Powerstick

[erik_f]

I'm due to get my BT48 in the next few weeks...I don't plan on buying the powerstick unless I really need it for some time of paying job. I know also that the design is not complete yet for it...but I was wondering if anyone has any idea what the basic design is going to look like, or if anyone has any pictures of the workings of what they have now. I believe I have an old 4' rack from my last PRT hanging around and was thinking I might be able to use this to build my own "Powerstick", any ideas?

[chiloquinruss]

There is a video posted here from the Las V egas unvailing.

http://ms.woodshopnews.com/awfs/Shopbot.htm

Russ

[erik_f]

My guess is that the Powerstick is an extruded stick of aluminum with steel rails on either side and the gear rack on the bottom. The V-bearings are most likely mounted some what like the old Z axis, where it captures the rail in the middle of two v bearings. One set of capture v bearings in the front and one in the rear.

[chiloquinruss]

My question would be this: with all of the talk on this forum about bit flex and getting everything completley square, how much flex is there in that extrusion?

In the horizontal deflection direction you would have to have bearings the length of your shortened table gripping the sides of that extrusion but when you are all the way at one end the other end would have nothing holding it straight. In the vetical flex direction there are other issues. In the messages from ShopBot they are alluding to the fact you may also need additional external support. How does that hook to the table?

Lots of questions but knowing ShopBot they will have have a winner when they are done!
Russ

[erik_f]

You would just use some sort of out feed support like you would on a table saw...it wouldn't need to be attached to the table...it could just set on the floor. They are saying the powerstick is not made to replace a rigid table...but more to allow you to do longer things if need be. When I had my old PRT 4x8 table I did some larger format work for a sign shop. The power stick would allow me to do the large stuff again...and most of the stuff that I did for him didn't have to super accurate.

[radavis]

does any one know what a powerstick is going to cost, I looking at getting one,

[erik_f]

The are not done with the design yet...they aren't releasing any info as of yet. Would be nice though to get an idea of how its going to work and how much its going to cost.