Buddy with 6 in Indexer

[randybot]

Hello,
Does anyone have a buddy with a 6 in. indexer?
I ordered and paid for one but now SB says they don't make them anymore.
I've been waiting on this for 5 weeks now.
Now SB want to extract $ 2,000 more from me to go to 12 in. which I don't need or want.
I don't even have the machine yet and there have already been 3 hiccups.
I am not sure that I want one of their SB machines.

[gerryv]

I do Randy but mine has a 12" Z. I stand to be corrected but I think the standard Buddy's Z height is only 5". I "think" that may have been one reason at least why SB did not want to sell the 6" indexer with the Buddy. I do know that they would not sell me a 12" Z non-alpha Buddy, which is why I bought a used alpha.

Are you saying that SB no longer sells the 6" indexers; only the much pricier 12" ones? That may have been a misunderstanding I'm guessing because they sell so many 6" Z axis conventional tables.

Some of the more experienced Buddy owners will likely have more info.

[randybot]

The problem with the 6 in. indexer is only on the Buddy model as far as I know
Apparently they don't know how to design it because now they say there isn't enough room for the tool so I have to go to 12 in. Seems funny they don't know there is a design problem until they get ready to ship it. I was just wanting to see if there are any of these machines out there because if there are then they are telling me garbage. I suspect they are just trying to extract more dollars from me. It won't be the first time. I am looking at other router manufacturers.

[gerryv]

It's possible you may have misunderstood as it can be pretty confusing upfront with limited detail in the sales info to go by on the website. There are two 12" things in play. The first one is the 12" Z axis height; the second is the 12" indexer. I think you may be thinking they said you need a 12" indexer (definitely not the case for a 5" Z height machine) when they more likely said you need the 12" Z axis machine rather than the standard 5" one. Of course that may also lead you to another place you don't want to go as, in my case anyway, they would not sell me a non-alpha 12" Z axis machine and the alpha's do cost more.

The 6" indexer was actually designed for the non-Buddy 6" Z axis tables before the Buddy was developed. I do agree though that it would have been very nice if the Buddy was designed with a 6" Z. I can only guess that it was a question of the added costs of producing non- generic parts which can cost a lot and not a lot of Buddy units were forecast to be sold for use with indexers.

Ask to speak to tech support. They really are excellent.

[Ryan P]

The issue here is the total travel of the Z. A 6" indexer has a total height from table to center of rotation of 6". A buddy has a total travel from of 8". This leaves only 2" from end of collet to center of indexer. Then next thing you need is a cutter and if you are using a 1" cutter length you will only have room to turn a 1" round. The 1" really is a little less because you need a safe height above the turning. The 3" indexer would be best used on a 6" buddy.

I hope this clears things up a bit. Feel free to give me a call to better explain the issue.

[myxpykalix]

Randy,
I think there just might be a misunderstanding maybe on both parts. I understand your frustration but as someone who migrated from a legacy mill to Shopbot their customer support and tech support is 1000 times better then legacy or the others.

Is there a reason you want a buddy? Do you have room for a bigger model that possibly could accommodate a larger indexer? What specifically are you wanting to make on your indexer? I went waybig with a 6x10 with a indexer so i could do large columns and i love it.
If you have any indexer questions let me know maybe i can help you.:D

[randybot]

Don't buy shopbot

[kartracer63]

There's just no pleasing some people.

[myxpykalix]

I tried helping off forum....but if he's made up his mind, so be it:rolleyes:

[scottp55]

Slightly suspicious to join yesterday,just to put down a company that has bent over backwards for me and is one of the best companies I've ever dealt with. I suppose it's possible to lay out that kind of cash and not ask questions from people that own one, but it's beyond my ken.

[Simops]

Mmmmmmmm.......sometimes you have to wonder if the competition uses such tactics to discredit their opposition......just a thought because everyone was quick to help him understand including Shopbot! Even I learned something new....a 3" indexer for the Buddy....nice.

Ciao

[Ajcoholic]

It seems to me pretty easy to understand, that to use a 6" indexer on a buddy, you need to purchase the 12" Z option (a $1500 upgrade/option).

If they sold you the standard height buddy and the 6" indexer, you'd be on here whining that the thing doesn't work.... So it would only make sense to explain this before the sale.

Telling people here not to buy a Shopbot, would sort of be like walking into a church preaching atheism... After all 99% of us already DO own one, and are not going to listen to a misinformed disgruntled person.

[Brian Harnett]

Yes it sounds like someone just trying to badmouth, the few times I have needed support it was prompt and helpful. And I have to say few, my machine is 11 years old with few issues.

I have also had a few customers that after working with I wished I had not taken on the job, just no pleasing some.

[dana_swift]

I have been running a Buddy BT-32 with a six inch indexer for YEARS. I had to do a little work on the Buddy to get a little more Z, but that did the trick.

Anybody wanting to run the 6" indexer on a buddy will discover a little ingenuity is a handy thing to have. Then shopbots really appeal to people who can usually provide their own solutions to problems. That's where the innovative products and techniques come from.

My only suggestion to anyone wanting to put an indexer on a buddy, is buy the machine, use it for six months so that daily operations are second nature. Then you will know just how the machine works, limits, etc.

Oh.. one thought: Put a max Z prox switch on your machine, especially if you plan to use a buddy with an indexer. Let the machine stop automatically without losing setup if it runs out of Z. This should be standard equipment IMHO. It is unbelievably useful in so many ordinary shopbot operations.

Beyond that: go for it! It can be made to work very well, but you have to figure a way that will work for your needs :)

D