New Shopbot and a few questions.

[mrps]

My Standard Buddy 32 should arrive before Christmas. I’ve played around with all the software and feel quite comfortable with it all.

1 How do Shopbots do in cold weather? I live in Colorado and my garage is not heated.

2 What are some easy/good types of files to cut first so I can get acquainted with the buddy, besides flattening and setting up the spoilboard?

3 If you preview a parts file, is the tool path shown in the preview exactly what you will get on the bot? I program as a hobby and I know from experience that you don’t always get what you expect. Is that why people say you should always do an air cut?

4 What OS does Shopbot 3 work best on.

Mike

[dana_swift]

Hello Mike, welcome to the forum! You will love the bot when it arrives, and no fear, it will all make sense pretty quickly.

"How do shopbots do in cold weather?" They run fine, however their owners shiver! (Consider installing it indoors and heating the room!)

"what are some easy types of files to cut first..?" surface the table, just like the instructions show. After that, try using partworks to create a tool path for a simple pocket or whatever. Buy a sheet of "HDPF" (Bill Palumbos term for Home Depot Pink Foam" use it to do your first cuts.) That way you don't waste good material and bits on expensive material. Also I suggest running the router "in the air" with no bit until you are certain you understand what it is about to do and where all it will go before it stops again. Later HDPF will prove to be wonderful for prototyping things that you might want to show to potential paying customers. They can see how well you can build the widget, and it didn't cost much beyond time to make their product tangible. I keep HDPF around all the time now, I thank Chris Burns for the idea.

"Is the tool path shown in the preview exact.." yes. If you have the beta software it will show what your part will look like. Understanding the assumptions it makes about thickness and material dimensions, you can count on it. If it shows it coming out wrong, fix the SBP file before wasting material that will look like that too! Except the preview wont show the broken bits where you hit a clamp. As a beginner be sure to budget in a few extra bits. Trust me on this one. Knowing that, still buy the best bits you can, I am a fan of Onsrud. Never use the hand router bits you buy cheap at the HD. Read on this forum about "crispy bots".. I.E. ones that caught fire from doing that. The best preview is still HDPF, for about $10 for a full 1" sheet thats a cheap way to gain confidence.

"What OS does SB3 work best on". One thats running without screensavers, a lot of "system services", and other time hogs. Beyond that, I use a cheapie laptop (fujitsu in my case) running XP home. If you read this forum Vista is possible, but I suggest a used computer is a better option as every botter that has used Vista seems to have ended up memorizing the tech support phone number. Shopbot needs to seriously reconsider re-hosting SB3 onto Linux/Mac. I expect future Microjunk OS's to be even worse for real time machine control.

I hope that is a good start. I remember that same wait, running the software and doing "mental cuts". Trust me there will be plenty of chips to go around by new years!

Welcome to the forum! I think all of us look forward to the day when you can answer as many questions as you can ask!

D

[sawdust535]

Mike, I spoke to a guy who claims he uses his shopbot in a freezer to carve ice sculptures. I hope your shop doesn't get that cold.

[bill_lumley]

www.iceculture.com (http://www.iceculture.com)

I have been to their shop and much of their carving is done with CNC . It was before I had a bot so I wasn't looking at the brand but I know it was not a big iron unit and it was blue(maybe from the temperature)


Bill

[bcondon]

Mike,

I am new with my machine but now, after about a month, having a lot of fun.

After surfacing the table and the spoilboard, my first project was two simple signs, vcarved in poplar, with the words COMMUNITY and CHURCH for our bulletin boards.

They really were more of a challenge on the machine side than on the design side. It uses 2 tool bits (90 degree v 1.25" - letters) and (1/2" endmill - cutout). This allows you to learn how important the origin is, and your Z depths.

===
Heat:
I plan on running PEX oxygen tubing to 16' of baseboard to our force hot water furnace and a auto thermostat. My room is tightly insulated off the back of the garage...

I looked at the garage gas heaters that hang for around $500 but did not like the open flame... it may be fine but was also concerned with spray can vapor.
===


I purchased 2 laptops; One is for design and connected to the internet, the other is the control machine which has never been connected to anything. I use Vista, followed all of Ted's
description on shutting off the neatsy features so it runs like XP, and it works fine.

I transport my parts files using a memory stick so that I do not need to run protection software.

The only thing that is a bit odd, is that when the control software is running and the machine is cutting, I can not be editing or mucking about with another cut file. The mouse does not respond very well because the control software is tightly controlling the machine.

The control machine was under $400 new from Dell, The design machine was around $550 with more memory, both 2 gig machines.

[jerry_stanek]

I ran mine last winter in Ohio without heat and it ran fine.

[mrps]

Thanks for all the info.

I'm going to be cutting wood, foam and acrylic.

Whats good cfm for a dust collecter for a bot?

What are good bits for cutting acrylic?

Mike

[Gary Campbell]

Mike..
1000+ on the cfm. I prefer the cannisters over bags.

Belin or Onsrud O flutes for the acrylics, do your homework, available in up/down/straight, single or double, and they are sometimes material specific.
Gary

[myxpykalix]

check out the starter bit set from centurion:
http://www.centuriontools.com/router_bits_toolcase/centurion_tools_showcase.html?cart=122835984990375 1&splashPG=y&__max=6&pageID=1&id2=8&startat=1&--woSECTIONSdatarq=8&--SECTIONSword=ww

(CHA-CHING! Hey Dave R I just made myself another nickel...NOT!) lol

[bcondon]

Dusto collection:

I have a unit similar to Grizzley G1029z (1550 CFM) and I use 2- G3376A separator (one right with the dust collector in the closet) and one beside the machine.

I ran schedule 40 PVC pipe between machines but ran a grounding wire inside and outside to get rid of static electricity.

I used the clear 4" tube between the collector and the shopbot held by 3 bungees from the ceiling

I was expecting issues with pick up but this config cleans very well. There is some chips left when also pulling from the table saw... then there is 10% chips left behind...