Help me avoid mistakes!

[Joe Jones]

Hello folks!

My name is Joe. I am a 52-year-old, self-employed man currently living in southern California. I will be relocating to southwestern Kentucky in about four months. I am interested in selling my towing business here, and starting a new business in KY. I am tired of driving!

I'll start by saying that I know NOTHING about CNC machines or the associated software, but I am computer savvy, and I am a fast learner.

When I settle in KY., I am thinking of purchasing a CNC machine to place into a workshop on my property, and jump into this interesting and expanding field.

So my question is ... where do I start?!?

I have been "surfing" the Net. I looked at the Compu-Carve machine from Sears. That seems like a toy. It is probably good for an introductory step into CNC without a large investment, but I can quickly see myself outgrowing that machine.

I looked at the larger Shop Bot machines. Those were interesting, and more along the lines of what I had in mind. I really liked the 144" model.

I looked at the 'PlasmaCam' CNC cutter/router, but I want to work with many materials from wood, to plastics, to foam, to metals and more.

I know there will be a learning curve with anything I purchase or lease, and I'm not so naive to think that the machine will start producing an income the moment I plug it in. However, I do believe that I can start with small projects on a large machine in order to learn the machine itself, and then expand to larger endeavors at time passes.

I have worked in many sign shops, plastic and acrylic fabrication shops and such, and I am a former certified welder/fabricator, so I don't see a big problem with understanding this industry. I just don't want to buy "machine-x" and find out a month later that I bought the wrong one, and will need "machine-y" instead, or in addition to the one I bought. I'd rather buy ONE machine and grow into it with time and experience. After that, when it IS generating something resembling an income, I can purchase another machine, etc.

Any and all advice, comments, etc. are welcomed!

Joe

[Geof]

..... I want to work with many materials from wood, to plastics, to foam, to metals and more......

You have covered wood, plastics and metal; what is the "more"?

On a more serious note. You are probably going to find some people think you are crazy, but I say go for it.

Now how much money do you expect to have available for the machine? (You don't need to tell me, that is a rhetorical question.) Do you have enough to buy a machine that can handle wood, plastics, metal and more when the more might include granite or something like that. By enough I mean in the ballpark of 100 grand plus a bit of change for tooling.

Do you (will you) have enough money to keep you housed, fed and warm for the two or five years it might take to get your new venture to the state of making money for you? Or do you have plans to work on the side, assuming you can get a job, and burn the candle at both ends to get your operation going.

I think you should plan on taking at least three years before your CNC enterprise becomes viable and you should expect my 100 grand figure above to double over those three years.

I am sure you will get some people who suggest my figures and time period are too extreme but I have found it best to plan for the long haul. That way if things work out better than expected you are laughing. If you start out too optimistic and don't have the reserves, both financial and physical/mental, to carry you through some low points you will not be laughing.

I started my business many years ago several younger than 52 and the first ten years were sometimes a struggle. Now I am as many years past 52, I am mostly retired and I own a business that supports me in the lifestyle I have come to enjoy.

Which is why I say go for it and build something you can turn over to family, or hire salaried employees to run it while you enjoy the benefits of your success.

[mike_Kilroy]

I totally concur with Geof. He is right on!

[Joe Jones]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Ummm ... money. Well, I wasn't thinking 100 Grand. I thought I could start off with something better than a "Compu-Carve" but less that a state-of-the-art machine. I was thinking maybe ... ten grand?? to get into a starter machine that would allow me to work with pieces that are larger than simple address signs. If I sell my business here, I would have about 25K in spare cash to put into a starter machine.

I'd start out making smaller "projects" to sell, perhaps at swat meets or online, just to get the feel for the machine and maybe earn a buck or two. I am interested in working with wood, dense foams, plastics and nylon sheeting up to 3" thick, and materials like acrylics and Lexan, perhaps some aluminum and such. I wouldn't be working with steel or granite or marble initially. Mostly softer materials at the start.

I'm also looking at the NextEngine 3-D scanner to pick up images I'd be working with. I assume there is some way to convert a 3-D scan to a data file that a CNC machine can understand. Am I correct?

I'm looking at using the machine among other reasons, to cut out complicated shapes from material such as aluminum, plywood and plexiglass to fabricate working proof-of-concept prototypes for machinery and devices yet to be brought to market. Think of using a cAD program to design a new type of backhoe, and then use the machine to build a 1/4 scale model of it.

The straight through cutting of pieces is one aspect, the artistic 3-D carving capability is a separate but equally important consideration. I am only looking at the larger machines, because some of the parts I want to cut will practically take up an entire 4'x8' sheet of material.

I guess I'm looking for a machine that will do what the PlasmaCam and Compu-Carve do, but using cutting bits rather than a flame or laser, professional enough to be taken seriously, but cheap enough that I won't have to mortgage my soul to buy or lease one!

I'll search for some trade shows to attend, but I really prefer to talk with ordinary people who are already doing what I want to do.

[rcheli1]

This might interest you, MechMate CNC Router - Build your own with our detailed plans

[Joe Jones]

Wow. That is a lot of work! I'd love to build something like that, but I'm not afforded the luxury of the several months of free time it would take. Beyond that, I'm sort of a "Let's change a few things to make it better!" kind of guy, and I'd probably create some Frankenstein monster of a triple decker table that would cost a fortune, and defeat the whole purpose of the project!

I did build my own tow truck, in my driveway. I was looking for a shop to rent, but everyone wanted me to sign a two-year lease, and $1,200.00 per month rent, etc. so I went to Home Depot and bought $1,800.00 worth of wood, wire, sockets, lights and such, and built a 24'x32' workshop with 12-foot walls and a 17-foot ceiling in my driveway! I outfitted it with workbenches and all of the tools, and in five months, I had my own custom built tow truck!

Building my own CNC table IS intriguing though!