Buy a router or a wall cutting system??

[Banners Signs Etc.]

We've been looking into buying either a router or some kind of panel cutting system for a while now. We need a good way to cut down everything from yard signs, to pvc, to aluminum and composites.

I've been leaning towards something like a keencut or sawtrax...but for a little/much more we could get a router that supposedly could do all the things a panel cutter can do and more...

Unfortunately I don't know a whole lot about routers other than they look fun and exciting and the imagination runs wild....Am I correct to assume that routers do all these finishing tasks as well as cool dimensional stuff?

Right now we are running lots of 4x8s off our flatbed and my wrist may give out soon if there is not a solution...We are using the paper chopper whenever we can...but I'm bound to make the paper cutting people mad. And I would rather not have to righteously explain to them that my cuts are far more valuable than their business cards....

Thanks in advance, you guys always know what to do...

 

[artbot]

a track saw may be the thing as well and cost a lot less. you could stack coro about 6 to 10 high and cut them all at once for instance. routers are cool. but need file prep, they are loud, and they are messy, and expensive. i have a cnc one but don't use it often. the track saw gets daily use.

 

[Banners Signs Etc.]

Yeah, the file prep part seems to be the biggest unknown for me..For instance , I'm guessing we would need to put reg marks (+pay for that feature) on all our printed boards..so the workflow would be to put the files into whatever program sets up for the cnc and then send that on to Onyx...

A lot of unknowns with a router, much easier to comprehend a circular saw that goes up and down. But what about the cnc magic! The awesome deck chairs and trout bookends I could make... (also dimensional/custom cut signs lol)

 

[4R Graphics]

Routers are very cool and fun BUT for one offs of digital printed stuff or even 5 or so print cuts on rigid board a CNC router is not the way to go.

If most is strsight cuts try a wall mount cut system or (my favorite) a panel saw can do almost anything a table saw can do except dados.

Most panel saws have the ability to remove the saw and add a router so you can get dados and specialty edge cuts.


CNC's are fun and yes you can make really cool stuff but then you are venturing into a new world and products (and didnt really fix the main problem).

Checkout the vectric website http://www.vectric.com/ you can learn alot about cnc stuff there to get an idea of whats involved in cutting something on a cnc (they have great software that is very powerful and exceptionally affordable).

I believe that there are some other cnc's out there that are probablly easier to use than the standard 3d wood shop type routers (which is what most of us run) such as the zund systems but they are VERY expensive.

 

[JERHEMI]

What track saws do you guys recommend?

 

[artbot]

i have a festool ts75 but i think if i were to purchase again, i might go dewalt. the dewalt can cut from either side of the track, and i think the blade options are better. the festool is crazy well built the only tools i have that are as well built are my flex brand tools.

 

[Letterbox Mike]

Love our Festool track saw. I do agree it's got a fairly limited blade selection (or rather the selection is extremely expensive). But it cuts soooo nice.

 

[artbot]

i've seen two or so other blade manufacturers adopt the festool size. i really like to just be able to pick from the "world of blades". or how about just drop by a home depot and buy a blade???

 

[Salmoneye]

I use a cordless DeWalt tracksaw and it is one of those tools that I would replace the second that something happened to is without thinking twice. Light, portable, super accurate, powerful, nice features...

 

[artbot]

bosch has recently got in the game as well. not sure how it stacks up. i'd think the cordless dewalt tracksaw would be the best version of a tracksaw. the cord is something to manage. because of the nature of a tracksaw, the cord ends up being pulled over the backside of the track, or needs to be tossed over a side. tracksaws can really speed up work flow. so the less you have to figure out pre-cut the faster you could move from cut to cut.

http://toolguyd.com/bosch-plunge-saw-optimized-for-use-with-guide-rails/

this will be my next upgrade to my festool. having a parallel guide would make repeating cuts really quick and give the saw a few "table saw" features.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqA9edtoSCs

 

[SignMeUpGraphics]

I'm getting delivery of a Keencut Steeltrak on Tues/Wed this coming week.
I'll let you know how it goes. Our primary materials are dibond/alupanel and corflute.

 

[Locals Find!]

I don't normally comment on these posts. Cause usually I have nothing to share. However, a merchant member caught my eye the other day and I think he would be helpful in your situation.

Here is the info I snagged off his signature.

LIMAC CNC Router, knife cutter, digital flatbed cutting machine, print-and-cut machine, laser engraver, plasma cutter from China
www.limac.cc