To Purchase a CNC Router Without Spending a Fortune

As a manufacturer and supplier of CNC Routers, Roctech is frank to sat that, depending on the equipment’s specifications, the price range for a new CNC router can run from the four-figure mark to the seven-figure mark. For many woodworkers — especially those who are just getting started — purchasing costly computer-controlled hardware is financially impossible. But that doesn’t mean they can’t meet their CNC machining needs. Below are some helpful tips for how to purchase CNC routers without breaking the equipment budget or going deep into debt for the hardware.

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CNC router machine

CNC Router 4 axis

CNC Router 3 axis

cnc router

5 axis CNCRouter

Don’t Over Invest in Capacity

Buy equipment that has enough capacity to meet foreseeable production needs, but don’t invest in hardware whose full capacity may not be needed for a few years. Buying such hardware ahead of time isn’t a good investment. Instead, it wastes money that could be invested in other equipment or resources. Not over investing in equipment capacity is the number one rule for how to purchase CNC routers affordably.

Buy Pre-Owned Equipment

A quality used CNC router machine is typically discounted at least 30 percent off its original price, even when the hardware is reconditioned. Although most pre-owned equipment doesn’t come with a warranty, that shouldn’t be a problem if you invest in industrial grade hardware, which is designed to offer excellent reliability and topnotch performance under strenuous conditions.

Buy Equipment on Sale

Add to your savings by buying pre-owned equipment on sale. Professional buyers that know how to purchase CNC routers do this routinely. They wait until secondhand hardware goes on sale and swoop in for the purchase. For those who need to purchase a quality used CNC router machine as affordably as possible, the double discount of purchasing pre-owned equipment on sale can result in saving well over 50 percent off the original price tag.

Buy From a Company That Has an Equipment Locator Service

If you have a set amount that you can invest in a quality used CNCrouter machine, a seller that has an equipment locator service can search for equipment in inventories besides its own to help you find the hardware you need at the right price.

Will CNC Routers End Wood Craftsmanship?

According to Roctech, for hundreds of years, fine woodwork was associated with doing the job by hand. Intricate picture frames, exquisite furniture details, and ornamental wall medallions required hours of painstaking labor. But how intricate woodwork was performed started to change in the 1970s, when modern Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) routers became widely available.

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CNC router machine

CNC Router 4 axis

CNC Router 3 axis

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5 axis CNC Router

In the roughly 40 years since their inception, computer-controlled routers have largely taken detailed woodwork out of the hands of craftsmen and placed it on the automated production line. The reason why is obvious: Not only is the quality of the work often as good as what hands can create, but it can be produced in a matter of minutes.

At first glance, it may seem as if purchasing used CNC routers encourages the death of wood craftsmanship, but that isn’t the case. Just because using a quality used CNC router machine makes the production of intricate woodwork faster and more affordable doesn’t mean it compromises the artistry of the one who creates it.

Craftsmanship in Perspective

Big woodworking startups that plan to mass produce simple designs are known for purchasing used CNC routers, but so are craftsmen of unique woodwork who wish to increase production capacity without compromising work quality. Using a computer-controlled router doesn’t downgrade the work; it merely helps the craftsman produce more of it, and earn more money.

Consider the case of G. Watson Designs in Durham, North Carolina, which offers turnkey designs and fabrication services to distinguished clients. In terms of artistry, much of the company’s millwork is comparable to the hand carved work one would find in a fine, baroque residence. However, a machine produces much of the work – a Laguna 5’ X ’10 CNC router, to be exact.

G. Watson Designs has observed in computer-controlled equipment what other woodworking companies have seen: the price of the hardware has consistently dropped, while the quality of its work has continually improved. Investing in a quality used CNC router machine can be more than a good move financially. It can also ensure that great designs are flawlessly executed.

CNC Router is Cutting and Carving

CNC Router is Cutting and Carving

http://www.roc-tech.com/product/product34.html

http://www.cnc-router-5axis.com

CNC
Router 4 axis

cnc
router 5axis

Live Show of CNC Router 1325 for Woodworking

Live Show of CNC Router 1325 for Woodworking

http://www.roc-tech.com/product/product89.html

http://www.cnc-router-manufacturer.com

CNC
router machine

cnc
router manufacturer

Getting Familiar with CNC Router Operations

CNC (Computer Numerical Control) router operators specialize in the operation of CNC routers. Unlike standard routers, a computer that contains design programs controls CNC routers. This allows them to offer more efficiency, accuracy, and cutting intricacy than standard routers. Depending on their training, CNC router operators may also operate other types of CNC router machinery. In either case, their important job tasks include:

Measuring finished pieces to ensure they meet design specifications.

Removing and replacing dull cutter heads as necessary.

Adjusting or installing new attachments and fixtures as necessary.

Moving work pieces onto the cutting plane manually or with the use of hoists.

Programming a router’s computer with new design profiles as required.

Calculating and adjusting a router’s cutting speed according to design needs.

A CNC router operator’s task set ultimately depends on the router he or she operates. But the tasks above are ubiquitous to CNC machinist work.

wood CNC router

CNC router machine

CNC Router 4 axis

CNC Router 3 axis

cnc router

5 axis CNC Router

Required knowledge

CNC router operators work with complex machinery to produce complex designs. Consequently, they require the following forms of knowledge:

Mechanical knowledge of a how a CNC router operates and its maintenance needs.

Mathematical knowledge, including knowledge of statistics, algebra, geometry, calculus, and arithmetic.

Production/processing knowledge, including knowledge of raw materials, cost control, quality control, and production processes.

Computer knowledge regarding CNC router computers.

CNC router operators may also require knowledge of used woodworking machines if they make router purchases. Due to their high price and excellent longevity, industrial CNC routers are often purchased used.

Required skills and abilities

CNC router operators require skills and abilities needed for general woodworking and operating a CNC router, including:

Acute hearing for detecting sounds that indicate a router isn’t performing properly.

Near vision for reading computer screens and determining the surface quality of wood stock.

Critical thinking for programming instructions into a router’s computer and performing cuts in the right order.

Concentration for focusing on router operation once it begins the routing process.

Job statistics

As of 2008, 141,000 CNC operators are employed in the U.S., with a projected growth of 7% to 13% between 2008 and 2018. As of 2009, the median annual wage for a CNC operator is $34,460 ($16.57/hr.). According to a national work survey, 48% of CNC operators have a high school diploma or the equivalent; 32% have some college; and 16% do not have a high school diploma. To learn more about becoming a CNC router operator, contacting a trade school that offers courses in CNC routing or shadowing CNC router operators at a woodworking company are good options.

Other considerations

Most CNC operators are employed by the manufacturing industry. However, many CNC operators also choose self-employment, purchasing their own router for their woodshop. For independent woodworkers that plan on including CNC routing in their range of services, purchasing a CNC router used can (a) significantly reduce startup cost and still deliver the dependability expected from industrial machinery.

Testing a low cost CNC Router

Furniture maker, Curtis Erpelding testing and tuning the Maslow CNCROUTER

The Maslow CNC ROUTER is a CNC ROUTER kit that costs just $350. For that price, you should expect a few compromises. For one thing, you have to put it together. Of course you’ll get the key mechanical, electrical and electronic parts, however, you will need to provide plywood and a couple of 2” x 4”s to complete it. The good news, after using one for a while, I can confirm that it really does work but there is one more ingredient you need: “Geekiness.”

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CNC router machine

CNC Router 4 axis

CNC Router 3 axis

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5 axis CNC Router

After reviewing the beta kit, I think it’s important for potential buyers to approach it with realistic expectations. First, the Maslow is not a plug-and-play CNC ROUTER —not that any current CNC ROUTER is, but the Maslow throws in some extra challenges along the way. It’s a very basic kit mechanically but there are also a few software issues to overcome. What this means is that if you decide to build a Maslow you need to be prepared to step in and solve a few problems as they come up.

Because of my schedule, I was unable to build the kit, so fellow furniture maker Curtis Erpelding got my beta unit up and running. We’ve found that within reasonable limits, the Maslow CNC ROUTER does indeed do what it promises. It takes G-code generated from digital drawings and cuts parts out of plywood or other sheet materials.

Getting the Maslow CNC ROUTER running

Besides building the base — a straightforward construction task for the average woodworker, getting the machine tested and ready presents several challenges. Remember, the Maslow is not “plug and play”. A key task is you need to install the software and test and tune the Maslow. You need to download the current software, install the firmware onto the Maslow’s Arduino-based controller and set up your PC to run the machine. Then you go through several steps to calibrate the machine.

Along the way, you should be prepared to debug problems as they come up. And, being a new device and lightly documented, you should expect a few. This is why I say that potential buyers need to have some geeky skills. If you thrive on these kinds of modern challenges, you’ll be better equipped to solve these kinds of problems than a woodworker who’s experience might be limited to only dealing with mechanical issues.

Thanks to the support from Maslow and its helpful online community, you won’t be alone in dealing with most issues as they come up. Though many of the members of the forum seem to have little CNC ROUTER or woodworking experience, they do appear to have a lot of software experience and they are ready to help if needed.

Maslow Ground Control Software works on PCs, Macs, Linux Machines, some tablets and inexpensive Raspberry Pi computers. The software is simple and easy to use.

Ground Control Software

The Maslow CNC ROUTER controller software is called Ground Control. Keeping with the goal of Maslow to make the CNC ROUTER as accessible and inexpensive as possible, it runs on Windows, Windows Tablets, Macs or even Linux-based Raspberry Pi computers. From a user perspective, Ground Control is simple to use and straight forward. You load the G-code file that you want to run, set a few parameters and away you go.

In its current form, the software is not quite done but getting closer to completion. As I write this, each week a new version of Ground Control is released that solves problems that have been discovered by the many Maslow beta testers. For example, Curtis and I ran into some issues with how the Maslow was rendering and machining circles and curves. It was cutting short arcs instead of the smooth curves that we were expecting. Maslow’s team and the community got on it and fixed the problem. Another issue was the controller was having difficulties reading other flavors of G-code files when I provided RhinoCAM generated G-code files for a test. That quickly got fixed, too. So, you get the idea. If problems come up, between the Maslow crew and the community, you won’t be alone.

Using the Maslow CNC ROUTER

Once you have set up the Maslow, run a few tests and are all ready to go, what’s it like to run the Maslow? The first word that comes to mind — particularly if you have any experience with other CNC ROUTERs is: slow. You can expect a feed rate of 20-35 inches per minute. Dragging a router, held down with bricks, using tiny motors, chains and gears come with some limitations. People have pushed it beyond 35 IPM, but besides obvious mechanical limitations, a key issue is the Arduino’s processor ability to keep up with higher speeds. It can only go so fast.

On top of the slow speed, only shallow cuts should be taken. No, you won’t just plow through a 3/4” piece of plywood in one pass. Think three or four passes. Between the tiny motors and dependence on gravity, there simply isn’t enough torque in the equation to do otherwise. Pushing too hard just adds more resistance. The cost of going too fast or cutting too deep is less accuracy. So, go with the flow and take shallow cuts – about 1/8″ to 1/4″ deep.

With shallow cuts, the Maslow is fairly accurate. The best approach is to keep your cuts as close to the center of the large Maslow base as possible. In early tests, it was producing samples that were less than 1/32” off square on smaller cuts. With further tuning of the controller software, it seems likely the team will get close to the 1/64” or .4mm design goal. Particularly challenging are long, straight lines. Trying to run lines as long as six or seven feet sometimes produces a bow up to 1/16”. But, being measurable, consistent and repeatable, results could be further improved with more tuning of the controller software on future releases.

A special thank you goes to Curtis Erpelding for all his work building and testing the beta Maslow CNC ROUTER. His base is a top notch design. Simple, flat, rigid and cheap. If you’re building a Maslow, study it!

In the final installment of the Maslow series, I’ll have some suggestions for those considering building a Maslow CNCROUTER.

Digital Multi-Function CNC Router for Plances and Cubes

Digital Multi-Function CNC Router for Plances and Cubes



http://www.roc-tech.com/product/product85.html

http://www.cnc-milling-machine.org

5 axis
CNC Router

cnc
milling machine

CNC RouterCarving Tiny Characters on Color Board

CNC RouterCarving Tiny Characters on Color Board



http://www.roc-tech.com/product/product75.html

http://www.cnc-routers.org

wood CNC
router

cnc
routers

Accuracy and Adjustability of New CNC Router Tools for Woodworking

CNC Router Woodworking tool design progresses slowly. While it’s easy to state that today we have some of the best CNC Router woodworking tools ever, the designs haven’t changed much. I mean, when a manufacturer takes advantage of modern metallurgy and manufacturing processes you can get some exceptionally high-quality tools – but that isn’t design change.

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CNC router machine

CNC Router 4 axis

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5 axis CNC Router

Saws still have teeth shaped the same way, blades and backs of the same size and shape, and even handle designs (while a little larger on average) are the same shape as many in the historic record. The advances have been more in materials used and machining tolerances than in overall design.

That situation is even more obvious in the handplane realm. Shoot – even Lie-Nielsen states their planes are refined Bedrocks or other Stanleys.

The same can be said in the power-tool world, if you limit the scope to the realm of small shops or hobbyists. There have been exceptional leaps in the commercial woodworking world with CNC Router, laser cutters and water jets, but those are realistically out of the reach of most.

Because of another project, I’ve been thinking of design quite a bit this past week. This lack of radical innovation seems somewhat specific to the woodworking world. I know that automobiles have advanced and changed more from about 1985 to the turn of the 21st century than they did from the turn of the 20th century to 1985, mainly due to computerization. Medicine…don’t get me started. Even some of the most basic functions such as cooking have had major innovations in the past 30-40 years (microwaves, MREs, ceramics).

For the life of me, I was having a difficult time thinking of a modern woodworking tool design that has “stuck.” Seriously – I’d contemplated this for a few days and it was frustrating me. With all the advances we have had in my lifetime, basic woodworking tools haven’t changed much and I couldn’t figure out why.

And then, while installing some hinges, I found one: a design so perfect that its use is intuitive and practically disappears into your workflow with no thought. A tool that betters the performance of the design it replaces and brings along so much more.

I think brass wheel marking gauges, epitomized by the Tite-Mark, are radically different enough from traditional gauges that they might represent the biggest advance in woodworking tool design this century. Sure it’s a shaft and a head, but the function, shape and usage is so different than that of traditional marking gauges that it is a totally new design. The biggest advantages to the wheel marking gauge are, in my opinion, the adjustability, thin shaft and flush head.

It used to be that all a gauge did was mark a line, and the adjustments were kinda of crude. But now, how many of us use these flexible tools for measuring or cutting without a second thought. I know mine is used with every mortise to verify my tenon length, and it has become my de facto router plane when working on small things, such as hinge gains. The flush cutter head is easily sharpened and, due to the bevel, can be used just as effectively as a plane to level narrow dados, rabbets and grooves. I’m actually surprised nobody has developed different-shaped replacement carbide heads for these tools for that purpose.

And can we talk about accuracy and adjustability? They say that quality design is practically invisible – so simple and elegant as to be intuitive. I can put these tools into students’ hands and instantly they’re making fine adjustments and figuring out uses. With the old wooden rod and screw (or wedge) it was a bit hit-and-miss with accuracy. The tool was finicky, which adds frustration and requires instruction. Not so with this new design.

And to think: The design less than 20 years old yet now ubiquitous.

Can you think of a modern tool design that has infiltrated the CNC Router woodworking community more that the brass wheel marking gauge?

Step to Step for CNC Router Duplication

CNC Router duplication has been around a long time. Early machines used stiluses to follow the shape of a pattern or master, while on the other end of the machines, routers did the carving. In a similar but computerized fashion, CNC routers are also capable of duplicating existing carvings and furniture parts. A digital “touch” probe is first used in the CNC to sense the surface of the object, while the probe’s accompanying software creates a digital image of the part.

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CNC router machine

CNC Router 4 axis

CNC Router 3 axis

cnc router

5 axis CNC Router

The digital image is then converted to a 3D model and used to program CNC routing paths for a replica. To test the capabilities of this technique, I hand carved a traditional scallop shell measuring about 4″ x 4″ to use as my original. My test revealed that a CNC digital probe is quite capable of accurately recording the shape of an object, with one exception; due to its ballshaped tip, the probe rounds off the inside corners of fi ne details such as the veins on this shell. A little bit of hand carving easily adds the missing details. The three carvings in the photo below are duplicates of my original (photo above). Watch the digital probe in action at AmericanWooodworker.com/CNC.

Step 1

Set the scanning parameters. The
software control panel is used to set the
size of the scanning area, the precision or
resolution of the scanning action, and the
speed of the scan. The Scan Limits of X and Y
represent the width and length of the scan
area, while the Z Scan Limit represents the
range the probe travels vertically. The Step
Sizes are the X and Y distances the probe
moves between measurements. The Scan
Velocity controls the speed of the probe as
it moves across the part’s surface. The Part
Coordinates show the location of the probe
during operation. I used the Shark CNC Pro
Plus to scan the shell for this article, but
most CNCs, including the CarveWright and
Shopbot, are capable of probe scanning.

Step 2

Scan the part. I set parameters for this shell
carving as shown in Step 1. The X and Y
scanning limits are penciled on the backer
board. The Z limit was set at 1” to provide
sufficient vertical travel for the carving’s 5/8”
thickness. The step sizes of .005” for this shell
equals 800 passes across the shell for a total
of 680,000 steps, or measurement points, and
took about 12 hours. ( I ran this overnight). The
Shark CNC probe has a .075” dia. wear-resistant
industrial ruby tip, so certain details such as the
fine veins on this shell were not fully captured;
but the remainder of the surface was captured
with surprising accuracy. A larger step setting
can be used on objects with less detail, such
as a chair seat. Doubling the step size reduces
scanning time by a factor of four.

Step 3

Adjust the digital image. The
scanning creates an .stl file, which is a
common file type used in 3D modeling.
The scanned area surrounding the shell is
not needed and is removed at this time.

Step 4

Create the 3D model. The .stl file is
converted to a 3D model with CNC
design software such as Aspire by
Vectric. I also used Aspire to increase
the thickness of the shell’s base to 1/4”.

Step 5

Smooth the surface. If needed, the
design software can also be used to
smooth the surface of the model. My
scan was fine enough so I only needed
to remove a couple scratches.

Step 6

Remove the background.
I removed the background to get
the waste material out of the way
in order to make it easier to add the
final hand carved details in Step 10. I
programmed the toolpath for the 3/4”
straight bit at a .1” depth-of-cut per
pass and a stepover (pass width) of .2”.
The tool path was also programmed
to leave the shell profile .125” oversize.
Removing the background for the
three shells took about 30 minutes. The
board started out .875 (7/8” ) thick and
the routed background is .25” thick.
The shell will have a final thickness
of .75”.

Step 7

Rout the final profile and tabs.
The final profile is made using a
1/4” straight bit that cuts all the way
through the material. Tabs are left to
hold the shell in place. These tabs can
also seen in bottom photo on page 15.
A piece of plywood underneath
protects the metal machine bed from
damage. I programmed the toolpath
for the 1/4” straight bit for .125” depth
passes. The profile and tab routing of
the three shells took about 8 minutes.

Step 8

Rough rout the shape.
To accomplish the rough routing I
used a 1/4” ballnose bit programmed
to a .1” depth of cut and .1” step over
(pass width). This roughing phase
removes the majority of the material.
The amount of material left by the
rough pass is adjustable, with .02” being
common for a carving such as this shell.
Leaving this small amount allows the
final pass to be completed in one pass,
saving time and wear on the finishing
bit. The rough routing of the three
shells took about 60 minutes.

Step 9

Rout the final pass.
The final carving is done with a
specialty .0625” (1/16”) ballnose bit
(available at BeckwithDecor.com). I
programmed this bit to make .01” wide
(1/100”) passes. The tiny tip of this bit
is capable of recreating a considerable
amount of detail, and leaves a surface
that only requires a light sanding with
220 grit sand paper to make it ready for
finishing. The final routing of the three
shells took about 70 minutes.

Step 10

Detail by hand as needed.
Complete the carving with some touchup
hand carving of the veins and finish
sanding. There are CNC operations
where the goal is to create a part that
requires no additional hand work—this
application is not one of them. A CNC
is a tool capable of many things, but a
realistic expectation of what it can do
is also important. In the case of these
shells, I accepted the fact that I would
need to do some hand detailing to
achieve the results I wanted, similar to
scraping or sanding a board after
jointing and planning.

Step 11

Make the boxes. After making the
shells, the box shape is simple to
program using the profile of the shell
as a pattern. It took about 150 minutes
to rout the 3 boxes on the CNC using a
1/4” up-spiral bit. They were cut out of
1-1/2” material.

Project Time Card

CNC the lids: 55 minutes each

CNC the boxes: 50 minutes each

Set up and material prep: 15 minutes each

Detailing and sanding: 45 minutes each

Staining and finishing: 20 minutes each

Total time: 3 hours 30 minutes each

I spent 5 hours 15 minutes (total for all three)
doing something else while
the CNC Router ran.

Control a CNC Router to Write Characters

Control a CNC Router to Write Characters

http://www.roc-tech.com/product/product36.html

http://www.cnc-engraving-machine.org

CNC
Router 3 axis

cnc engraving machine

How to Use the Tools of a Small CNC Router?

In Part One, I introduced the Laguna IQ 24″ x 36″ CNC ROUTER. Below is Part Two of the video review.

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CNC router machine

CNC Router 4 axis

CNC Router 3 axis

cnc router

5 axis CNC Router

Conclusions

I’ve had a Laguna IQ in the shop for a few weeks and put it to use on a variety of projects from part cutting to 3D carving. Like all the machines in this the class, I expected that the design, choice of components and solid construction would give excellent results and it has. The machine is very precise and consistent.

The usable feed rate is predictably slower than my own custom CNC ROUTER at 100 -120 IPM or so due to the size of the stepper motors and the pitch of the smaller ball screws. Still, it’s more than fast enough for practical CNC ROUTER uses and totally in line with machines of this size.

The over-travel of the Laguna IQ is a real plus. With 4” of overhang you could build a clamping area so that you could do joinery on the edges or ends of parts adding to the versatility of the machine.

Unlike some CNC ROUTERs, the Laguna doesn’t require a dedicated computer to run it. The pendant controller makes it simple for novices to load files and run jobs. Push a few buttons and you’re off and running. My only complaint is the RichAuto controller readout is metric only. This is the same controller used on the Axiom Precision and Powermatic CNC ROUTERs. Metric only makes it extra challenging if you design your work in inches. Functionally, it’s not a limitation. The work gets done no matter what measuring system you prefer. But, in day-to-day use for say, moving the spindle to specific locations, it’s a real inconvenience. The controller should have the ability to go back and forth from metric to imperial measurements.

One thing that needs real improvement is the manual. It’s thin with a few technical details and not much else. Unfortunately, poor manuals are the norm with consumer CNC ROUTERs of this class. Running and setting up a CNC ROUTER like this will likely be a first time experience for many of the buyers. Dry technical information and nothing else is not the same as helping a new owner get off on the right foot. Face it: CNC ROUTERs can be intimidating. A good manual can help. There’s just no reason why a good user-friendly manual can’t be developed that explains some of the basic processes, how to setup and tune a machine and take the new owner through a few common exercises like flattening the spoil board, basic part cutting and the CAD to CAM to CNC ROUTER workflow. Despite the thin manual hats off to the many excellent online videos that Laguna has on their website.

Overall, it’s a great small CNC ROUTER. Laguna’s components, engineering, and design have given small shop woodworkers an excellent option.

Final notes. Laguna has added to their IQ line of small CNC ROUTERs. The Laguna IQ now has an optional Z height of 10″ over the standard 6″ clearance. And, a brand new model, the Laguna IQ LF4. It has options of a 3D printer head and 3D touch probe.

CNC Router Best Fit Small Shops

An excellent CNC ROUTER for a small workshop.

In Part One and Part Two of this series on small shop CNCROUTERs, I introduced machines in this group that are designed to perform well in home and small professional shops. What they have in common is the size range and their engineering, design, components, specifications and build. Now, it’s time for a closer look at one of the machines and a review of the Laguna IQ.

wood CNC router

CNC router machine

CNC Router 4 axis

CNC Router 3 axis

cnc router

5 axis CNC Router

There’s a lot to cover in a review of a CNC ROUTER so I thought that I could cover more in a video review. Here’s Part One (look for Part Two later this week).

ROCTECH CNC ROUTER MACHINERY-http://www.roc-tech.com

http://www.roc-tech.com/product/product29.html

http://www.cnc-engraving-machine.org

CNC
Router 3 axis

cnc engraving machine

Demo of CNC Router to Automatic Knife Positioning

Demo of CNC Router to Automatic Knife Positioning

http://www.roc-tech.com/product/product90.html

http://www.cnc-router-manufacturer.com

CNC
router machine

cnc
router manufacturer

First Project on Probotix Asteroid CNC Router

First Project on Probotix Asteroid CNC Router

http://www.roc-tech.com/product/product55.html

http://www.cnc-router-diy.com

wood CNC
router

cnc
router diy

I couldn’t find a CNC ROUTER designed for furniture making, so I had mine custom made. Now, woodworkers have some off-the-shelf choices that fit our special requirements.

Part Two. Decisions to Make
I’ve been using CNC ROUTER services since the late ’90s to create patterns, jigs and fixture components and a few furniture parts. After years of use, the potential of a CNC ROUTER as a useful tool in woodworking was obvious. But, if I was going to make the most of it, I needed get my own machine. A couple of things were holding me back. Which machine to buy was a complicated decision. I knew what I needed, but the machine I wanted wasn’t available. That said, the major reason for the delay in getting my own CNC ROUTER was more about choosing and committing to an advanced CAD software package that I could live with for a long time.

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CNC router machine
CNC Router 4 axis
CNC Router 3 axis
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5 axis CNC Router

Big Machines Don’t Fit Well in Small Shops
Until recently, most CNC ROUTERs were expensive and designed for cabinet shops who use sheet goods and are sized 4×8 or larger. Like many woodworkers, my shop space is limited. Factory or cabinet shop sized CNC ROUTERs were just too big for my needs. Here’s why. The rule of thumb for sizing equipment for furniture making is to size your power tools to the average of your larger individual furniture parts. Your equipment doesn’t have to handle the biggest piece you can imagine. When the occasional really big part comes up, you work around the problem using alternate woodworking techniques. Being flexible in how you accomplish a given task is an important part of what woodworking is all about.
This same theory works for sizing a CNC ROUTER. If you consider everything you might make, you’ll find that most furniture parts really aren’t all that big. I needed a CNC ROUTER sized for furniture making not cabinetmaking.
Deciding On CAD Software for Woodworking
I also had to commit to better design software then I was using at the time. After a career as a designer, from decades of experience I knew that good software is a critical. Great software can do much more for you then just being a simple tool for making drawings. In the right hands, it’s potentially a powerful creative tool. Once mastered, it gives you new opportunities and take you in new directions.  And so, the software decision was the most difficult of the two I had to make. And, it’s the reason I didn’t buy a CNC ROUTER years sooner.
Why was it a hard choice? Because, if you’re going to use digitally based tools of any type (CNC ROUTERs, Laser Cutters, etc.) you have to make a commitment to learn CAD software – the tool you use to create your designs, and CAM software – for turning your drawings into the tool paths and the instructions that the CNC ROUTER follows. Because of its enormous range of capabilities, CAD in particular takes a commitment to dive in and learn it. I looked at many different professional packages over several years but I needed to give the contestants a more thorough evaluation. It took the commitment to get a CNC ROUTER to force me to look deeper and critically evaluate my needs and long term expectations.
And, since this question will inevitably come up, it’s important to clarify that 3D sketching software is not the same as true CAD software. The accuracy, features, toolset, versatility and potential of true CAD software – especially 3D CAD software – are critical if your intended result is CAM files that will run on CNC ROUTERs. That being said, if you already have experience in 3D sketching, it’s a great place to start as you head into the world of real CAD software.
The Cost of Software is Measured in Time. Not Dollars.
Certainly, CAD software like this can be expensive but price wasn’t my first concern. From decades using professional digital design tools I knew that the real cost in serious software is not measured in dollars. The initial cost always takes care of itself over time. The real cost is the time you put in to learn and someday master the tool. If you value your time – as you should, then time should be a major factor in your decision.
Because CAD software has so much capability and tons of features expect an investment of your time over a number of years. Digital woodworking involves creating the drawings that you’ll ultimately machine. Experience has also taught me that better quality software is often worth the added costs over a free or inexpensive solution. Unfortunately, because software can’t be touched like a beautifully made hand tool many people don’t recognize the value in it and automatically gravitate to the lowest price solution. But, like other tools in the shop, free or inexpensive software can sometimes be like living with any other cheap tool. You often get what you pay for. Inaccuracy, limitations, reliability, incompatibility and just plain being hard to learn and live with are frustrations common in both the hand tool and software worlds.
The choice of CAD software is a decision with long term consequences. In my case, I chose a highly capable 3D package with lots of room to expand.
Treat Software Like a Major Shop Tool
A more realistic approach is to consider that buying good CAD and CAM software is comparable to the process of deciding on a quality fixed tool in your workshop. It’s worth serious consideration and research on your part before you make a decision to commit.
One advantage that software has over big, heavy shop tools is you can take it home and try it out. Free trials, usually for 30 days or more give you a good chance to evaluate before you make a decision. And, don’t just poke around but also use some of the training tools that the software companies and YouTube provides.
So, What did I Do?
At the time, no CNC ROUTER manufacture made a machine available in the size, specification, level of precision and with special tweaks I considered important for furniture making,  so I ended up designing the machine I needed and having it custom built.
For me the choice of CAD package had to fit both my present and future needs, be a solid tool with a lots of capabilities. And, be a tool I wanted to live with for a long time and like any other favorite tools, be a program I really liked using. For software, I chose a high-end but moderately priced 3D CAD program called Rhino3D that I’m very happy with. And, for CAM software I chose RhinoCAM, an advanced package that nicely compliments my CAD software. Because it’s so critical to digital woodworking, software will certainly be an ongoing topic in this blog.
Next up: A series of posts on how I use CNC ROUTERs in my woodworking shop. Then we’ll start getting into some of the details of digital woodworking.