Can we pre order? I don’t mind sending the $$ his way for doing the work to develop the table. Plus I want to be one of the first folks that gets it haha 
As far as I know, no, no preorders. You’re free to contact Derek directly and ask.
I know he ordered sufficient materials to handle a fair number of orders with little or no delay.
YES! The bed replacement and kits are available for for purchase:
Nomad Plate Only
http://www.hightechsystemsllc.com/pt_NomadPlateOnly.html
Nomad Plate with Cam Set
http://www.hightechsystemsllc.com/pt_NomadPlateWithCams.html
The clamps will go up shortly.
I already ordered the “Nomad Plate with Cam Set” plus a few more cams and screws.
mark
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anyone get their plate yet? ordered 10/29 and nothing yet.
I got a ship notification on Monday… they should be in motion as we read and write.
mark
Mine just arrived this morning! I’ll be playing with it tonight, will post pictures soon.
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Did you folks get the hold down clamps? I’m holding off on ordering until those are ready.
My bed just arrived! Now only if I had a Nomad to put it in…
The clamps are deferred for a bit. Derek will offer them separately shortly.
mark
Shipping to Canada is expensive so while I want the bed asap, I’m gonna wait until the clamps are done so I can get them all at once.
Yeah, I wish the clamps were already done too. Derek has a good prototype but he has very, high standards.
He wanta to get the beds and current accessories out first - a few more days - and then he will jump into productizing the clamps.
mark
i ordered clamps. would be nice to hear something about it.
I am getting way ahead of myself here. I just ordered my Nomad last week. After reading this thread, I ordered the plate with the cam set. Nothing like buying accessories for something I do not yet have in my possession.
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I got mine a week ago and have used it a couple of times and have to say it is awesome.
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@shakezoola - You’re getting ahead of yourself? 
I helped get Derek to do the replacement bed, including some of the design tradeoffs, I have my plate and cams sitting on my desk - and I still don’t have my Nomad yet either! 
mark
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touché.
What else should I buy during the waiting period?
What else should I buy during the waiting period?
Machine tools
Dust collector (vacuum)
Dust separator (cyclone)
Stock (e.g. 6061, polycarbonate, wax, hardwood)
LED bars and rings - play with illumination?
Interested in a dust head? There are parts lists available or will be shortly available
G-Wizard software (feeds and speeds)?
GW-Editor (G-code simulator) or equivalent?
CAD program?
Machinery’s Handbook 26th Edition?
CNC Programming Handbook by Smid?
…
mark
Excellent list. Fortunately, I already have several of those items. The reference materials will be handy. I’ll be ordering those shortly.
What machine tools do you recommend?
We have discussed preparing for owning a machine and additional stuff to buy on the ShapeOko side of the house previously:
http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/FAQ#Assembling
Or: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Tools#Additional_Tools_2
I really think experimenting w/ CAD/CAM is the best thing to do — use a machine simulator such as GrblGru: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page#3D_Machine_Simulation
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What machine tools do you recommend?
Check out the “Recommended End Mills” discussion to learn about end mills and how to order them.
For early learning and low frequency machining HSS is fine. They’re cheap and work well… but they dull rather quickly.
Solid carbide, micro grain end mills from a known, quality source. Carbide3D is a known quality source.
Coated end mills - solid carbide, micro grain - last longer, machine faster, produce less heat and offer improved finishes.
AlTiN coating is the best coating for general use. Not for Al use.
TiB2 or ZrN coating for Al use.
2 and 4 flute end mills are the best for general use.
3 flute can be useful; I like them for Al
Single flute end mills - Onsrud - are WONDERFUL for plastics and Al (63-604)
There are many quality sources. I use Niagara, Garr, Harvey Tool, Kodiak. YMMV.
I’m going to be experimenting with a special purpose spoiler board prep tool, an Amana 2243. I use large relatives of this tool for clearing spoiler boards on large CNC machines. If this works as well I think it can, preparing spoiler boards will be much faster.
The Nomad doesn’t have enough HP to even consider a face mill… but it should be able to run a small fly cutter. There is a source for unsharpened, miniature face mills. I would like to see if the Nomad can use them effectively. If so, beautiful surface finishes become possible.
Sharpening a face mill is a pretty advanced subject. I’m shopping around to see if I can find a shop that will do it at a reasonable price. To date, I have not found one.
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