ShopBot answers
Posted by
rgbrown@x...
on 1999-07-06 18:35:41 UTC
Andrew,
ShopBot has its' own converter for their format. Will convert HPGL; DXF; G-code and TIFF or another bit map program. On circles, rectangles and ellipses, tool compensation is available, along with array drilling, filleted rectangles and trig functions in the programs. It is really a fairly good and can be complex management program. Tool contact sensing, auto 'zero' and many other things can be done.
My Z has a 7" range. With a little tubing and a longer ball screw, the Z could be taken much further. Accuracy would suffer but, we are talking wood, which is compressible to a point. The Curves are smooth, repeatability is adequate for a cable drive machine. And, ShopBot does target the supplemental income' crowd. It is very versatile for what it is. Say $50K real quick if you want the speed and accuracy of a mill.
I will be using steppers on an old manual mill or new Chinese mill, lathe or multi-purpose machine. Harbor Freight has the multi-purpose machine for $500 and the 7 x 10 lathe for $340 till August.
Thanks for the link to the boat builder.
Ron
ShopBot has its' own converter for their format. Will convert HPGL; DXF; G-code and TIFF or another bit map program. On circles, rectangles and ellipses, tool compensation is available, along with array drilling, filleted rectangles and trig functions in the programs. It is really a fairly good and can be complex management program. Tool contact sensing, auto 'zero' and many other things can be done.
My Z has a 7" range. With a little tubing and a longer ball screw, the Z could be taken much further. Accuracy would suffer but, we are talking wood, which is compressible to a point. The Curves are smooth, repeatability is adequate for a cable drive machine. And, ShopBot does target the supplemental income' crowd. It is very versatile for what it is. Say $50K real quick if you want the speed and accuracy of a mill.
I will be using steppers on an old manual mill or new Chinese mill, lathe or multi-purpose machine. Harbor Freight has the multi-purpose machine for $500 and the 7 x 10 lathe for $340 till August.
Thanks for the link to the boat builder.
Ron