[Gary Salisbury]

I am probably at where many of you started - looking for my 1st CNC router. My problem is that my judgment may be a bit clouded because I have fallen in love with the big Powermatic PM-2X4SPK CNC MACHINE. I can't even look at other CNC routers without feeling guilty.

At first, I hated that Powermatic gold but the lines of the design kept calling to me. I have fallen in love with the heavy-duty welded steel frame, the extruded aluminum table, the beautiful MDF spoil board, the heavy-duty gantry supports are made of gravity cast aluminum, the precision ball screws with recirculating ball bearings, the 3hp liquid cooled electro-spindle, the linear guideways with recirculating ball bearings, the handheld controller, and the high-torque stepper motors.

What I don't love is the $8,500 price tag. I'm afraid there is no hope for me....:grin:

Are there any other Powermatic users here? If so, are you too in love? What are your likes and dislikes?

 

[Gary Salisbury]

One of my customers has the AXIOM AR8 Pro+ and it is a nice machine. I do think they are the same machine. The PowerMatic machine came out after the Axiom so they probably contracted Axiom to produce their machine.

I'm not so sure as you. Kaber Technologies designed the new CNC Router for Powermatic Woodworking Tools. There are a lot of similarities and I am wondering if Kaber could have OEMed parts or the design from AXIOM for Powematic? It is a complicated world we live in today.:grin:

Kaber Technologies

 

[Gary Salisbury]

My CNC: 4D Furniture Thoughts: Advanced Compound Angle CNC Clamping Fixture.
4D

4D, now that is really nice! I wish we lived closer together so I could learn more from you.:smile:

 

[Gary Salisbury]

Certainly looks well built. Gary, are you wanting to keep the size of the machine to a cutting are that small?

The type of woodworking I am doing should work well with a 24"x48" format. If I ever need a larger format CNC router then I can go to my local Makerplace where they have a large format (48"x96") CNC router available for member's use. They even have a CNC embroidery machine!

MakerPlace - Home

 

[Gary Salisbury]

After a lot of research and inquiries sent, I have to say I am not sure: "Who is who in the zoo?" anymore.

The similarities between the AXIOM and the Powermatic are pretty evident but now I notice that the Laguna IQ is starting to like a lot like those two. Does anyone know if they are all the same machine and what the differences are, if any?

I got a quote from Laguna and they will include the VCarve Pro software with their unit which is a good saving. When I asked if they could upgrade that to Aspire, they replied back that they could discount it from $1,999 to $720 and include a 5% discount on the package. If they all are the same machine then Laguna has the best price out the door.