ShopBot Buddy 48 CNC Router
ShopBot Tools
Best for: Small businesses and makerspaces that want a proven, supported CNC brand with a long track record
Typical starting price
$5,500Editorial baseline for this machine
Overall score
Best current buying path
Where to buy
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- Shipping varies by retailer
- Check manufacturer site for availability
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Quick verdict
The Buddy 48 combines a stationary extruded-aluminum gantry with a moving PowerStick table. Its specification table gives 25 x 49 inches of cutting/movement area and 8 inches of Z travel. Y and Z use linear bearings, while the table's X axis uses V-bearings on hardened rails; rack-and-pinion drives move the axes. The documented package includes VCarve Pro and ShopBot control software. Check the actual router or spindle, table configuration and surrounding clearance before buying. Current new-machine availability needs confirmation because the old sales page is no longer available.
Who this fits best
Small businesses and makerspaces that want a proven, supported CNC brand with a long track record
Where it wins
- ShopBot is an established, respected brand with decades of history
- VCarve Pro and ShopBot control software are included in the documented package
- Excellent customer support with phone and in-person training
- Large community of professional users and makers
- Robust enough for small production runs
Where it falls short
- Expensive for a 2x4 foot work area
- Moving-table operation needs clearance in front of and behind the machine
- Third-party CAM needs a suitable ShopBot postprocessor
- Rack-and-pinion drive on all axes rather than ball screws
- Heavy and requires dedicated shop space
Specifications
635 × 1245 mm
7906 cm²
2400W
Router or spindle depends on the purchased configuration; confirm the supplied cutting head
115 kg
$5,500
premium
Full specification table
Relative to database
Benchmark Scores
Overall Score
Composite across 5 dimensions