Watch BEFORE You Buy a CNC Router in 2024
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
- Don't fall into the trap that so many beginners do! If you're interested in getting a CNC router, then this video is for you! It will save you so much time, money, and confusion. This way you can get to making more money, faster with your CNC!
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Shapeoko CNC
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I have probably lusted after a cnc for 20 yrs (guitar building), but was overwhelmed by the cost size and learning curve. I suddenly bought a Shapeoko3 that turned up locally, and now am in a huge info dump and workshop scramble to get things going. I'd say if you want one but haven't gotten it yet, spend time learning the software side of things so that you have a strong concept of that already when you have to deal with the hardware side of things.
Good video that I wish I watched when I started around 10 years ago! I started on a Shapeoko3, then upgraded it to an XXL. Definitely going from Carbide Create to learning Vectric vCarve Pro was the biggest jump for me. Now after making many guitars on the SO3 I sold it and getting a OneFinity Elite. Similar in price to an SO5, but can definitely run faster and I liked the idea of closed loop motors. I still love Shapeoko's and recommend them to everyone. I sold my XXL to a good friend, which I wouldn't do if I didn't think he would also be successful with it. Now with a Masso controller on the OneFinity, I'll be back to learning again. That's the one thing with CNC's is that you will never be done learning!
If you want to play for hobby with the machine then buy anything you like or is within your budget, there are no beginners when it comes to business , you commit to it, get the best machine possible and then learn to use it up to its max not the other way around. You cant learn anything on a whimsy underpowered machine, if you value your time and end mills. That is my advice for both groups. All other questions like material sourcing, work holding etc. you should answer to yourself using time until the machine arrives
Started with a Xcarve and for a while was mad that I went too small. However, If I didn't get the confidence pushing that machine to its limits, I dont believe I would of made the leap to a 4x8 Avid. Great video
What you making that's so big?
@emostorm7 full 4x8 sheet goods along with sheets of Aluminum. The router just didn't cut it for cutting Aluminum.
That is awesome!
@@emostorm7 Even when not producing large parts, a much larger machine will allow you to nest parts on a sheet to either get the best yield possible from the sheet or to increase the productive cycle time to allow you to perform other tasks. A CNC machine tool is best used when it permits you to be doing other productive tasks.
Ideally, one man will operate 3 to 5 CNC machine concurrently. Of course, you need the production volume to justify the investment but that is how CNC machines yield the biggest profit.
Too many people get in to CNCs thinking they are plug and play. I can’t tell you how many people I have seen ask, “I don’t know anything about computers. I bought this CNC, what do I do now?” They are usually trying to sell it not long after or say it’s been in a box for a year and they need to sell now.
That’s the easy part. The software etc typically used isn’t really that involved as say.. traditional milling on a Haas etc.
The real hurdle is figuring out what to make, and how to make $.
Guys have these delusions that they’ll easily sell their black walnut coaster they spent 5 hours in or some generic 3D maple aspire carving they spent even longer on.
Millions of those things available.
That’s why 98% will fail.
"The real hurdle is figuring out what to make, and how to make $."
This is why Andy Bird Builds exists! And why I made my The CNC Side Hustle
Aside from the modeling and software side and assembly what else is the issue? Genuinely asking. I am interested but not for making money. Instead for making things for myself. I somewhat recently got into 3d printing and have grown quite a bit on the modeling side, what are the other hurdles besides the software, different bits, and fixtures?
@@МУЅТ You will be good to go then. I have just seen many people that barely know how to turn on a computer buy a CNC and think they can just turn it on and go. They don’t understand the computer knowledge one needs to have to start. They don’t research, just buy. 🤷🏻♀️
@@МУЅТ general maintenance and also figuring out at what feeds and speeds u can run. I am super lucky as i picked up 2 cnc routers (1 working 1 project) for free! I used the small one to familiarize myself with programming and am currently building the second (bigger) one
Andy you got this spot on and its more important to know the software first. I have been learning and its hard for this old man but i am getting it but it's a lot to learn sr. thanks for the video and look forward to your class later Andrew
Awesome. Thanks for watching
Thank you so much for this video. I am really jumping in to CNC and I think complete purchase is the hardest step after you figured out some of the items you listed.
hello
are you interested to start a business or just buy a CNC for your free time artistic hobby works of art ?
My CNC is limiting me. I was an idiot and bought one without ball screws and linear rail. But I still can mill aluminum or plastic. Making some money producing adapters for dental cleaning machines. My next one, without electronic, will cost 3,5k€ for the mechanic alone.
There are a lot of good points in this video and I agree with the majority of this but...
the second hand market is flooded with last generation CNCs. If you want to "get the feel" or "test the waters" so to speak then buy a second hand benchtop CNC. If you are determined to buy a new CNC then buy your second CNC first. If you are going to invest the kind of money it takes to get a quality CNC then look at it's ability to be upgraded. Don't buy any CNC that isn't capable of using a ATC Spindle. There are several available for less than $5k.
The new AltMill from Sienci Lab can be had complete for 2/3 the cost of a Onefinity Elite. Look at the future because within two years ANY cnc without closed loop steppers and ATC capability is going to have a resale valve of rotten lettuce.
Thank you for sharing
I wouldn't purchase a CNC that didn't feature either closed loop stepper motors or an external position counter for feedback to the controller, and I've yet to see the latter in a hobby grade CNC.
Andy, great video as always. I’ll have to agree and disagree respectfully. I bought my CNC in January and without knowing anyone with a CNC or CAD/CAM software. I jumped aboard head first. I knew the CNC and software would be pricey, but looking back over the last three months, the additional ‘stuff’ I needed up front costing more. Other than you and Garrett from IDC woodcraft, that’s about all the knowledge I had. I ended up buying a Sienci MK2 48x30 and enjoyed assembling and learning all about it. When there is an issue, I could figure it out. I started with making some stuff for myself and family members. Word of mouth spread quickly and now have requests from many and I can barely keep up with demand. I’m just about to break even with all the expenses I started with, and just put in an order for the Altmill which is a beast! Thanks to your inspiration and knowledge to go from 0-100 and I’m not even a pro yet. I still have lots to learn but excited to become better with every project. I may sign up for your course since there is so much to learn. And I haven’t even begun selling online yet. Still in awe how a project I designed from scratch goes through a computer and I stand beside my CNC in awe as it comes alive.
I think your situation is rare. Everyone has different challenges, you got lucky to have demand. Word of caution, nothing lasts forever. Start planning NOW how to sell other products and what it’s gong to cost. You’re welcome.
@@jonathanhahka9939 Thanks for your advise. I do have other sources of income and this was only supposed to be a hobby. I’ve never been one to put all my eggs in one basket and after the pandemic, I realize anything can happen at any time. But like they say, if you love what you do…
How are you getting the customers?
Thanks for sharing! Great work!
@@LG-ro5le I started doing things around the house and items I’ve needed. Then my family members wanted items and they started telling others. I guess between my niece and sister, they are great salespeople and know a lot of people. My Longmill isn’t an industrial machine so it takes time, but at this point I put in an order for a slightly bigger and much faster unit. It’s on back order until September, so I have plenty of time to build up until then.
First of all let me say you inspired at most my transformation (or upgrade if you like) from IT expert and bunch of 1s and 0s into Geppeto :)
So when weird noises are coming from our backyard .. I blame you.
Art is a journey, an exploration of the soul that manifests on canvas. The time invested in creating each piece is a reflection of passion, dedication, and vision. However, I've come to realize that the value of this time can vary greatly between my own perception and that of potential buyers.
You see, beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder. What might take hours to perfect might be perceived differently by someone else. This divergence in perception is what makes art so profoundly unique and personal.
Therefore such a "making of" and tutorial videos are precious and important to bridge the gap between the artist's intent and the viewer's appreciation, creating a deeper connection and understanding of the value embedded in every hour spent on an art piece.
Great video Andy! Looking forward to your upcoming classes! 👍
Very soon!
Great video Andy. Keep up the great work. You referenced a video link at the end but I did not see it come up.
Thank you. I checked the link and it seems to be working now
Love your videos. I took delivery of my shapeoko pro 5 in January. This is the most fun I've ever had making stuff. I had a controller failure about a mouth in. But I got it fixed, and it's running strong now. The only thing that gets me as of now it the feeds and depth of cut. I'm trying to get that worked out. But thanks for the videos and keep them coming. Always enjoy watching them.
If you don’t have a speeds & feeds chart (for reference) you can always googIe something like "cnc woodworking cnc speeds & feeds chart" or I know someone/somewhere on the Carbide3d community forum page will absolutely have one to share. And I also wanted to say welcome to the Shapeoko Family!! 👍
That is awesome!
Thanks again for a lot of useful information!
My pleasure!
I’ve been in computers for over 30 years and cnc about 5 years. Both fields there are MANY that buy on impulse and they have a very hard time spelling computer or cnc. Let alone learn software. You see it all the time in fb groups for your specific machines.
My mission is to solve this problem 💪
If you are making parts that can readily be made with traditional tools (including a router with templates) and you are making a profit, then you don't need a CNC. Also, if you aren't willing to learn to diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, and electronic faults, then CNC machine tools aren't for you. The owner of a CNC shop must be able to maintain and repair his own machines.
In every machine shop I've operated, the number of manually operated machine tools far exceeded the number of CNC machines.
Volts in South Africa is 240 volts
No other voltages
I'm not interested in CNC'ing wood but rather looking to make small aluminum or brass parts. Is there a good CNC for that?
Yes, depending on part size. AVID pro bench top will do aluminum very well.
Just watched this and now I'm convinced my toaster is the ultimate CNC machine! 😂
In the UK we have Kitronik as really good vendor of laser / CNC materials that are high quality, flat. Not the cheapest but very good.
I only use Home DIY stores for rough proof of concept type cuts.
I like your videos and your course looks like it covers the basics. Do you do custom builds?
Interesting video Thank you. I design and resin print 3D models. Some parts though need to be metal for strength such as landing gear, etc. I am looking at a CNC machine to do these parts for me. Getting one or two parts done locally in Australia is cost prohibitive (set up fees of $500+ at times) so doing it myself might be a better way, can you suggest a desktop CNC machine that might have a bed size of at least 300 x 150 mm and capable of cutting 4mm aluminium.
Insightful video! My only recommendation is to add bullet points on screen…you move fast 😃
Thanks! Noted
Such an underrated video 👍
What specs do you need in a machine for it to be able to do fancy intricate stuff like the hattori samurai etc. I'm a retired tech and I don't want to spend money on something that I will regret because it is limited and I have to pay and learn all over again with another one.
It depends what you want to do but in most cases a $4 to $5k setup will be more than enough.
Hi Andy! I'm thinking of buying my first CNC but I'm on a budget so I found this BulkMan3D Ultimate Bee CNC Kit that have the size and price I would be ok with. Assembly is not a problem for me but do see possible weak points in their design or some other reasons not to go with BulkMan3D:s Ultimate Bee CNC Kit? I live in Finland so I need to think about where to order, delivery cost and VAT...😅
Hey! I don't know anything about that machine other than I've heard the name before. Sorry I can't be of more help!
Thank you for your reply. If anyone else have any info on BulkMan3D Ultimate Bee CNC Kit I would appreciate it
The marketing & selling is by far the hardest, ive done it all, spent money creating my own website, ive set up facebook page insta page, etsy, craft fairs, made videos to help market my products etc and im still struggling..i make a few sales here and there but i find you get alot of time wasters who dont want to pay at the last minute, also craft fairs here in the uk have high fees, making it extremely difficult, and shops arnt interested in buying bulk because they get there products from china.. i probably would of sold my cnc at this point but i still like having it there in my workshop as something to use as a hobby, im pretty disappointed though
I get it, but you're not alone. Don't give up! This is the exact reason I do what I do. I think you'd find my course super beneficial.
Do you have any videos about cutting small, detailed cutouts? I have tried using a 1/8th in. straight bit and a 10 degree v bit on 1/8 in wood but I keep breaking the small fiddly parts. I saw a video about sandwiching the wood between two other pieces of wood but I would rather avoid turning a 5 minute cut into a 20 minute cut.
Great video......................thanks.
You bet!
great content Andy.
Glad you enjoyed it
I want to engrave. Money is tight. What would you recommend?
A 20 watt laser
How about Foxalien?
Great macchine for beginer i have 40x40
Thanks, @Andy, for the insightful video! The aspects you highlighted are often underestimated and can lead to failure. Your insights may have convinced me to opt for a Shapeoko over the OneFinity.
Glad it was helpful!
It should be a fairly easy transition for a CNC operator right?
Operation, yes. Sales will be the key if you want to make $$$
Clementine Park
Where is the best place to learn about CAD and CAM. I want to know that I can figure that out before I pull trigger on a CNC
Check out Vectric's RUclips channel. The best course for this on the internet is Learn Your CNC
UG?
I don't want to burn motors and bearings due to the materials being milled. Want to use granite as a source, hardened aluminum and some steel.
So the router needs to be robust and durable. Won't be used for income or commercially, strictly hobby.
For stone and steel, you need a completely different class of machine. You're not going to use a router for milling steel. You need a proper CNC mill, take a look at HAAS or even TORMACH...
You really have to ask yourself....when does a hobby become a business......that can only be answered when you start having to hire a tax accountant and pay a portion of your "hobby" to the tax man.......most probably by that time you would have outgrown your first hobby CNC router and go to on to greater things.....older and wiser is normal for that scenario. especially when you either make your own designs or job lot for other people.
What do you think about a print nc cnc 30"x48" cutting area with ball screws and linear rails? I've built a 5c cnc lathe a plywood router 18x48 with 1 1/2 hp spindle. I've also retrofited a cnc sherline mill with my own controller. I used inkscape and grblgru for all my machines. Grblgru is totaly underated to power any machine in my opinion. I make metal spin tops that spin for 10-13 minutes. I developed a base to go with it that is adjustable for different size tops and it prolongs spinning times by 4 to5 times. I never got around to selling because life got in the way. Now I'm close to ready. Ive invested years and thousands of dollars in learning building and using cnc machines. I cant ever seem to get to the selling part though. What product can i start with. I lack the skill to make money. Any advise would be much appriciated.
Great video, your opinion on x carve ? With easel ,
Thanks for watching. Personally, I'd stay away from it.
Will esel work with the shapoko
@@petecreats9280 No
Yeah don't go xcarve
Brown Cynthia Taylor Steven Walker Richard
What do you think about the Longmill mk2?
I don't know a ton about the machine itself. But I do know they don't have their own cad software.
I love Andy's videos, especially the business oriented ones.
I bought the Longmill MK2 30x48 machine. In my opinion, it is a much better machine than the Shapeoko mainly because it is screw driven and not belt driven and appears to be more robust. It is on par, with a couple of differences with the OneFinity Pro Series Journeyman for more than $1000 less.
Customer service is terrific and they are constantly making enhancements and improvements.There is free software available, but I opted to go for Vectric vCarve Pro for about $700. Yes, it is probably more than the hobbyist needs, but I don't plan on being a hobbyist. There is a lot to learn, but between Vectric, RUclips videos and others, it is doable, if you are willing to put in the time and effort.
I have the mark 1 and it’s great, they have a 4/4 coming out that is 3500 and has a bull metal base / stand, and will be about as capable as the avid
@@Windycitysmokers I heard about the new one coming out. But there is no way it is as capable as the Avid. 2 completely different level of machines
Check out SienciLabs altmill
I feel the hardest is how and where to sell. I feel like it’s all been designed and being sold already.
You're going to like The CNC Side Hustle. thecncsidehustle.com/
No, I don't want to make money with a CNC. I just want to watch a youtube video.
Cool, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the video
can you send me link to the current file to purchase please sir