3 Shopbots
While I was managing the Digital Fabrication at UNT College of Visual Arts and Design, part of a facilities upgrade involved the installation of three Shopbot PRSAlpha CNC mills. One unit had to be broken down and moved from a previous site, while the other two arrived new in parts.
All three are full-sized tables at 48x96. The legacy machine had been upgraded incrementally over the years and was now a base alpha unit. Of the two brand new tables, one was equipped with a hydraulically assisted spindle for an extended z-axis, while the other had a 4th-axis rotary extension. Both also included the parts necessary for a vacuum hold-down system which had to be hand built.
I am honestly a big fan of Shopbot. They’ve run flawlessly since being installed.
Taking apart the old machine
Legacy unit coming back together in its new home
Legacy unit reassembled and ready for use while new machines are put together
Big box of parts arrives at the art building
Staging
Extended unit partially complete
Space taking shape
Closer yet.
Complete with installation of dust collection for each.