. www.axyz.com
In my opinion gerber is an overpriced name.
I'm sure you will do your homework before writing the check.
[ April 04, 2005, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: Jerry VanHorn ]
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
yeah they are great when they work! but when they don't...they suk! i just got my spindle(colombo 5hp) back...bearings replaced...but after i wired it back up and turned it on...i still heard grinding...not on the two bearings near the tool...but the one opposite on top...i did a test run and it ran fine..but now i have to take it apart again and ship it back for them to fix it. another thing that concerns me is when i shut down everything the spindle just started to drop down like the z axis was letting loose...hasn't lost its z when in production...but nevertheless its still unnerving...but thats a whole other issue. and of course the irresponsible folks at hyatts who's brain child this router was no longer support it(or sell it for that matter)because their router god left(and you can catch him on the yankee workshop with his shopbot)...so now who knows how many of us are left to fend for ourselves. several of us are not happy campers.
when i called the people who make it(cause its basically a warthog) they told me that it wasn't meant for cutting HDU...but of course when hyatts sold it to all of us...they raved how great it is with HDU(not so)...it took them a whole year to get it to work with the computer and control box that i bought, i used their demo til then...another guy i spoke with today in vt had similar issues(took them a year to make it work)....obviously they have lost my business for good!
so dan...my advice: make sure you get a router that has a reputable name with good training, good customer service and be prepared for a bit of a learning.
of course i know i sound all negative...because well... today i am....sorry for ranting...caught me on a bad day...but i still think hyatts suks.
Posted by TJ Duvall (Member # 3133) on :
We have had a Gerber machine for about 4 years now. Never a day of trouble. Use Advantage Sign Supply for support and they along with Gerber have been very good with any questions I have had.
Posted by Tony Vickio (Member # 2265) on :
Dan, you might want to check this out. You work with metal, this has Plasma capabilities.
Dan, I would highly recommend the AXYZ. We've had ours for over 2 years. Although we have had some things go wrong with it in that time, their customer service is great. They have always had us back up and running fast. It is a very solid built machine.
Just remember when comparing machines to compare apples to apples. Like karyn mentioned, not all machines are built the same.
I would also plan on the 3d software. The market isn't really big for 3d right now but it is building up,IMO. And the wow factor for the customer is huge.
[ April 07, 2005, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: Kevin Sparling ]
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
This router has been heavy on my mind all week... as I have to justify it in my own brain before I spend the big coin. Then I have to sell the idea to Janis too!
I have been doing lots of research... and if we go it will be for one of the top brands with all the goodies... automatic tool changing and lots of y axis movement. (that's vertical.)
I want it to enhance our 3D capbilities above all. take us in new directions only previously imagined. I see lots of work done with routers, but most folks are using it as a VERY expensive jig saw or to replace a sandblaster.. I want to take it much, much further - as far as is possible.
I'm checking out 3D software too... lots to choose from from what I see.
And I'm continually checking out everything around me in my travels to see how I might apply the machines capabilities to their fullest capabilities.
I think we could tackle a whole new gamit of jobs should we make the jump... the possibilities are endless.
Phoenix & I are working up some 3D files to take to the dealers and give the machines a spin... we'll see what these machines are capable of!
-grampa dan
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Dan,
This is what you need for those big projects, check out the videos of the bad boys on this page, milling car bodies out of clay and foam!
that was freakin' awesome. I thought my 3 axis router was cool.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Jerry, yeah watching 5 axis machines in person just makes you stop in your tracks, stare in amazement and drool.
Shoda and Quintax have 5 axis CNC routers with auto tool changing but that giant Tarus column machine and the smaller one that floats on air for repositioning are just slick.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)