Cover Me! I'm Go'in In!

I'll be 64 this year and learning this machine and acquiring the skills to use it is a multi-year project. I don't want to buy something that's wonky to begin with or something that won't cut the same line twice. My intention is just a home shop I can spend some days on woodworking, building some grandkid items, and maybe few challenging small projects along the way.

I’m not in a hurry because I still need to clean out the office, so this spring/summer and I can wait a month for delivery if necessary. I’m thinking $5K +-, not including other misc. expenses and I'm not opposed to good used equipment if I can reduce costs or bump up quality.

It looks like VCarve Pro is the way to go for software unless I'm convinced otherwise.

Maybe a 4th axis turner/attachment later, or all in now if the price is right.

Plenty of space, I'll convert my Home Office I've used it for 18 yrs. Its 24' x 40 and has 1 x 240v outlet which I had converted to 2 x 120v 20a years ago. I can convert it back or add 1 more 240v easily. I also had 8' fluorescents converted to LED 4 years ago, so plenty of light. All my other shop equipment is 110v benchtop/light duty but relatively good quality Delta, DeWalt, Porter Cable, Milwaukee, etc.

I can bump up scale/quality of my other equipment as the need arises-after paying for the router.

As for projects, I was thinking of starting with some kitchen cabinet doors/drawer fronts, so I’ll need a big enough router bed. That seems like a simple repetitive starter project, am I wrong? Later maybe Guitar bodies, signage, and the ability for 3D millwork. Profit is not my current goal, but it would be nice to be able to pay some expenses when I find the opportunity.

One of our members wrote a couple of books for CNC beginners you might find helpful. You can find them on Amazon. Here are the pictures so you can find the titles. Prof. Henry is the company name for our member, Oliver, or Gaffboat. He hasn't posted much lately, but you could PM him. His work is very creative. I also added a pdf on making money with your CNC, just in case you choose to offset your costs a bit.

Dave to avoid headaches I would stay away from all the small

I did check out the new Shark HD5 and they have taken a lot of the slop out of the Z-axis with the new design. It would come with Vectric VCarve Desktop software so you would have design software to start. You can get the extended bed version of the Shark HD5. The VCarve Desktop version is limited to 24"x24" so for larger projects you would have to upgrade to the Pro version. To upgrade it is the cost between Desktop and Pro or the difference between Desktop and Aspire which is their top of the line software and you can make your own models with Aspire. The standard version might be a bit limiting in size for the project you want to do and possibly the extended bed might still be a little small, it really depends on the size of your projects. The Vectric software does both CAD(Computer-Aided Design) and CAM(Computer-Aided Manufacturing).

The Probotix machines would also be a decent entry model machine. You will have to add the cost of design software or you might use Fusion360 which would be free for you to use if you don't run a business making over a certain amount. Fusion360 is a 3D CAD program that is very powerful, it also does CAM.

These entry model machines will be limited in the speed they can cut and the size of project you can do. You might want to wait and save a little more money and get a better machine than the entry model machines.

You might look into Avid CNC. They are kit based but easy to assemble you have the option to do Plug n' Play electronics or you can do the electronics your self if you are comfortable with that. Their machines can also be upgraded in size later if you see the need for a bigger machine. They also have great customer service. If I had it to do all over again I would go with an Avid system to start with. There are a lot of happy Avid CNC machine owners.