ShopBot help needed.

[Tom Bachman]

I found this ShopBot for sale. Not much info but they sent these pictures. What do they tell you? Looks to me to be a PRT with upgraded electronics.


It cuts up to a 4ft x 8ft sheet of material. Comes with vacuum bed, computer to run it from and 3-phase converter (the vacuum bed is the only part that uses 3-phase). The mother board was replaced in 2012. Asking $7500 obo.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/photo4_zpsd9254bec.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toms94/media/other/photo4_zpsd9254bec.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/photo2_zps9e87dd40.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toms94/media/other/photo2_zps9e87dd40.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/photo1_zps5985face.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toms94/media/other/photo1_zps5985face.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/controlbox3_zpsb9049913.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toms94/media/other/controlbox3_zpsb9049913.jpg.html)

[Tom Bachman]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/controlbox2_zpsa335db47.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toms94/media/other/controlbox2_zpsa335db47.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/Controlbox_zps6113dd37.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toms94/media/other/Controlbox_zps6113dd37.jpg.html)

[Tom Bachman]

How do I tell if this machine is an "Alpha" model? In one email they said they thought it was an Alpha model.

Does this look like the upgraded board....says it's version 4.17. Going to go look at this machine in a little over a week and would like some input.

It's got a vacuum table (3 phase with phase converter included). Includes computer/software (not sure what software, but assume design and control), table, router, vacuum.

The new control software will run this I assume?

[Tom Bachman]

Also, does anyone have any idea what this machine would weigh? How about dis-assembly for moving? Any one have any ideas on how that would work?

[Ajcoholic]

Tom, those steppers look like standards. The Alpha's have a different coloured label... purple instead of red.

[Tom Bachman]

Thanks, that's the kind of info I need. Maybe I can talk them down a bit on the price.

[srwtlc]

The control box/board appears to be a 4G Gecko drive version, so that would be a plus.

[Tom Bachman]

Thanks Scott. All the info I can get allows me to make a more informed decision.

[myxpykalix]

I would put a call in to Shopbot and send the pics and info. They will tell you exactly what it is with no problem.
As far as disassembly and transport i'd take as little apart as possible unless there is no choice (like in a basement).
Guys have bought casters and attached to roll it. You definitely want to take the Y car off the rails and tie it down to the table to keep it from rolling. DO NOT roll the carriage while the steppers are engaged as they produce feedback to the board and could burn it out.

[zeykr]

It's an early to mid model PRT with a 4G board upgrade. The 4g is a big plus - you might need to upgrade the 4G cpu card to run the latest software depending on it's version. The vac system is also a big plus. Since it looks to be in a basement, dis-assembly will probably be required to get it out. To take apart and reassemble is not especially difficult, just take pictures as you take it apart. You should be able to download assembly manual from shopbot someplace or call them. Door size will determine how far you will have to dis-assemble. If there does happen to be a garage door, put casters on it and roll it onto a flat bed trailer with some extra manpower or use a flatbed wrecker to lift in into the back of a rental box truck.

The control software can be downloaded from shopbot, but check what design software they have with unit. You may need to spend a few hundred bucks to upgrade there if they have older software, but it'd be well worth it to get the new features.

[Tom Bachman]

Well, I'm off to actually look at this machine this morning. I'm taking my camera to get more pictures and assess the situation. Yes, it does appear to be in a basement, I'm hoping it is a walkout type. Although, if I buy it, I'll have to make another trip here to get it, as I'm in my car (Corvette) this weekend.

Any final thoughts, things that I should ask check out or take pictures of?

[myxpykalix]

Tom,
your email address you sent me of thomas.bachman@usd215.org bounced back to me:(

[curtiss]

There is no reason a Shopbot cannot be moved with a Corvette.

Simply take out the windshield for a few hours. Horsepower should not be a problem.

[Tom Bachman]

Tom,
your email address you sent me of thomas.bachman@usd215.org bounced back to me:(

That's right, Jack. Not sure why it was bouncing back. I have received email today from that address......try again.

[Tom Bachman]

OK, here's the scoop.....control box Motherboard was replaced in 2012. The machine is a little rough, needs some TLC. It is in a basement and would need to come apart to get it out. The PC 7518 router shot craps and they replaced it with a 1 hp Black & Decker. She ran a small v-carve file and it works like you would expect. I took this laptop with me as it has the new control software and I couldn't get it to communicate properly. Kept getting an error message about the safety switch being closed. It wasn't. Another alternative was something about if it is an Alpha machine, to do something else...anyway, I couldn't get it to work with my computer. The vacuum pump is a ShopBot labeled unit. A huge blower. She says she doesn't use it much, because it is very loud down in the basement and it is 3 phase (run through a convertor). It did have Partworks and some other software on it.

I looked at the machine and talked with her for about three hours, and in the end I aked her what the bottom dollar on the machine would be and she told me her husband said if they couldn't get $5000 for it they would take it with them.

I'm not sure if this machine is worth the 5 grand or not.

[zeykr]

That is a PRT with 4G controller, not an alpha. The error message about the safety switch is probably a setting. A while back they changed from Normally Open stop switch to Normally Closed. See the VN command and the line about Switch #4 Stop type. You probably need it to be Normally Open for that machine. You will also need to update the Control Box Firmware to work with the newer software. Also the version of the CPU card (daughterboard) on the 4G board may affect how new of software you can run.

With the 4G control and the vacuum pump and the phase converter, and hopefully some tooling, I'd consider it for $5k.

You may need to update the 4G CPU board and would budget for a new router. Updated software would be good, but you may have access to that at school.

[jerry_stanek]

If you get the phase converter and pump that would be a deal. From the pictures it looks like the control board is a version 4.17 so that will run the latest software. You will have to take it apart to move it and when you rebuild it it would be no problem fixing any thing that is wrong. I say go for it

[richards]

It's worth $7,500 or more. Getting the lowest price isn't nearly as important as getting a nice machine that can easily be adjusted to be equal to any other Shopbot. With the help available on the forum, I don't think you'll face anything that can't be solved.

[Kyle Stapleton]

Should have drove a crappy car would have got a lower price.

[myxpykalix]

Take whatever amount you decide to pay for it in 100 dollar bills and offer a lesser amount by taking the cash out of your pocket. That is usually 100 percent effective in getting something at your price. It always works for me...:D

[Tom Bachman]

Should have drove a crappy car would have got a lower price.


That old thing? It's 13 model years old.

[Tom Bachman]

I may go back tomorrow and look again. I need to get accurate measurements and try to figure out to fit it into the shop.

[Tom Bachman]

That is a PRT with 4G controller, not an alpha. The error message about the safety switch is probably a setting. A while back they changed from Normally Open stop switch to Normally Closed. See the VN command and the line about Switch #4 Stop type. You probably need it to be Normally Open for that machine. You will also need to update the Control Box Firmware to work with the newer software. Also the version of the CPU card (daughterboard) on the 4G board may affect how new of software you can run.

With the 4G control and the vacuum pump and the phase converter, and hopefully some tooling, I'd consider it for $5k.

You may need to update the 4G CPU board and would budget for a new router. Updated software would be good, but you may have access to that at school.


I have V-Carve Pro 7.5 on all the computers at school and on my laptop. So I think I'm covered there. I had already figured in on a new router motor.