Buying a Buddy ???

[rickp]

Here's the deal...I'm 56...my engineering type job at a large Minnesota company was just eliminated. I will get a small pension. Maybe it's time to start that small business with a ShopBot. I'm thinking the way to start is with a Buddy at 32" or 48". I would like to do signs, plaques, put art in cabinet doors and smaller type jobs. I have talked a little to Diane at ShopBot. I would love some advice, comments, encouragement...etc. How do I get started?

[myxpykalix]

Rick,
The first thing to do is go to the "Looking for shopbot owner" column and post a request to see if you can visit an owner in your area. Where are you located? Ask Shopbot for a list of demonstrators in your area. They get paid a small commission if you buy a bot so don't be shy about asking them lots of questions and taking up their time. Most are happy to show off their bots and what they know and you will make a friend.
One thing i know is that you will be making things on your bot that you have no idea about in time, so thinking you will (only) do small jobs is not a good strategy.
I guess the determining factors for the type of machine you will get has more to do with your budget and space available.

It is harder to upgrade (especially a table size)
So for me I decided to go with a PRTalpha 96-60
because I wanted to be able to do full sheets of plywood and mount my indexer on the table and leave it, thus the wider table.
I don't do much sheet goods but i can do full sheets and columns without resetting anything.
Although much of the flat projects i've done could be done on a 4 ft table.

If you think about it when you buy a shopbot you are buying from the rails up, so the only difference as far as price should be the difference between 4ft rails and 8 ft rails and a 4ft table and a 8ft table. All the rest is the same. Again it comes down to space and budget.
I also bought an indexer to do columns and spirals. That opens up a whole world of creativity that i'm developing.
You might even consider looking in the for sale column for a used shopbot. Unless they get used in a production shop and get beat like a rented mule you can be assured that they hold up well.

As far as an assortment of starter bit I recommend you go to www.centuriontools.com (http://www.centuriontools.com) and call and talk to Fred he can advise you on the best assortment to start with at a good price.
They are excellent tools and decent prices.

Lastly ask lots of questions. Guys here are willing to help because we all were newbies at one time. This forum is the best reason to buy a shopbot because you have 50 experts on call at any one time. Good Luck....

[joe]

Rick,

Here's my suggestion. Before looking at which CNC to purchase, I'd suggest you consider looking at what type of product you are interested in making and how it's priced. Some markets are difficult to crack and profits may be narrow but there are some bird nests on the ground.

I'd suggest you attend a sign and trophy trade show or two. That way you'd get a good overview of the whole industry. From there you might be able to find a profitable nitch to fill in your community. You might consider operating a wholesale shop using a CNC.

Even if you have a big iron, high dollar CNC, it's the homework in finding a profitable market that's important. So what I'm saying is, find the market and then buy the proper equipment. Just my opinion.

Joe
www.normansignco.com (http://www.normansignco.com)

[dana_swift]

Rick- Engineering is great (I'm one too), but business experience is what determines success. Most of the people on this forum also own small businesses. Its a great resource. My advise comes in two parts, shopbot suggestions, and business suggestions.

On the shopbot side my suggestions are:
1) The BT-48 is better than BT-32 if you have the space.
2) Alpha is better than standard for production.
3) Powersticks give you flexibility.
4) This forum doubles the value of the bot, and its free.

Its unfortunate that you didn't get started while you still had a job, then you wouldn't be under as much pressure to perform instantly. Contracts don't offer much time to come up to speed. And there is very much to learn, even with your background.

So my business suggestions are:
1) Get a part time job to keep the bills paid.
2) Try to find a job related to what you want to do, but not directly in the business. So you can make contacts, but not make enemies with possible lawsuits by appearing to go into competition with this employer.
3) Buy the biggest bot you can afford and learn how to use it.
4) Start your own business. Have you been in business before? I suggest incorporating, do you have any good lawyer-friends? You might want to wait on this one. Do you know the difference and benefits of chapter C or chapter S?
5) A good accountant will be able to tell you what forms and legal requirements you will need to comply with in your locale. Mine is worth every penny.
6) If you need more business skills take a course or two at the local college to learn more.
7) There are various businees organizations, check with your library to find out what they are and when they meet. Join one or two. Business contacts are just as much gold as this forum.
8) Working for yourself is like having three full time jobs.

All of us who have gone into business have our horror stories and our triumphs. Its a much different perspective to be the owner instead of the employee. The last time I got to watch much television Ron Howard was still known as Opie. That will make sense shortly..

Best wishes-

D

[rcnewcomb]

Rick,

You should plan on attending the Camp Shopbot in Vadnis Heights in September. You will learn LOTS in just a single day.

There are a number of ShopBotters in the Twin Cities areas each doing very unique work. Are any of them willing to offer an internship or apprentice position?

If your experience is like mine (electrical engineer with 20+ years in fortune 500 companies), your greatest challenge is going to be marketing.

Are you comfortable as a sales person?

How do you feel about the prospect of dropping in on a business in-person and doing cold-calling?

Do you already have contact into cabinet shops, or sign and plaque businesses?

Would you be better off finding someone who already has those sales contacts and offering them a commission?

The machine, software, and support are outstanding. Marketing can be a challenge. Find a niche that you are passionate about and be prepared to work hard.

[rickp]

It is interesting to find out there is a ShopBot Camp in my area 3 days after my separation day from my company, where my job position was eliminated. Is God trying to tell me something??

[rickp]

This Forum is great. Thanks to Jack, Joe, Dana and Randall for the quick, informative replies!!! Ya know, I was thinking about the the CarveWright machine...that idea is history!!!

[burchbot]

God does provide for those who put their trust in the Lord.
Dan

[myxpykalix]

Well the shopbot is a carvewright..on STEROIDS!!
Go to the camp, make friends, ask questions and learn from others. You will see things to make there that you would never have thought of on your own.
Keep this is mind, if the shopbot was a piece of junk, people would be complaining and would not have the willingness to help each other out like we do or this forum would not be as active as it is. It is because its such a good machine that we are all HAPPY and make money with it.
So regardless of what size machine you end up with most of us can help answer questions.

You haven't even begun to find out all the things about a shopbot like addons (indexers, probes,ect) or vacumn or other types of holddown systems, dust collection, router bits and a whole lot of other things. A shopbot camp will answer lots of those questions. Take a pad and pen and a camera and take notes.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the front end of getting into business like incorporating and wasting money on a lawyer and blow your budget for tools.
Buy your bot, develop your skills, make your contacts, develop your business plan and when you are confident in your abilities then you can "go public".

[dubliner]

I can admit it now that the statute has run out, but I used to have a Carvewright. I was amazed how fast it would cut 3D panels. It would raster in the Y at & I'm guessing 10+ inches per second (yes IPS ) If you tune your ramping & cornering speeds for 3D cutting, what speeds might you approach on a standard & an alpha? & yes shy away from the Carvewright, mine broke down 5 times, maybe because of the 10 ips eh?

[harryball]

Have an idea of what you'd like to do.
Visit a camp.
Visit a owner.
Ask questions.

Sounds like you are on track.

I'm an engineer myself, in 2004 I was given a nice pay raise, a new job title, a meaningful job assignement and a layoff notice. I'm never going back to the corporate world. We (my wife and I) got a shopbot in 2006 and have been working it hard. Going in though, we had focus and knew exactly what we wanted the bot to do and I understand that's an advantage over many new botters.

My advice is to focus on the business desires (focus being the key word) and figure out how the bot can help you accomplish your goals. Buying a bot and then trying to figure out how to apply it as a business can be a very frustrating exercise. Even if you have a simple idea like carving 3D reliefs into cabinet doors as an addon service to cabinet shops or home owners, write it down and research it. Talk to cabinet shops, show them pictures and ask if it's something they would be interested in etc...

Be open along the way to new ideas but be careful not to run in circles. To quote several sources and a book title "do what you love and the money will follow". While that must understandably be tempered with reality, I've come to believe it is basically true. So don't jump off into building cabinets if you hate it thinking "I'll save up the cash and do what I REALLY love doing later". You'll become dependant on that cash, become known as a "cabinet guy" and hate what you are doing.

So I'm asking you, what do you enjoy? Hobbies, hopes, dreams, something you've always wanted to do? Do you love dogs, cats, horses...? Is there a passion you can tie your business to? If so, you'll never "work" again.

/RB

[carlosgmarroquin]

Hey. The thoughts in this thread are really amazing. I'm in another counrty but the feeling is the same.

Last year I decided to buy my bot. I'v been learning through this forum a lot. I still work for a company as an computer engineer, but it's gonna change very soon.

And definitely I have to go to some camp, some time next year.

Thank all of you.

[gene]

The makers fair is comming up in oct ( i think) and it will be in Austin Texas . GO if you can . Also go to the looking for a owner and see if anyone is close to your location. I'm sure they wont mind showing their machine to ya. Also there is no such thing as a stupid question so ask and you shall be answered, its the best way to learn and there are plenty of people who will be glad to help . Good luck on your adventure ....