Making money with CNC

[Joe Crumley]

Greeting folks,

I've had a CNC in my sign shop for about eight years. It's the backbone. Over that time the product line has changed so much in the CNC direction we couldn't operate without one. I haven't tried to move into high production work. That kind of work wouldn't work for me. But used as a carving machine it's been very successful.

All of our lives have been changed by this equipment. For us luck folks who have a router the future is brighter than ever.

Joe crumley
www.normansignco.com

[Hack]

In some of the higher production shop that I have been around, it is often a very big inconvenience to the shop production schedule to produce 1 or 2 items. Small order quantities of even similar type products can be a nightmare to bring through a production shop. Keep in mind most high volume shops hate machine changeovers and the downtime associated with it just to bring in one or 2 items. This may be an area that you can break in to. Low overhead on your part will help make the costs associated appealing to them.

Visit a few of the higher production shops in your area related to the type of work you want to do and talk to them about offloading these particularly pain in the rear end job to you. If you can approach them with a valid cost study and show them how much time they can save by outsourcing this stuff to you, and how much time they may be able to shrink lead times on these orders, it might be a win win for all. (you, the high production shop, and thier customer)

Most likely it will take some nagging, begging, pleading to get in the door, but arm yourself with some samples of your work, a cost study and your rabbits foot and you may have the luck to get in. Keep in mind these relationships take time to develop, so don't get frustrated by them telling you no the first time you make a call on a potential customer.

[Joe Crumley]

Hack,

Thanks for your insight into CNC high production.

If you re-read my post, I have avoided production work for years. As an artist it's like mixing oil and water. However there's good money in custom work. I like it because there's pride in the finished product and the pace of work is pleasant.

My original intent when purchasing a router was production. After a few high volume jobs and returning home in the evening, all worn out, I moved away from kind of experience. I'm glad there are fellows who enjoy that kind of work. My business stays booked up without it.

Your advice for those starting out is something to be considered. I appreciate hearing from you.

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com