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I'm getting closer to making a decision in regards to purchasing a Shopbot CNC router, but I would like to discuss the finer points (software required, etc., etc.). Please e mail me, I'd like to call a few Shopbot owners for some much needed advice. Thanks, ahead of time,
Tim
------------------ Tim Whitcher Quality Signs & Design 107 E Adrian St Blissfield, MI 49228 qualitysigns@cass.net
Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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I just purchased a router. I did not even consider at a shopbot. I went right to Gerber. As far as software,support,and upgradability Gerber has them beat.
------------------ Jim Mulligan Cardinal Manufacturing, Inc. Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 121 | From: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: Feb 2001
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Hi, Tim, search this forum there were some discussions awhile back and those people have some experience by now.
We just got ours, it was backordered about four months. We haven't had time to set it up yet-too busy makin signs.
Which brings up the main point with the shopbot. If you are part hobbyist, computer geek and cheap, the Shopbot is a good choice. The money you save in the purchase will be offset with the time it takes to set up the machine, learn some new computer stuff and experimenting. I enjoy it, others just want to hit the ground running. Plus if you want to cut out the parts for your own rowing shell or make a 9' dinosaur for the kids, you can do that too. does the Gerber do that? A high school even attached a plasma cutter to theirs.
I figured if someone can design the mechanics for a good router for $5,000 retail then the software must be as or more important. So I spent another $3500 on ModelMill software, which will be combined with CasMate's Enroute this year. I've been practising with CorelDraw, ModelMill and the ShopBot program and it looks pretty smooth and fast.
The high powered professionals with a big budget can get the most expensive equipment but for the rest of us, I think it's a good way to get into routing.
------------------ Rick Cooper Sierra Sign & Award Lake Tahoe, USA www.engrave.pctrader.com $$$Letterheads Website Supporter$$$
"The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese."
Posts: 135 | From: Incline Village, NV, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I certainly don't want to give you guys the wrong impression. I am very budget conscience too. My justification is thet time is money. I understant that Rick likes to expeariment with his machine. But I think the best value is the machine and software comming from the same vendor. That vendor has traind professionals to install the machine and train you.
Gerber has many engineers and designers on staff to insure that their product continues to perform. Is Gerber always the best? NO heck I have an Embostrac plotter. What a piece of junk. But I also have an HS15plus (sweet).
I do believe you get what you pay for. I did not realize that the shopbot is 5000.00. Do they have a website? I'd like to take a look.
We are a very busy shop. I have nine people on the payroll. I did not want them to spend to much time messing around with a machine because we are always busy. I will admit that we have had it running for a month now and have only done one sign. We have used it mostly as a saw to cut blanks for some large engraving jobs we do. My guys can run theit engravers instead of a table saw.
Anyhow I'm new here and don't want you guys to think I'm some kid of snob. Opinionated yes...snob NO.
Take care Fellas.
Jim Mulligan
------------------ Jim Mulligan Cardinal Manufacturing, Inc. Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 121 | From: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: Feb 2001
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I went to the USSC show in Atlantic City back in December to look mainly at the Shopbot. It seemed pretty stable and would probably be the way to go for those on a budget. I honestly, as a one person shop, could not budget more for the higher end routers. I think one has to get all the available attachments and upgrades available to make it work well, which would still keep it well under $10,000. I need one more nudge to get me to move on it. Bill Mogenson of (Mogenson's Signs?) has emailed me on it and is quite happy with his. If you go to shopbots forum, I think you can find a link to him. I waiting to hear more input from all of you.
------------------ Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Since 1978 http://www.wrightsigns.bigstep.com
Posts: 2786 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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Tim We recently purchased a router table (well 1.5 years ago) and are extremely happy with it. After much debate we ended up choosing multicam, and we looked at everything inside out, nuts & bolts, motors servo vs. stepper, bearings, construction, compatibility, computer interface. It came down to three, Gerber, Multicam, & ohh i forget the third. All very nice machines but, multi cam seemed for the price to be the best. with Gerber your paying alot for the name I MEAN ALOT a similiar machine from multi-cam was about 15k less give or take and multi-cams support etc. has been great not that we have really needed it.
------------------ "Someday I'm gonna get a real job, HEE HEE" Signs Of Life 48 Carmen Hill Rd. New Milford, Ct 06776
Posts: 97 | From: Douglasville, GA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Mine should be arriving in about a week or 10 days. You can be sure I'll voice my opinions once I get into the thick of it.
As an aside, about the Gerber EmbossTrak plotter mentioned above... It's made by Mutoh and relabeled as Gerber. I owned one before Gerber started selling them and it worked fine. Extremely fast. You do need to take your time aligning the material before cutting or it will skew.
------------------ EmpY® is also known as Mayo Pardo. Has wandererd Australia, currently in Elgin IL. Soon to be cutting stuff on my router table. 847 931-4171
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We had been looking into a router for the past year and decided on Gerber. We purchased the Sabre 408 along with Gerbers 3D Autocarve to compliment our existing Gerber equipment. Contact your nearest Gerber distributor and arrange a demonstration if possible. It really is worth taking a look at. Good Luck!
------------------ De'ja Voodoo? Bryan Quebodeaux Design Works Church Point, LA 318-684-6058
[This message has been edited by Bryan Quebodeaux (edited February 14, 2001).]
Posts: 167 | From: Church Point, La. | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Jim- No problem, bud. The written word often comes off as more harsh than would casual conversation and it's good for us to keep that in mind,IMHO.
Glenn, the guys on the Shopbot forum seem to be saying that 3d work is so time consuming that it is hard to produce products such as signs that are cost effective. I know some of the other manufacturers feature prismatic carving in their ads and I would like to hear how those machines perform as to 3d milling time.
The software available for the Shopbot appears to be best suited to doing "2d" carving- a straight bit with a look like sandblasting and incised lettering similar to hand carving. These methods are much faster than 3d work.
------------------ Rick Cooper Sierra Sign & Award Lake Tahoe, USA www.engrave.pctrader.com $$$Letterheads Website Supporter$$$
"The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese."
Posts: 135 | From: Incline Village, NV, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
So, with the ShopBot can you use a pointed bit and do incised roman letters? I think of these periodically, and assumed they do more than 2D. How would they handle the differences in depth when a narrow stroke meets a wider stroke? Can they handle the corners and serifs?
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Oh, for the faith of a spider! He begins his web without any thread.
Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
you're right, the incised letters seem to be limited by the size of the v bit. There are a couple of utilities http://members.aol.com/tesarna/
that look like they do a great job for letters up to a certain size including ones with serifs, etc. We are going to incise for small type on signs to begin with.
Casmate's Enroute is supposed to do a nice job of creating toolpaths that simulate incised carving for, i think, larger letters, including complex ones with serifs, etc. That program is being combined with Modelmill, a pretty good 2d, 3d milling program designed with signmaking in mind.
So, there are some tradeoffs between saving some money and having a machine/software total solution type system like the Gerber.
Again, this is just knowledge gained from my research, not actual use yet.
------------------ Rick Cooper Sierra Sign & Award Lake Tahoe, USA www.engrave.pctrader.com $$$Letterheads Website Supporter$$$
"The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese."
Posts: 135 | From: Incline Village, NV, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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