MArruda
11-21-2007, 01:09 AM
Hello all,
I come to you a broken and frustrated man. :( I bought a Carvewright (compucarve) in late august. The second carve, the flex shaft burned through the sheath. Took it back, got another one. 2nd carve, the bit was indexing for a drill-through and did just that... it didn't turn off the motor in time and drilled through the indexing sensor! I had purchased the centerline text option at this time as well. 3rd machine, first carve- x axis overload. 2nd carve, cut motor error, ran at full speed, burned my wood, then drilled through the indexing sensor too.
I am done. 3rd time is it. No more. I'm taking the machine back tomorrow and calling LHR to fight to get my $100 back for the centerline text option.
Now I'm back to the drawing board. I'm trying to start up a small custom woodworking business. I currently do small turnings- bowls, spindle work, but mostly pens, as well as clocks and plaques. I'm just starting out, so I have no real start up capital. The carvewright was on credit, and if I can find another CNC, it'll have to be on credit or lease as well. The best I've seen for the money seems to be the Digirout 1500. I was thinking if I am going to buy a CNC, I might as well get a 4x8 to open up the possibilities of doing farmed out work for cabinet shops as well as production work- drop a sheet, and cut out a whole mess of units at the same time. With the 60 month 10% lease, it'd be about $180 a month or so. Does any other manufacturer offer anything like this in the same price range?
I'm new to CNC... I know woodworking, I've been doing tech work with computers since the early 90s, and I've done some 3d work in 3dsmax and TurboCad. I have never done CNC programming and wouldn't know where to begin with G-code. :( Is there a steep learning curve, or would I be able to step in to it pretty readily? I've done some C++ and basic programming, 3d graphic work... Also, can this unit do 3d graphics? The website is all 2d signage and whatnot- the lure of CNC to me is the ornate 3d carving aspect.
I have a P4 laptop I can use as a dedicated controller in the shop, or a small handful of older desktops to choose from, as well as a new laptop to do the programming on. I am working on making a website to sell from, as well as doing shows and farmer's markets. Things are really slow right now... I'm just worried if I can sell enough to break even on a new CNC and turn a profit the first month out, considering the fact that I probably won't get it in until after the hot season for Christmas is over.
If anyone has any ideas, insights or comments, it'd be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
-Michael
I come to you a broken and frustrated man. :( I bought a Carvewright (compucarve) in late august. The second carve, the flex shaft burned through the sheath. Took it back, got another one. 2nd carve, the bit was indexing for a drill-through and did just that... it didn't turn off the motor in time and drilled through the indexing sensor! I had purchased the centerline text option at this time as well. 3rd machine, first carve- x axis overload. 2nd carve, cut motor error, ran at full speed, burned my wood, then drilled through the indexing sensor too.
I am done. 3rd time is it. No more. I'm taking the machine back tomorrow and calling LHR to fight to get my $100 back for the centerline text option.
Now I'm back to the drawing board. I'm trying to start up a small custom woodworking business. I currently do small turnings- bowls, spindle work, but mostly pens, as well as clocks and plaques. I'm just starting out, so I have no real start up capital. The carvewright was on credit, and if I can find another CNC, it'll have to be on credit or lease as well. The best I've seen for the money seems to be the Digirout 1500. I was thinking if I am going to buy a CNC, I might as well get a 4x8 to open up the possibilities of doing farmed out work for cabinet shops as well as production work- drop a sheet, and cut out a whole mess of units at the same time. With the 60 month 10% lease, it'd be about $180 a month or so. Does any other manufacturer offer anything like this in the same price range?
I'm new to CNC... I know woodworking, I've been doing tech work with computers since the early 90s, and I've done some 3d work in 3dsmax and TurboCad. I have never done CNC programming and wouldn't know where to begin with G-code. :( Is there a steep learning curve, or would I be able to step in to it pretty readily? I've done some C++ and basic programming, 3d graphic work... Also, can this unit do 3d graphics? The website is all 2d signage and whatnot- the lure of CNC to me is the ornate 3d carving aspect.
I have a P4 laptop I can use as a dedicated controller in the shop, or a small handful of older desktops to choose from, as well as a new laptop to do the programming on. I am working on making a website to sell from, as well as doing shows and farmer's markets. Things are really slow right now... I'm just worried if I can sell enough to break even on a new CNC and turn a profit the first month out, considering the fact that I probably won't get it in until after the hot season for Christmas is over.
If anyone has any ideas, insights or comments, it'd be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
-Michael