First post, considering to purchase PRT w/ questions

[Kevin M]

Hello everyone, a coworker was talking about shopbots, so I looked into them and instantly fell in love. I have a basic shop in my garage and have done a lot of projects over the past thirty years after I got a little craftsman table saw for my 8th birthday. I am wanting to get more serious in my woodworking and move to the next level of craftsmanship.

I want to replace my kitchen cabinets in the next few years and I want to make them myself along with some plantation shutters for all of my windows. After learning about the shopbot, I would also love to start a small business (more as a hobby) and make cool signs and other sculptures.

Shopbot put me into contact with another shopbot'er who is going to show me his machine in the near future. I already know I want one!

I will probably be in the market for a 96x48 PRT in the spring. The question is, do I buy a new standard PRT or find a good deal on a used Alpha? Do folks with the standard run into mis-steps with their stepper motors? Also, the footprint is 120x79, what is the width of the frame itself not counting the overhead moving rail of the y (or x?) axis?

I saw some old posts on why people chose shopbot over other brands, but I am sure the CNC market has changed in the past few years with more options? Would you buy shopbot again today or would you consider something else?

Also, if noise isn't a issue, why go with a spindle over a inexpensive router that can be easily replaced?

Thanks, Kevin

[kubotaman]

Kevin, Welcome and I will be sure that you will get a lot of responses to your questions! I am also in Washington and am sure I might be able to help. You can't beat this forum for information and a lot of really good guy's. If you may want some information give me a call and maybe you could come by for a week end. Give me a call. Just PM me and i can let you know my number!!!

[Brian Harnett]

I have a 2003 prt upgraded with a prs controller it is easy to work on and modify to suit my needs and has replaced several dedicated shop machines.

I switched from the standard Porter cable router to a Milwaukee, the Milwaukee is smoother and a bit quieter one of these days I may step up to a spindle.

Yes I would buy another shop bot.

[myxpykalix]

When i was contemplating my cnc purchase I actually saw it demo'ed on a show called "Cool Tools" researched it and realized they were only about 150 miles from me so i could pick it up and save shipping costs.

I had an idea about what i wanted to do with mine and i was more interested in working with the indexer for round turnings so i bought a prt alpha 60x120 the biggest one at the time and had a custom table made so i could run my indexer and have a full sheet of plywood on the table and could do whatever size project without having to move things around.

I would recommend you buy the biggest table you can afford because i guarantee after you start making things the only limitation you will have is your the size of your table.
Having said that, to this point probably 75% of my projects could be done on 4x4 table.
If you have to choose between a new standard or used alpha, i'd go with the alpha.
Some guys swear by the spindle but i started out with a pc router and i'm only on my second one in 6 years (although i'm not a production shop) to me the cost and the cost of repairs made me shy away from a spindle.

Invest in a good pair of earmuffs.

One measure of the machine is, go look at the activity on the forums for other machines. That should tell you all you need to know. And if you are researching other machines FOR GOD'S SAKE stay away from Legacy CNC's. They have a HORRIBLE record of customer support and are a terrible company to do business with.

Shopbot tech support is top notch, no BS just people who know what they are talking about .
Shopbot doesn't need to sell their machines WE do a pretty good job of doing it for them! (now if i can just figure out how to get paid for this glowing endorsement......hmmm i do need a new hat...TED are you listening??:D)

[Kevin M]

Daryl, your mailbox is full, so i will post here so i dont lose what i typed:

Wow, you went all out! A tool changer sure would be nice to have, but out of my league for now. Do you use your shopbot for your career or more as a hobby?I understand the rational to go bigger if you can, especially when it comes to tools. I have a three car garage and I use one bay as my wood shop and expand to the second bay for large projects or assembly, but all of my tools stay in one bay to keep the wife happy. This limits me to about a 13 x 22 area, so a 4x8 bot is as big as I can go. Ideally a 4x4 would be perfect in terms of shop layout, but I know the limitations on what I can make with the 4x4 would leave me with regrets.

I pay off my mortgage in the spring, so I plan to use some freed up money to get a bot. By then it would be good to know how to inspect a used bot to make sure it is in good condition and to have resources like yourself to help on prices; what is a good deal and what is not. Also, other than hours on the machine, is there design differences over the years? Is a 08 model the same as a 12? I would love to see your machine some day, how long is the ferry ride from the mainland?

[waterwheelman]

Kevin, I got your email. I look forward to meeting you in Vancouver. I was in a two car garage when I first got my ShopBot. It was like playing checkers trying to make projects. I now have a much bigger shop.

[Kevin M]

David, I really look forwards to meeting you and spending some time learning about shopbots. Thanks again for setting aside a day to meet with me, means a lot to me to make sure I know what I am getting myself into before I take the plung!