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Thread: Desktop Max vs Shopbot Buddy at Community College Arts Center

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kennebunkport, Maine
    Posts
    4,419

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    Jodi,
    This is the model we bought 2 of. You better snap up this older model, as the new ones don't have the 5 power options
    I often cut with the power level at 2-3, and it's much quieter than on level 5...but still the quietest on on the market;
    https://www.amazon.com/Fein-9-20-25-...&keywords=fein
    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    River Fall WI
    Posts
    796

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    I would go with the max with a t-slot table.
    T-slots are great hold downs for almost every type of project and they are cheap
    For our intro class we use our desktop 95% of the time.
    Kyle Stapleton
    River Falls Renaissance Academy
    Math/Technology Education Teacher


    PRS Alpha 96x60 2.2 hp spindle, Double Air drills, 6" indexer, Fein 5 zone vac table
    Desktop w/spindle
    Potter Pen
    Aspire 8.5, Creo 3.0

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kennebunkport, Maine
    Posts
    4,419

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    Jodi,
    I'm probably the least knowledgeable person on the forum on vac hold downs, and Know i know nothing on indexers
    But, Have you considered a combo of various sized vacuum pucks you can make on the Max, and maybe even a larger vac jig with a grid and gasket setup(you choose how big the area you want, and can use a small cfm/high vac pump), that can be indexed with threaded inserts and taken on and off as needed?
    The reason I asked size of projects smaller than 4X4" was that seems the size where problems start to show up from reading for wood.
    Exotics was because nobody wants to throw small scraps away, and want to make small things out of them
    The harder woods do make excellent 3D's and small 3D's means you don't have multi hours(days) tied up with one project.
    You can always buy the indexer later, you'll find plenty to do in VCarve and 3D's for a while, and then if you haven't been using all 36"X, maybe mount it on the X,36 end?
    Enough for now...Hope some Max'ers start chiming in.
    Robert R. visited a couple months ago, and he downsized to a Max, and made a vac hold down thread that I'll look for. He does wonderful work in aluminum, and now a little MDF.
    There's another Max'er that made a spoilboard similar to mine, but with only threaded inserts on a grid for fences and cam clamps for hold down, and maybe he'll chime in.
    Too bad there isn't a one size fits all hold down system, but as Brady said to me "That's Unobtainium"
    http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/sho...esktop+jigging
    scott
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    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kennebunkport, Maine
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    4,419

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    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    5

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    Wow, very clever Scott. So is that vac jig just placed on top of the t-slot table? I think we might be getting over my head, at least until I can actually see one of these things in real life. But in a nutshell, it sounds like I should just go with the regular T-slot deck
    T-slots are great hold downs for almost every type of project and they are cheap
    (Thanks Kyle) and then once I am up to speed, try to practice the innovative maker skills, critical thinking, and problem solving skills (that I have promised to develop in the students) and make something clever. I like it.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kennebunkport, Maine
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    4,419

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    If Bob's set up, you'd have to ask him on that thread.
    I've only played with a down and dirty puck once, and that was mainly to test a cheap vac pump Dad bought really.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Bloomingdale NJ
    Posts
    41

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    Quote Originally Posted by jodi.jack View Post
    So is that vac jig just placed on top of the t-slot table?
    Although removable, my vacuum setup is probably not the best approach for your situation. Instead, check out this pod approach from Brady Watson, which doesn't require modifying the t-slot table.

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