ShopBot Buddy BT48

I received my ShopBot Buddy BT48  on 2/12/2009.  I ordered it with a PowerStick attachment.  This attachment allows you to expand the normal 24” axis of a Buddy up to 4 feet (up to 12' versions are available.)  Here's a video of the Buddy+Powerstick, and some Buddy pictures from ShopBot.

 

The Buddy Arrives!

Below are pictures of me and my friend Chuck getting the machine off the truck, uncrated, and setup in the room attached to my shop.  All done in about 4 hours.

The only difficulty was the getting off the truck part.  I have a mid sized tractor with a loader, onto which I can add forks.  The bucket is rated to lift 2200 lbs, and the forks more.  Of course, the bucket rating  is at the lift point, not out at the end of the forks.  I didn't know what the crate would weigh, but I figured the bucket and forks combo was good for 1100 pounds.  When I saw the size of the crate, I was amazed!  I was able to lift the crate, but just barely.

ShopBot says the machine weighs 800 lbs, plus the crate.  My way bill says 1200 lbs.  A 400 lb crate!

 

Getting the Buddy off the truck

Buddy ArrivesBuddy ArrivesBuddy ArrivesBuddy ArrivesBuddy ArrivesBuddy ArrivesBuddy ArrivesBuddy ArrivesBuddy ArrivesBuddy Arrives 

 

Buddy as setup

Buddy SetupBuddy SetupBuddy Setup

 

My ClearVue Cyclone dust collector with Ridgid shop vac and shop made lid

 Buddy Setup

 

My original CNC machine, a Romaxx HS-1 with a 12" X 18" work area

Romax HS-1

 

The rest of my messy shop

Main shopMain shop

Main shopMain shop

 

First Buddy Projects

I cut my first project on the 14th.  I made a few air cuts on the 12th, then on the 13th I read all the literature and adjusted the few things that needed it.  On the 14th, I cut a few projects I had already cut on the Romaxx. 

Now that my confidence was a smidgen higher, I then cut full size versions of the stools from the Furniture page shown at left.  I have to assemble my PowerStick table, and then I will make the full size chair.

ShopBot StoolStep Stool

Chuck and I put the 4 foot PowerStick on.  The base layer is a 4 X 5 foot layer of 1/2 inch plywood, with a 3/4 inch 4 X 4 foot ply layer glued on top.  The top layer was cut up into 12 inch wide strips, and interspaced with 5, 4 foot long T-Track strips.  The picture below shows them being glued to the lower deck.

 Table setup