When / How did the DIY CNC bug bite you?

[damae]

This poll is not so much about why you are into DIY CNC now, but more about what first got you interested.

And another question, aside from the poll:

When you first saw that some guy built a CNC machine in his own garage, what was your reaction? I, for one, was blown away, completely amazed at the ingenuity and resourcefulness. Slowly, my fascination changed from observing to thinking "yes, I think I can do that!"

Is that a universal reaction?

[jjwl89]

Yes, I agree. That was the same reaction I had when I first learned about home built CNC machines. I didn't know what 95% of the CNC related stuff was. Things like backlash, ball screws, and stepper motors, I had never seen before. But slowly but surely, I'm figuring it out.

[ynneb]

For me it was a matter of days inbetween not even knowing what CNC was, and desciding to build one. I suspect in hinesight, if I had known as much as I do now ( Still not that much) I would have been self intimidated into not building one.

I guess entering into it blindly can in some ways be a benifit than a hinderance.

[damae]

I guess entering into it blindly can in some ways be a benifit than a hinderance.

I completely agree! Already, I learned far more than I expected (almost more than I wanted to!) in just planning my CNC machine.

I get the feeling that a lot of people here built their machine because nobody told them they couldn't! If we knew the details of what goes into a professional machine and tried to emulate every detail, we'd never get started!

[strat]

i was looking for a way to make my own parts it was cheaper to buy a sheet of material then it was to buy em pre cut but thats where my trouble came in i go to cut a straight line with a saw and it looks like a figure 8 then i tripped on this site
boy did that make a difference the machines i saw and the thought of using my puter to cut out what i could draw or scan that had me hooked and the best part was how friendly and willing to share the knowledge the guys were on here kinda made it my second home

[mredican]

I started out by building a Duplicarver to help me make Mandolin tops/backs. Around that time I got in to American Chopper and Monster Garage. It is suprising what you can pick up tech wise from those shows.

Anyways... I was watching DIY network and saw a guy use a CNC router. Took about two seconds..."Hummm, bet I could make one of those!" Ten months later I was cutting my first parts out on a machine I built for under $500.00.

[ViperTX]

Well none of the selections fit my profile. I've always been interested in CNC since the first time I saw this "woman's shape" cut from 1/4 inch steel by a torch that was mounted on a frame and it was being manually pushed by a person following the contour of a pattern.....so, that got me thinking of how cool that was...which lead to 'can I do that with a computer'...which lead to 'how do I create a pattern'....which has finally lead me to an inexpensive way to accomplish all this.

You've all seen that "woman's profile"...sometimes on the mud flaps of large trucks, etc.....so, I guess "sex" got me interested....funny how that turns into work which we do for nothing...hmmmmm....

[CerveloRod]

I put a wakeboard tower on my boat last summer, and I thought everyone was jacking the prices for the tower accessories.

After building a PC, mini-mill with steppers, driver, ballscrews, tooling, etc. it would have been MUCH cheaper to just buy the accessories and be done with it. Although now I can sell the extras I have made along the way, that's how the wife approved this project..

I DO now know what I am going to pursue as a job/hobby/income generator after my wife finishes school though. It's to satisfying to draw something in CAD, then work out the CAM, then see you design come to live by whittling away bits of AL...

Rod

[esmiller]

I actually became interested in "CNC" before i had ever heard of it.. I came up with the idea of a computerized cutting table in 1985, but had no access to the parts that would eventually be available.. it wasn't until I discovered CNCZONE.COM that building one ever became a reality..
I must have tried 15-20 mockups and failed in the past.

Eddie

[damae]

I actually became interested in "CNC" before i had ever heard of it.. I came up with the idea of a computerized cutting table in 1985, but had no access to the parts that would eventually be available.. it wasn't until I discovered CNCZONE.COM that building one ever became a reality..
I must have tried 15-20 mockups and failed in the past.

Eddie

Now that's determination! Do you have any pictures of what you did that didn't work? If so, you should start a project log to show what you tried, and how it worked, or didn't!

[damae]

Hmm.. 34 votes and none of them are for "I went looking for a new hobby."

Actually, I can't remember ever looking for a new hobby. The ones I have I stumbled across.

[ViperTX]

Personally I never look for a hobby...just see something or run into a situation that needs a solution....so I develop another skill....