Forum Use

[Jerry Carney]

It is really sad we can't get more activity on this Forum
come on guys .

[dlcw]

I'm afraid the "contributors" have moved on to other CNC machines and for the most part all I see here now is Shopbot for sale posts. It's sad, but I think the heyday for Shopbot has come to an end. Lack of innovation and lack of upgrade paths for existing machines by Shopbot has taken the wind out of their sails.

I've had my PRSAlpha since 2009 and the only worthwhile "upgrade" was the ATC. Other then that, it is still much slower then any or the newer machines out there. Shopbot should have ditched their controllers a long time ago and gone with something like the Acorn which is much faster and much more reliable. The old USB weak-link communications and (LOST COMMS error) has always been a thorn in my side. I hesitate to undertake any long 3D carving jobs simply because I've had to many lost comms errors in the middle of a job and wasted some VERY expensive wood.

It's sad because Shopbot really started the whole "affordable" CNC trend, but has let other companies take that away from them.

[coryatjohn]

You might consider upgrading your system to Acorn. The handy wireless MPG control pendant makes the upgrade worth it alone.

[Chuck Keysor]

I agree,,,,,,, Com Errors really turned me off........... Upgrades were in the pipe line we were told,,,,,,,, I am still waiting.......... I haven't turned on my Bot in, perhaps 3 years, maybe 4. I was going to upgrade the controller, but haven't gotten to it........... Sigh............ Chuck

[dlcw]

I thought about upgrading. I've recently FULLY retired so I don't need a high speed, highly reliable CNC anymore.

I was also tied tightly to eCabinets and Shopbot Link for my cabinet business. Had to stay on the SB platform to use those.

Now I don't have a business reason (or the business money) to upgrade to Acorn. Done gone Hobby.....

I guess I'll keep nursing the PRSAlpha along. It's been a pretty good workhorse for my former cabinet business and I'll be doing small projects for family and close friends.

[MogulTx]

I have not gone to Acorn. I have bought some components to widen my machine. They are about to be installed. I may well upgrade the operating system- and if I do, I would upgrade motors too... But I have owned 5 shopbots so far- and they are excellent for what they do, and for whom they let try out the CNC router world. I have my eye on a piece of heavy iron now- but I don't have enough power for it. If I did, I would probably make the switch. But how hard would WinCNC be to learn? Or Acorn? I am not sentimental, but I have some high respect for the road that these folks paved for people like me.

Monty

[Rob Gunn]

I'm afraid the "contributors" have moved on to other CNC machines and for the most part all I see here now is Shopbot for sale posts. It's sad, but I think the heyday for Shopbot has come to an end. Lack of innovation and lack of upgrade paths for existing machines by Shopbot has taken the wind out of their sails.

I've had my PRSAlpha since 2009 and the only worthwhile "upgrade" was the ATC. Other then that, it is still much slower then any or the newer machines out there. Shopbot should have ditched their controllers a long time ago and gone with something like the Acorn which is much faster and much more reliable. The old USB weak-link communications and (LOST COMMS error) has always been a thorn in my side. I hesitate to undertake any long 3D carving jobs simply because I've had to many lost comms errors in the middle of a job and wasted some VERY expensive wood.

It's sad because Shopbot really started the whole "affordable" CNC trend, but has let other companies take that away from them.

Yes I remember the days that we had 40-50 postings a day and most all of them were very helpful and showed great real world examples of jobs and projects. I loved my ShopBot but found the cost and hassle of up-grading it was more than what I wanted to deal with. In the end I found I could up-grade to a heavier duty and more stable machine easier and more cost effective. ShopBot was a great "starter" machine but in the end I needed more Beef and more reliable controllers...

[ken_rychlik]

Monty, wincnc or acorn are not hard, but they are different. Each takes it's getting used to. As for the big electricity, quite often you can convert or run the bigger machines from single phase. After you switch you will wonder why you waited so long.
Ken

[8Ball]

Sadly, Shopbot is dead.
They should have listened to the users, and not made a bunch of empty promises.

[coryatjohn]

Xerox, Kodak, Blackberry, Shopbot, the list goes on and on.