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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, 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.
Adding Special Features to Your Cabinets
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
Hardware for a Cabinetmaking
Machine: We have
created what we consider a cabinet-shop CNC machine around our
PRSalpha 96 (4x8 sheet size). Besides a high-performance PRSalpha,
the cabinet machine includes a 5hp spindle, an Air Drill for
automated point-to-point drilling and a 15hp vacuum pump to hold
your sheet material during processing. These components are all
production oriented and will provide fast efficient cutting and
powerful hold-down of your work. [View a Cabinetmaking Machine
cutting out parts.]
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 are ready for production.
Situation b. Some shops already have complete cabinet design software
but do not own the CNC or CAM module for the software. If you do, and you
like the software, the easiest course for you to follow is to
purchase the CAM module for your cabinet design
system, you will be ready for production cutting with the cabinet
making with ShopBot tool described above.
Situation c (all shops).
Whether you have a cabinet design software package or not, you will
find Cabinet Parts Pro a powerful piece of software to simplify and
automate making cabinets in your shop. Cabinet Parts Pro does not
provide realistic renderings of finished kitchens to show your
clients, but does provide a very straightforward way to create
standard cabinet components for CNC cutting. Cabinet Parts Pro is
included with the purchase of every Cabinetmaking Machine from
ShopBot. It may be all you need if you don't require renderings to
show your customers.
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ShopBot Cabinetmaking Tool:
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PRSalpha 96x60
ShopBot
- Includes steel and extruded aluminum table
(96x60)
- Includes ShopBot Control System Software & ShopBot
PartWorks
Design Software
- Includes Z-zero Plate & XY
Proximity Switches
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4hp Spindle
(priced as 230v, 3phase, HSD)
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Starter Bit Kit (8 useful cutters to get you
started; for spindle or router)
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Air
Drill (for automating point-to-point drilling operations)
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16.9hp Vacuum
Hold-down system (priced as 230v, 3phase,
regenerative blower)
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Cabinet Parts Pro
(software for creating cabinet components)
ShopBot Cabinetmaking
Tool = $26,280
Change to PRSalpha 120 (10' X 5') Price =$28,880
Upgrade to a
5hp
Spindle
(priced as 230v, 3phase, Colombo) ; add $900
[Click here for a detailed,
printable, PDF version of ShopBot's current price list] |
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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