Help!!

[David Closson]

I am desperately trying to decide on a CNC. I have managed to narrow it down to two choices. One of which is the Shopbot Desktop. The other is the Axiom A4 basic. The A4 has 6 inches more y axis travel. It is heavier and I can outfit it with more for less money than the shopbot. Cons - no 4th axis will be available for this model, only their Pro model will have this capability. I would get the pro but I am limited to 110 volt service (I have a renegade shop in a storage unit 110 v access only.)

The ShopBot Desktop with spindle is out of my price range. if I added the accessories I can get with the AXIOM A4 it would be in the 8500 dollar range.

The Router version is still a lot pricier than the Axiom and I have to provide a dedicated computer still. The Axiom is pendant controlled.

4th axis is available of course at +/- 1000.00 dollars. I also like the available 3d duplicator option. The main con is the 18" y axis, granted my projects are mostly more narrow but how limiting to desktop owners find this?

Any advice will be appreciated.

[Martin Reid]

Hi my name is Martin and I'm a Shopbot user.

I can't comment on the Axiom so please bear with me. The after sales with the Shopbot team is excellent, especially when you are new and trying to get to grips with the different functions, terminology and set-up requirements. I remember they were very patient. Also do you get design software with the Axion? The VCarve Pro Shopbot Edition that comes with the machine is excellent. And finally from me, is there an active Axion forum? Take a look around here there are answers to everything.

All the best with your dilemma
Sincerely and in good faith
Martin Reid

PS the dedicated computer can be an old used laptop (Windows XP even - off the net no security issues).

[jerry_stanek]

I agree with Martin way back I bought a used Shopbot that I was the 3rd owner and when I needed help Shopbot was there to help even though the unit was 10 years old. I sold that unit and have heard that the person that bought it was still getting help nothing major but questions on how to add and change stuff.

[cowboy1296]

DITTOS TO THE ABOVE. I have been using nothing but a router since i got my shop bot buddy and not sure a spindle would be that much better. i am sure it still requires a 20 amp 110. I never even thought about a 4th axis and with what i do, not sure how it would help. I do have the upgraded aspire software which i like since i do mainly 3-d carvings. I know nothing about axiom.

[chiloquinruss]

I also did a lot of research before I bought my Bot. The tipping of the scales was every time I asked I dumb question I actually got really good answers for some really friendly folks. Also take a peek at the members projects in the virtual show and tell. The quality of the work should show what the machine is capable of. The rest of course is up to you. PS here's the stats from the Axiom Forum and from the ShopBot forum. Russ

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=30502&stc=1
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=30503&stc=1

[srwtlc]

That Gary Campbell character, he's a virtual 'Where's Waldo'! :D

[Gary Campbell]

Scott...
I reached the end of the internet years ago. I am on my way back :cool:

[jerry_stanek]

When I first started on the internet it would fit on a 3.5 floppy

[ron_moorehead]

I looked over the Axiom Forum and it looks ok, but the one thing I hate about their forum is it's full of ads. So lets have a forum to help people share but we are going to make some money off of you.

I love the Shopbot forum.

[dlcw]

Shopbot offers excellent support and this forum is second to none.

The only thing that I struggle with is the SB control software. I'm still on the last 3.6 version because I don't have time to upgrade and troubleshoot new versions. I tried updating to the latest version more than a year ago and I was dead in the water for two days trying to troubleshooting software problems that should have been production ready. I am a production shop that uses Shopbot Link heavily. I cut over a thousand sheets of plywood a year along with a lot of solid wood parts. The Shopbot machine on 3.6 control software has been virtually bullet proof. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. When your livelihood depends on your machine running, without problems, you can't afford to be updating software and going into a test and troubleshoot mode to get it to work. It should work when you load it up. And with SBLink, I am really leery about software upgrades, both SB Control and SBLink. If I was a hobby woodworker it would be different because I'd have the time to fix things each time I upgraded.

Other than that, the Shopbot is a great machine in the price range it is targeted for.

[scottp55]

David,
We bought our first Desktop sight unseen just on the specs, the company's responses to our initial questions, and all the help from the forum.
Once we had our first machine, there was never a question about the fact that going with the spindle was the right choice for us.....happy enough so that we bought an exact same Desktop within 3 months for the production work:)
No regrets at ALL going Shopbot.
As to the Y limitations...pretty much a non factor, as VCarvePro that comes with the machine has a "Tiling" function, and as long as it's not more than 24" wide, you can slide almost any length project through the Y-axis.
We only rarely need it, but it's there.
The Desktop is built like a tank!
I don't think you'll have any regrets purchasing one, and if you're like me, you'll LOVE the precision and repeatability you'll have!
scott

[khaos]

I think the infographic Russ posted tells the tale. :cool:

[WoodMarvels.com]

I've had my ShopBot Desktop with spindle since 2011, originally set-up for 120 and then 220 before I left for Australia with it, it cut fine in Canada in a -30C garage (spindle warm-up was literally a must) as well as Perth where it was +40C (spindle warm-up performed, though was debating the purpose). It has traveled the ocean twice, flew in planes and you know what, it still runs just as great NOW as it did 7 years ago though the wiring is losing a bit of color. Everything is still original on it including the spindle but did replace the power supply after running it straight cutting Oak for way too many hours in a hot shop.

When I got back from Australia, I kept the unit running at 220 and no problems at all, runs as true and straight as ever and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a ShopBot Desktop to anybody looking to get into CNC machines - I cut my teeth on that machine and use it every few days for "something" to this day.

Here's a video I made about it years ago when I was in Australia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dKcuvh35m8

Here's the last video I made with it (more coming soon, just not posted)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK_-OXfnxRk

and here's the first, I wished I aged as well as my Shopbot Desktop!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYvhlhAQ9WE

ShopBot Tools has made lots of advancements since me getting one of the first produced, so whatever you get now will be even better than the perfect little machine I have which is hard to believe.

Jon

[dlcw]

When I first started on the internet it would fit on a 3.5 floppy

When I started on the internet, it was a data cassette and 300 baud dialup, with REALLY lousy and very limited connection quality. Now it is so common place... When I started in computers, they were programmed with jumper wires.:eek: