ShopBot: CNC for the rest of us
In with the new at the 2007 AWFS Fair
Coverage from the AWFS Fair
ShopBotters converge on California
ShopBot develops new CNC router for D-I-Y boatbuilding
CNC machinery for small shops
News Archives
How CNC routers are being used by sign shops
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Tools and Techniques
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AWFS® New Products Volume 26, Number 5 (September 29, 2005) - ShopBot Tools Inc., a manufacturer of CNC tools, offers the fastest CNC routers in its class. The new line of CNCs feature the industry’s first closed-loop stepper motors that give ShopBot’s tools performance speeds of up to 1,800 inches per minute for transit and 600 inches per minute for cutting. Now, almost a year after their introduction, these PRTalpha tools are believed to be the fastest selling CNC ever with more than 400 sold in the inaugural year. “We have always aimed at being the industry leader in affordable, performance CNC,” said Ted Hall, president of ShopBot Tools Inc. “We credit the success of the PRTalpha to its ability to give our customers the maximum production possible at the most affordable price-point on the market.” The ShopBot PRTalpha is the only CNC available with the closed-loop, “alphaStep” motors and drivers. These motors combine the best features of servo and stepper motors – offering exceptionally fast and smooth cutting motion with no “tuning” or “hunting” problems. The PRTalpha technology remains very affordable. A complete 4’ x 8’ ShopBot CNC tool with a 5HP Columbo spindle and CAD CAM software starts for less than $14,500. |
SHOPBOT ANNOUNCES NEW AIR-DRILL ATTACHMENT
DURHAM, NC (July 26, 2005) - ShopBot Tools Inc.,
the leading manufacturer of affordable CNC routers, announced the
release of the new ShopBot Air Drill Attachment at its annual Jamboree
in April 2005. The attachment allows ShopBot CNCs to drill holes without
changing bits. The Air Drill Attachment is great for cabinet and
furniture makers who desire new capabilities for their ShopBot CNC. The
attachment fits next to the cutter head on the Y carriage. “We are very excited about the new ShopBot Air Drill
Attachment,” said Ted Hall, president of ShopBot Tools Inc. “It is just
another step in our commitment to offer our customers the most
affordable, competitive advantages possible for their ShopBot CNCs.”
SHOPBOT ANNOUNCES THE “SHOPBOT
CABINET SYSTEM” – A COMPLETE NESTED BASED CABINET PRODUCTION SYSTEM
DURHAM, NC (July 10, 2005) - ShopBot Tools Inc., the leading manufacturer of affordable CNC routers, is proud to announce the release of the “ShopBot Cabinet System.” This all-inclusive system combines the ShopBot Cabinet Machine with industry-leading KCDw and ArtCAM Cabinetmaker software for easy design and fabrication of cabinet components.
“We are very excited to offer cabinet makers the most affordable nested-based cabinet package on the market,” said Ted Hall, president of ShopBot Tools Inc. “This all started two years ago when we developed a tool with increased speed and accuracy. When the ShopBot PRTalpha was introduced last year, we immediately began work on putting together a complete system for cabinet shops. The ShopBot Cabinet System is a great package that is complete, effective and priced for less than what most Cabinetmakers would pay for just a CNC tool.
”The system comes with a ShopBot PRTalpha96
featuring alphaStep closed-loop motors for transit speeds of 1,800
inches per
minute and cutting speeds up to 600 inches per minute. The Machine is
fitted with the new ShopBot Air Drill Head allowing cabinet makers to
drill holes without expensive tool changers. The software includes
industry leading KCDw and ArtCAM Cabinetmaker for streamlined design and
fabrication of cabinet components. The ShopBot Cabinet System also
includes a 5 horsepower Colombo Spindle and 15 horsepower vacuum pump.
SHOPBOT APPEARS ON NEW YANKEE WORKSHOP
DURHAM, NC (March 22, 2005) - A ShopBot PRT 96, a computer numerically controlled (CNC) cutting machine produced by ShopBot Tools of Durham, N.C., appeared on the hit show “New Yankee Workshop” on PBS on March 26, 2005. The show highlighted a variety of sign making techniques at the Lincoln Sign Company in Lincoln, NH, the place where the original “New Yankee Workshop” sign was crafted.
“The show has always wanted to pay [the Lincoln Sign Company] a visit and to find out how professionals create these masterpieces,” officials from the “New Yankee Workshop” stated on their website. “In this program, Norm [Abram] does just that and finds out how a router, a sand blaster, a hand chisel and a sophisticated computerized machine can be used to carve out modern signs. Then he learns how the professionals design, hand letter, paint and gild these beauties.”
The ShopBot was used in J.D. Iles’ workshop where, during the shoot, the tool is V-carving a sign. Also, the benefits of using a CNC machine are discussed.
“J.D., his family and crew were great,” said Gordon
Bergfors, ShopBot technical assistant on the set. “They were very
friendly and excited about the event. J.D. is very enthusiastic
about his ShopBot and how it is helping his company grow and produce
some of the most amazing signs. It was also exciting to meet Norm
and to talk to him about woodworking.”
SHOPBOT APPEARS ON EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION – HOW’D THEY DO THAT?
DURHAM,
NC (February
23, 2005) - Ty Pennington went to the
hospital with appendicitis, and it was a ShopBot CNC that helped keep
his “secret room” project on “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” on
schedule.
A ShopBot CNC router, manufactured by ShopBot Tools Inc. of Durham, N.C., made another television appearance on “Extreme Makeover Home Edition – How’d They Do That?” in February. The episode featured a segment on how CNC routers are used in furniture making. The ShopBot CNC was used to cut key parts of a piece of furniture for Pennington’s “secret room” – a ribbed bench called “the sternum.”
“We are very proud of our product,” said Ted Hall, president and owner of ShopBot Tools Inc. “We believe the high profile attention it receives is a direct result of the performance of our tools and the quality of support we provide.”
The ShopBot woodworking machine is not an official product of the ABC show, but is owned by Pennington who purchased it in the fall of 2003. Rob Williams, Pennington’s shop manager, operated the ShopBot on the episode when the filming took place in his workshop in Atlanta, Ga. earlier in February.
30,000
WOODWORKERS WATCH SHOPBOT FALL OFF CLIFF!
Atlanta, GA (August 23, 2004) - At this year's IWF (International Woodworking and Furniture Manufacturers) show, ShopBot introduced its new line of high-speed, affordable CNC tools. Ask any of the 30,000 IWF visitors about the hard-to-believe performance of ShopBot's new PRTalpha tools that were seen cutting, machining and panel processing at 600 in/min and positioning at 1,800in/min.
Or visit our website to learn about 10 X faster speeds and to
see our new tool in
action (sorry, no cliffs in
sight...). One of
ShopBot's higher-priced competitors, incredulous at the performance
innovations of ShopBot's new, closed-loop drive system, recently
proclaimed that ShopBot's new speeds could "only be achieved if they
throw the machine off a cliff..."
TRADING SPACES’ CARPENTER GETS HIS HANDS ON A SHOPBOT
DURHAM, NC (August 22, 2003) - Ty Pennington, the outrageous carpenter from the hit home-remodeling show, “Trading Spaces,” recently filmed a ShopBot computer numerically controlled (CNC) router for an upcoming episode to be aired October 5, 2003. He, and his camera crew, filmed the machine in the workshop of “Party by Design” in Boston Mass.
Ty used the ShopBot CNC to mill two walnut end tables and a set of saw horses that he had designed for projects appearing on the October 5th episode. After using the ShopBot, he then headed back to the house, in Plymouth, Mass., that will be featured on “Trading Spaces.” Ty appeared on camera with Chris Burns, of ShopBot Tools, and the homeowner of the house that was being remodeled.
“I just cannot believe the versatility of this tool. This is awesome!” exclaimed Ty, as he watched his walnut tables being cut at two inches per second. Ty was helped in the project by long-time ShopBot owners Bill Young and Dave Buschbaum who assisted in automating his ideas. Ty is even more excited by the delivery of a new ShopBot PRT96 to his shop in Marietta, GA.
See what Ty Pennington is up to now in the
"Extreme Makeover Home Edition" section above.
A ROBOT IN THE WORKSHOP
The New York Times
(November 10, 2002) - Sometimes, trying
to compete with the big guys, or at least play the same way, is too
expensive for the little guys. But one of those smaller fry, Ted
Hall of Durham, N.C., has found a way to compete in the filed of
computerized cutting tools, building one that rivals
industrial-strength versions and costs thousands of dollars less. [View
Full Article, PDF]
Forbes/ASAP
(June 24, 2002) - As
mainframe computers were displaced by less expensive
microcomputers, computer-operated machines used to shape wood,
aluminum, and other materials into precise shapes are being
replaced by inexpensive robots. Like PCs, they provide only the
abilities that most users need at a cost that makes them
accessible. Early adopters have already glommed onto ShopBot
Tools, the solution for boat builders, cabinetmakers, auto
repair shops, and home improvement buffs. [View
Full Article, PDF]
IN THE SHOP WITH YOUR BUDDY BOT
FIRST ANNUAL SHOPBOT JAMBOREE A SUCCESS
DURHAM,
NC (May, 2002) - Professional woodworkers from across
the country, as well as Ireland, Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands, Mexico and Canada,
gathered this weekend in Durham to share advice, preview new technology,
swap stories and learn new woodworking techniques at the ShopBot
Jamboree. ShopBot Tools, Inc. sponsored the weekend-long event to help
their users get the most out of this unique, low-cost CNC machine.
Bill Young, owner of Seaside Small Craft in Virginia, was one of the
first people in the country to own a ShopBot and was also one of the
creators of this weekend’s Jamboree. “I sponsored the first regional
'camp,' where owners in a particular area gather at someone’s shop
for the day and learn from each other,” said Young. “To have more
than 100 ShopBot users from around the world gather together was just
amazing.”
ShopBot users displayed a wide variety of items they made
with their CNC machines, including wooden clocks, boats, signs, 3-d
carvings, a propeller from an undisclosed military aircraft, furniture, lithophanes (backlit photos carved in acrylic), toys, spindle turnings
and a large steel truss cut with the plasma cutter.
Young helped plan the weekend event with Bill Palumbo of Bay Craft
Designs in New Jersey and Martha Barbour of ShopBot Tools, Inc. More
than 120 people attended the Jamboree, which featured learning sessions,
discussions and a preview of some of the exciting new tools that ShopBot
is introducing. ShopBot previewed their new Colombo Automatic Tool
Changer with a six-tool rack, as well as their new plasma cutter. Both
of these products are now available. This was also the debut of the new
ShopBot Part Wizard CAD/CAM design software. Shopbotters got to sample
ShopBot’s new Control System software that has just become available and
view a new five-axis CNC tool that is under development.
“ShopBot is unique in that is has a camaraderie among its users who
share information and techniques on using the machines,” said Ted
Hall, president and founder of ShopBot Tools, Inc. “This event was
actually the idea of our users, and ShopBot users who came to the
Jamboree really outdid
themselves in helping each other become more productive and creative with
their CNC tools.”
[See stories and pictures from
all our subsequent Annual Jamborees]
About ShopBot Tools, Inc:
ShopBot Tools, based in Durham, N.C.,
designs and manufactures low-cost, high-value Computer Numerically
Controlled (CNC) cutting systems. ShopBot was founded by CEO Ted Hall,
Ph.D., a Duke University professor of neuroscience, who developed the
tool while building plywood boats as a hobby. After several years of
development, the company began shipping tools in 1996. With 4,000
ShopBots in 54 countries, ShopBot is one of the largest producers of CNC
systems for woodworking and plastics in North America. The company
employs 25 people in the Durham, N.C. area. For more information, visit
www.shopbottools.com.
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