DIY panel saw?

[Nacimroc]

So, I've seen the CNC machines but its a big cost and a lot of time. The saw boards are great and all, but I just figured a few people on here must have built their own panel saw like you see in the big DIY stores? Something like the one below.

[CoryBee]

Oh my. I have always wanted one of those

[Nacimroc]

It's got to be fairly cheap to make and stands up on wall at side of the garage so very handy for storage and cutting. I would love to build one with linear bearings running horizontally so that you move the saw left or right to the cut line instead of the board itself. $150-$200 all in for parts and a few hours to build? Stick a few cheap laser lights on it to give you guide lines and away you go.

[CoryBee]

The one at my local Home Depot is able to cut along both axis. Up, down & Left, right.

[TopJimmyCooks]

I would build one if I broke down plywood panels every day.  for occasional use, build a sacrificial plywood cutting table and use with a regular circular saw and a straightedge guide/sawboard. 

[kahlid74]

TopJimmy is pretty spot on there.  For me, I'm building a CNC machine but I also decided I wanted a panel saw and I got lucky.  A good friends dad works for Milwaukee Tool Company so I got a brand new panel saw for $300 with all the bells and whistles.

There's also a guy who will sell you kits to build your own:
http://panelsawsrus.com/products/

The only thing I'm concerned about when building your own would be to make sure all of your measurements are off and that there is no drift/wobble when the saw is on.

[Nacimroc]

All the ones I seen to buy were $1500+. That DIY one is fine, but for $300 and having to build most of it yourself anyway, I reckon you could build a much much better one. With a guide rail at top and bottom for the whole thing to move left/right to the line before cutting. This would allow you to cut sideways also without moving the sheet. Similar to a CNC.

I just figured there would be a few plans/projects done where people tried it.

[BobA]

Here is a site with downloadable plans.  Looks like a real heavy duty unit.  Uses a motor and belts not a separate circular saw.

http://woodgears.ca/reader/hector/panelsaw.html

[Nacimroc]

His one is very nice and well built. This guys was exactly what I had in mind. Looks cheap ish to build (not including the Festool  ) and does everything I would want. Skip to 4:48 for vertical cuts and switching cuts. (Would have to upgrade the way he measures and lines up the tool )

http://youtu.be/BAVJLgF9ejg?t=4m46s