Roll Call: European Shopbotters please post

[henrik_o]

Hi all,

Being a 'botter located in Europe, it would be interesting to see how many of us there are who frequent the forum. I've seen a few around and talked to some of you, but I'm sure there's more of us.

Please post and be counted, even if you just lurk the forum.

If there's interest, we could set up a chat session using Paco's meebo chat room to discuss 'bottish issues peculiar to us here in our corner of the old world, such as;

* Alternatives to Trupan (or; how do we get it to Europe?)

* Good commercial sources for bits, collets, etc

* Experiences of importing Shopbot systems (customs, tolls etc)

* Getting suport for our HSD/Colombo spindles (etc) directly from the makers in Europe rather than having to go the full detour to North America and Back Again.

* Discussing the somewhat euro-centric software suites (Hettich's Selection, Blum's Dynalog, etc)

* You fill in the rest...

[rhfurniture]

1. Yes
2. I Don't really do chat rooms.
3. Sorting spindles in Eu is easy and fun - just done it. There is a lot to learn.

R.

[benchmark]

Hi Henric,

I think there are quit a few (maybe 30 or more) Botters in Europe, most of them play "Secret Squirrel" and never post.

We can get Trupan and Spanolux ultalight in the UK, both 500KG/M3.

The best bits we have found are Belin www.belin-y.com (http://www.belin-y.com) (French), I think they are now owned by Onsrud.

My experience of importation is rather hazy as I purchased my Shopbot back in 2000, (modified many times since). I am
about to order a 120 x 60 PRSalpha with dual Z and a spindle.

I am not really into chat rooms either.

I can use the phone and email. LOL

Regards


Paul

[henrik_o]

Hi Ralph,

1. Good! I was thinking of you among a few others.

2. I don't do chat rooms either. I don't have an IM client or ID, never had one, and my time on IRC can be counted in the few hours.

However, the meebo chat rooms are very transparent, no software to install, no registration, just load the page in your browser and type. While the forum is great for more focused discussion, I've enjoyed the shopbot room on meebo and its more rapid conversation.

Anyway, if you don't feel like it, I don't want to coax anyone, I'll just say that I'll probably be in the SB room intermittently this evening and maybe tomorrow evening. Peek in if you get curious, the link is

http://wwwl.meebo.com/room/shopbot/

3. Ok, now you have to explain. I've tried getting a support contact with Colombo, and they've been very hard to get any real answers from.

[henrik_o]

Hello Paul,

Yeah, there's not much noise from our side of the pond. As I remember it, there used to be more of a presence here, but it seems to have faded out.

Where do you get Trupan? I contacted Trupan directly who forwarded me to their EU sales "office" in the Netherlands (which seems to be one import agent), and their answer was basically "No", except for a few special deliveries to Spain they are not bringing it into the EU.

[rhfurniture]

2. Time difference on chat stuff would scupper me anyway - I am ASLEEP at 8pm USA. I do do chat on skype however - if anyone wants to witter let me know (email or www.rhfurniture.com - contact page) with your skype name and I'll type you in.
3. I just dealt with www.fimec.it (http://www.fimec.it) - they were very helpful and set up a package for me. Fimec are very similar to HSD, but they are based near Modena, where the BEST balsamic vinnegar in the world (and Ferrari's - Brady take note) comes from, so how could I resist? Unfortunately they couldn't sell to me direct as I trade as an individual,and am not corporate. So their UK agent (www.mandrcontrols.co.uk (http://www.mandrcontrols.co.uk)) set me up for about the same money (ukp900ish) and it works very well. It is 2kw(2.7hp) 18krpm with a built on fan (not electric. A little noisier, but at least if it is going round it is cooling - I have had disasters with computer fans in the past). They are bringing out electric fan versions shortly, but with slightly less KW motor for motor. The inverter is a 1 ph Hitachi that works very well. I am learning configuration as I go, but provided you read the (extensive for these days) manual, it is not hard.

[henrik_o]

Ralph,

2. The 'Merikuhns are an awfully chatty bunch and there's usually a few on from at least lunch (their time). That said, I was looking more for us Europeans to come together and talk a bit, on the times that are more suited towards our timezones. I don't have broadband installed yet (live and work in the countryside) but Real Soon Now I'll have HSDPA/3G mobile internet, so we could do the skype thing then.

3. Fimec, eh? I have heard lots of good things about them. I guess I just don't really know where to start. I have the Colombo 5hp from Shopbot/PDS, and a couple of Perske's around, I have the spindles, but it seems hard to get into a formal support relationship with the manufacturers directly, they want to take it through the dealers.

What did you pay for the Fimec setup? I have a dual Z and am agonizing whether to install a Makita router, a Perske spindle from my inventory, or a new spindle from -?-. Perske's dealer over here has been rather unhelpful, they basically told me "that's an old spindle, we don't support that, wanna buy the (basically) same spindle new for $3000?"

Just so we're clear, UK is also 230V/50Hz and 400V/50Hz, right? (Never know with you imperial holdouts out there on the islands
)

[rhfurniture]

Henrik,
As I said, about 900 sterling (spindle+inverter+filter). The motor is just an exotically built induction motor, designed for overclocking. The interesting bit is the inverter, which basically takes whatever power you give it, turns it into DC with a rectifier, then uses transistors to create 3 phases of AC at whatever frequency you dial in. I imagine that your old Perske's would probably work fine, probably need new bearings, and would probably work with any modern vfd of the matching voltage (aka inverter - try www.inverter.co.uk (http://www.inverter.co.uk) for specification and prices) - but be warned I am still early on the learning curve with this stuff.
Yes, we are 230/50 1ph and 440/50 3ph here on this norse offshoot of an island (the anglo-saxons here always say "blame it on the Normans", but guess where the nor(se)mans originally come from?)

[hespj]

Hi, another UK ShopBotter here. Not a chat room ShopBotter, but I have got a spindle, an HSD bought through Shopbot. I also wanted to deal directly with Fimec or HSD but ran out of time/patience. It is such hard work getting companies to sell me stuff.

John

[henrik_o]

Hello John, good to hear from you.

Ralph, got ya. I will have a look at the Perskes when I get to fiddling with the 2nd Z.

Now that we're a few here, what do you guys use your shopbots for? We mostly do interior/furniture work, but will start up a small production line for caskets soon -- that's what the shopbot was bought for, I figured I'd need it around for 3-4 months doing normal work before I'd be confident enough about it to try real production.

[benchmark]

Hi John,

How is the new spindle, What size did you get ?


Regards


Paul

[bob_lofthouse]

Hi everyone,

I'm always lurking....

Thats wot we do in the grim north!

[benchmark]

Hey ! their all coming out of the woodwork. LOL

Hi Robert, there is nothing grim about the Ribble valley

[bob_lofthouse]

Don't tell anyone especially the wife but I might hold another camp next year...

[hespj]

Paul, the spindle is very good. HSD 2.25HP.

I seem to have a lot of routers now though. As well as the Freud I already had on the ShopBot (the spindle was for the second Z), I already had a couple of other routers, then I bought a Ryobi for the second Z (before the getting the spindle), but this wasn't suitable. Bought a second Freud, as I knew this would work, but then bought the spindle. And a few weeks ago my brother left one that he'd got in a sale....

That's almost as many routers as Robert has ShopBots.

I missed out last time Robert, so would very much look forward to a Camp next year.

John

[benchmark]

Thanks John,

Is that 3 Shopbots now or has he been on the spend again.

I will only have two 1 in the UK and 1 in Ireland



Paul

[bob_lofthouse]

Only 3 at the moment....

I keep looking at the 4th though... I'm still waiting on gordon at shopbot to give me some good news...

[benchmark]

Hi Robert,

What are you looking for.....Something Special.


Paul

[bob_lofthouse]

Hi paul,

just a new prsalpha with air drill....

I'm also looking for gordon to come over and do some mods for me on my current machines which are beyond my capability.

I'll have to go now as I'm off to sunny cyprus for a couple of weeks.... now that would make a nice camp!!!

[dubliner]

Paul, where is your machine located in Ireland ?. I believe I saw some pictures of the Eurocamp, but they seem to have gone now ~ Neville ( In Texas now)

[benchmark]

Robert,

Have a nice time, I'm off to Rome on Sunday.

Neville,

Just outside Waterville, Co Kerry


Paul

[dubliner]

The Kingdom, thats certainly a beautiful part of the country. Well greetings from Austin. What are building there?

[benchmark]

Neville,

It certainly is beautiful, in between fishing I make custom flyboxes. You are a long way from Dublin, what is the Craic like there in Austin.




Paul

[dubliner]

Paul, yes we have plenty of Craic here :-), we went from having one English pub about 10 years ago to having an additional 5 Irish pubs ( owed by Paddies too !) so we can have a decent match on the telly or watch a good rugby game - just like home, but warmer! If you know anything about Texas we are just getting over our worst months TG - now for some cool shop time. I just got my machine & have been engrossed in setting it up to run & the related things, vac, sheet handling etc.

[slendon]

Hi All

I'm another semi lurker who doesn't do chat rooms...not sure if I count on being European or not as I'm in The Canary Islands..part of Spain but also very independant, which makes sourcing stuff and delivery hard.

I have a dual head Alpha 2.44x1.22 with the gearbox upgrade, and a 3hp Columbo.

Always happy to talk over anything of mutual interest..email is best to start with.

Steve

[benchmark]

Hi Steve,

What Island are you on ?


Paul

[slendon]

I'm on Lanzarote...the one that most Canarians think is the best!

Steve
PS 32c and clear blue skies here today

[benchmark]

I just got back from Rome 27c , it's 7c here in London.