Resources for CNC
ShopBot-related resources
ShopBot Forum - The famous ShopBot Forum is one of the most active product-oriented forums on the web. A great place to ask questions about a project you're working on, a customization you're thinking about, or just to hang out.
The ShopBot wiki - The wiki is an archive of ShopBot information that is created and edited by ShopBotters...a ShopBot "encyclopedia" of sorts. It only works if enough people contribute and help out, so please check it out
Dr. ShopBot - a diagnostic wiki that supplements ShopBot support..check here first if you're having a support problem to see if it's already been covered by Dr ShopBot.
100kGarages - Find and download projects to make on your ShopBot from 100kGarages, and register as a Fabber so that Makers can find you for cutting jobs
ShopBot channel on youTube - The home of "official" ShopBot videos on the web
The "ShopBotters" channel - A collection of videos that ShopBotters have created and posted on youTube. If you know of any we missed please let us know
Camp ShopBot photos on Flickr - Pictures from the ShopBot Camps that are held all in ShopBotter's shops over the country (and world). If you've got pictures from one of the camps please send them on.
Camp ShopBot blog - Read Bill P.'s report from each of the ShopBot Camps.
ShopBot pictures on Picasa - Pictures taken by ShopBot at ShopBot events or in the ShopBot headquarters
ShopBot Labs - A section of the ShopBot website where you can find projects of all kinds that might not be ready for "prime time". The only way projects can graduate from ShopBot Labs is if ShopBotters try them out and give some feedback, so please try them out and let us know what you think.
Sketchup models of ShopBots and accessories - Models of many of the Tools, accessories , and projects are available for download from the Sketchup 3d warehouse...a create way to help you design your shop or just daydream. Sketchup is available as a free download from sketchup.google.com, and there's a free Sketchup Viewer if you just want to look at the models.
ShopBot CafePress store - Show your ShopBot pride and buy all kinds of ShopBot stuff!
Help Quick Start [HQ] - Can be found in the Help Menu of the ShopBot software. Shows how to get started cutting a file.
Help Keyboard Shortcuts [HK] - Gives keyboard short cuts you can use while running the tool. These include how to change the cutting speed "on-the-fly", also know as feed-rate override, as well as shortcuts for re-running the current file.
CNC resources based on suggestions from ShopBotters at Camp ShopBots, Jamborees, the Forum and elsewhere.
Our thanks to Bill Palumbo who has done the bulk of the work.
Router Bits
Onsrud Cutter - U.S. manufacture of high-speed steel,
carbide tip, solid carbide and diamond-coated router tooling.
www.onsrud.com
Active Machine and Tool - Manufactures, services
and distributes diamond, solid carbide, brazed carbide and HSS tooling
for the woodworking/plastic industry.
www.activemachine.com
Centurion Tools - Solid carbide CNC router bits,
and metalworking cutters.
www.centuriontools.com
Antares - Quality cutting tools for engraving, sign
making and mold making.
www.antaresinc.net
MSC Industrial Supply Company - One of the nation's
largest direct marketers of industrial supplies and equipment.
www.mscdirect.com
Software
Shape 3D - Design software for surf and sailboard
design and CNC shaping. Free demo available.
www.shape3D.com
Digital Furniture - 3D furniture models for architectural
and interior visualization with V-ray shaders. Free models available
to download.
www.digital-furniture.com
Enroute Software - CNC software for the sign
making, wood working and fabrication industries.
www.enroutesoftware.com
Materials
Texture Plus Panels - Pre-cut and finished HDU textured panels. Usable in many different applications for ShopBotters, from fire place surrounds to signage.
RenShape - Modeling & styling boards are designed and formulated to meet the wide scope of tooling, modeling, prototyping and fabricating applications found throughout industry today.
Sign Foam - Lightweight, easy-to-fabricate
high density urethane (HDU) board. A great alternative to wood for interior
and exterior signage.
Gasket Materials for Hold-Down Fixtures
All*Star Adhesives - Thin, adaptable gasketing
materials to make vacuum jigs, pods and pucks. The most informative
resources on the topic of using vacuum for a hold down.
hwww.allstaradhesives.com
Adhesives
MAS Epoxies - Advanced, high performance, user-friendly
epoxy formulas.
www.masepoxies.com
Jamestown Distributors – Sikaflex 291, a flxible,
tenacious marine polyurethane adhesive in a tube.
www.jamestowndistributors.com
PVC Board (Sintra/Komatex)
Harbor Sales - www.harborsales.net
Vycom - www.cpg-vycom.com
Paint Mask
For getting clean edges on V carved letters and shapes.
Harbor Sales - www.harborsales.net
Interesting Coatings
Sculpt Nouveau - Water-based exterior metallic coatings
and patinas.
www.sculptnouveau.com
Industrial Polymers Incorporated - High-performance
RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanized) urethane products for casting, molding,
coating and sealing applications.
www.industrialpolymers.com
T.J. Ronan Paint Co. – Sign paints, Water Based
Coatings, lead free products, Clears, Japan Colors and Faux Finish.
www.ronanpaints.com
Tap Plastics
Magic-Sculp
- Alternative to potters' compounds. Creates extra-fine, highly detailed
sculpture projects
Magic-Smooth
- Two-part epoxy similar in use to Magic-Sculp but with has a thinner
consistency.
Vacuum Clamping/Bagging/Materials
The following companies are sources of parts for the combination clamping/bagging setup that has been demonstrated at several Camp ShopBots.
Hobby Vac - A set of full plans (and also a source of a pre-made heating element) to build your own vacuum forming machine. Ideal way to utilize your ShopBot's 3D capabilities of the to make prototypes.
Veneer Supplies - Vacuum
check valve.
They also carry ALL of the necessary brass fittings for building the
rig and bag, and they have a great set of tutorials regarding veneer
clamping as well as other options for pump setups. They now also carry
a kit, which includes a vacuum pump, fittings, etc. that will double
as a hold down.
Custom Hardware Solutions - A flexible and user-friendly vacuum clamp.
Surplus Center - Vacuum pumpL: Item #4-1540.
MSC Industrial Supply - Vacuum switch: Item #56499197.
Vacuum Tanks - We got ours from Surplus Center, but have since learned that you can get bigger tanks/better deals from Harbor Freight, and - in SOME areas - Home Depot carries just the tanks for air compressors which will also work.
Vaccon - Vacuum parts and fittings for high end usage.
Templating System for accurately measuring CNC cabinet and countertop jobs
eTemplate System - Digitizing technology for digital field templating ("as-built" measuring). It is widely used in the woodworking, solid surface, laminate, and stone, countertop fabrication industry.
3D content sites (free files/tutorials/links)
The following files can be carved/cut using a number of 3D CAM packages.
http://www.bluegenieart.com/sculpture.html
http://www.3dlinks.com/objects_free.cfm
http://www.coolpage.com/aom.html
http://www.povworld.org/objects/links3.html
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/
http://www.freegraphics.com/07_Backgrounds/
http://www.grsites.com/textures/wood002.shtml
http://www.3dvalley.com/models.shtml
http://www.NOCTUA-Graphics.de/english/fraset_e.htm
3D Content from Sites that charge for their files
(These companies will charge anywhere from $10--$1,000 for files from their stock collections, or made on a custom basis…)
http://www.carve3d.com/ (3D modeling/training by James Booth, former director of Delcam, North America)
Mold Making
(tutorials/info/materials)
http://www.ball-consulting-ltd.com/
http://www.rubbermoldcompounds.com/
http://www.quantumsilicones.com/
http://www.culinart.net/silicone.html
http://www.mikethealchemist.com/
http://www.apcmg.com/moldmake.htm
http://www.megomadhouse.com/index.html