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Notes
from the Sandbox ...
David Buchsbaum writes
about cabinet making and the woodshop.
He shares tips and techniques and a few of his thoughts about integrating CNC
into custom cabinet production.
David builds custom cabinets and furniture in Atlanta
Georgia.
[Go to the
Sandbox] |
CNC for All Size Cabinet Shops: What Can Your
ShopBot Do?
Making cabinet components on a
ShopBot CNC router has become a common practice today. The
technology of manufacturing cabinet boxes, doors, drawer fronts,
shelves and even countertops with a robotic tool is now well
within the reach of smaller shops. Using CNC technology,
cabinetmakers are now able to increase production throughput
while minimizing material handling. For example, a ShopBot CNC
router can drill shelf pin holes, cut rabbets and dados and profile
cut the completed panel. The operator only needs to handle the
full sheet once to load the machine, and then remove the
perfectly cut parts when complete. When the parts are removed
from the machine they are ready for assembly.
Small and medium shops alike
can take full advantage of the CNC process, not only to compete
with larger automated shops, but to create value-added parts
that distinguish them from competitors. A 3D relief cut on the
same CNC can be used as an appliqué or accent to an otherwise
ordinary panel without the time investment of hand-carving. Door and drawer fronts can be contoured in nearly any shape,
allowing you to transform an ordinary door into an extraordinary
design that gets your work noticed. With a talented designer on
your team, the possibilities for custom or one-off designs are
endless! |
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Beacon Custom Woodwork |

Beacon Custom Woodwork |

Beacon Custom Woodwork |
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Hardwood Designs |

Bill Majer |

Beacon Custom Woodwork |
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Deep Cove Furniture |

Gary Spear |

Hardwood Designs |
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Hunn Cabinet Company |

Hunn Cabinet Company |

Hunn Cabinet Company |
A Few of the Cabinetmakers using ShopBots
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Beacon Custom Woodwork, David Buchsbaum - Atlanta, GA
www.beaconcustomwoodwork.com, Custom Cabinets |
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Hardwood Designs, Jan Bouterse - Hillsborough, NC
www.hardwooddesigns.com,
Custom Cabinetry & Interiors |
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Hunn Cabinet Company, Ronald Hunn - Morganton, WV
www.hunncabinetco.com,
Custom Cabinets |
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Deep Cove Furniture, Chris Raines - Parksville, BC, CANADA
www.deepcovefurniture.ca, Furniture and Custom Cabinetry |
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Please
contact us if you would like to be added to this page |
A Recommended CNC Cabinetmaking Machine
ShopBot components of a Cabinetmaking
Machine
We have created five CNC Cabinet Shop Packages. Each package is
oriented to slightly different needs of a cabinet shop and offers a
choice of cabinetmaking machines suited to the kinds of work and
methods of the shop. The Packages are all based on our PRSalpha
professional-level CNC routers. The packages offer a variety of tool
head options, beginning with ShopBot's Automatic Tool Changer system
(ATC) and including dual Z heads or optional Air Drills. Besides
providing a high-performance PRSalpha CNC,
these cabinet machine include a 16.9hp vacuum hold-down for securing sheet material during processing.
Software
Makes it a
Cabinetmaking
System
Cabinet shops find themselves in different situations with respect
to software for designing cabinets and for creating and optimizing
the files to run a CNC tool
that cuts them out:
Situation a. Some shops already have complete cabinet design software
that includes tool path (CAM) capabilities as well as design,
display and rendering capabilities. If you do, you are all set. Most major cabinet software packages will directly output to your
ShopBot CNC tool and you should be ready for CNC production when
your ShopBot arrives. Or, you may only need to purchase the
optional CNC module for the software you are already using.
Situation b. If you do not already own professional
cabinet design software, ShopBot is now working with
Thermwood to
offer an amazing CNC cabinetmaking opportunity, eCabinets for
ShopBots. The eCabinet/ShopBot Link software module provides full
production cutting of eCabinet designs on your ShopBot CNC.
eCabinets
is a leading cabinet and furniture design system that is available
for free download to professional cabinet shops, but until now
production could only be done on Thermwood CNCs. eCabinets has recently added
libraries of cabinets, furniture and carvings that make it arguably the
best cabinet system available. The eCabinet capability of adds tremendous
capability and value to ShopBot cabinetmaking systems.
[Read about
Thermwood & ShopBot eCabinet partnership]
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Templating System (accurate measuring for CNC cabinet jobs)
eTemplate
Electronic Templating System
ShopBot Resources for Cabinetmakers
Talk ShopBot Forum
ShopBot CNC Resource Links
Web Resources for Cabinetmakers
WoodWeb
ISWonline
Business Resources for Cabinetmakers
CabinetMaker Magazine:
http://www.cabinetmakeronline.com/
Furniture Design & Manufacturing Magazine:
http://www.fdmonline.com/
The
Woodworker’s Gazette:
http://www.woodworking.org/WC/gazette.html
Kitchen & Bath Business:
http://www.kbbonline.com/kbb/index.jsp
Please
contact us if you would like to be added to this page
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