Lithos are great x-mas gifts!

[jerry_stanek]

I just use my vac table or tape it down on the edges.

[navigator7]

Jerry,
I'm flip flopping on a Buddy 48 or a 60 x 96 table for 2010.
I had no idea the bots could do any of this!
There is a market here for vinyl.
I understand a vac table...but for vinyl...don't you need a fairly hard flat surface to cut the vinyl?

Got a pic of your setup?

[changrudy]

Charles,

The base is not corian. It's maple stained black with two coats poly.

I basically did the following.
1-vcarve
2-stained entire piece
3- hand painted letters with silver acrylic.
4-2 coats poly over holes piece.

It's ok but up close you see the faults in the lettering. I think I'll try the orbital sander next time.

And why are we on the forum on christmas day!

Have a good one,

Rudy

[shoeshine]

Chuck, doing glass mask with the widgetworks cutter is a breeze. I actually put the mask on the glass panel before I cut it, thats the beauty of doing it on the bot, as there is no transfer process to screw up.

The only caveat I have is that the blade has to swing to a new direction from the movement of the router, so it is best to avoid in the designs quick direction changes where tight accuracy is required. Sometimes very tight corners get slightly rounded. Talking less than a 16th but it shows up visually when there are mulitple tight corners near each other.

As for regular vinyl, I have had no problems just taping it down with 1 1/2" painters tape along the edges (I usualy surface my table anew before vinyl cutting) the pressure of the cutter keeps the vinyl from lifting as long as you keep it steady in x and y. Though as I have a buddy I have not done anything over 24 x 36. there might be more holdown issues with a large piece. You could ask the question in the signmakers forum.

[shoeshine]

Oh and Chuck, I absolutly love my BT48, and there are definate advantages to being able to roll it around especially in my small shop. But given the space (and the $) I would go with the largest machine you can house and afford. You will end up doing stuff you never even imagined with the bot.

[chiloquinruss]

"You will end up doing stuff you never even imagined with the bot." Everyone say AYE!
Russ

P.S. If you really have a market for vinyl in your area, give these guys a call:
http://www.uscutterdirect.com/
I've really liked their service and support.

[jerry_stanek]

If you surface the spoil board it is hard and flat. I use ultra lite mdf for my spoil board and vac hold down.