Buying a cnc router help and advice

[pipsqueak]

Hi there I am looking for some advice really. I have my own crafting business where I make mdf and plywood signs and gifts. Business is really good and at present I buy online all my mdf shapes and plaques and then paint and design them myself. So far it has been part time however I am at the stage where I am ready to go full time and looking to produce the shapes myself with the help of my husband. We are looking to invest in a cnc router machine but have limited budget and need to find the right machine. I will be using it for my own business to begin with but as I get more knowledgeable I hope to supply shapes and designs for others to buy. I have attached a picture of a machine I think would be suitable. Does anyone know what type it is, roughly how much I am looking at and where is best to purchase this type of machine from. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Helen

 

[pipsqueak]

Any advice anyone?

 

[eezageeza]

There's a CNC router section on the US site

Routerforums.com

You might find some useful info there. Last time i heard a figure mentioned, I think these machines were c £25,000, but i guess there's a pretty wide range of costs/abilities, and they may have become cheaper since...

 

[rspsteve]

Take a look here http://www.prototools.co.uk/shop/customer/home.php

I was looking at the "s" range and all in i think it was about 5k for the largest machine .

Steve

 

[johnwc812]

Hi Helen
Have you considered a CNC laser machine?
No experience of them, only very impressed how versatile they are.
John

 

[pipsqueak]

Thanks for the responses. £25k definitely out of my range. £5k a lot more realistic. Haven't considered laser I will do some research. I am only looking to cut basic designs and shapes like stars, hearts Ect mostly out of mdf so if you have other machine recommendations I am all ears.

 

[shed9]

Lasers will have reduced cutting depth on wood (and I would avoid using laser with MDF personally).

johnwc812's right though, it would be wise to investigate other options at this stage.

Be realistic on costs, the machine is only part of it. You will need good dust extraction, especially with cutting ply and MDF. A lot of routers are sold with or without controllers (usually a PC with relevant software) and sometimes this cost is not included - yes you can use your own machine, but some suppliers will not support you if you don't use their machines sometimes. You need to factor in cutters, clamping, spoil boards, maintenance, etc....

Not trying to put you off, but to point out there are other variables that need consideration.

Also don't limit your purchase to current needs, look to future use if applicable.

EDIT: Also, look at the second hand market. Whilst delivery and collection can be a pain, you will generally get a complete package, i.e. the previous user will have generally (not always) setup the machine, bought the cutters and clamps and all other accessories.

 

[pipsqueak]

Thanks everyone all very helpful and food for thought. I like the idea of second hand, where would be the best place to keep a look out for second hand routers? Thanks for the link rspsteve and shed9 thanks for very useful info.

 

[mind_the_goat]

Laser cutters will need good fume extraction and consider the life and replacement cost of replacing a laser tube, these can be very expensive on bigger machines.
This might also me an interesting option, keeping in mind you may have to order from the states so it may not be set up off the shelf for 230V operation
http://handibot.com/

 

[shed9]

Helen do you know what size of material you want to cut, i.e. what is the largest sheet size you expect to offer? This is a factor in availability.

 

[pipsqueak]

Hi shed9 the things I want to cut are pretty small largest being 300mm square. However ideally I would like to be able to use 8 by 4ft sheets of mdf or ply but I don't know how practical this is on limited budget. Open to ideas
Thanks everyone

 

[shed9]

You can get 4x8 CNC flatbeds for around £8k to £12k.

With an initial requirement of 300mm squared and an aspiration for 4x8, a good compromise would be a 4x4 flatbed.

Invest in a decent plunge saw such as a Festool TS55, Bosch GKT55 and rail package (something like this; http://www.powertool-supplies.co.uk/fes ... -deal.html - don't by put off by the price, its more to give you an idea, you can buy cheaper kits) This will enable you to break down your sheet goods accurately and safely and then transpose to the CNC router.

I've seen 4x4 flatbeds for around £6k to £7k

Although I still think a second hand unit may be the way forward in which case its a matter of seeing what comes up and you have just as much chance getting a 4x8 as a 4x4.

It would be a good idea, given the amount of investment you are about to make to brush up on the technology a little, maybe have a look at some basic books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/CNC-Machining-H ... ywords=cnc) it will allow you to remove some of the magic from it. Not all CNC machines are the same, they use different mechanisms, transports and rotary system. This would allow you to better understand what suits you.

This would make sense first.

Hope this helps, Lee

 

[pipsqueak]

Hi lee thanks for the info, yes I agree I do need to look into how these things operate more. The links are greatly appreciated. You have given me a good staring point and I will keep a look out for second hand machines, any idea where would be a good place to look? Ebay?
Thanks again
Helen