Hey everybody, I'm considering building a CNC router from 80/20 and all that other jazz. I would use EMC2 for control. Please understand that I am doing this for love of the trade, I'm approaching 15 years tool and die experience and just love it when its challenging and fun. My question though, is a bit common I assume. Is there any money in owning a huge CNC router? I know there has to be, but Id like to hear some success or failure stories, whatever the case may be.

Again let me say that money isn't my motive for building a CNC router but I'm curious as it helps to justify the cost.

Damn I hope that last comment didn't sound like I was asking for all rosy stories.
:stickpoke

Compuslave - I'm kinda in the same boat as you want the challenge and some day I'd like to start up my own business. I think the key to making money isn't the machine its self but having a product to make with it, finding that niche market so to say. The other thing is marketing. I'm hoping that once I do build a machine I will be able to find some products to make and grow from there. Look at all the guys who started in their garage and now have multi-million dollar companies. Like some some people say do something even if it's wrong, just do something.

Carl

I knew a guy who machined a stack of aluminium disks- engraved his company ifo on them, had them black anodised and sent them out as coffee coasters to every company that had a chance of sending him work.

He got quite a good response from that.

I did have my product first. I make table saw blade guards. I designed my machines to help out with production of these. I am still a full time plus some garage type home business. I would like to branch out in other areas, but really don't have the time. I always have had more orders than I could fill. Even with the help of CNC. The product pretty much sells itself through word of mouth.

I am always looking and thinking up other ideas for other products should the orders on these ever decline. The CNC's will certainly help to make different products in other markets possible.
About 3 years ago, I knew absolutely nothing about cnc or machining really. The Zone has helped me find answers for everything I wondered about in both cnc and manual milling and turning.

The satisfaction I got from designing and building my own machines and tackling the software learning curves was tremendous. I am still amazed by the machines and what they can do. Not just mine, but many of the machines you fine on here.

Ultimately though, I would say if you have a product in mind, good. Build a machine that will help you produce that. If you don't have one in mind, build one that can cut many different materials with only minimal swapping of parts. IE plasma cutter/ router. This would give you a broader range of possible product types.

I was pulling my plasma cutter around the other day. It is mounted on a trailer. I was coming back from Lowes with some material in it. A welding shop owner asked me wen I had stopped, just what that thing was sitting on the trailer? I told him it was a plasma cutter. He gave me his card and said he might like to get me to cut some things out for him from time to time. I said no problem. Give me a call. You just never know where that next job might come from. :)

Good luck with your venture.

I was thinking of making the machine modular so I could swap out the "cutting" head. A plasma cutter can make you a mint these days. I was also thinking of how cheap I could route out big wood signs for people. I used to work for a sign maker back as a teenager and let me tell you those things aint cheap! I have no products in mind, if I did and I was confident in its marketability I would bite the bullet and buy a cnc mill.

I'm a tinkerer and love the idea of building my own machine though.

When I get to the point of action will need some guidance on selecting steppers and control boards though. I look around at prices now and they aren't bad but I have no idea if the stuff I'm looking at is what I need or not.

Ive been tinkering with EMC2 sims for a couple days and I'm very impressed. It has some issues though. All in all its awesome, being open source it kinda takes away your right to ***** though. If you don't like it change it, or pay someone who can.

Any links to people who sell motor/board kits? I would like something with enough torque to push a router. I know nothing about ounces/in <--wtf is that all about?

Anyway thanks for the replies!