Onsruds in my stocking!

[fredtoo]

I found 15 (yes 15!) new Onsrud bits in my stocking for my, yet to be ordered (this Monday), new Alpha!!! Will the elves help me set it up????

(My Honey is awesome!)

[navigator7]

Anybody know if you can machine coal?

;-)

[jerry_stanek]

I thought my coal was to heat the shop.

[dana_swift]

Greg- taking the plunge! What machine are you ordering?

Stand by for the satisfaction in your life to be greatly amplified. Occasionally the frustration level also.. but there is this wonderful forum for that, it works better than beer. Actually both have their value ;)


Keep us posted- everybody likes to hear from new botters!

D

[fredtoo]

I'm going with a four by eight alpha, unless someone can help me justify a five by eight. I don't plan to ever run another "Z" so.....

Diane at ShopBot is telling me 4-6 weeks from the order date.

[bob_s]

Planning ahead is really important. IF you want to buy or build an indexer, or use a lot of Baltic birch consider the 5 x 8. I have an eight month old 4x8 alpha and now that I am planning to build an indexer I think it might have been a better idea, although my shop space is limited. Another thing that is not talked about in the installation is off-setting your table toward the "high Y axis" end so that you can accommodate a vertical work area on the Y=0 end. Search for some of Gary Campbell's and others posts about it. It can be done later, but once the machine is installed and leveled no one wants to do it. You really can't go wrong with either, the Alpha is a great machine. It has been a great adventure, I certainly am glad I took the leap!
Bob

[magic]

Greg - 5 X 8 if you're cutting 5X5 plywoods otherwise here is what I do.

If I need 60" (5x5s) I have the lumber yard cut 10 to 24 inches off one side - depending on the project. The 48 bot will cut 50" (and a little more if you're tricky).

So... If you plan to cut 5X5s then get the larger one.
.

[navigator7]

Is that the reasoning behind the 60" wide versus the 48" wide?
A second z?

I thought it was for extra fixturing room.

[fredtoo]

When I attended the 2 day ShopBot training class someone (I don't remember who) implied the extra width was for the second Z. Extra fixturing room makes sense too.

Twelve hours and counting until I pull the trigger.....

[chiloquinruss]

Greg - there is some room on either side of the work area even on a 4 x 8. Russ


8614

[rb99]

If you get the 60" one and are unhappy, just ignore the extra width.

If you get the 48" and are unhappy, it is harder to ignore...

How much is the extra 12" of width?

RIB

[fredtoo]

The extra 12" is $1100. Not a lot when you look at the entire cost, but a lot if I don't use/need it. $1100 can go a long way toward an indexer, etc.

[myxpykalix]

Here is a view of my 5x10 table. You will see on the left the extra room for my indexer mounted in the X.

If you opt for a indexer or build one yourself you may not have the depth to do as big a column as mine however you will still be able to do 75% of what i do. That is a full 4x8 sheet of plywood.

8615

8616

[fredtoo]

Jack,

The design of the table gives your indexer the depth (and greater length) on the X. Can't I get the same or greater depth with my new table on the Y?

[myxpykalix]

If you search back in this indexer catagory you will find several pictures of guys who have mounted their indexer in the Y and yes it will give you a greater depth and width however your length will be limited to the width of your table.
Since you can't make a table like mine for the prs models now what some have done is to order a table with a 12" Z and 5' width. Then they take and make a "torsion box" for their 4x8' and that emulates a indexer bay similar to my design.
Here is a drawing i made before that illustrates this.

8617

[rb99]

That looks like it might add some unwanted flex to the gantry?

RIB

[rb99]

Is it possible to lower the table instead of adding height to the gantry?

RIB

[jimmya]

Another Customer lost to Shopbot. Need help when it arrives, give me a call. Good Luck!!!!
Jimmy

[bob_s]

I don't know what "Jimmy's" comment means for sure, but if it was a slur about Shopbot's customer service, as it appears to me, he is wrong. You will not find better customer service from any company. Period. Some may be as good, but none are better.
If his comment was misinterpreted by me, then sorry about this response.
All companies have some hardware and software problems, that is a natural part of selling a complicated product. It is how the customer is taken care when a problem arises that distinguishes the good companies from the rest.

[jimmya]

Bob,
I said nothing about customer service. The word was Customer not customer service. Meaning I do work for them and they are friends of mine.
Jimmy

[fredtoo]

Yep, you misinterpreted Jimmy's comment. I currently out source my routing to Jimmy but he's threatening to move from the area. Jimmy has been number one with me and even though he's losing a customer he's still offering to help! Jimmy and the ShopBot community are both awesome and that's a major reason why I'm pulling the trigger in a couple of hours.

[bob_s]

ok - sorry about the misinterpretation of that post.
Bob

[curtiss]

RE GREG: I found 15 (yes 15!) new Onsrud bits in my stocking for my,
yet to be ordered...


....Once you have the bits, the rest of it is a piece of cake.

[fredtoo]

Thanks all, I went with the 60".

Curtis,

I heard all you had to do with the new ShopBots was to press a picture up against the monitor, it would cut it out AND pop a beer for you when it finished.

[myxpykalix]

Greg you are totally wrong about pressing a picture to the monitor...who ever heard of such a thing....

FYI the new versions come with a head harness and you put that on and mentally send instructions to the bot, and i'm sorry to tell you that the software development has not progressed as well as they would like it to so for now you will have to pop your own top! lol.

Make sure you ask them to send your manual and software in advance so you can start getting familiar with file creation and have plenty of questions to ask. good luck