Production Machines and Software

Computer-Numerically-Controlled Routers

We use ShopBot PRSalpha CNC routers. These are is heavily used and proven professional CNC routers. With rapid transit speeds of 1,500 inches per minute and cutting speeds of up to 600 inches per minute, PRSalpha CNC tools provide full production performance with ShopBot's ease of use and configurability. Where production speed is important, a PRSalpha provides it. These ShopBot CNCs utilize the advanced technology of Vexta alphaStep motors, hybrids with the quick motion and speed advantages of stepper motors and the feedback advantages of servos - providing high-performance CNC cutting, drilling, carving and machining. Art SignWorks has six CNC routers:(1) a 5x10 ft Table PRS alpha CNC Router with an Automatic Tool Changer (ATC),(2) a 5 x 12 ft Table PRS alpha CNC Router with an Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) and a High Gantry; , (3) two 5 x 8 ft PRS Alphas, (4) a 4x4 ft PRS Alpha for 3D plaques, and (5) an 5 x 8 ft Table Industrial CNC Router

Sand Blast Equipment

We use a large enclosed sandblast booth to sandblast some background areas of a sign or plaque (in a wood grain, sandstone, or leatherette texture. The aluminum boot, shown at right in the photo, is 18 ft long and 8 ft wide, large enough for our biggest signs. Since it enclosed, the employee doing the blasting must wear a suit and breathe outside air through a special mask. we always carve the letters and artwork in the routers first, allowing a minimal amount of material to be removed by sandblasting. carving with a CNC router is much more precise than sandblasting alone. The blaster is powered by a very large turbo-compressor allow large signs to be blasted quickly. We actually do not use sand, but use a special abrasive which is collected after blasting and reused.

Paint Spray Booth

We use a 15 ft wide paint spray booth to spray primer,background color Matthews paints, MinWAX stains, metal-plating binders, and clear-coats Our paint spray booth is located in a separate shop maintained as a clean, and is completely closed off from the other shops, . It has filters to collect over-spray and an updraft ventilation system that pushes the air through a large pipe that exits the roof. We have two stations with sprayers that are powered by a large 45 KW turbo-compressor. This large spray booth enables very even painting, wood staining, or metal-plating of surfaces, with no runs or drips. Our paint sprayers use masks and other safety equipment. After the signs & plaques are sprayed, the signs go into a heated drying room.

Adobe Illustrator Vector Drawing Software

Art Sign Works uses Adobe illustrator Creative Cloud (newer version than CS6) to develop all our 2D and 2,5D sign and plaque designs.. We use it to prepare sign designs, customer proofs, and as an input into our CADAM (computer aide Design and Manufacturing) software, which drives our CNC routers, vinyl cutters, engraver, and waterjet cutter. We use it as an interface and input to ASPIRE., our 2.5-D and 3-D modeling software. We can create distinctive designs for any project using Illustrator., This software provides precision, power, accuracy, and great flexibility.

Aspire 3D Modeling Software

Aspire is a 3-D- relief modeling and machining software for CNC routing and engraving projects such as carving decorative ornate panels and dimensional signage, bespoke company logos, and custom gifts and awards. Aspire's unique 3-D component construction tools make it easy to work with existing 3-D models and to design your own 3-D shapes. Aspire is based on the world class VCarve Pro design and tool path engine and uses the same logical and easy-to-use interface.
With Aspire, users can quickly and easily convert 2D sketches, photographs, drawings and graphic designs into unique high quality 3D carvings and designs. ArtSignWorks uses Aspire for 3-D and 2-5D modelling and routing.

3D and 2.5D Geometric Digital Art Models

Shown on the right is an example of a 3-D geometric model for CNC routing and carving of artwotk. Art Sign Works has extensive reusable digital files, over 15,000 items, including both commercial off-the-shelf (click on the eagle picture to see one of our several sources for commercial standard 3-D digital geometric models) and custom 3D and 2.5D artwork that we have developed ourselves. This can reduce the time and cost to design a new custom sign if we can reuse an existing file, which can be scaled to any size and carving depth. We continue to develop new 3-D and 2.5-D artwork for custom signs & plaques we have not made before.