|
|
|
Signmaking
|
|
|
Lincoln
Logs ...
J.D. Isles writes
about happenings in his sign shop. He shares techniques and
his thoughts about the sign business, CNC and software.
J.D.'s Lincoln Sign Company is in Lincoln NH, where he
builds signs between runs down the ski slopes.
[Go to J.D.'s Lincoln Logs] |
|
|
Visit
ShopBot FOR FREE at
ISA
International Sign Expo 2010!

Set Your
Sights on ISA International Sign Expo 2010, compliments
of ShopBot.
We'll have
our PRSalpha BT32 Buddy on display, and ShopBot staff and
sign-industry experts will be available by to answer all of your
questions. Be sure to visit us in Booth #1890.
We're looking
out for you and your sign business. Join us in Orlando, FL,
April 8-10, 2010, where 18,000 sign industry professionals will
gather at the ISA International Sign Expo. You'll find
everything you need to succeed and you won't want to miss a
thing including:
The latest
in sign industry machinery, materials and methods!
ISA's New
Product Showcase, Green Product Showcase and a packed exhibit
hall.
Expert
Education
The ISA International Sign Academy offers more than
60 education sessions. Register early for the JumpStart,
WorkSmart or Genius packages and reserve your seat for the
sessions of your choice!
Exciting
Networking Events
Mix and
mingle with friends and colleagues at the Custom/National
Networking Event, the Keynote Luncheon, the Global Sign Forum,
the SSSC/ISA Golf Tournament and many others.
As a valued
ShopBotter or soon-to-be ShopBotter, were inviting you to
attend ISA International Sign Expo 2010 for FREE!
Register for
FREE today by clicking
HERE and using the special discount code BOT.
For more
show information, visit
www.signexpo.org.
The largest
sign show in the world never fails to make you look! See you in
Orlando. |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|

|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
CNC in the Sign Shop
ShopBot CNCs are used in sign making for 3D carving, V-bit carving,
profile contouring, fluting and engraving - in wood, foam, plastic
and aluminum. Sign makers can now take full advantage of the CNC
process by cutting their own channel letter components, frames,
posts and borders in-house.
Going 3D
A CNC router has become the tool of choice for sign makers moving
beyond printers and vinyl cutters. These tools, linked to sign
design software, have become the central component of many shops,
small and large. ShopBot has led the way in making CNC affordable
for small shops, and the ease of integration of our tools into your
design and production operations is unequaled.
Full 3D cutting capabilities allow cutting and machining of
practically anything, allowing your company to offer a distinctive
look not possible with conventional sandblasted designs.
Furthermore, if you do create sandblasted signs, you can cut the
sign blank & lightly engrave the sign surface for easy alignment of
your masking material using the same vector artwork used to cut the
mask.
[Click here to learn about
adding 3D carving to your CNC Sign Work.]
Sign making Software
A CNC router also allows you to create your own prismatic and
isoformed letters, giving you complete control over lead times and
the design process. Sign makers are no longer limited in the scale of
their signs by the mechanical limits of their CNC. A number of
CAD/CAM packages are now available that let you panel or slice any
2D or 3D project into manageable components that can be machined
with a few clicks of the mouse. Advanced nesting capabilities also
help you to save on material waste and boost profits.
Some of the sign makers using ShopBots
 |
Blue Ridge Fabrication, Larry & Jessica Holbrook -
Jasper, GA
www.blueridgefabrication.com, Nationwide Providers of
Custom CNC Routed & Sandblasted HDU Signs. |
 |
Salt Water Workshop, Jim Shula - Buxton, ME
www.SaltWaterWorkshop.com, Designs and cuts carved signs
and CNC-routed parts for businesses and individuals in Maine and
beyond. |
 |
Balch Signs, The Balches - Malta, NY
www.balchsigns.com,
Dimensional and carved
signage, decals, shirts and banners. |
 |
Lincoln Sign Company, J.D. Iles - Lincoln, NH
www.lincolnsign.com, Wooden Carved, Dimensional &
Sandblasted Signs for all of New England and Beyond |
 |
SignsAlive.net, Mark Di Saverio - Titusville, FL
www.signsalive.net,
Custom carved dimensional wood and high-density urethane foam
signage and also engraving on plastic and metal |
 |
Norman Sign Company, Joe Crumley - Norman, OK
www.normansignco.com, Quality Signage |
 |
Express Sign Works, Andy Newcomb - Indian Trail, NC
5803 West Highway 74, 28079, Sign shop that has just added CNC
cutting to sign making capabilities |
 |
West Coast Sign Company,
Erik Gastelum - San Diego, CA
www.westcoastsignco.com, Specialists in Electric Signs
and Banners |
| |
Please
contact us if you would like to be added to this page |
A Recommended Sign making System
Hardware:
A
PRSalpha 96-60 (standard 4x8 sheet size) works well for most sign shops. Because
a lot of sign cutting is usually in foam, there is usually not a need for a spindle
in terms of power - a router is adequate. However,
depending on how much of the day the ShopBot will be running and how
many workers will be in the environment, a spindle may be preferable
because it is considerably quieter than a router (see
router vs spindle). So, we've put a 2.25hp
spindle in our recommended sign package. The second question a
sign maker faces is the hold-down system. If most work will be
carving the surface and not cutting pieces out, then simple fixturing, perhaps with vacuum from a shop vacuum or venturi vacuum,
will probably be all that is needed. If cutting out a variety of
shapes of pieces is anticipated, then the option of a universal
vacuum hold-down system should be considered.
Software:
You can make high quality signs with the
PartWorks software that is
included with your ShopBot. This software will V-carve any font as
well as arbitrary shapes in the way that professional sign
production requires. Our software does not include 3D modeling
tools, but does allow importing 3-D carvings into a sign project. If
in addition to these capabilities, you need to do complex nesting of
parts in large project, we recommend
ArtCAM Insignia.
For doing your own modeling for 3D carving,
Delcam's ArtCAM Pro
and
Vectric's Aspire are software packages of choice to add to your CNC tool package.
We also recommend one of the two
Vector Mega Art collections as a great source
of line-drawn clip art that has clean vectors, ready for use in CNC
cutting. [See Software
Page][See Software Comparison Table]
|
Complete Sign maker's System:

●
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
●
2.2hp Spindle
(priced as 230v, 3phase, HSD)
●
Starter Bit Kit (8 useful cutters to get you
started; for spindle or router)
●
Vector Mega ClipArt Collection
(thousands of clean clips to enhance signs; 1 of 3 vols)
Sign System Price =
$21,134
Upgrade to a
4hp
Spindle (priced as 230v, 3phase, HSD); add $400
ArtCam Insignia
Software; add $3,000
ArtCam Pro
Software; add $7,500
Aspire Software; add $1,445
16.9hp Vacuum
Hold-down system (priced as 230v 3-phase, regen blower); add
$6,495
1.5hp Delta Dust
Collector; add $1,200
[If you're on a real
budget,
read 'Reducing Costs of
your CNC system']
[Click here for a detailed,
printable, PDF version of ShopBot's current price list] |
ShopBot Resources for Woodworkers
Talk ShopBot Forum
ShopBot CNC Resource Links
Web Resources for Woodworkers
SignWeb
SignSearch
Business Resources for Woodworkers
Sign & Digital Graphics:
http://wwwsignbusinessmag.com
Sign Builder Illustrated:
http://www.signshop.com
Signs Canada: http://www.signscanada.com/
Signs Now:
http://www.signsnow.com
Signs of the Times:
http://www.stmediagroup.com
SignCraft Magazine:
http://www.signcraft.com
Please
contact us if you would like to be added to this page
 |