Every once in a while, I come across a tool that makes my jaw drop. The Yeti SmartBench, $5,995, is a great example. It’s a portable CNC that’s capable of cutting 4’ x 8’ sheets. What looks like an aluminum sawhorse or scaffold is a fully operational, small footprint, portable CNC router.
Broken down, the SmartBench components can be handled by one person. According to the folks at Yeti Tool, the SmartBench can be assembled and ready to run in three minutes.
Here’s how it works. The spoilboard and the board you’re cutting are put on the bench, and the beam or gantry sandwiches your material top and bottom. The sandwich includes bearings in the top and bottom beam components, which allow the beam to roll across your work. The result is that the beam and Z axis are always operating relative to the top face of your work.
Understanding How This Works
I know that (especially compared to conventional CNC routers) this is a difficult concept to wrap your brain around. To really get a good understanding of how this system works you should look at the videos Yeti Tools has on the SmartBench website.
Where Does This Tool Fit In?
If the SmartBench does everything it promises, it offers a lot of great benefits. A typical CNC router capable of accepting 4’ x 8’ panels could have a footprint as large as 5’ x 9’, or bigger. Rolling the beam into the equation the footprint of the SmartBench is 5’5” x 9’, but only while you’re using it. Because it breaks down, you can get it out of your way when you’re not using it. If you’re in a small shop space you can pull the SmartBench out when you need it and lean it against a wall when you don’t.
Who would have imagined a job site CNC? Well, I guess Yeti Tool would have. The SmartBench can be easily loaded into a truck and taken on site. What a great way to produce specialized parts (case work, trim…) without running back and forth to a shop.
Specs
- Capacity: 6” x 48.7” x 97.24”
- X and Y axis: Rack and pinion
- Z axis: Lead screw
- Max travel speed: 236” per minute
- Spindle rpm: 5,000-29,000
- Spindle collet: 10 mm max
- Power: 230V or 110V, 1400 watts
Sources
For more information visit www.yetismartbench.com/
please send info on Yeti smart bench. Thanks!
Hello Irwin,
Thank you for contacting us. Here’s the link for the website: https://www.yetismartbench.com/
Please let us know if you have any further questions
Sincerely,
Sarah
Wood Workers Guild of America Video Membership
I like this yeti smart bench.
I would like to read more about the pros and cons of this machine .
It sounds like a real breakthrough for the price point .
George, I have several additional videos on my website at http://www.YetiSmartBench.com/gallery —- and more that I have not posted but can send you a private link (because of logos or NDA’s etc…). I do a ton of different types of projects and can answer most questions you may have. Also, if you’ll hit the CONTACT tab on the site at yetismartbench.com/contact it will help me know more about how you guys may be wanting to use the SmartBench. I’d be happy to help you with anything you need. Thanks in advance.
I’d love to get my hands on one and check it out. If I do, you’ll read about it on this site.
George,
For years I have enjoyed your videos on YouTube. Thanks for doing them.
I just purchased the top of the line Yeti Smartbench Precision Pro from Eric Schiller at Yeti Tool Southeast in Birmingham, AL. Eric is a great guy and very knowledgeable on CNC and especially the Yeti Smartbench. I will be picking it up May 17th, 2021. I stopped by there last year and watched Eric run the machine and was so impressed that I knew I wanted it. I have an extremely small shop and this fits the bill perfectly. I watched Eric create a sign for me (I still have) and the speed it cut it was impressive. Mine comes with the new 1kw spindle and the x y laser alignment datum. All in all, a remarkable achievement in reimagining large format CNC.
Johnny Maniscalco
Memphis, TN
Is there a dealer on Long Island NY or someone own on on L.I.
The best I can do for now is direct you to their website http://www.yetismartbench.com/ Their customer service might be able to point you in a dealer direction.
John, If you will go to http://www.YetiSmartBench.com/contacts — and fill in the contact information, I will get with you and give you the contact information of a machine owner that is fairly local to you. Thanks in advance.
Assume, when you get it to a price that I, as a weekend hobbyist, is willing to pay, call me.
Kenneth,
Unfortunately this type of technology is not cheap and the machine is well built. It is unlike the Shapeoko, X Carve, Carvewright, etc. out in the field. None of those are easily portable. This is. I am above poor, but not by much. I bought my Yeti Smartbench Precision Pro to be picked up May 17th from Yeti Tool Southeast in Birmingham, AL. from Eric Schiller. Great guy and will to help anyone in any way he can. I have 2 Carvewright CNCs that I am selling. If you are in the Memphis, TN area look me up. These do a good job for a small CNC at a price half of the others on the market. They all cost about the same new; in the 2000.00 range. I will be selling each machine for 600.00 with upgrades.
Johnny
I am teaching youth short introductory segments to many trades. CNC use to cutting flat alum. for aircraft fabrication and shallow alum. stamping dies. Formally Kitty Hawk Academy – part of War Birds of Glory.