which one to buy?

[banjomanwv]

If you could afford one would you get a 48x48 buddy alpha, or a 48x48 standard and upgrade later?

[steve_g]

T

It makes no sense to buy the standard if your plan is to upgrade... Buy the most machine you can afford... It's sure to be too small sometime!

SG

[gene]

for the price difference i would get a 48x96 alpha if you have the money and space

[crash5050]

for the price difference i would get a 48x96 alpha if you have the money and space

I leased my new machine, and now I am kicking myself for going standard and I haven't even built the machine yet. It just arrived yesterday.

David

[zeykr]

My 2 cents:

If you have to choose, buy a 5x8 Standard instead of a 4x4 alpha buddy. For what many of us do, the std vs alpha difference is not all that apparent, but you'll outgrow the limited machine size quicker than you think.

[gene]

I like the alpha because if it misses steps it will tell you . also it is faster

[ssflyer]

I'd get a 60x98 Standard - bigger is always better, but if you are only looking at a buddy, you don't need an alpha...

[banjomanwv]

I dont guess I was clear, when the one guy ask "why buy a standard if your looking to upgrade later" its because I cant afford the alpha right now...

[chiloquinruss]

I have a standard with a spindle and I'll tell you why.

I am not a shop that has at least 8 hours a day worth of cnc work. So having a machine that is twice as quick doesn't make sense. Also I am a one man shop so while the bot is botting I am free to do other 'stuff'.

I am sensitive to excess noise and I learned from the gang here about the LARGE noise difference between a router and a spindle. The price difference between a router and a spindle took me out of my budget range for an alpha AND a spindle so . . . . . . .

They don't sell sheets in half sizes around here and I do mostly 4x8 sheet work so I got the 48x96 machine. BTW I had room for the larger size so that was not part of my decision making process. :)

That's my story and it's all true! :D Russ

PS to add to your quandry, my last several jobs have been less than 20x20 inches! Go figure! :eek:

[steve_g]

" If you could afford one would you get..."

Was the premise of my previous answer... A standard is a very nice machine, but if cost wasn't an issue I'd by the Alpha. I suspect relatively few Alpha users take full advantage of its features. But as "Tim the tool man" was want to say... MORE POWER! (grunt, grunt)

SG

[Ajcoholic]

For my decision, I thought going alpha, and with a strong spindle was far more important than sheer cutting area.

A 5 by 8 table would have just taken up more room than I had. But my 4 by 4 buddy has proven itself very valuable to my needs. In my personal case I can't really see the need for even an 8 by 4, as I cut my sheet goods on a large panel saw, the shopbot used for mainly shaping smaller parts.

Bigger isn't always better, especially when working to a budget. Make a decision what the machine will be used for, and buy the best you can afford in that platform.

That's my advice.

AJC

[jerry_stanek]

I thought that a smaller machine was what I wanted until I got a 48 x 96. I have the PRS standard and it does everything I need it to do. you can always do small stuff on a bigger machine but is hard to do large stuff on a small machine.