Replies

1. 
   RickL | Apr 10, 2009 09:02pm | #1

   http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/discus.cgi

   You might try cnc forums. There's many of them out there, especially for the small shop and hobby woodworker. As usual the metal machinsts are way ahead in this area. They even have a cnc magazine found at Barnes and Noble.

1. 
   Hastings | Apr 11, 2009 04:52pm | #4

   Rick:Thanks for the forum link and suggestion.I see a lot of sign makers! But also some other useful stuff.Thanks!Hastings

2. 
   philjohnwilliams | Apr 11, 2009 05:00am | #2

   It would be helpful if you said what you want the CNC for and the kind of work you do. Is this for a small commercial shop or is it for personal use? Are you building kitchen cabinetry or are you doing furniture? Some more information would help us answer your question better.

   -pjw

1. 
   Hastings | Apr 11, 2009 04:51pm | #3

   pjw:This is for my own use (non-professional). So far I have built kitchens, bathrooms, plantation shutters, vanity, TV stand and sash windows.These have mostly been "cabineture" if I may use such a term. For example, the vanity was mostly solid work.Here are some of the uses I forsee (all of which I have incorporated except the carvings:Stiles for plantation shutters
   Stiles for louvers
   Mortises and tenons
   Notches for beaded face frames (stiles)
   Decorative carvings
   Inlays
   FlutingIt may be that it is more of a journey of discovery; in other words, having the machine creates uses and options that you wouldn't have thought of.Hastings

1. 
   philjohnwilliams | Apr 12, 2009 06:17am | #10

   If this is going to be for personal use and there is no need to justify the cost, then I see no reason not to go for it. I am not familiar with the features of the ShopBots, but i am sure a quick look at the company's web page or an email to the company will tell you if the machine will do what you want it to do.  When you get a CNC machine, I would be interested in hearing how it is working for you.

    

   -pjw

3. 
   Dave45 | Apr 11, 2009 05:04pm | #5

   Except for having a neat new toy to play with, I couldn't possibly justify buying a CNC machine. They're probably worth every penny in a high production environment, but as a small time, one person, shop, I never have enough repetition to make one economically viable.

   If your goal is making one pay its way, you probably need to determine the minimum production levels necessary to justify the cost.

1. 
   Hastings | Apr 11, 2009 05:17pm | #6

   Dave:I'm not looking to cost justify this. It seems to me that these things are to the point where a non-pro woodworker can get one without worrying to much about productivity or throughput. After all, my present machines are idle a great deal of the time!I like the idea of automating repetitive tasks as well as being able to do some intricate, one-off work.H

1. 
   Dave45 | Apr 12, 2009 12:22am | #7

   I couldn't tell from your original post why you were thinking of getting a CNC, but have no problems with folks buying toys. Of course, there's nothing in my shop that isn't thoroughly cost justified and used daily at capacity.(If you believe the last sentence, I can make you a great deal on a reddish colored bridge a little north of me. - lol)

4. 
   Napie | Apr 12, 2009 02:04am | #8

   Not judging your desire for a computerized tool but for me they take the woodworking out of woodworking.  None of the tasks you outlined seems to require that level of technology.  The shop is my escape from the technology I have to put up with every day.  I'm pretty sure IKEA depends on them.  But them I’m just a Luddite I guess, just think of the L-N planes you could buy!!!

1. 
   Hastings | Apr 12, 2009 02:26am | #9

   Napie:"…just think of the L-N planes you could buy!!!"I think it was Mel, who calculated the entire L-N line at about $22,000. The probable "out-the-door" price of a small CNC machine would account for just under half the L-N catalog."…they take the woodworking out of woodworking"Yes, it does appear that way. Since we bought an historic house, I have been focused on making the essentials (we lived without a kitchen for 9 months). So the "destination" has been upper most, though I try to expand my skills and scope with each endeavor.It feels like a fork in the road vis-a-vis my woodworking experience.Hastings

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 13, 2009 04:27am | #11

   Hastings,

   What computer language does it require?  What happens when you swear at it?  :-)

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   Edited 4/12/2009 9:27 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres

1. 
   dbcabs | Apr 13, 2009 06:27pm | #12

   The most exciting news about Shopbot is that "e-Cabinet" program  from Thermwood routers  will be able to link up with a Shopbot. Up to this point, E-cabs would only work with a Thermwood router. The cost will be around $1,300.00 for the link up, but the software is free.  E-cabs is some what hard to learn, and you do need a good computer with a good graphics card but the graphics are great and it gives you cutlists and sheet layouts. I never hoped to own a Thermwood router ($75,000 and up) but a Shopbot is in the foreseeable future. Check out the "e-Cabinets" web site. Both e-Cabs and Shopbot have very good forums

   David W

1. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 14, 2009 11:41am | #13

   E-cabs is some what hard to learn?? OK so I never was good at Math!