Newbee questions

[jeff]

Hey all.. I posted my original question in the buddy forum. I had asked if the buddy would work for my work needs. Apparently no.. I need the fixed base. I received great advice..
Anyway, I have another question. My work will be mostly cutouts from a larger sheet. I could use 4'x4' sheets or 4'x8'sheets, so either of the machines 48x96 or 48x48 will work. My question is the vacuum hold downs. I am wondering if my only option is the $7000 one that shopbot has. I am trying to save where I can and am a little nervous about the investment. I am excited at the same time.. I've never used a CNC router so will have a learning curve thrown in as well.. Thanks in advance!

Jeff in Mississippi

[michael_schwartz]

I am a new owner of a PRS Standard 48x96, and I am very pleased. The folks at shopbot are a pleasure to deal with and, there support is second to none.

If you can afford a 4x8 machine and have the space go for it. I tried to talk myself into a small machine but I am glad I went 4x8. There are many uses of a machine that you will only begin to see once you get one. Think Big.

Regarding Vacuums Hold Downs, if you are on a budget and a regenerative blower is not an option do a forum search for the Open Source Vacuum Project, This setup uses central vac motors that cost about $120.00 a piece and are more powerfull than the Fein Turbo Vacs.

If your unsure about a vac table you can always take care of that later. I am going to build one eventually but I am finding that it is very easy to just screw the work down to the table, use tabs, and cut the parts out with a laminate trimmer.

Its not an unreasonable proposition to buy the machine, get it setup, start cutting, and then decide how you want to build a vacuum table later on. You might even decide you don't need one.

[michael_schwartz]

Here is a link to the open source vac

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/28/22456.html

[jeff]

Thanks Michael! You have been alot of help! I'll look into this!

[michael_schwartz]

Another link with a variation on the open source vac

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/28/32459.html?1217780528

[jim_vv]

Greetings, Jeff

I originally thought that I would get a 48x48 machine. My wife suggested that we get a 96x48. I have had my 9648PRS Alpha with 8" Z and a 2.2 hp spindle for 2 1/2 years now and love it! While most of the work that I do on the CNC is small in size, I have been able to do numerous jobs cutting from large sheet goods because I have the larger machine. If I were to do it all over again, I would get a 96x60 machine with a 12" Z so that I could run my indexer in the X direction.

Regarding vacuum....I use two Feins and have my table valved into four zones and it works great for me. Most of the time I use only one vacuum (the two vacuums are valved at the manifold) on only one or two quadrants.

Michael's advice regarding getting the machine up and running and then deciding on your vacuum setup is also a good idea.

Kind Regards,

JIM

[jdervin]

Before spending $7000 on the vacuum system, make sure you've got enough electricity to power it up. We needed to install new service and that wound up costing over $10,000. Also, scour the forum for comments about the pros and cons of LDF vs. MDF for your table surface. LDF can be VERY hard to come by, depending on where you live.

[blake_koehn]

Jeff, I live in Macon, MS I have been a shopbot owner for 1.5 years. If I can help you get started let me know.

[Gary Campbell]

Jeff...
Here is another option you have: http://blog.shopbottools.com/index.php/2008/10/my-4-motor-vacuum-setup/

In reality the <$1K systems do not compare to the full blown vac pump that ShopBot sells. What they do is offer those of us with less dollors or less available power an option that will work with some minor inconveniences.
Gary