Most Wanted Tool to Purchase

[Gary Campbell]

To the commercial shop Owners....

This informal survey assumes that you have a ShopBot, and it wasnt your first tool purchase.

In the same way that ShopBot made CNC affordable for the low volume shop, if another type of machine was available at a similar pricepoint/percentage what machine would you want to buy?

Gary

[carlosgmarroquin]

I would look for a laser engraving machine.

[beacon14]

4-sided planer/molder

[chuckster]

A bigger shop

[bleeth]

An HPJ

[gabepari]

Money printing press

[cabnet636]

a good edgebander!!

[gerard]

better dust collection at the creation point

[bernott]

Gary, now thats a good question. A better bucket truck with an auger & jib?

[khaos]

A laser scanner like Brady :o

[john_hartman]

Super Max Brush Sander

[dana_swift]

Gary, that is really simple.

I would want another shopbot with some of the features you have added, however I would also want a 5 axis machine with a tool changer. Perhaps a six axis with a indexer added in.

An ideal machine should have a real working envelope of 20" Z so the multi-axis cutting head could get UNDER the work and cut the bottom too.

Not to mention this shouldn't cost any extra (ROTFL!). I admit to being greedy!

Really, an N axis machine allows sculpting abilities that currently have to be synthesized using very elaborate software and many setups. The idea of mounting the work on a pedistal and then CNC routing all surfaces, drilling all holes and pockets from a single setup. "push the button and walk away".

Another machine design that might be better is one where the work is secured to an Az/El mount, and the gantry is free to move XYZ. Combine that with a tool changer, and you have a dynamite machine.

Gary, feel free to ask me about this at your camp! A six pack would be a good accessory for the conversation!

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I'm in with Joe also- a really simple and cheap large envelope 3D digitizer that could capture live action along with full color renderings of the 3D surface. Wishful thinking?

D

[woodworx]

super max brush sander

[khaos]

Nice call Dana ... <drool> Tool changer

[harryball]

Laser Engraver.

[Call-Tech]

Tough call, Here is my top 3

Laser Scanner,
Laser Engraver attachment for bot,
5 axis with tool changer and software for bot.

[Gary Campbell]

I see that we all think differently. I also see that most of us think big!

Like Dave R. I am suffering from the horizontal boring blues. Especially when I watch the video here: http://www.accu-systems.com/hpj48.php (Dave R's HPJ)

I was watching this and started seeing the blue legs showing up in the video. Ted says it looks like a BT48 with a horizontal spindle.

Thanks for playing, Gary

[waterwheelman]

Laser Engraver and a 5 axis CNC.

[carlosgmarroquin]

2nd thought: tool changer

[ed_lang]

WOW, lots of folks want laser engravers.

What kinds of things do you want to engrave? How big are they?

[angus_hines]

A lathe that I could turn really big stock on (ie;20' x 4') or larger.

Also, you laser engraver wanters I have a GCC 60watt avaliable. Just upgraded to a larger bed and wattage.