Are there any okay inexpensive CNCs out there?

[MArruda]

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

[cabnet636]

read the thread on excitetec
i got a compucarve as well and am moving to a 4x8 (cabinetmaker)
look around this sight you have found the right place

cabnet

[Switcher]

Another option:

http://www.ez-router.com/index.asp?P...TS&Category=43

http://www.ez-router.com/index.asp?P...on=Custom&ID=7


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[ger21]

Originally Posted by MArruda 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'd say if you can use Max, their shouldn't be a big learning curve. It's basically just a matter of exporting your model and bringing it into a CAM package to create the code. You can do 3D work no problem, but if your models need to be undercut, you'll either need to machine both sides, or you may need a 4th axis.