Needing Input on a CNC router purchase

[gators]

Hello all,
I work in the biomedical engineering dept. of a children's cancer hospital. I am looking at buying a cnc router to do various shapes and sizes. We work with mainly plexiglas and other plastics. The machine won't be ran 24/7 so I don't need a high end model; just really looking for a good machine with some bells and whistles. I would like to hear about everyones experiences and get their input on which model to look at purchasing.

Thanks,
James

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[ger21]

What size machine are you looking for, and what is your budget?

[gators]

I have the room for a 4'x8' but I honestly think a 4'x4' would serve us well. The budget part is the tricky part. I work for a cancer hospital and we work off donations so we have to be really smart and be able to justify this piece of equipment to spend donor dollars.

[Dennis Rech]

Hello all,
I would like to hear about everyones experiences and get their input on which model to look at purchasing.

Hi James,
You may want to take a look at what ShopBot has.
I have a 48 inch Buddy with a 4 foot powerstick (although the 2ft x 4 ft table is satisfactory 95% of the time) that has spent a lot of time cutting plexi, mdf and hardwoods.
Never a problem of any sort.
It comes with SBs version of Vectric V-Carve that is one of the nicest, friendliest CNC drawing and machining programs ever.
Figure about $10k for the basic works.
In a hospital you can probably pay for the machine just in signs.
I added a Delta 1 micron dust collector ($400) and can cut mdf without even sweeping up around the machine.
Nice thing about the Buddy is that it can be ordered with castors and rolled out of the way when not in use. Everything fits in a 8x8 foot space.
ShopBot also makes bed type machines if space is not that much of a factor.
If you are only cutting small acrylic, you may want to look at a small laser for about the same money. Make sure that you can vent it however. Lasers cutting plastic stink.
Routers and lasers really compliment each other.