ShopBot, a manufacturer of CNC routing machines, has selected a Bishop-Wisecarver linear motion solution for the PowerStick feature of its second generation “Buddy”.

For years, ShopBot has used Bishop-Wisecarver’s signature DualVee® - based products in its machines, due to DualVee’s ability to operate in environments that are routinely covered in wood chips and sawdust.

So when Gordon Bergfors, Engineering Manager at ShopBot began to design the next generation of the compact “Buddy” CNC, it’s no surprise ShopBot called Bishop-Wisecarver to discuss the requirements.

A major objective was to reduce assembly time and cost. The existing method took about two hours to assemble, and required skilled labor. But they needed to achieve this objective without compromising rigidity, load capacity, or the ability to withstand the harsh environment in which the machines operate.

“We enjoy a great relationship with Bishop-Wisecarver, and they were our first choice to work with”, says Ted Hall, CEO of ShopBot.  “They didn’t have an off-the-shelf solution to offer, but asked for a couple of days to brainstorm and design. I was amazed, when two days later I had a proof of concept sample in my hands. Seeing people jump in and get their hands dirty to produce something new is an example we resonate with and it is exciting”

In fact, the two companies share many synergies. Both were founded by inventors with a passion to solve problems for their customers, and both remain family owned and managed. They both offer products that inspire creativity by their customers.

“Like ShopBot, Bishop-Wisecarver has focused on innovation, ease of use, and value to the customer since our beginning,” says Pamela Kan, President of Bishop-Wisecarver. “It is refreshing to partner with another company with the same customer-centric values and enthusiasm for inventiveness.”

Two weeks following the proof of concept sample, a functional prototype was delivered to ShopBot. The custom solution features Bishop-Wisecarver’s new QuickTrak® clamp extrusion, which requires no drilling or fasteners, reducing assembly time to just minutes, and significantly increasing production capacity, according to ShopBot. More importantly, it integrates Bishop-Wisecarver’s DualVee track, a technology already proven excellent in the tough conditions created by a CNC machine.

The ShopBot Buddy with PowerStick is one of 20 entries chosen, from a field of over 125, as a finalist for the IWF 2008 Challengers Award®. The Challengers Award is widely recognized as the woodworking industry’s highest honor. Final judging will take place at IWF 2008 in Atlanta, August 20-23. The Buddy with PowerStick will also be featured in ShopBot’s Buddy booth, #8436, as well as ShopBot’s main booth, #8649.

“We are very excited about this new format for CNC woodworking,” says Ted Hall, ShopBot president. “Buddy is a completely modular robotic tool that can be rapidly configured to the cutting or machining job at hand. With a high-performance motion system and powerful, user-friendly software, we believe we’re giving our customer the best tool for the price.”

“The ShopBot design has certainly influenced the direction of our product development efforts,” says Nigel Watson, Engineering Manager at Bishop-Wisecarver. “With the strong trends toward cost reductions and improved performance, this product focuses on our customers’ ever increasing need for greater value.”


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