If you’re at the point to where you’re
at least thinking about the idea of adding a CNC ROUTER to your shop, then
you’ve likely done some research. If that’s the case then you’ve certainly
noticed there’s a huge range of sizes and prices of machines to consider.
With CNC routers from as small as 12” x 18” to as large as 5’ x 10’ in size,
and prices from a few thousand dollars up to the stratosphere, there’s a lot to
think about.
There is a way to narrow down the
choices quickly. That’s to keep in mind that – more than any feature,
or level of performance, or price – it’s the size of the CNC ROUTER that
directly determines the kind of things that they can best be used for. So I
encourage readers to think beyond those flashy 3D carving demos that every
manufacturer has and consider some of the practical things that you might use a
CNC ROUTER for.
The smallest machines that are suited
for detailed carvings and small project work might not work quite as well for
furniture projects if your intention is to use it for cutting parts. The larger
machines are designed around cutting full sheets of plywood but may be too big
to fit in your shop. So whether you’re driven by need, space or cost, the best
solution for many woodworkers needs is likely somewhere in the middle.
Over time, I’ll cover different sizes
and classes of CNC ROUTER machines from less expensive tabletop machines all
the way up to bigger, fancier, and thus pricier, solutions. But that’s a lot to
cover. Since I can’t do it all at once, a good place to start is at the
intersection of size/function/price where I think a lot of woodworkers will be
most interested: CNC ROUTER machines that are large enough for a broad range of
hobbyist/small shop furniture projects. They also happen to be around the size
of a table saw and priced just above a fancy one. That makes them a nice fit in
home or small professional shops that are typical of many Popular Woodworking readers.
What size of CNC ROUTER am I referring
to? Machines that are in the range of 24” wide by 36” to 48” long. A machine of
this size is well-suited for cutting parts for the majority of furniture
projects that a serious hobbyist would likely to build. The smaller machines in
the range could be used to make guitars, parts for smaller cabinet projects, 3D
carving details, many furniture parts, stools, chairs and just about any kind
of shop project or jig you could come up with.
Keep in mind that with any CNC ROUTER
there are ways for even smaller-sized machines to work on larger projects, so they
can definitely work as well as the larger size. It’s just easier to start with
enough length to begin with; that extra foot makes the 48” of some models
a plus for longer furniture parts like dining chair backs and some cabinet
pieces. And, as a division of 4’ x 8’, a 2’ x 4’ CNC ROUTER is a natural for
plywood-based projects.
In this size range, there are at least
a dozen candidates including machines from ShopBot, Shark,Automation Technologies, Legacy CNC ROUTER Woodworking and more. Plus, there are a handful of
companies that produce quality kits like CNC ROUTER Parts and
the wonderfully designed Grunblau Platform CNC ROUTER. Over time, I hope to look
into these and other CNC ROUTERs in more detail.
For this article, I’m going to focus on
a specific group of machines that are very similar in terms of design,
engineering, and choice of components. These are the machines made by Laguna Tools, Powermatic and Axiorm Precision. I’ve
had the opportunity to use two out of the three on CNC ROUTER projects, so I’m
familiar with their capabilities and have had a close look at the third.
Between their components, specifications and construction, they have much in
common and much to like. So, let’s have a look.
What’s in a Class?
These are the features that make this
24″ x 36″ to 24″ x
48″ class special – and give digital
woodworkers a lot to like in a package sized for a small shop.
- Z
height of 6” or more
- 3hp
water-cooled spindles
- Linear
rails for smooth guidance
- Ball
screws for precision motion
- Stiff
frame and gantry for strength and accuracy
- A
simple pendant controller
What Machines are in this Class?
Axiom Precision Pro Series
- AR6 Pro 24”
x 36” $5,999
- AR8 Pro 24”
x 48” $6,499
Laguna Tools
- Laguna IQ 24”
x 36” $5,999
- Laguna IQ L4F 24”
x 36” $6,999
Powermatic Tools
- PM-2X4SPK 24”
x 36” $8,499
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