Bench Top Machines

[Bob Steele]

We found a great portable bandsaw that was a big hit at the Pacific NorthWest and the Las Vegas regionals...and at CMP too...

Here is the reference: http://www.mytoolstore.com/stout/stondex.html

We have the saw and cutting station and it is extremely nice and works well cutting nearly anything. We made keys in seconds for several teams at LV and because of the angle of the blade it can cut a fairly wide swath.

It really is an amazing piece of equipment and the batteries last quite a long time. We cut everything from aluminum plate to steel rods for axles with it..
Its not real cheap but it is easily transportable and provides a nice platform to cut things on.

Take a look ... a word of warning though... if you get one and take it to a regional EVERYONE will want to use it...
We liked that feature....

I have purchased Grizzly bench top equipment for my robotics lab.
A mini-lathe... http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2007/Main/519
a bench top drill press. http://www.grizzly.com/products/G7943..
and a bench top bandsaw... http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2007/Main/80


All of these pieces are very nice and take a lot of abuse...They have their limitations but do quite well in the classroom and for smaller parts for the robot...

I hope this helps a little bit