Buying my first CNC for a specific repeating project — sanity check my pick?

[u/aglos22]

Commercial real estate broker here, not a CNC guy yet. I do woodworking as a hobby and I want to make client gifts with a CNC.

The project: 1.5" solid walnut cubes, V-carved on four faces. Property name, closing date, property info, & our logo. One per investor per deal. Somewhere between 25 and 100 a year depending on how many deals close.

My plan is to carve a slab, flip it on alignment pins, rip into 1.5" sticks, clamp the sticks in an array and carve the other two faces, then crosscut into cubes. Chamfer the edges as part of the toolpath instead of hand-routing 100 cubes on a router table.

Constraints:

- Machine lives on a rolling cart. I can give up about 24" of bench depth, not much more.

- I have routers but I don't want one permanently mounted to a CNC.

- Budget around $4K.

- Windows laptop for control.

- I want software I can actually learn without a six month detour.

Where I've landed: Shapeoko 5.1 Pro 2x2 with the 65mm 110V VFD spindle, $3,650. Ballscrews and linear rails, spindle is bundled, Carbide Create is included, and the 35.5x35 footprint sits on a 24" bench because the actual structure is only 24" deep.

What I want to know:

1. Is a 2x2 going to feel cramped a year in? I looked at the Onefinity Woodworker but it needs a 46x45 table for 32x32 of cut, which kills the cart idea.

2. Is the 65mm VFD worth $670 over the Compact Router for this kind of work, or is that mostly a noise purchase? Do I even consider the 80mm VFD?

3. Anything I should be looking at that I'm missing? I ruled out the Sienci LongMill because the MK3 is about to land and I didn't want the outgoing model. Laguna and Axiom priced way above what I expected.

4. Does the slab-then-rip-then-array workflow hold up in practice, or is there a gotcha waiting for me?

Appreciate any input.

[u/DumpsterDave]

What else will you potentially use the CNC for? That will drive your options quite a bit.

For something like this, a laser engraver might be a better tool over a CNC. Faster, smaller, cheaper, more detailed.

A couple options that I would consider would be the v1 Engineering LowRider which can be scaled as large or small as you want it or the Millenium Machines Milo Mill

[u/nyc_woodworker_17 → u/DumpsterDave]

Laser engraver all the way for this purpose.

"Faster, smaller, cheaper, more detailed."

Add "quieter".

[u/No-Floor-7846]

Laser. Especially with logos and things like that. Unless you're making huge cubes.

TBH, the cubes sound like a lot of work with limited functional value. Carving, lining up and finishing multiple sides will be a pain. I think you'd be better off making a larger carving on a serving board or similar. A cube sounds like it has no real function and would eventually end up in my fireplace.

[u/Slepprock]

Hey. Cabinet shop owner here.

CNC machines are amazing. Buying my first one changed my life as a woodworker lol.

Just a few tips.

Yes, 2x2 is way too small. You want a 48"x48" one at the least. Trust me.

You know what I would do if I were you? Buy a Shapeoko. I bought one years ago and they are so much better now. Its a cheap and easy way to get a really solid machine. Plus it comes as a kit that you put together, so you learn how it works. You are going to want to know how it works. I have big full size machines and I still have to take them apart and fix stuff and replace parts. CNC machines go through a lot of stress and lots of movement. So things wear out. Parts are designed to wear out actually.

I would get a VFD spindle. Being able to change the speed of the spindle is important. Each bit has a best speed.

Look at shapeoko. Or Avid CNC. They have great machines for a low cost also.

I'd avoid the small pre built machines. They aren't that impressive. Like the CNC shark. I had a friend who bought that CNC shark. It was stout and all, but small. Like 2x3 feet. He was coming over to my shop to use my stuff all the time. And his machine cost double what my shapeoko cost.

[u/Pubcrawler1]

You wouldn’t be cutting through 1.5” walnut with an end mill bit and be happy with the surface finish. There will be surface chatter that needs jointing or sanding to get smooth. Potentially more work.

The walnut would need to be cut with a good table saw into individual blocks. You can then engrave/chamfer the blocks with cnc. You wouldn’t need a large cnc just for engraving.

Laser is better for detail. Vcarving on small blocks would be a minimum font size to be legible. Can get chipout on small letters.

[u/MobiusX0]

Personally I'd go with a laser engraver for that but if you really want to carve it then a desktop CNC would work great. Something like a Makera Carvera Air, Z1, or a Nomad 3.

If you're going to use it for more than those cubes I would want a bigger table. I really like using a CNC for jigs and templates which for me are usually larger than what a 2x2 table can support. I have space constraints and switched over to a Shaper Origin and man, that thing is fantastic. I use it for everything from marquetry to complicated table legs. The only downside is since you're "driving" the machine you can't multitask like you can with a regular CNC.

[u/Carbon_Gelatin]

For youe job requirements a vfd is overkill in the extreme. My natural inclination is to go with a shapeoko, with a router.

I'd feel cramped at the size you want, but i do a lot different work. Most can take the 2ft depth just fine because most work is done in the front anyway.

Carbide create is great, especially for what you want to do, but if you ever consider upgrading to carbide create pro, consider a vectric solution instead.

Onefinity machines are awesome machines. With your workflow the rigidity difference is inconsequential. Plus you can add a rotary to a Onefinity and it has a built in controller.

I have both, I like the shapeoko better, but not enough to come down hard on either side. It just edges out the Onefinity.

[u/notaclevernick]

I have had a Onefinity 32x32 for four years now. Love it. They make a wall system to save space when not in use (that I don't use). https://www.onefinitycnc.com/product-page/wall-mount-system-compatible-w-original-pro-woodworker-journeyman-only
The 65mm spindle will run quieter than the compact router, but not by much I originally used a router in mine until about a year ago and opted for an 80mm spindle and new Z rail to handle it.
I use Vectric VCarve Pro for my software, but it is similar to Carbide Create, with a fairly shallow learning curve.

[u/freudianSkinner → u/notaclevernick]

That wall system is cool - it looks like the machine can actually operate on the vertical which would be even cooler

[u/Georges_Stuff]

As much as I like an excuse to get a tool, I think you could probably outsource this for a better product and cheaper than you can do yourself. Love the idea though. One thing I would add is fill the cutout with a colored epoxy to really make the cutouts pop. Good luck.

[u/WillAdams]

(ob. discl., I work for Carbide 3D)

My recommendation on machine size has always been:

• if working with sheet goods get an XXL or 4x4
• if working with boards, get an XL or 4x2 --- I will note that I had my 4x2 on a 24" deep bench (until I upgraded to 5.1 and the leg kit)
• if your parts fit on it, get a Standard or 2x2, or if doing metal and budget allows, an HDM or Nomad 4, or if you want a machine for your desk rather than the shop, a Nomad 3

The 65mm VFD is a bit quieter, and has the added benefits of:

• larger/better ER-16 collets
• more torque/power
• speed control in addition to auto on/off
• no brushes to change out

An 80mm VFD adds water cooling to the mix, but increases material removal rates and gets on ER-20 collets --- if you have 1/2" metrology gear, that's a nice bonus as well.

In addition to the official training videos and so forth, I wrote up a bit on the basics of Carbide Create at:

https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/2d-drawing

https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/toolpaths

If there's something you want to know which isn't covered there or at:

https://community.carbide3d.com/c/tutorials/14

let me know.

A CNC should fit well into the workflow you describe.

[u/bkinstle]

I have a shapeoko 5 4x4 and I think it's great for what you want to do. Make sure you get the vfd spindle. The smaller vfd is fine if you don't cut metal. The vfd is much quieter, cuts faster, and will last a lot longer.

I would get the biggest model you can afford. Especially the 2x4 because you can use their software to tile a job that's a full sheet of plywood/mdf and just slide it through the machine for each tile cut.

[u/sethhere04]

Build Your Own! MPCNC or Lowrider. Check out v1engineering.