[4DThinker]

We have several Powermatic tools in our fabrication lab, and love them for the same reasons you've discovered. They are heavy. Our lathes sit still despite the starting off-balance shake rough logs of wood make before they've been turned to a cylinder. Our table saw doesn't balk at 5" thick slabs being ripped, and will throw a misbehaving board back with authority and keep straight and running despite the blood.

For a CNC though I'd need to know what support is behind it. What software does it run and does it come with it? Are any accessories available for it? Dust collection? Touch-off plates? Tool length sensor? Tool changer? Will you be happy when confined to 3-axis flat work?

I'm not sure just how heavy a CNC has to be. I've come to think that "stiff" is more important. Weight just costs you more when it is time to move the thing. Of the small CNCs I've played with the CNC Shark is heavy enough to not slide off the bench it sits on, but not stiff enough to trust cutting aluminum or very hard woods with accuracy. The Probotix CNCs I have and also use at work are far stiffer than the Shark, and surprisingly light. The company making them is young and creative, having improved their design and added features/accessories over the years. Taller and stiffer are the latest improvements. A tool changer is in the works. They are prototyping an enclosure for their CNCs.

4D

 

[4DThinker]

One limitation of CNCs design like the powermatic/axiom is that the gantry has a beam running under the bed. Same flaw as my CNC shark.
My probotix meteor, on the other hand uses 2 Y motors to push/pull the gantry and that leaves a bed with nothing running under it. Advantage? You can open up the bed to do vertical and angled cutting. We take great advantage of that "feature" for cutting furniture joinery and solving many furniture design construction challenges.

If you plan on sticking to flat work then don't sweat it. If you want to make furniture then you'll appreciate a CNC with vertical/angled/bulky part clamping potential.

My CNC: 4D Furniture Thoughts: Advanced Compound Angle CNC Clamping Fixture.

4D

 

[4DThinker]

My wisdom wasn't instant. It came simply by adding time to a beginning. I had no clue what knowledge would be needed when I ordered my first CNC. Curiosity and some spare cash was all. The CNC in the link is my second, needed simply for its larger cut area. Opening it up for vertical cuts was an accidental discovery. The jig in the link is version 2.5. I may look clever but that is because I don't show you versions 1 through 2.4. I'll confess to a willingness to iterate. Jig one worked, but had considerable room for improvements.

In a couple of years you'll have new users wishing they lived closer to you. Welcome to the adventure!

4D