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Thread: What do you use your CNCs for?
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10th June 2021, 10:29 PM #1Woodworking mechanic
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What do you use your CNCs for?
I’m interested in what you use your CNCs, maInly if they are not your major source of income.
I’ve been thinking of buying one for sometime. Why? I have wanted one since I first built my arduino controlled router lift mainly because it’s a mix of computers, design software and woodwork.
I planned to buy one when I retired and actually got SWMBO’s blessing but a couple of things popped up like big tree removal etc. So I feel if I buy one I should use it to make some money to pay back it’s purchase over a few years.
So for those who have one and it’s not the main source of income, do you use it to make some extra $$$, just for your own pleasure etc. What do you make on it? Do you sell to markets, do you sub in work etc?
Thanks in advance
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10th June 2021 10:29 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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11th June 2021, 07:29 AM #2GOLD MEMBER
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Be interested in the replies to this too. Big part of the fun for me has been building it. Be interested to see what people get up to with theirs.
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11th June 2021, 06:57 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
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All sorts of stuff
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12th June 2021, 10:12 AM #4Senior Member
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All sorts of stuff.
examples include v carve epoxy filled coasters, a relief map of Australia, edge lit signs.
I’ve made very little with the machine, dabbled when I first got it but the fun of using it disappeared so I stopped.
perhaps I could sell the maps, entirely my design and I created the models from raw data. But what price. Each one costs several hundred in materials plus at least 40 hours of work, ignoring the couple hundred hours put into making the models.
Do I want additional pressure along with full time job and 3 monsters (kids) to raise. Hard enough finding time to build it. My answer has been no, however I’d consider the odd job if asked by someone.
B9E3B848-2C17-4E67-A8D7-BC0E15D669C8.jpg096BE5FD-2950-4E67-9638-9B2278FA6517.jpgA42478A5-76AC-49C4-9ABB-FE6C5B07D20C.jpg
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12th June 2021, 12:54 PM #5Woodworking mechanic
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Intriguing. If the fun of it stopped, why buy a new machine? That’s partly why I asked the question. I love to dabble but for a reasonable spend I would hate for it to sit idle, not being used after a few months. I don’t need it to make a living or indeed enhance a living, it’s more a hobby to give me something to do during retirement and spend some quality time in the shed. I feel that to make the odd thing for a sale (no pressure) may keep the interest going because i would be designing, trying new procedures, enhancing skills etc.
Thanks for the response
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12th June 2021, 07:10 PM #6Senior Member
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Apologies, I was not clear.
Trying to make money from it stole the fun away. People wanted boring things like cut out letters for next to no cost and hated spending money on design time.
Mucking about for myself is endlessly entertaining and I do all sorts of stuff.
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12th June 2021, 09:08 PM #7Woodworking mechanic
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I had an acquaintance who started out with a laser CNC and acrylics, basically for the fun of it and some sales as well. Much the same story as yours re people wanting things but had deep pockets snd short arms so they picked one basic design that could be changed with minimal design work and that’s all they offered for sale. Got heaps of sales with minimal effort and business grew. Over the next few years they expanded the range and just bought a second machine.
My thoughts would be much the same if I buy a CNC. I have been making animated animal toys and while the bodies are reasonably easy to cut out on the bandsaw, the legs sections etc are a PITA - perfect for a CNC - I think.
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13th June 2021, 08:32 AM #8Senior Member
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Post up an example of the toys and I’m sure a few of us could tell you if the design lends itself to cnc.
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13th June 2021, 02:51 PM #9GOLD MEMBER
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I have 3 CNC machines - a 3D printer, a mill, and a laser cutter.
My enjoyment comes from learning the assembly, operation and usage, rather than from the produced items.
Hence, they tend to get learned about, used for everything, then gradually fade into the background until they are the right tool for a current situation.
The laser has just been given a workout cutting fabric pieces for my daughter's first quilt, a pincushion, and currently fitted spaces for some tools. It did bring in some money from a couple of signs and a bunch of Christmas decorations, and has also customised papermaking tools.
The 3D printer made custom bits for my dad's mobility scooter, some tool holders, air hose clips, painter's pyramids, assorted brackets.
The mill did a few name plates, and some acrylic pieces.
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13th June 2021, 03:54 PM #10Woodworking mechanic
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This following picture is a T-Rex. The body (A) and head centre (C) are cut out on the bandsaw fairly easily.
The head sides, arms and leg parts (B, D, D, F) could be cut on the CNC as whole pieces with the finer features such as the teeth and fingers and toes cut out on the bandsaw after. Maybe even the pivot holes could be cut on the CNC.
This toy has the most complex small shapes of all the toys I make so if it can be done for this guy, the rest should be fairly easy, I would imagine.
EA27AC87-356D-4BEE-97E0-51C38132F7B4.jpg
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13th June 2021, 06:12 PM #11Senior Member
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The slot where he legs sit would need to be done by hand or a special bit used, the rest is straight forward profile cuts, fairly simple. Only restriction is inner radii will be limited to bit radius used. 3mm is a nice bit and files could sharpen them up.
once mine gets going I’d be happy to run one so you could see what you could get.
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13th June 2021, 08:45 PM #12Woodworking mechanic
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That would be great . I did the slit in the last one on the router table - easy job. The hard bit was the long drill down through the body for the dowel.
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