jemelby
09-12-2007, 03:57 AM
I have concluded that my years-old conclusion that "Shopbot is the best choice in low-end CNC routers" is still valid. There's lots of great new stuff out there, but SB is still ahead of the crowd.
Here's how I intend to use my SB: To be honest, I really just want one to play with. I tell myself all kinds of lies about how I'll do custom work locally. Then I'll start a web business for all manner of doo-dads, toys, and the like. And let's not forget how much money I will be able to save buy doing all the mill work for the house I will eventually build! You get the picture. I am sure many of you have been in the same boat at one point. The reality is that I will HAVE to use the SB in some manner for profit.
I am very well inclined towards all things mechanical. I have also been designing all my wood projects in AutoCAD for 4-5 years. One of my biggest failings in the past has been "designing as I go." I will have an idea, and just start building. I could get away with this because I am very good at visualizing the final product, and how it will go together. I paid for it, though, with wasted time in the shop while I figured things out. In the past 4-5 years, I have gone into the shop with a cradle-to-grave plan in AutoCAD, and it has increased my efficiency considerably. It's also done away with the occasional wasted piece of wood.
It now becomes a question of "What model?" One would not expect the marketing department at SB to say "The Alpha is GREAT, and the standard is not-so-great." So it's left to me to ferret out in what areas the standard falls short of the Alpha.
I read through many posts here, and did an extensive google search. It seems to come down to motors and step drives when comparing the Alpha to the Standard. Speed is always nice, but considering this machine will be in a one-man-shop (maybe two-man, at the most), speed isn't so critical. As long as the machine will run unattended, there's always plenty to do while waiting. Accuracy is a more important concern. I tend to be a bit fastidious about accuracy. I keep a 1/64" graduated 6" steel ruler in my shop apron, as well as a digital dial caliper (is that an oxymoron?). I generally plane board to within 1/128", and have been know run the boards through 3 times without adjusting the depth (just to shave those uneven parts exactly). I am concerned that I will be disatisfied with the accuracy of the Standard, and would forever wish I had started with the Alpha. this is not the most sound reasoning, but there it is. Alpha wins over standard.
As to the spindle: I have read in several places how folks were amazed when upgrading from a router to a spindle. I've decided to forego the amazement stage and just start with the spindle. I've burned up two PC routers over the years: One in a table, and one used only free hand. I can only imagine that the life of a router in a SB would be hell. I am slso familiar with run-out. I actually have the top of my router motors marked with the direction for which they are most prone to run-out, and try to keep that mark 0° or 180° to the direction of travel. That leaves a choice. I think the 4 HP HSD would do nicely. I am figuring that the more expensive Columbo spindles are better in terms of speed and torque. I am assuming there is not an accuracy difference between the HDS and Columbo spindles. I might also consider the 2.2 HP HSD after figuring what 3 phase juice will cost to wire. The single and three phase 2.2 HP spindles are the same price, while the single phase 4 HP is a couple hundred dollars more.
96x48x8 is the chosen table size. I'd like to be able to mount a full sheet, and space should not be a factor (shop is in an aircraft hangar). For a 10% price difference, I'll go with the 96" over the 48". I also can not imagine a need for the 14" hight over the 8". If I have a deep piece of stock, or want to endmill a piece, I can always rig up a way of letting the stock hang below the table, right?
So there's my reasoning: 96x48x8 Alpha w/4 HP HDS. Should be around $15,200+shipping Next, I'll have to determine my software needs. I truely think that is something I can upgrade later. I should be just fine with AutoCAD and the stuff that ships with the SB.
I formally wecome and invite any and all to punch holes in my reasoning, or to help feed my delusion. At the end of the day, I really don't have a clue what I'm talking about. I still have to get out and see one in action. I might even wait until after the Atlanta IWF. Should be a great show this year!
.
.
.
Here's how I intend to use my SB: To be honest, I really just want one to play with. I tell myself all kinds of lies about how I'll do custom work locally. Then I'll start a web business for all manner of doo-dads, toys, and the like. And let's not forget how much money I will be able to save buy doing all the mill work for the house I will eventually build! You get the picture. I am sure many of you have been in the same boat at one point. The reality is that I will HAVE to use the SB in some manner for profit.
I am very well inclined towards all things mechanical. I have also been designing all my wood projects in AutoCAD for 4-5 years. One of my biggest failings in the past has been "designing as I go." I will have an idea, and just start building. I could get away with this because I am very good at visualizing the final product, and how it will go together. I paid for it, though, with wasted time in the shop while I figured things out. In the past 4-5 years, I have gone into the shop with a cradle-to-grave plan in AutoCAD, and it has increased my efficiency considerably. It's also done away with the occasional wasted piece of wood.
It now becomes a question of "What model?" One would not expect the marketing department at SB to say "The Alpha is GREAT, and the standard is not-so-great." So it's left to me to ferret out in what areas the standard falls short of the Alpha.
I read through many posts here, and did an extensive google search. It seems to come down to motors and step drives when comparing the Alpha to the Standard. Speed is always nice, but considering this machine will be in a one-man-shop (maybe two-man, at the most), speed isn't so critical. As long as the machine will run unattended, there's always plenty to do while waiting. Accuracy is a more important concern. I tend to be a bit fastidious about accuracy. I keep a 1/64" graduated 6" steel ruler in my shop apron, as well as a digital dial caliper (is that an oxymoron?). I generally plane board to within 1/128", and have been know run the boards through 3 times without adjusting the depth (just to shave those uneven parts exactly). I am concerned that I will be disatisfied with the accuracy of the Standard, and would forever wish I had started with the Alpha. this is not the most sound reasoning, but there it is. Alpha wins over standard.
As to the spindle: I have read in several places how folks were amazed when upgrading from a router to a spindle. I've decided to forego the amazement stage and just start with the spindle. I've burned up two PC routers over the years: One in a table, and one used only free hand. I can only imagine that the life of a router in a SB would be hell. I am slso familiar with run-out. I actually have the top of my router motors marked with the direction for which they are most prone to run-out, and try to keep that mark 0° or 180° to the direction of travel. That leaves a choice. I think the 4 HP HSD would do nicely. I am figuring that the more expensive Columbo spindles are better in terms of speed and torque. I am assuming there is not an accuracy difference between the HDS and Columbo spindles. I might also consider the 2.2 HP HSD after figuring what 3 phase juice will cost to wire. The single and three phase 2.2 HP spindles are the same price, while the single phase 4 HP is a couple hundred dollars more.
96x48x8 is the chosen table size. I'd like to be able to mount a full sheet, and space should not be a factor (shop is in an aircraft hangar). For a 10% price difference, I'll go with the 96" over the 48". I also can not imagine a need for the 14" hight over the 8". If I have a deep piece of stock, or want to endmill a piece, I can always rig up a way of letting the stock hang below the table, right?
So there's my reasoning: 96x48x8 Alpha w/4 HP HDS. Should be around $15,200+shipping Next, I'll have to determine my software needs. I truely think that is something I can upgrade later. I should be just fine with AutoCAD and the stuff that ships with the SB.
I formally wecome and invite any and all to punch holes in my reasoning, or to help feed my delusion. At the end of the day, I really don't have a clue what I'm talking about. I still have to get out and see one in action. I might even wait until after the Atlanta IWF. Should be a great show this year!
.
.
.