Do you need an ATC or is one tool enough

I posted re Shopbot since that's what I have and use. I know a lot of other guys who use and love their Camaster machines and love them too.

Jim, I certainly hope to be down in SC again is work and family permits! Was crazy busy this past year and 2016 is looking to be similar. But it has been a great trip for me the past few years!

Personally, for solid wood machining (again the stuff I am doing) I dont find ATC a pain to be without. Mainly just swaping from a larger ball end mill to a regular spiral bit. I think if I even get another machine I'd look into ATC, but it will certainly add another $10K plus.

Andrew, I do hope you can make it !!

CAMaster has a new x4 model called panther that is a 4 tool atc that is selling really good, I am driving over to sumter next week to see one as I need a third machine

You might consider talking to CNT Motion. They do a lot of custom use and size machines and could easily build what you need. I suspect the price would be very reasonable for a custom sized machine given that you can live without an ATC.

BH Davis

This is exactly what I was needing to hear.

Having never used, nor seen one in action, I didn't even think about tool changes. Honestly I don't think we need more than the basic cutter, most of what we would cut would just be standard shapes with square cuts.

Our larger router actually is a CNT Motion. I'll investigate and see if they make these lower yield machines.

One second question, and pardon my mediocre/dangerous level of knowledge of CAD and such.

Do any of these pre-fab type routers (Camaster, Shopbot) have.... or come with... software available for drawing various shapes/profiles? It would be nice if I (as production manager) were able to relieve our kitchen designer/engineers of the duty of drawing the simple items.

I know I could probably just put TurboCad on the same PC as the ShopBot/Camaster, I'm just wondering if either of these router companies offered a simpler, quicker software for drawing these standard items. TurboCad is a bit overkill for simple drawing of a few corbels or arches with specific radius sizes, etc.

Thanks!

Matt

Matt,

Years ago Kelly Davis at WinCNC developed wizards for me that allow us to create true radius arched moulding cut out files right at the CNC. It worked (and still works) so well that they added it as a module in the software.

So any machine that runs on WinCNC should have that module available.

BH Davis

Camaster is wincnc controlled. feel free to ask about what you want to achieve, go visit shops, we hold a really big CNC event in my shop in April that draws camheads, botters and a host of talented fellows in this stuff when it comes to custom

just what do you want to do and the chess players were done with a single head machine with a 6" z clearance

View higher quality, full size image (1023 X 682)

View higher quality, full size image (800 X 534)

View higher quality, full size image (800 X 532)

Both companys provide Vectrics VCP, I use vectrics aspire if you want to come in April speak up.

these programs will never meet all the metrics of a good cad program for some features but I have found nothing I have been unable to do with it.. go to vectric.com and download the programs for testing, you can make and see files run it is the full version, you can save but not produce code until you purchase and that is not until you are satisfied.

Take a look at their forum as well you can link from the website

BH Davis--- that sounds enticing, we already run WinCNC on our current router. I will look into that very shortly. Thanks for that information.

James McGrew, we are about 80 miles from you. I may very well be at this conference. Thank you for this, that's exciting.

Incredible work by the way. I can see how most of those items were done on a CNC but those giant chess players are a whole new level. Fantastic results!

Feel free to visit if you want just let me know. were in SC are ya !