Timber Frame?

[dstacey]

Hay Guys,
Anybody working with big timber on thier ShopBot?
I have a PRS Alpha 12 feet long, and I was wondering if there was some way to machine 8" timbers, it looks like I have plenty of room to lay the plank on the table, but I don't think I can get the spindle high enough to cut on it.
Dave

[srwtlc]

Depending on how your machine is set up, you can move the spindle up to where the bottom of the collet is just below the lowest point of the column. I had to surface off a large beam that was about 10". I was able to gain 2" or so to make it work by moving my spindle up to the next set of holes. YMMV depending on your set up.

[dstacey]

Thanks Scott,

I was wondering if that was possible, but I didn't know if I could move the spindle like that. Looks like you had to undo your dust collection system as well?

Dave

[srwtlc]

Yes, I did. The hose set up didn't do much as shown so I just took it off and made a cardboard shroud to keep the chips off the rails and sucked it up by hand every so often.