Lack of activity

[8Ball]

This forum appears to have lost momentum.
This used to be a go-to place for information, but the activity has declined significantly.
Are people moving away from this brand?

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello 8Ball. As a fact, the traffic is clearly down. I agree, things used to be really jumping here. And going back to look at old posts, from before I joined up, maybe 10 years ago, things appeared to be even more lively here. So it would appear without actually analyzing anything, there has been a long term downward trending.

However, as to the cause, I don't want to speculate. But I hope that whatever needs to happen to make things hop here, can be identified and acted upon. Certainly a good forum was an important thing for me to attract me to Shopbot in the first place.

Chuck

[myxpykalix]

summertime usually slows always.

[dlcw]

summertime usually slows always.

That and I think more and more people are moving away from SB as their technology falls further and further behind the competition.

[steve_g]

“This forum appears to have lost momentum.”

I for one haven’t been posting as frequently… I still check in daily though.
CNC has matured, there aren’t as many questions as there used to be… design software seems pretty bullet proof. I’ve matured… I still spend time in my shop doing what I enjoy most, making sawdust, but I had to enlist my grandsons today to help me find the floor!
I’ll try to post more often… perhaps some of what I see as ordinary will inspire a newbie!

SG

[Brady Watson]

There are a number of reasons...some of which have been already mentioned.

The givers got tired of the takers taking & expecting 'handouts'...so with no reciprocity to fill their cups as cohorts, they left. See? Socialism doesn't work :p

Plus...attached...the devil is in the details. Put your glasses on.

[scottp55]

Yep, still check in daily, but a lot of stuff I just don't need to know with just a well running Desktop.

Think I'll start posting more of what I consider mundane, even if it's only to get 1-2 people interested and to start playing.
Out to shop to face one side of a 5" Black Walnut branch that was hiding behind a box in the shop, and maybe the same with a Paper Birch trunk the same size, and see how my brand new gallon of Anchorseal II works compared to my oil/wax mix on the endgrain to prevent splitting....worried about discoloration from Anchorseal...whereas Linseed/beeswax mix gets soaked up into the endgrain, and gives a really interesting golden color in the sections that were most porous...Playing essentially:)

Forum was the main reason we bought the first Desktop sight unseen, and then the second one 3 months later:)
scott

[8Ball]

There are a number of reasons...some of which have been already mentioned.

The givers got tired of the takers taking & expecting 'handouts'...so with no reciprocity to fill their cups as cohorts, they left. See? Socialism doesn't work :p

Plus...attached...the devil is in the details. Put your glasses on.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious. However, it isn't about myself. I have nothing to contribute, with all of the professionals that used to post on here. I'm not to that level, but I used to like stopping in to see what a skilled person could do with these machines. Now, there just isn't anything here to attract anyone, especially new users.
It was pointed out above that, SB is falling behind in their technology. I agree. With the competition being leaps ahead, and their forums much more active, how does SB expect to be viable? No one posts about what the SB machines are capable of any longer. SB was once at the top of the game for hobbyist cnc.
Now it seems that coming here is more advertising for what someone can do for you, than learning what one can do for themselves. A good example: Brady Watson's signature.

[Brady Watson]

Now it seems that coming here is more advertising for what someone can do for you, than learning what one can do for themselves. A good example: Brady Watson's signature.

THIS PLACE HAS BECOME ONE BIG ADVERTISEMENT FOR BRADY WATSON

There it is folks. The ultimate truth. You got me.

[Rtibbs]

[ I think more and more people are moving away from SB as their technology falls further and further behind the competition. ]


Since several people here have alluded to SP falling behind the competition I would like to hear specifics as I am in the process of upgrading my machine.

I would like to hear how they are falling behind and who is further ahead and why.


Ron

[cowboy1296]

dang now this makes me want to post something. after years of being involved with shopbot i still feel like a rookie. but most of my stuff is the same type 3-d carving just with names and dates and other personal information being different. i have one on the machine now that blends 3 different 3=d models together which is different for me but i like it.

[Gary Campbell]

[QUOTE=8Ball;204903]This forum appears to have lost momentum.
This used to be a go-to place for information, but the activity has declined significantly.
Are people moving away from this brand?
AND:

Thanks for pointing out the obvious. However, it isn't about myself. I have nothing to contribute, with all of the professionals that used to post on here.
/QUOTE]

I would say; asked and answered. I would especially note that a user that has posted 32 times in ~6 years calling out a signature line of another user that has posted near 8000 times over 15 years is beyond ludicrous, and since you for sure are not the first and only, your post may be a good indicator of WHY forum contributions are such low number and quality.

Now my ~3800 posts over 12 years are not near Brady's ~8000 over 15 years, I can feel his pain. The pain occurs when you take of your own free time to post to assist a new guy and he wont do the same for the next new guy. You know, "pay it forward". "Pay it forward" has disappeared. When "pay it forward" disappears, so do the helpful.

So as you ask your question, I would ask of you: Are YOU participating to be part of the solution, or does your lack of participation make you part of the problem?

You may not like the "advertising" in some folks signatures. What you may not know that this is a form of self defense. Offering products for sale, gives a legitimate reason to no longer give away unlimited help for free. I would suppose most would look unkindly to that statement, but I doubt most know how overwhelming "helping" can get. When I was active on the forum, I received 25-30 emails a week requesting assistance. That number is down to usually under 5 now.

Imagine that: 9 years after you sold your last ShopBot and 6 years after you left the company to join another, and a few years after you retired from that second company, I still get emails from ShopBotters looking for assistance. I am sure that someone who has chosen to post around 6 times per year can understand why I do not wish to give up my free time, or take away from my paid time to assist those that I don't know and have never heard from before, but since they have found my name associated with a possible answer to a similar problem on a forum I am honored with an email.

One of the main reasons professionals don't post here is simple: Because they used to do it and others took their ideas and even their website pictures and info, and used them to provide lower priced versions for sale on the internet, effectively cutting the throat of those that were helpful. This forum is famous for that.

Now for the reasons that I personally no longer post. The first is stated above, the PM and email requests for assistance were overwhelming, time consuming and of course, financially unrewarding, i.e. taking me away from paying jobs. That current paying job (part time in semi-retirement) is building CNC control boxes for those that cannot build their own. One of these products uses another brand of controller as a replacement to ShopBot's controller.

ShopBot mgmt. has determined (correctly I might add) that I was violating the forum terms of use and sent me the following email:

"(pleasantries removed)
Asyou know from your years of active participation, we encourage open dialog,reviews, and even allow constructive criticism of our products on the ShopBotforum. The forum, which we make available to everyone, has pretty much alwaysbeen an open venue and with very little to no censoring of posts – we’d like tokeep it that way.

However,there are occasions when we need to remind users that the forum is not a toolfor continual overt outside sales and promotions. Your ongoing use of theShopBot forum to market and sell the centroid/acorn product is not compatiblewith the overall function and spirit of the forum. It is not only inappropriate tocontinuously advertise a competing business on our forum, but against the rulesthat all forum users must agree to.

Thankyou for the help you give overall on the forum, we do hope you continue helpingwith ShopBot-related questions. "

I have chosen, since receipt of that email to no longer post here. If one were to do a search of those 2 words, Centroid and Acorn, you would find 5 threads that contain one or the other. I contributed to 3 of the 5. So, even tho I disagree and feel that they may have stretched the definitions of "continuing and overt" a bit I was promoting a competing product.

I provide these control box products because I feel that they offer a smoother, quieter and faster cutting solution with higher cut quality at a lower price. Not just for SB machines but for others as well. A good number with OEM support and blessings.

So obviously I have been doing more blatant advertising than Brady, as he doesn't seem to have pissed of the SB Gods, so count your blessings that he is still active here.

I am not. This is my last post here, period.

[chiloquinruss]

In the past 11 years on this forum I am as guilty as anyone. I still 'lurk' here daily but rarely post anymore. I think back at what I used to post were my train / railroad related projects and my occasional question to the pros. After 11 years I guess I felt that youse' guys were tired of seeing stuff from Da Train Guy. As far as questions, after 11 years with my Bot I think I have 'solved' most of my issues! ;) Maybe if 'we' all started posting to the gallery part of the forum some interest may come back. Anyhow, good thread, good answers (as always), and I hope a touch of vitamin C for this place! Russ

[bill.young]

Hey Russ,

I stay pretty busy cutting and don't visit the forum as much as I should, but you inspired me to post a picture in the Show and Tell of some carpenter's pencils we engraved at SkillsUSA last week. We did close to 300 of them on a MAX over 3 days and although I'm not very 3-dimensional I think they turned out pretty nice.

Bill
p.s. your train stuff is VERY cool...I'm still available to be adopted :^)

[Mark Farris]

All,
I apologize as I have been one of those who hasn't posted much even though I have been checking the forum nearly every day since 2004. I also wish things on the forum and the community in general were as they used to be. I have met many of the big names on the forum as well as Ted and many of his crew. I am thankful to them all for the knowledge they have shared over the years. I admit that I am mostly self-taught but the teachings of Gary, Brady, Tim M., Michael T., Michael M.,and many others has been invaluable to me. I hadn't really considered the stress it had put on them, they were just always there. I will do my best to be a bigger presence on the forum and help carry the torch of all who came before me. I have owned 2 Shopbots since 2004 and may move on to bigger and better in the near future, but I will always be a botter at heart as it was my first. Thanks.

Mark

[cnc_works]

In support of Brady Watson. I am somewhat amazed to see an implied criticism of Brady's tagline from another valued member of the forum whose contributions I have followed and enjoyed. But Brady's learned, complete, in depth posts have always been a value to me, sometimes just academically, sometimes practically. If anyone considers that his contributions haven't earned him a simple tagline describing his business, they should simply ignore his posts and deprive themselves of their benefits. Nuff said.

Donn

[cowboy1296]

here is the blended files that i spoke of earlier.http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=33000&stc=1

[mezalick]

Great work Rick..
Not an easy task...

Michael

[cowboy1296]

i learn for the best Michael, you being one of them, but i still consider myself a rookie in so many ways

[8Ball]

cowboy... beautiful work.

I for one, would like to see more.

[scottp55]

Beautiful Piece Rick!!
Well Done Indeed!! :)
scott

[cowboy1296]

definitely different for me. its still a work in progress and hopefully will look better.

[MogulTx]

Maybe it is a big advert for Brady- but I believe he is one of the best things about ShopBot- that is basically a supporter and outside the major parameters of the company.... he supports, schools and advises on a VARIETY of topics.

ShopBot is not a perfect fix for everything that ails us- but it is the best and most logical company/ set of tools/customer support to launch a maker revolution. I am just scratching the surface of what I want to do with ShopBot, because I still have a day job. I do not think the concept is dead. I think the loss of shop classes in HS around the country have left us with a generation that goes to the store and buys cheap junk plastic.

If we get too deep in this row with China, we may suddenly find ourselves and our machines quite "in demand".... in fact, if you have not already seized on this as an opportunity to turn people back toward American-made, hand crafted goods- then you are probably missing the best opportunity of your lives to make a living selling what you can think of and then create... and I do not subscribe to the theory that people are moving away from ShopBot because their tech hasn't kept up. I think people are moving away from MAKING THINGS, and that is a shame and a mistake, IMO. (ahem.... stepping down off soapbox now....)

[Chuck Keysor]

As but one of untold numbers of Botters who have been helped by Brady, I want to say thank you to him for his huge support to so many over so many years. Hopefully in the long run the comments made by one person can be forgotten. Everyone else says "Thank you Brady!". Chuck

[scottp55]

Brady and a multitude of others helped us get up and running when I first started as a complete Newbie!
Invaluable help, and I'm happy to plug Brady every time I see something pertinent!!
My sincere thanks to Brady and all the others on this Forum who helped me get to the point where I can Putz and Play on the Fly!! :)
scott

[jerry_stanek]

I have gotten many problems solved and advice from what Brady posted.

[Ajcoholic]

I am still alive, lol. I use my Shopbot Alpha Buddy a lot - I bought it in 2012, and put the vacuum on the table 5 years ago this summer. I use the machine all the time at work.

I sued to post a lot of my projects, but over the past 3 or so years I tend to do the same stuff (cabinet parts, furniture parts) and it gets boring to just show you guys the same stuff all the time. Plus with a few employees to keep busy and work generally quite brisk (crazy at times) taking photos and posting takes time. And Time is at a premium more and more.

I will say, my love for the machine has not waned. I still run it flawlessly, and have never had any issues with the software myself even with the upgrades. The best thing I did was the 48” by 48” aluminum deck and vacuum system.

I dont follow forums in general much any more. My two kids (8 1/2 and 5) are all time consuming when I’m not running my shop and thats the truth!

If I ever were to look at getting a larger machine Id still consider Shopbot as my #1 choice simply due to the fact I am familiar with the software, and I have had very good reliable use from my machine in a working setting.

[scottp55]

Miss seeing your Start to Finish Projects Andrew!! :) :)

[JimDav]

Miss seeing your Start to Finish Projects Andrew!! :) :)

me too. Another one I miss is Gene in Kentucky. Hope is doing well after his surgery a few years ago.
As for Brady, KEEP POSTING.

[scottp55]

Jim,
Eugene has had a tough road this year with another surgery/chemo, and then a couple months ago a stroke.
Speech getting better, and he's been gardening and tractoring.....Gradually getting back in shop to train and strengthen his hand.
Shopbot is probably the safest tool in the shop right now....BUT he's working HARD at it!! :)
I'm not a praying man, but KNOW he is.....so if anyone want's to aim prayers at Kentucky, I Know he's appreciate it.
scott

[tri4sale]

Jim,
Eugene has had a tough road this year with another surgery/chemo, and then a couple months ago a stroke.
Speech getting better, and he's been gardening and tractoring.....Gradually getting back in shop to train and strengthen his hand.
Shopbot is probably the safest tool in the shop right now....BUT he's working HARD at it!! :)
I'm not a praying man, but KNOW he is.....so if anyone want's to aim prayers at Kentucky, I Know he's appreciate it.
scott

Thanks for the update on Gene, I'd been missing his posts and updates on his school/shop. He is a great asset to this forum and is missed.

[Brian Harnett]

Been a busy summer, and a lot of what I am doing is not shop bot related besides a few sign jobs, its chainsaw carving season for me. Do have an arched door and window project coming up made out of chestnut salvaged from old buildings I will post them when I start.

[erik_f]

I have been out of the game for a while. Sold my Bot about 10 years ago before we moved. The intention was to get another machine when we got settled in our new area. Life happened and am just now about to go pick up a used machine next week. Thanks again Brady for taking time out to give me some guidance. I was torn between a brand new machine from another company and spending more or going with a 10 year old BT32 that should hopefully be turn key. My first machine was a 4x8 PRT. My second machine was a BT48 (I wish I never parted with) and if all goes as planned. I will have a BT32 here next week. I went with the used BT32 because support even on a used machine with SB is great. Also...the two prior machines I had from Shopbot were both reliable. The funny thing is, the used BT32 I'm buying is only costing me about 2k less than the new BT48 I bought in 2008. SB new these days is just out of my budget. If I were to get the same BT48 set up the same way I had back then it would cost me nearly 3 time what I paid. It was a stretch for me back then...two spend 3 time that...it's just not justifiable for a hobby guy. There are other companies that sell kits that I think are filling in alot of the gaps SB used to fill in. I fail to she where Shopbot tech is lagging behind like others have said. There is not much tech that isn't 50 years old on just about any cnc. Linear rails are expensive and finicky. Getting good Chinese knock offs are bit or miss. I personally like the v wheels ruggedness and simplicity and rugged nature.

[shilala]

That made me lol for reals. 🤣