Need info old vs new machine

[ljdm]

What are the major differences between a 2000 and a 2007 48 x 96 standard(not alpha) machine? Is is still same basic configuration - rack/pinion, etc? Are electronics, construction, resolution, backlash, etc basically same> Any info appreciated, thanks

[aaasigncom]

I PURCHASED AN OLDER MACHINE TO LEARN ON PLANNING TO BUY NEW LATER. IT WORKS SO WELL, I WON'T BE BUYING A NEW MACHINE UNTIL I NEED SPEED FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION. I LOVE MY MACHINE.

[donchapman]

I've had my PR96 standard for 7.5 years now, it is rack and pinon on the old utility strut rails, and I think it can do just about anything the latest machines can do, only slower, so I charge less per hour than I would if I had a newer/faster model. Like a dependable old pickup, it's hard to justify replacing it while it runs so well and is making me money, even if the newer models might outperform it. The software advances (particularly the Vectric products) have helped me more than the hardware improvements ever could. That's not to say that I wouldn't love to have the latest ShopBot. I lusted after Ray Chapman's fast, new, quiet-spindle ShopBot when he showed it to me several months ago and if it goes missing I'm sure he'll come down here looking for it. My advice is to buy the latest model you can afford, but if you can't afford any but the 2000 ShopBot, buy it rather than waiting a long time or doing without. I think I could sell my old machine for close to what I paid for it, and you can always upgrade later. I work alone at low volume so my ShopBot sits idle much more than it runs. If you have high volume work to do, the speed of a much newer ShopBot may be just what you need.