Some time ago I noticed the Shopbot ad in a magazine and thought that something like that would surely help out in doing the repetitive cutting of some toy parts. Thinking that CNC was way beyond my little shop, I turned the page and went on to the next article. As time marched on, the thought of CNC stayed, it would not go away. I decided to follow my dream and I have put CNC technology to work in my shop. I encourage my sons to follow their dreams as my parents encouraged me to follow mine. Following my dream of putting CNC technology in my small shop has been fun, exciting and not at as much of a cost as I initially thought it would be. I now have dreams of products that I could have not even have dreamed of before. Although CNC will allow me to cut perfect parts and many of them, this machine will never be able to create without me nor will be able to hand assemble, sand or finish. The Toymaker is alive and well, embracing new technology, knowing his place cannot be replaced with any machine, but using every machine to reach farther and go beyond limits of hand tools.
After the process of deciding which CNC machine would fit my shop demands and budget, Shopbot Tools was the winner. Without going into “sales pitch mode” let’s just say that the support and the business structure of Shopbot Tools, Inc. with the quality of the PRTAlpha96 won out.
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Now that I had a machine on order, I needed to move my entire shop around to make room for the table as well as establish a new work flow in my shop. Little did I know at that time I would continue to refine the placement and flow in my shop for the next several months. A big advantage for me is I am full time employed and run the shop on a part time basis. |
Initial Impressions
In late 2005, I made my pilgrimage to Durham, NC to receive my reward for waiting the required time between placing the order and having my new Alpha 96 ready to be transported to its new home. I left early that morning with my oldest son and arrived about an hour before I was expected. Based on my prior experiences with other companies, I expected to be pushed aside and told to come back later. Much to my surprise, we were welcomed, offered something to drink and a place to sit while someone checked to see if my equipment was ready for delivery. I was met again with a friendly smile and told that the X rails for my stand were being unloaded as we spoke and it would be a little while longer before my machine was ready to load. I said I would leave and come back later. I then got my next surprise, I was asked if either of us had any questions or if there was anything that could be explained to us while we waited! Did I die? Had I gone to Heaven? I was just not used to this level of customer service. In fact, my son and I had downloaded the trial software and had a bit of time to use the software before driving to the factory, so we did indeed have a question or two. We were having trouble creating a toolpath for one of the drawings that we had created. As it turned out, we had open vectors and just needed to close them. Tim took his time to explain all of this to my son who picked up on it quite quickly and then my son and Tim tried to explain this to me. I guess they both saw the deer in the headlights look I must have had as they both slowed down real slow so I could keep up with the explanation. Once I understood what we had done wrong and made sure we were ready to tackle the next phase of our CNC adventure, Tim introduced us to our next Shopbot Mentor, Norb.
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We walked into the shipping area and took a look into an open wooden crate that was exactly like what our Alpha was sitting in. Norb explained how it was packed and what to do to unpack it and how to go about doing so. I didn’t realize just how important this was going to be to me just a few hours later. Norb then asked where my truck was and suggested a way to load the machine. This guy put the Alpha in my truck with the precision of a surgeon. Then after saying good-bye to folks and hearing, “if you need any help or have questions just call or email us”, we were off.
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Upon arriving at home to our shop, my son and I knew exactly what to do in order to get the new Alpha out of the box without any trouble and started that task right away. We had the Alpha out of the box and all over the shop floor in no time flat! Then my son had to leave and go about his own affairs, leaving the old man to deal with the blue steel and wires without any assistance. After a little reading from the Shopbot Assembly manual I started bolting the beast together… Alone. Later that evening a cousin stopped by to see the new machine. It didn’t take any arm twisting to get him to stay and help with the assembly. In a short while everything was bolted together, leveled and squared to precision. |
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The next step was electrical. I decided a good night’s sleep was in order before starting this step. With sleep and a new day, the electrical section of the Shopbot Assembly manual was called upon to guide me through the final phases of bringing my new CNC machine online for the first time. Soon I was ready to connect the USB cable to my computer and bring this puppy to life. Can you remember the first time you drove without someone next to you? I expect it was quite exciting as you were trying out your new wings on your own. I also expect it was quite scary as you had no one to assist if something went wrong. I bet you did fine, and my first drive around the block with my new CNC tool was also successful. Thanks to the great folks at Shopbot, I now have new wings and just need to exercise them and to become familiar with what all this machine can do for me. |
Learning the CNC Ropes
With the shop running well and the machine installed and cutting simple things, I am starting to learn just how much I do and do not know about CAD/CAM. With the Shopbot Camps around the country, I thought a trip to Ed Conley’s Camp in Marietta, GA would be a good place to start, indeed it was. If you have never been to a Shopbot Camp, you owe it to yourself and your knowledge base to attend the next one close to you. You will meet folks with much more knowledge than you as well as folks with your level of expertise, no matter what it might be. One of the first things you will learn is the family of Shopbot owners are a very wide and diverse group. Second they are helpful, going the extra mile to help you in every phase of getting your ideas to designs, your designs to toolpaths, your toolpaths to holding your parts and the final finishing of the created parts.
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There is just so much knowledge to tap into. One thing common among all these levels was the willingness to share and listen to new ways of doing something as well as the exchange of ideas and products. Ed Conley fed us well and had a line-up of presenters that kept my left hand cramped from taking so many notes on everything that was said. Remember, I am new to all of this and this was my first Camp! |
I also had the pleasure to meet face to face and shake the hands with people I only knew as screen names on the Shopbot Forum. It sure has made it nice to be able to put a personality to the writing of those active on the Forum. Ed Conley’s Camp was just the first door to open for me in getting my business off the ground and running.
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The next stop for me was the Shopbot Jamboree held once a year in Durham, NC. Home of Shopbot Tools, Inc. The Jamboree is a larger Camp and is held at both Shopbot’s shop as well as the Hilton. There were many sessions on topics related to the business, design and the mechanics of getting the job processed and out the door. These sessions were designed to allow the novice user as well as the old salt to garner information and take it back to their shops to better the process of making their own items. |
I was able to see folks I met at the earlier Camp in GA as well as the opportunity of meet folks that I only knew as names from the Internet. And, of course, I met many new people I didn’t know before the Jamboree. Another trip, well worth any Shopbot owner to take.
On my trip back home to Virginia from the Jamboree, I had a few hours to ride some less often traveled roads in North Carolina and Virginia. This gave me time to reflect on what I had just experienced at the Jamboree and make plans as to what I wanted to try next with my machine. This time, as well as with my first Camp Shopbot, I went with some expectations of what I might learn, but came away with much more. With the broader scope of what others are doing with their machines, again I have to remind myself to focus on a direction, stop changing my mind as to what I am going to make with this CNC machine.
What to Do If Your Full Time Job Keeps You from Working in the Shop
Let me say up front that I am not giving advice to you or anyone here. I am only relaying what works or does not work for me, in my shop, at this time. All subject to change… And probably will.
With a request for a cutting board from my wife, I decided to make it on the Shopbot. It would be a good project to get my feet wet in making something else. I decided to experiment with vacuum hold down on this job. Not having a fancy Roots blower but having a high vacuum low volume pump I use for the wood lathe, I decided to try making a “pod” or “puck” to hold my cutting board. As with most new processes, I had a couple of false starts, things that didn’t work and a hold up or two for parts that I wanted to try but didn’t have on the shelf.
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After reading and posting on the Shopbot Forum, I was off and cutting my first cutting board. I had settled on making a small vacuum plenum from solid surface counter top material and using gasket material around it. On top, I would lay a piece of 1/8” Plexiglas and gasket the top, drill a hole in the middle and place my wooden blank on top of the jig. |
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After opening the valve to the vacuum pump the wood on top was held in place nicely and I was able to make my cut. Now that I have the solid surface material in place, I can simply change the Plexiglas mask to any shape I want and instantly I can cut another shape or part using the high vacuum setup. Over the next few days I cut many cutting boards and, quite frankly, seemed to have no trouble selling all I make. |
So you ask, what does this cutting board and vacuum pump have to do with the title “What to Do If Your Full Time Job Keeps You from Working in the Shop”. For me it was to leave the full time job! That’s right, leave a nice 40 hour a week inside job that has benefits, paid vacation and retirement to work in a dusty shop lots more hours than 40 with no sick days or paid vacation time.
It has been a month now and more business is finding its way to my door each day. So for me, Shopbot was not the only reason I could leave the full time job, but it plays a big part in this becoming a reality. Thanks Shopbot!
Next month I will update you on how things are going in the shop as well as how my next generation vacuum table is working. I am also learning new software, so expect a comment or two on it as well.
Be safe in your shop! Ed