CNC machines come in many sizes, configurations, with features and different levels of precision and price. Prices have dropped rapidly the last few years, but even a small CNC machine is a considered purchase for a hobbyist or professional. So, like any major woodworking machine in a shop such as a table saw, joiner, planer or shaper, do your research and plan for and buy for long term use. Just as comparing an inexpensive job site saw from a home center to a quality cabinet saw, the least expensive and smallest solution may not be the best choice looking forward. An under-powered and sized CNC good for making boxes could be limiting if you also plan to build furniture. Think longer term.<\/p>\n
Take a careful look at what you\u2019re building today and tomorrow and size accordingly. And, don\u2019t forget to consider the available space in your shop. Any CNC needs an extra few feet in every direction beyond its table dimensions.<\/p>\n
Cabinet shops tend to prefer larger CNCs designed for cutting sheet materials and are sized 48\u201dx 96\u201d or larger. These are direct descendants of large factory machines. They tend to have a low depth of cut of 3-4\u201d. Their large work surfaces often use heavy duty vacuum systems to suck down flat material like plywood to hold it in place while cutting. Though excellent for this purpose, vacuum tables don\u2019t work particularly well for small solid wood parts. It\u2019s a great solution for a cabinet shop with the space and the industrial power to drive large 25hp vacuum pumps. Machines range from $15k for some 48\u201d x 48\u201d machines to well over $75k. When you add the holy grail of CNC options \u2013 an automatic tool changer you can go way beyond that.<\/p>\n
It might be more practical for a smaller shops and hobbyist to consider a smaller machine. There\u2019s a number of CNCs available in the 18\u201dx24\u201d to 24\u201dx36\u201d sizes. Prices range from $3k to $7k. With a small footprint being the key limitation make sure you keep in mind what you\u2019ll be using it for and the size of parts you need to cut.<\/p>\n
New machines suited to a broader range of woodworking tasks that still fit in smaller spaces are finally becoming available. This is a big breakthrough for woodworkers. Sizes ranging from 2\u2019x4\u2019 to 32\u201dx60\u201d to 4\u2019x4\u2019, etc. are suited for making furniture parts and general woodworking uses in smaller shops. A vertical Z height of 6\u201d or more is a valuable feature to look for if you plan on doing 3D work. Price range is $6500 to $20k+.<\/p>\n
Finally, an often discussed alternative is to build your own CNC \u2013 which I generally don\u2019t recommend. Though cheaper, it\u2019s a big challenge to pull off successfully, very time consuming, requires special skills and knowledge in many areas and the results often fall well below the quality and precision of a factory or custom made machine. Fortunately, there is now a middle ground. If you\u2019re inclined to built it yourself, have the time, are handy with tools and a little bit geeky, a few companies make well designed pre-cut kits where everything is included and critical components like electronic control boxes come assembled and ready to plug in.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget to add in the cost of tooling \u2013 the various kinds of bits needed for woodworking on a CNC. Plan on spending at least a few hundred dollars just to get started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CNC machines come in many sizes, configurations, with features and different levels of precision and price. Prices have dropped rapidly the last few years, but even a small CNC machine is a considered purchase for a hobbyist or professional.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cnchardware"],"yoast_head":"\n