New Shopbot arrives tomorrow

[sc.crab]

I doubt I will get much sleep tonight I feel like a kid at Christmas.

[genek]

[QUOTE=sc.crab;146960]I doubt I will get much sleep tonight I feel like a kid at Christmas.[/QUOTE

You had better get some sleep, lots of work for you tomorrow.. and lots of excitement. have fun and make lots of money... i know you can make good money off of your shop bot.. I make a good living... i have patterns for sale for the shop bot. check out my post about patterns in the project section.

[chiloquinruss]

Read all of the documentation about assembly! Then re-read it one more time. Then start the process. Take your time. Don't rush it! Most of all enjoy the process. Have fun. Russ

[andracke]

I got mine last week!!!! I dont have it put together yet. I have to move some cabinets and a few other things. Hopefully later this week.

[coryatjohn]

One thing I have to say about the assembly instructions. There are aspects of the document that leave a lot to be desired. For instance, in the first pages, they go into great detail on technique but are light on how the parts go together. Later, the technique part is left out along with the detail.

I found it was better to discard the technique part (like how to attach the legs to the T-rail) and basically look at the pictures. Toward the end of the instructions, they get a bit sketchy and the only thing they are good for is a general guide.

I have a 12" Z which is left to the imagination on how to put it together. If you have a 6" Z, then you'll probably have better luck.

I hope you received both eChains. I initially got only one. ShopBot eventually agreed to give me the second one after I had inquired about it several times. If you receive only the YZ eChain, get on the phone to Dianne today and start working on getting your second (X axis) eChain. It's practically a necessity.

Another bit of advice that served me well is to take your time and square everything as you assemble it. Don't wait until your table is fully assembled before breaking out the square and level.

Get a NEW LEVEL and SQUARE! Don't use the old ones you've had banging around in the back of your pickup for the last decade. Get a new one. A good level will help get your machine setup properly with a minimum of fuss. I recommend a Stabila level. The better your level, the better your table will turn out.

If you run into any difficulties, search this forum (using Google, not the search box at the top) for an answer and if you come up empty, post your question here.

Good luck and have fun!

[ron_moorehead]

Don't always trust that the new square you got from the store is truly square.

Here is a good link talking about how to check your square and tune it up if you need to.

http://www.ehow.com/how_8158050_tune-framing-square.html

[ron_moorehead]

I also forgot a nice long level is great to help get things level and flat. I used both a 6 foot and a 8 foot setting up mine.

[jerry_stanek]

I would have all the material for your table base waiting and a couple of sharp bits. If you are going with a vac system I would have glue and sealer plus MDF

[sc.crab]

The shopbot just arrived they told me it would not arrive till tomorrow so I was surprised when he pulled up today.

[myxpykalix]

"Instructions....we don't need no stinking instructions!":D

[sc.crab]

We got table together we used a level and a laser level and everything is square and level, we have the first piece of plywood bolted down and ready for the MDF so my question is what type of glue is best for this step (no vac hold down) and do you cover the whole board are just the edges and around the middle .

[jerry_stanek]

What I did was use Tite bond III spread over both the base and the MDF and weighted it down for 3 plus hours a few screws to help that I removed before I cut my vac grid in.

[coryatjohn]

We got table together we used a level and a laser level and everything is square and level, we have the first piece of plywood bolted down and ready for the MDF so my question is what type of glue is best for this step (no vac hold down) and do you cover the whole board are just the edges and around the middle .

I used standard everyday wood glue from Elmers.

[JoeinWestMich]

Maybe I should wait til I get my Buddy BT48 - TOMORROW!! But if I put down a 1" Extira deck, bolted to the powerstick, and then put down another 3/4" spoilboard, I am a bit confused as to why I would want to glue the spoilboard to the deck board. I had planned to simply use screws. Then after I surface the spoilboard a few times and get to learn what I need for a spoilboard such as tracks then I could simply unscrew the spoilboard and replace it. It would seem if I glue down the spoilboard, then I would have to replace both the deck AND spoilboard when I can no longer surface the spoilboard. With a 4x4 foot Buddy, the cost of the deck and spoilboard is not really an issue if gluing will give a more stable board. I would appreciate your thoughts.
Joe

[coryatjohn]

Joe,

When you burn down your spoilboard, you just glue another on top of it. The surface will be flattened to as perfect as your machine can manage. No need to remove the old one. Once you decide about tracks and such, you'll cut that into your spoilboard with your machine.

[GlenP]

Glueing is WAY better than simply screws. It will make a stronger base and give you better cutting. If you only screw it down you WILL get fluctuation and end up asking about marks and possibly poor pocketing etc. You can resurface the table several times and then simply glue down new sheet to replace the spoilboard when it is too thin. I think Brady did a article on "to glue or not" once. I prefer titebond as well. I think Titebond III (3) is exterior and you don't need exterior. I use Titebond original. There is premium as well. All good stuff.
Pics of your new machine are always good to see. Post some if you can. :)

[sc.crab]

I think I'm reading this right its says I need a 3/4 cabinet grade plywood first and then two sheets of 3/4 mdf is that correct ?

[JoeinWestMich]

Thanks guys. Now the gluing makes sense to me. Not sure why I didn't think of this before I asked the question.. but better safe than sorry. I LOVE this forum and the great folks who help out each other!!!

[jerry_stanek]

I think I'm reading this right its says I need a 3/4 cabinet grade plywood first and then two sheets of 3/4 mdf is that correct ?

Yes you will need one piece glued to the base plywood and then cut your plenum in it. Then you place the next sheet down start your vacuum and machine the side just enough to remove the shiny film. remove it and glue just the tops of your plenum and place the sheet you just machined with the machined side down and start your vacuum and cover with a piece of plastic and ad even weight on that let it dry real good. when it is dried machine the top of that piece that will be your spoil board and the vacuum will suck right through it

[sc.crab]

Yes you will need one piece glued to the base plywood and then cut your plenum in it. Then you place the next sheet down start your vacuum and machine the side just enough to remove the shiny film. remove it and glue just the tops of your plenum and place the sheet you just machined with the machined side down and start your vacuum and cover with a piece of plastic and ad even weight on that let it dry real good. when it is dried machine the top of that piece that will be your spoil board and the vacuum will suck right through it

I should have mentioned I was not using a vac hold down and the unit is prs standard.

[coryatjohn]

Thanks guys. Now the gluing makes sense to me. Not sure why I didn't think of this before I asked the question..
I can tell you why you didn't think of it. You're not in the "mode" yet. Once you figure it out, you'll be saying "I can make that" instead of "where can I buy that." It's quite a liberating feeling to know how to make pretty much anything to a high degree of accuracy.

[myxpykalix]

keep in mind that every layer you put down, like 3/4 ply or mdf, you are losing that same amount under your bit height.

Also when you put your spoilboard down over your plenum you need to take a tube of silicone caulk and seal your edges around the table to keep from losing vacumn out the sides of the mdf or plywood.

[JackM]

"Instructions....we don't need no stinking instructions!":D

"Clarity? We don't need no stinking clarity!" :eek: