I’m just about ready to place an order for a Shop Sabre. Dose anybody have any bad stores or good ones about them. I’m needing it to cut 2d patterns in 1 ½ hard wood.

I'd suggest to keep on looking.... :nono:

Critterboards...

What size are you looking for and what is your budget...

Would something like this work... everything including software but no router? Plug-N-Play?

Dave has left the room with a grin...

Dave's
I have a similarly built unit now, it walks in the corners in excess of .020 cant seem to smooth out the corners and it takes way to long because of the turtles pace I have it set at. I’m needing something that has the capability of some serious horse power and a very ridged frame especially the Z axis, and trying to do it for less than 15k including the spindle.

Critterboards
I have one built by ez-router. The machine was only $7900. It is a 5'x5'x7" with a portercable 3.25 hp router motor. It has a very sturdy frame and z axis. I have cut a lot of mdf thermoforming tools(2d and 3d) on this machine that turned out great. It is very fast. I have cut parts as fast as 500 ipm. Also their tech support is very good.

Critterboards
opps! I forgot to post the website.
ez-router.com

Critterboards,
Seriously consider a Shopbot (http://www.shopbottools.com) over a ShopSabre. You get a LOT more tool for your money. You could get a 4X8' machine with a spindle for under $15k. It has great resolution and will cut at over 600 IPM and rapid up to 1800 IPM if you need that type of speed.

Another great part of having a Shopbot is the FREE tech support for the life of your tool AND the user forum (http://www.talkshopbot.com) ~ Check it out!

-Brady

Critterboards...

http://www.glentekcnc.com/WebApplication2/pages/sxseries_main.aspx

Another possibility...

I’ve looked at the ShopBots on line, the only concern is the rack and pinion system and I’ve heard they can be a bear to setup and tune. As for the ShopSaber I have some major concerns because the price they want for the limit switches makes me question everything there doing. I’m trying to get a price from Techno. But haven’t herd from theme yet.

The Shopbot is a bolt together deal. The rack and pinion are already mounted to the rails...and the gantry is pre-assembled. Super-easy install!

Not sure what you are talking about in regarrds to setting up and tuning a R&P...but I've never had to setup or tune mine...and I've been running R&P for over 3yrs now. It's reliable, efficient and self-cleaning.

-Brady

I'll second Brady.

Hey Brady! Long time no see!! :wave: :D

Dave's
Thanks for the link, That Wart Hog is a very nice looking machine and it just so happens they are bringing one to a trade show hear in July. They are talking good deals hear comes complete with a table and computer for under 15K.

I would like to think everybody for there input, I’ve given up on ShopSaber lack of info, narrowed my choosiest to the Wart Hog with table, software, and computer delivered for about 15K. And looks like my favorite is the Techno 3024LC no extras just machine and spindle for 13K + freight. It’s a little smaller but I like there specs. :cool:

I too have been talking to ShopSaber, and it's true that their website is lacking to say the least, but on the phone they have been pretty good, giving me as much information as i needed.

Which machine did you end up buying? How do you like it?

Mathew

I have a shop sabre on order. I was at their shop and the owner that was working along side everyone else talked to me about software and how to set up other things like building my own pedistal. I was there for 3 hours and I feel that they are a very competative router.

I would like to think everybody for there input, I’ve given up on ShopSaber lack of info, narrowed my choosiest to the Wart Hog with table, software, and computer delivered for about 15K. And looks like my favorite is the Techno 3024LC no extras just machine and spindle for 13K + freight. It’s a little smaller but I like there specs. :cool:

Hey all,

I just had a recent bad experience with my first commercial router (none of the brands mentioned here).

Critterboards, I'm looking at that same model and size.

It looks like a precision machine (stress relieved steel frame) and I like the fact they use ballscrews and servos. Not as much bang for the buck, but I've just been down that road and it wasn't for me :( I just hope the gantry is tough :boxing:

I plan on doing ceramic grinding on it. I'll have to isolate all rails and screws with waycovers so I can run lots of coolant and stop the dust from eating the machine alive! I'm going to visit Techno hopefully by the end of the week and I'll let you guys know what I find.

Carlo

I find the info interesting and informative. Already agree to purchase from EzRouter a 4x8 with BobcadCAM and BobART Pro. can anyone give me some ideas. Am I making a good buy?

I have to agree with Darde. I just got back from their shop and was VERY impressed by the owner and his machines. I am placing an order this week for a 4 X 8 machine.
I went to Texas and looked at the E-Z Router. They were VERY nice people, but their machine was lacking in several ways. It had no cable trays, used rack and pinion drives with cog belts and just didn't seem as robust as the Shop Sabre.
However, if price is a REAL consideration, they were about $6,000.00 cheaper than Shop Sabre with the same configuration.
Both Shop Sabre and E-Z Router had professional looking shops and offered great support. That's alot more than I can say about some of the other places that I visited.

I looked at the shop sabre myself but after building it the way I would like it, I was up to almost 30k. After that I started looking and the machines in the 30k range and shop sabre was out the window. www.camtech.ca camtech z-7 looks like the machine I will end up with. I went to the AWFS show in Vegas last year and they had the z7 on display, it is a well built machine and will stand the test of time in my small shop.

The onlthing I am now waiting on is the qoutes from thermwood and multitec. If they can get a smiliar machine in that ball park then I guess I need to start the research all over again.

The nice thing about thermwood is you can get the ecabinets software which is free. It only makes code for the the thermwood routers which sucks but it is pretty robust software. (if cabinets are your thing! :) ) i am a small cabinet/sign shop so not having to buy software is always nice.

... software is free... so don't let that be your decision basis...

I have had it for several years... not the easiest to learn, but you get what you pay for...

... software is free... so don't let that be your decision basis...

I have had it for several years... not the easiest to learn, but you get what you pay for...


I have the software already, it is the router i am missing. Is it true that ecabinets only supplies code for the Thermwood router?

I am thinking I am going to go with the Camtech z-7 or rmii and then buy KCDw for my cabinet work.

I just got back to my hotel from the Shop Sabre facility. Jim (The owner) and I were able to discuss my new machine while he was testing it. It goes through about an hour of setup (connected to the computer that you send to them) and then he runs a 4-hour test on it to make sure that everything is right BEFORE it goes into the crate.
I have to tell you that I am feeling pretty comfortable with my decision to buy from Shop Sabre. I took some pictures if anyone would like to see them. I should have this setup and running in my shop by the end of next week. It will ship tomorrow and take 4 to 5 days to get to the freight terminal in Phoenix.
I just couldn't resist buying the 4th axis unit for it while I was there. I should be able to do most anything that I want with this machine.

Sweet!

Nothing like a confident consumer. Please post the pics.

:cheers:

Carlo

I also ordered a Shop Sabre today. Didn't go for the 750.00 limit switch option though, little on the silly side. Did go for the servo option. The machine is a solid built machine and Jason answered all my questions in a number of phone calls. I was a little concerned with the bolt together models and how they hold thier shape over time without adjusting them. Just have to wait a few weeks to start playing around with the new toy!.

... on posting the pictures!!

Hey I am new to this forum, but I just picked up my shop sabre 4896 last week and am in the process of getting it set up. Looked like a good machine online and looks even better in person. I had talked to a customer who had his machine for two years and had nothing but good things to say about it and the customer support from them.

From start to finish, no biased opinions.

I was in the same boat as all of us looking for a cnc router, only difference being that I needed a plasma table also. I liked the all steel machine and componenets but as most have experienced, their marketing sucks. So I almost ordered a dyna cnc since they have a good plasma bed that has nothing under the table-good for making a water table I had in mind. But I couldnt bring myself to buy a bolt together aluminum machine regardless of them telling me of its anti vibration qualities-again, BS. So I ordered the shop sabre not even knowing if they were a real business. No matter how many times they told me they sell 30 machines a month I still felt like I was going to get a a empty shoebox in the mail at the most. To top it off, the RAMS 3d they include also seems to be made in someones garage.

I held off from writing this review until I actually used the machine. It finally came, over a month late and without the torch height control, which i got charged for, yet they don't even have them really made yet. And here lies the mystery of SHopsabre, if they have sold so many of these things then how are they still figuring things out like how the plasma posts work and who is going to make the THC and why is the manual really wincnc's manual and not theirs? I dont know. I had a few broken parts when it arrived but they were simple things like IGUS carrier and an overpriced limit switch. And on this note, as I have read on here from a few others, how can you charge $750 for limit switches? I got them anyways. I opted out on the $1600 base for the machine since I could make it, and I opted out for the $1500 plasma table that doesnt come with the "plasma" machine. I also chose to order a $75 router bracket off ebay instead of the $750 one from them. To make up for the month delay in shipping and broken parts, they sent me a used warped plasma bed that came with half of the slats required. It took a rosebud torch, 2 forklifts, 32 bolts and a few trips to the metal store to get the table flat enough to actually fit on the machine. I would say this machine is really more intended as a router. Ok enough of the negative, just getting it all out here.

On the plus side, their sales team (Jason) and the owner (Jim) were very very nice people. I spent most of my time talking with Jason, who was helpful but not as knowledgable as Jim on many of the questions I needed answered. It did take some persistance to get the answers I needed, things that should have been included in the manual. But I did get them taken care of. I had to get posts made by Bobcad since Rams doesnt nest and is very limited-yet easy to use. I went with Bobcad and for some reason out of the 250 posts they have, shopsabre is about the only one not on there!!! Why I have NO idea,afterall they sell 30 machines a moth thats at least 360 machines out there. The posts I had made are posted online and they stuck them both up under wincnc router outlet and wincnc plasma.

The machine itself is very well built. Overall I am very pleased with it. I had the biggest challenge trying to figure out how to make it work as both router and plasma. I can send a pic if anyone is curious. My method will require a forklift though. Everything works smoothly and it is very solid, little vibration. I am running a 3 1/4 hp porter cable and have no complaints. I am probably forgetting some things that slipped my ind when writing this review but I am happy with the machine and after all was said and done, it was water under the bridge and I ended up with what I believe to be one of the better low cost cnc routers available. I hope that my experience makes others believe that they are a real company with a great product. Also, i should add-in their defense, that part of the reason the machine was late was because they were in the middle of a move. They need to really add some images and video and spice to their marketing and they could have a much better image. Speaking of image, one more negative comment, the pictures all show an emergency shut-off switch. Yet the machine does not come with one. It does however come with the 2 screws in front to install it and in the manual it says "DO NOT USE THIS MACHINE WITHOUT AN ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY SHUT-OFF SWITCH." So one would think if their pictures all have it and their own manual says that and the screws are there waiting for it that it would be there. I was told I only needed the esc key. But hey, for an additional $150 I could have the same switch that came standard on my chinese drill press! Again, I am a little pissed off at the whole experience but all in all I spent around $20,000 to get a great cnc. This would include the $16,000 for the cnc, the computer, metal for base and extras, router, $1000 for bobcad, $1000 for a machine torch for the plasma, dust collection system, brackets, cables,$2000 for a torch height control (that I still dont have but was charged for) and the misc. things not worth mentioning-like the beer to cool me off after turning down a $2500 first job because the machine was late.

Again, leaving aside my bipolar review, the team and machine are great. Even with my personal experience, I dont think most would actually go through this as I had a rare occurance. I am in the Oakland Ca. area and anyone who would like to come by and see the machine or a video, I would be more than happy to help as I know how much of a gamble it feels like buying soemthing blindly. I also want to help SHopSabre by giving them pics and videos of their own machine running so others can see that their product is much better than the make it appear to be.

hope this helps.