Introduction... yes, another one

[eagle55]

I don't know if this is the appropriate spot to post introductions, but my access was just approved yesterday and my machine was delivered the day before.  I am so excited that like a newbie I want to post something and too blinded by the excitement to find out where it should be posted, so... here it is.

I have a NextWave CNC Shark HD models and have reasonably been a successful user for a little over 9 years.  I selected the Shark at the time and the HD (original) had just come out.  Its on its 5th generation now which had many improvements and updates to make it a "decent" machine.  I did consider getting something a little bit sturdier than the HD5, so I looked at the X-Carve.  I realized early on that although their Pro model that enticed me to look at it appeared to be a better machine than the HD5, they in fact hadn't produced any of them yet and wouldn't have them out until about April of next year.  Problem is they wanted your money now (not a down payment to be on a list, but all $7000 or $8000 of it)  Wasn't at all fond of that and was even less fond of getting into a radically evolved machine that didn't have a track record.... I had already done that with the Shark HD.   I went to the Shark forum to ask if there were anyone that had experience with the X-Carve AND the Shark HD5.  No real response but I did get a private message from BOB (who is now also here on the Axiom forum) who made some constructive comments regarding the comparisons but also tossed in a few thoughts regarding the Axiom lines.  I have known Bob through the Shark forum and have an utmost respect for him and his knowledge, as we were on the Beta testing program together with others, as NextWave evolved their Control Panel 2.0 program.   I wrote back to Bob asking to talk with him on the phone as a now Axiom owner but also demonstrator of the X-Carve and Nextwave products.  I wanted him to either "pull me back from the brink or push me over the edge" and I wasn't against either outcome.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) he didn't get my message for a couple of days so I had to self-destruct all on my own and jump off the edge on my own power.   However, he picked me up a couple of days later and reassured me that my decision was a sound one.  My decision was to buy the AR8 Pro V with stand and tool box.  I was a little hesitant at first on the stand as I knew I had the ability to make a good stand, but then in the 9 years that I had owned the Shark I hadn't done it yet, so I wasn't too confident about trying to do that with the time I had available.  I have to say for anyone else who might be hesitant.... and a frugal as I am at times.... unless you have a special situation and have a perfect place to put it that is rock solid, you are a fool to not buy the stand and tool box combo.  It is a ton of money but I believe it would take a big chunk of the cost for materials and 3 times the remaining cost in labor to design and build one as good.  So, money well spent in my opinion.   Its arrival was to be about a month or two before I would actually have time to put it together, clear out a new home for it and get it in place.  Once I got the stand together and reallized that I was going to have a tough time getting the machine in the shop, I finally decided to expand into the garage with my shop and plan a place that I could roll it into its new home once cleared... which brings me to my first question on the forum.   Would like to hear some experiences on how people went about getting the table up from the floor onto the stand right next to it.  Have considered 4 guys, one on each corner, picking it up and carrying like a coffin to the stand and place it.  A little uneasy with this idea because I can envision one guy faltering and the whole machine heading to the ground.  Also considering buying a Gantry Crane ($600 class) which I have needed for other task out in the shop, and strapping under it and lifing up, rolling the stand into place for mounting.  Any ideas and experiences would be appreciated.

Anyway, hope this is as good a place as any for an introduction.   For those that don't like to read a book, my short version is.......

Hi, My name is Roger, and I'm a CNCaholic

[gerry]

I think your decision to buy the Axiom was a good one. My first CNC was an Xcarve. It was the worst piece of junk I ever owned. I spent more time upgrading it and fixing it than I did using it. That's not counting the money I spent trying to get a reasonable cut out of it. The last straw was making another Paradise Box designed by Michael Tyler. I could NOT get a straight 45 chamfer on the box lid, all due to the flex in the gantry. I finally gave it away. I bought a AR8 Pro+. I've been extremely pleased with it. I keep it clean and maintained, and in return it just runs. It runs repeatably, and accurately. The homing on restart is fantastic. I often restart a project the next day, leaving the project on the spoilboard. I haven't had a problem with restart accuracy.

I also think the extra money on the stand and toolbox are well spent. I wanted to cut, not build another stand. I don't have a single complaint on my stand or toolbox. They just work, and work well. I used my son's engine A-frame hoist to assemble my CNC. He came over to help me assemble. We built the stand, raised the CNC with belts on the hoist, and rolled the stand right under the CNC. We lowered the CNC and bolted it to the stand. Very easy. The stand rolled right to its new home in my garage. If you can't borrow one, they rent for just a few bucks. A palette jack is also helpful if you have to move the palette around.

[redwood]

Probably way too late, but I have had a ARPRO6 for 4 years and I am very happy for my choice. I was a carpentry contractor for 40 years, with a structural engineering degree. I could have built a stand out of wood, but I doubt that it would have been as good as Axiom's stand, just solid. There were 4 of us old guys that lifted it up on to the stand fairly easily.

[zaxis4]

Oct 21, 2020 17:34:41 GMT -5 eagle55 said:

I don't know if this is the appropriate spot to post introductions, but my access was just approved yesterday and my machine was delivered the day before.  I am so excited that like a newbie I want to post something and too blinded by the excitement to find out where it should be posted, so... here it is.

I have a NextWave CNC Shark HD models and have reasonably been a successful user for a little over 9 years.  I selected the Shark at the time and the HD (original) had just come out.  Its on its 5th generation now which had many improvements and updates to make it a "decent" machine.  I did consider getting something a little bit sturdier than the HD5, so I looked at the X-Carve.  I realized early on that although their Pro model that enticed me to look at it appeared to be a better machine than the HD5, they in fact hadn't produced any of them yet and wouldn't have them out until about April of next year.  Problem is they wanted your money now (not a down payment to be on a list, but all $7000 or $8000 of it)  Wasn't at all fond of that and was even less fond of getting into a radically evolved machine that didn't have a track record.... I had already done that with the Shark HD.   I went to the Shark forum to ask if there were anyone that had experience with the X-Carve AND the Shark HD5.  No real response but I did get a private message from BOB (who is now also here on the Axiom forum) who made some constructive comments regarding the comparisons but also tossed in a few thoughts regarding the Axiom lines.  I have known Bob through the Shark forum and have an utmost respect for him and his knowledge, as we were on the Beta testing program together with others, as NextWave evolved their Control Panel 2.0 program.   I wrote back to Bob asking to talk with him on the phone as a now Axiom owner but also demonstrator of the X-Carve and Nextwave products.  I wanted him to either "pull me back from the brink or push me over the edge" and I wasn't against either outcome.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) he didn't get my message for a couple of days so I had to self-destruct all on my own and jump off the edge on my own power.   However, he picked me up a couple of days later and reassured me that my decision was a sound one.  My decision was to buy the AR8 Pro V with stand and tool box.  I was a little hesitant at first on the stand as I knew I had the ability to make a good stand, but then in the 9 years that I had owned the Shark I hadn't done it yet, so I wasn't too confident about trying to do that with the time I had available.  I have to say for anyone else who might be hesitant.... and a frugal as I am at times.... unless you have a special situation and have a perfect place to put it that is rock solid, you are a fool to not buy the stand and tool box combo.  It is a ton of money but I believe it would take a big chunk of the cost for materials and 3 times the remaining cost in labor to design and build one as good.  So, money well spent in my opinion.   Its arrival was to be about a month or two before I would actually have time to put it together, clear out a new home for it and get it in place.  Once I got the stand together and reallized that I was going to have a tough time getting the machine in the shop, I finally decided to expand into the garage with my shop and plan a place that I could roll it into its new home once cleared... which brings me to my first question on the forum.   Would like to hear some experiences on how people went about getting the table up from the floor onto the stand right next to it.  Have considered 4 guys, one on each corner, picking it up and carrying like a coffin to the stand and place it.  A little uneasy with this idea because I can envision one guy faltering and the whole machine heading to the ground.  Also considering buying a Gantry Crane ($600 class) which I have needed for other task out in the shop, and strapping under it and lifing up, rolling the stand into place for mounting.  Any ideas and experiences would be appreciated.

Anyway, hope this is as good a place as any for an introduction.   For those that don't like to read a book, my short version is.......

Hi, My name is Roger, and I'm a CNCaholic

Something I have utilized many times to place machinery in my shop since I am on my own most of the time is a chain hoist. If you are in a garage chances are you have overhead rafters of some sort. Go to harbor freight and buy a chain hoist for $50. Secure a sturdy eye bolt or similar above your stand, sling your CNC with straps. Once you hook up to your hoist you can lift it with one hand to the height that you want it and bolt it on. The chain hoist is quite inexpensive and the mechanical advantage is amazing. Just a thought...........

[pedro]

Hi There, I come at least from the same vendor as you, with my tiny Piranha. And I made the SAME question you did before getting my AR8. But I just jumped into it.

First issue was..the carrier did NOT bring a lift in his truck, not did the truck have a tail lift. SO, we unpacked the monster in the truck, and took stand, toolbox, etc., individually in my shop (that in their boxes). I have one of those dollies form Home Depot that you can place horizontally. That was not so bad. Now, the CNC...we were really concerned we could do it, but we did it. I asked my wife and my 22 yr old Daughter to help. Together with the driver, we could place it softly on the floor. I place a wooden pallet on the dolly (I checked and the labeled said 600lbs...), and then we four lifted it the...what, 12 inches over that pallet..... we pushed it into my shop, and there we left it.

Later that day, I assembled the stand (took me a while since one of the feet had no threads in the holes for the casters), and once assembled I asked my wife, doughter and 19yr old son...to help. So, we put the stand in line, and move the dolly over to align the stand and router. Everyone packed one corner....and we lifted it and moved it over the stand...we placed it here, while everybody was still holding, I took the rubber feeds and bolts and put bolted one feet...then the other and so on. Always someone need to lift it to make room for the rubber feet.

So that's it. 4 grown man are definitively enough, if I was able to do it with wife, daughter and son. I was willing to get or build a hoist if that was not possible, but it was easier than expected.

[pedro]

Nov 6, 2020 15:32:57 GMT -5 zaxis4 said:

Oct 21, 2020 17:34:41 GMT -5 eagle55 said:

Something I have utilized many times to place machinery in my shop since I am on my own most of the time is a chain hoist. If you are in a garage chances are you have overhead rafters of some sort. Go to harbor freight and buy a chain hoist for $50. Secure a sturdy eye bolt or similar above your stand, sling your CNC with straps. Once you hook up to your hoist you can lift it with one hand to the height that you want it and bolt it on. The chain hoist is quite inexpensive and the mechanical advantage is amazing. Just a thought...........

I had the same idea. BIT the rafters in my basement are part of the floor structure. I was not sure if the rafter would take the 300+ pounds, so I was thinking about building a structure of 2x6 or so, like a bridge, and use one of those chain hoist you mentioned.