Cnc machines

[Dragonkort]

ok,  i think iv mentioned before that i am thinking of buying a cnc machine.... spike knowing i want to do this has been doing searches on them,  the prices hes been finding on them is like about $5000 dollars.... is this the normal price on these things?  and is there a spical cnc machine for wood working?   and  is there a web sight that any of you know is safe to buy one?  it will take me awhile to save up for one but the more information we can find on them would be real helpful.   might take me a few years to save up enough money but thats ok,  i have more time then money anyway lol and im used to saving up for the thigs i want.   sure i could use my credit card to buy one , but most of the time i perfer to just save up for what i want and then just pay for it.  any and all help and infomation on this is defently needed so i can show spike and he can research to make sure i get a good machine and a good deal when if i eventuly  do have enough money to buy one... and like asides from the cnc machine do you have to buy other things to go with it?   

[WayneMahler]

Saving up for one will give you time to research them. Different machines offer different pros and cons . I don't have one but there are some here that do and maybe will chime in on this. Maybe make a sheet of the make / Model then list pros and cons according to the way you intend to use it. Reading reviews and articles will help too. I know there are a bunch of them listed on Amazon , so maybe a starting point to get info ? Best of luck in saving and getting your next toy  

[fredfret]

There are units for sale under $500. I've seen several topics here about them,  iguanadon scott has one but I don't know what it cost or the make, model. 

[kmmcrafts]

First off, I guess my question to you is.. What do you intend to make, and how large of one do you think you'll need? 

I bought a Nextwave Shark HD4 ( right before they came out with the better more ridged HD5 Grrrr, LOL) with water cooled spindle.. Also take in account that you'll need a computer to run it.. and many do not come with the router / spindle.. that is extra cost.. I believe I gave about $4500 for mine but it was on a big holiday sale special.. what I got would have been close to $7000 with all the upgrades and goodies ( router bits etc) I bought with it.. My total cost for everything was like $5500 if i remember correctly.. Nextwave has a small one that runs off the same stuff as the big one.. just a smaller work area and less shop space.. I think it's priced at about $1800?? been a couple years so I'm not sure the price is correct..

There are cheaper models and much higher priced ones as well.. just make sure when you buy.. that the software etc comes with it.. some come with a trial software but once the trial is up you might be looking at a few hundred+ to continue to use the thing.. ( I don't think that's right but... ) 

I went with Nextwave because the dealer is right in my local lumber supply store where I get my scroll saw wood etc.. and they'll support any issues.. offer some classes etc etc.. so any issues I might have they'll work them through with me.. Also a big plus for me is.. It's made in the USA   I know know all the electronics etc isn't 100% made here but I'm supporting the USA company as best i can.. LOL

Grizzly.com is a Nextwave dealer.. you can order online.. Also woodcraft is a dealer.. I'm not sure on the other brands and models..

 

Now... These machines have many attachments to make the purchase more interesting.. You can get a laser head unit and mount it in the router.. now instead of a carving machine it's a wood engraving machine.. also have 3D printer attachments to do 3D printing on the same machine.. There are rotary machines to put on it and you can digitally turn like a lathe or laser burn around a round surface ( coffee mugs is a popular thing, LOL )  A lot you can do on them..   

Look up Mark Lindey on YouTube.. he shows how to use the Vectric software.. and some of the other softwares they use.. Nextwave comes with Vectric and there are some videos on their site as well..

I will say this... If you like a somewhat quiet woodshop.. do yourself a favor and buy the water cooled spindle instead of a router.. The spindle is made to last. I see guys on the CNC sites burning up a router every 5-6 months.. they aren't made to run constant like the spindle is.. some projects might take several hours to carve... and the loud router running in the shop for several hours is not good... 

 https://www.vectric.com/products/vcarve-desktop?gclid=CjwKCAjwhOD0BRAQEiwAK7JHmLzcEAysCmAcd9yAxrkwupDfpRCSV_v2NpWb_RJKuL0nOeudrC_LtRoC2YoQAvD_BwE

 

I'll try to answer questions you may have... but understand.. even though I've had mine a year and a half.. I've only run about 10 projects through it.. They orders I keep getting is for scroll saw stuff so I don't get the time to play around with the CNC much yet.. last summer was spent prepping and moving my daughter out to college etc.. and just seems like I never get the extra time to play around with it... hoping this summer I can really dig in and make some stuff.. But we'll see I guess.. 

 

[kmmcrafts]

19 minutes ago, fredfret said:

There are units for sale under $500. I've seen several topics here about them,  iguanadon scott has one but I don't know what it cost or the make, model. 

I think what you're talking about here is the small  5 x 5 inch self contained laser to engrave text.. and small images.. 

For $350 -400 you can get a K40 Co2 laser that'll cut through 1/8" plywood or plastic etc..and will do the same thing as Iggys machine.. Plus 100 times more stuff..I got one of the K-40's.. sadly I bought it the same day I got the CNC Router.. but have yet turned it on.. I want to "learn" one machine at a time.. LOL

[kmmcrafts]

Well this little one is cheaper than I originally thought.. Though the work area is only 12 x 13 with a 3 inch height .. 

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Next-Wave-Automation-CNC-Shark-HD5/T31983 

[Dragonkort]

well iv been thinking all day about what I want a cnc machine for or the types of things id like to do ..  can a cnc machine do fret work type projects, and maybe help with making layered projects?  I enjoy doing the compound cuts and carving myself so I don't think id need one to do that....most of my compound cut and carved pieces iv never found anyone who was interested in buyig them anyway.   so I just do them because i like doing them. can they do like the portrat type projects? Id like to do some of those too.  most of the wood I use is either 1/4 inch or 3/4 inch I think it is. its hard to  find the 1/8 inch wood around here... or maybe im just not looking in the right  places in lows and home depo...I don't want to do just minture type things with it but I don't do big projects...its either small or medum sized projects huumm I guess im not being real helpful here...  also spike was saying you need to be able to make your own patterns...im not sure I could do that... I mean I can and do take pictures and make patterns out them from time to time...but im not real good at it....can you take other patterns... like the thousands of patterns I have in my scroll saw mags and what iv downloade for the net and use those?   hum maybe im getting  in over my head thinking about getting a cnc machine... but I know as I get older and my health conditions get worse I will not be able to make as many wood type crafts as I do now.... I already have to take a lot of breaks now that I didn't used to have to do...humm

[meflick]

The biggest thing to understand is that it is not a simple, here’s my pattern, push a button and voila I have a machine cut it out. There is more time and effort to get things setup both with the computer program(s) and then with the wood and the cnc machine it’s self. So, the first question I would ask is how comfortable are you with computers and learning new software? Because if the answer is not, or not very or towards that side of the spectrum then you are probably not going to like or want to work with a cnc machine. If you are comfortable working with the computer, comfortable learning new software, and the challenges it all brings then you may.

Second, in reply to your question regarding “patterns” or more appropriately “models” for cutting, the answer is you can create your own, or you can find patterns and models, some free, some for sale. However, even if you get a pattern or model, You still have to do work with it in specialized software to make it cuttable with a cnc machine.  This is especially true if you are wanting to combine models and/or modify in some way.  The biggest learning curve to using a cnc machine in my opinion is learning the software and it’s tooling features.

My best suggestion would be to do LOTS of research online to learn all you can about CNC machines, how they work, look at the software needed, check out forums, etc. When we were considering getting one, I spent a ton of time doing a lot of research to learn all I could and even then I had only scratched the surface.

Finally I will say that a good CNC machine is not cheap. Nor is the good software needed to run it. Each option/tool adds to the price. 

Once you have done more research, you will have more specific questions, feel free to ask those and some of us can probably provide more specific answers.

Edited April 20, 2020 by meflick
Fixing typos

[amazingkevin]

Looks like I will not be able to afford or learn new tricks on a CNC. Thanks Meflik

[DME72]

i am looking at buying a SainSmart 3018 cnc router. it is small in size,but i mostly do small stuff also. they are only about $250 on amazon and they have a wonderful facebook page. there are people doing some amazing work work on these small machines.you have to take light passes and all, but this is just a hobby for me.what i would really like is a Neje laser like iggy has. i could burn my logo and stuff on my scroll saw work. and increase or decrease for large/small items.

doug

[kmmcrafts]

6 hours ago, DME72 said:

i am looking at buying a SainSmart 3018 cnc router. it is small in size,but i mostly do small stuff also. they are only about $250 on amazon and they have a wonderful facebook page. there are people doing some amazing work work on these small machines.you have to take light passes and all, but this is just a hobby for me.what i would really like is a Neje laser like iggy has. i could burn my logo and stuff on my scroll saw work. and increase or decrease for large/small items.

doug

That looks like it might be close to the same size as the nextwave one I posted a link to.. but over $1000 cheaper.. I question the quality of the spindle.. If you gotta run slower and more passes then the spindle will run a lot more hours to complete a project.. Many of the folks that got a machine like mine that didn't spend the little extra for the spindle and just run a router in it end up buying a spindle after replacing a router every 4-6 months... Now a router might last a long time for a hobbyist.. But the machine you show appears to run off a spindle of some sort.. But the spindle alone cost more than the whole machine you show, LOL.. I'm sure you'd have plenty of fun with it.. great first time machine to see that you like it or not.. 

Even the one I have isn't really fast per-say.. Most things I carve could be done 2 times faster with my scroll saw.. other than I can't carve on the scroll saw.. I carved this today and it run almost 2 hours.. more than that if you count set up time. and that's not even running the drawing software or designing it, LOL

[kmmcrafts]

On 4/18/2020 at 4:02 PM, Dragonkort said:

well iv been thinking all day about what I want a cnc machine for or the types of things id like to do ..  can a cnc machine do fret work type projects, and maybe help with making layered projects?  I enjoy doing the compound cuts and carving myself so I don't think id need one to do that....most of my compound cut and carved pieces iv never found anyone who was interested in buyig them anyway.   so I just do them because i like doing them. can they do like the portrat type projects? Id like to do some of those too.  most of the wood I use is either 1/4 inch or 3/4 inch I think it is. its hard to  find the 1/8 inch wood around here... or maybe im just not looking in the right  places in lows and home depo...I don't want to do just minture type things with it but I don't do big projects...its either small or medum sized projects huumm I guess im not being real helpful here...  also spike was saying you need to be able to make your own patterns...im not sure I could do that... I mean I can and do take pictures and make patterns out them from time to time...but im not real good at it....can you take other patterns... like the thousands of patterns I have in my scroll saw mags and what iv downloade for the net and use those?   hum maybe im getting  in over my head thinking about getting a cnc machine... but I know as I get older and my health conditions get worse I will not be able to make as many wood type crafts as I do now.... I already have to take a lot of breaks now that I didn't used to have to do...humm

It can somewhat do fretwork.. but it's not very practical for that.. and it wouldn't be able to do as detailed work like a scroll saw would for fretwork.. because you have a router bit that's round.. not like a flat blade of a scroll saw, or even a round spiral blade.. They do have some very small router bits.. but they also are very pricey compared to a scroll saw blade.. and those small bits have to go a lot slower on the CNC and they do break.. 

I would say if you don't like messing with making scroll saw patterns etc.. it's probably not something you'd enjoy.. Unless you buy files ( patterns ) to get away from the designing side.. even so. you still have to mess around with importing that file ( pattern) into the software and select your size of wood etc etc..  I've been playing around with mine quite a bit the last week or so and am starting to enjoy it.. Learning how to import different types of files and making a design off of a photo etc.. 

One thing nice... you don't have to be quite so fussy with making patterns if you're carving.. the holes don't need bridges etc because it won't fall out in a carving.. like it does with cutting.. 

[DME72]

really looking at the type of laser iggy has so i can mark my scroll saw items. the company that he got his from is always out of stock. at least the three or four times i been on the website.yes i could make some cool stuff with the sainsmart 3018 but i dont know if i want to learn all that stuff. the laser i would probably only do my initials and a small logo or something so nothing to fancy. basic text entry type stuff.i can probably easily justify spending a few hundred dollars but not several thousand. i have a woodburning stamp with my initials but some items dont have enough room left to stamp them.this is all just a hobby for me, used to sell some items in a gallery,but they closed up last year. might try getting back into some small shops again as i do enjoy cutting stuff out.lots of people like to look at stuff,some will buy but alot dont. now i have an advantage is almost all the oak,cherry, and other hardwoods i use i get almost for nothing. mostly off cuts from a family member who likes to build furniture, but most of my stuff is small. 

doug

[kmmcrafts]

That laser that Iggy has is pretty neat.. but I guess my view on it is different than that of others.. To me it seem pretty pricey for what you get and being limited to such small work.. For about a $150 more you can get a lot more than that.. as far as signing stuff.. If it's that important it could be incorporated into your pattern / cutting fairly easy.. Maybe I'm cheap but I think a Sharpe fine point pen does wonders for signing.. I've also designed return address labels ( stickers ) from vistaprint that are basically a smaller sticker version of my business card.. Anything big enough gets a sticker.. I still sign it with my Sharpe though.. But it's usually signed under the sticker.. I put the sticker over it.. should the sticker come off.. it's still signed.. Sadly my biggest sellers are usually ornaments..and there is hardly ever a spot big enough to sign, sticker, or laser engrave.. I couldn't imagine even trying to sign / laser that many ornaments anyway.. unless they was laser cut and engraved all at the same time.. But I do put the ornaments in a gift box which I put a business card in.. then seal the box with the stickers..

[don watson]

I have a Stepcraft 420 V1 milling/router and I use UCCNC to control it. I also have Vectric V-Carve desktop as the programme to create the code from drawings. The usual order of things is:-

1 Draw what you want in V-Carve and convert it to G-Code, save it.

2 Open the computer and start up UCCNC. Plug in the Stepcraft and connect to computer.

3 Load your G-Code/drawing into UCCNC and RUN it.

That's  basically it but the amount of work needed to get it all correct is quite large. It is not quick and simple. Nor is it cheap. I bought a second hand Stepcraft CNC machine £200, UC 100 controller (to run UCCNC) £212, Vectric software £275, At present I am having a niggly problem With the Stepcraft software and support is terrible.

I have attached a pic. of one of the first things I did, it is about 3" diameter on a piece of 1/2" MDF and just been sealed with cellulose sanding sealer.

take care

Don W

 

[Dragonkort]

well after looking and reading everything I can find on the cnc machine at least for now I think i'll just stick with my scroll saw.   I don't think im  really smart enough to figure out  all the pattern making, importing and fingureing that you have to do with cnc machine.  and I have enough trouble usig my computer as it is with out trying to learn a new program.  . my main reason for looking into them was primaly should the botox stop working to keep the migraines and headaces  under control I would have a way to still do some wood working.   iv miss it these past 2 years...guess i'll just enjoy doing what I can now for as long as I can.  God willing it will be for a long time. thanks everybody for all the help and information..

[Sparkey]

Yes you can do portrait type projects. I do portraits in white acrylic and put them in a light box. Vectric Vcarve software comes with a feature called photocarve. You can also carve them into wood but I have not tried that yet. Here are a couple of examples. The first one are my two dogs. We lost the one on the right in February. The second one I just finished for a couple that just had their first child.