Well, things could get interesting.....

Learning curve depends on experience you have before getting A CNC. I personally felt no confusion or frustration using the first CNC I bought as I already had CAD software experience, years of using routers both handheld and mounted in tables, and an engineering/architecture aptitude/education. I've know some woodworkers who were so completely flustered trying to figure out how to use a CNC they bought that they sold it off quickly. Simple profile and pocketing you'll need for making jigs/templates is basic stuff, and shouldn't be hard to manage. You'll need CAD software to draw the vectors, CAM to turn those vectors into toolpaths, and controller software to feed the toolpaths to the CNC. Vectric.com's Cut2D should have enough cad/cam features for what you described. There are many other options out there.

If men's shed could get a MACH3 system, there will be a lot of things that can be done without having to buy expensive software.
1. The free MACH3 Wizards or low-priced Newfangled Solution Wizards are very handy to do a lot of stuffs.
You can even use the "COPYCAT" wizard on the machine itself to vectorize live objects or a photograph like what expensive "Logic trace 2022" is doing.
2. Try FREEWARE from Scorch Works
F-Engrave: Dmap2Gcode: G-Code Ripper: used together can do things that even expensive software cannot do.
3. Freeware INKSCAPE is very powerful and it can also generate g-code directly.
4. Learn G-code programming directly instead of being sucked/deceived into dependence on EXPENSIVE Vectric or Autodesk or other CAD/CAM software. Download or buy Peter Smid's "CNC Programming Handbook" and use free VISUALISER g-code editor called "NC Corrector".

Expectation management is key.

You are losing bed size, speed, some accuracy repeatability, and potentially power based on the size of router or spindle the the machine will accept but on the other hand it would still open up a lot of capability in a smaller form factor.

These type of machines are NOT built for production but for hobby they may be adequate based on expectations.

CAD basics doesn't take a ton of time to pick up but there are a bunch of options out there so it will take different times based on what is picked.

I have limited experience with CAM (I've only played with VCarve a little) so others can talk to the learning curve there.

So if expectations are appropriate on what these machines are capable, I personally, don't see why not.

I had friends that used these types of machines to make and sell custom cutting boards.

@jw2170

Go for 6040 with Water-cooled spindle like this (brand new USD800 so for USD500 you can get a used one)


I can donate a fully activated I5 Windows XP/Win7 PC & a Xbox360 games controller for you to run MACH3 (sorry won't ship any monitor).
You will need to pay for a legal MACH3 license.

I will help you to change the X-axis and Y axis around so that X-axis is the longer axis (X=600, Y=390 Z=120 instead)..
With F-engrave+ G-Code Ripper software YOU will be able make huge & heavy Wooden/plastic/Aluminum Signs up to1.5 feet wide of ANY LENGTH by shifting the workpiece and engraving about 2 feet at a time. Just need in-feed and outfeed support plus an fixed index hole drilled on the machine.
Can't do that when people are deceived by those expensive CAD/CAM software that ALWAYS limit your workpiece size.

Thanks for the replys.

I agree, and understand, that a machine of that entry level may be lacking.

It will be used for hobby woodworking only.

If I use it, at this stage, it would only to be to make router templates.

I will advise the President about the software requirements, if he decides to go ahead.

At this point, I doubt it will be used often enough to make a valid purchase....

There are very few router users in the shed. Mainly edge trimming.

James, One point in relation to low end CNC 'routers' that I have seen quite often is people mentioning the actual cut time for jobs, often as a consequence of a failure somewhere part way through.
I'm in Aus also, and a lot of Mens Sheds operate for five or six hours one or two days a week. I figure it's one thing to do a 30 hour cut at home where you can monitor regularly, but it might vary from impractical to virtually impossible if people only have short term access to the shed a couple of days a week, I can't see a shed being happy to leave a machine running in the background if the shed is inaccessible for a couple of days. Your shed may be much more active than the ones I have lived near over the years, which would partially negate the issue.

As a general rule with CNC machinery, performance costs money, and the truly base level ebay special models seem to have issues just running reliably, let alone doing intricate work that takes some time. I was spoiled, as my CNC router experience was 4 years operating an industrial machine that had a 14 tool tool changer, 8ft+ x 6ft+ vacuum bed, a 10 HP spindle and 1HP AC servo motors for the transport mechanism. That machine could process an 8x6 board into 20 cabinet parts that were ready for edge banding and assembly in under 10 minutes, providing every feature that was required for the finished cabinets, such as all hardware holes, screw pilot holes for assembly, two pass cutting cycles etc. That's a long way beyond machines with 40w stepper motors with limited torque and speed and spindles or DC motors pretending to be spindles that are well under 1HP and often speed limited also.