Kurt J Schefken asked:


You can use a cnc router table for cutting various types of materials. Depending on what kind of machine you buy you can cut, plastic, metal, or wood with your CNC router. You can use your machine for basic routing work or to make signage. Since your router also does engraves, it can be very versatile. So if you can only buy a single machine, you should be able to get many different uses from it.

In the past few years many people have considered purchasing a used cnc router or a new one for their home use. Some smaller shops have also bought them for a variety of purposes. You can save a lot if you go for a used machine instead of a new one.

You can also follow certain plans online that can teach you how to create your own. You can make one to suit your purposes from 15 x 15 up to 50 x 60 inches.

Using a cnc router can help you complete projects that you wouldn’t be able to on your own. You can create patterns and lay down metal inlays onto wood. Your creations will be smoothly done and correctly done. It will help you accomplish tasks you couldn’t do by hand alone.

If you want truly pro results when it comes to crafting furniture then a cnc router can help you out. Using special software will help you to program things exactly so you get the cuts you want. Use for engraving anything you want from a outdoor sign to the smallest cnc lettering. Once you know how to operate the machine and software, you can create virtually anything.

You can find a small machine that can be operated in your home with just a normal 120 voltage. This type of machine would be good for home use. These kind of machines have motors that range from 1-2 horsepower. These small models run about $3,500 used or $7,000 new. This makes buying a used machine a great option for your home. If you wanted to get a large machine this could cost $20,000! This is more than most people want to spend on their home equipment. If you are buying one for a potentially profitable business, then this might be a consideration.

You can save about half if you buy a router used. You can get all the power from it, a save twice as much! When you are looking around for a router shop carefully. You should determine your exact needs and then find a machine that will handle them. If you get a used router you should remember that it may be a bit slower than a new one, but if you don’t have large volume then it should be OK for you.

Eric J. Slarkowski asked:


What is a CNC router? This machine is used to cut wood, plastic or metal and is generally used for routing out letters for signs, etc. Besides routing and signage, these machines can act as engraving machines, so you can get a lot of usage from one machine.

Many small fabricating shops, and even individuals are finding the accuracy and versatility of a CNC router very useful. As used equipment becomes available, more and more will be in demand since the price is lower for used equipment.

But they are still an expensive addition to the home shop, and plans to make your own have now become available in sizes as small as 15X15 to 50X60. The use of the machine would determine the size.

A CNC router allows a worker to create many projects that would be very time consuming and sometimes almost impossible to do otherwise. Cutting a complicated design into wood or even putting inlays into it are difficult for even the most skilled of carpenters, but with a CNC machine, these are done easily and accurately.

This makes CNC routers ideal for furniture making. The software for the machine allows you to design patterns or to do signs, once you know the software, and learning the software is not difficult.

The smaller machines, typically for the home shop worker, only require 120 voltage and can therefore be run on household current. These smaller table top machines only require 1 or 2 HP motors and are within the range of a hobbyist. A large machine can cost upwards of $20,000 while these smaller ones are about $7,000. Used machines are usually half the price of new ones, so for an investment of $3500, a home shop can have a very versatile machine. If someone were interested in making furniture for sale, it would pay for itself in no time.

A used CNC router therefore is quite a bargain. At half the cost of a new one, it is a very attractive option. Just make sure you shop around and determine the best machine for the type of machine work you will be doing. The used machines are older, and therefore not as fast as the newer machines. For the home shop this may not be as important an issue as price.

Used machines are available that have been rebuilt and these are a very good value as a rule. After a thorough inspection any worn or damaged parts of the machine are replaced and the result is a machine that is so good that many of the companies who do this are able to offer a warranty on the machine.

It is also important to have support available from the company. This will allow you to get installation instructions, and may also entitle you to free training on the software. If you are buying and using such a machine for the first time, this may be very important. You will want to make sure you are dealing with a company that can give you help and support in case you need it. A manual is important to have, but it may not answer all of your questions.

Greg K. Hansward asked:


If you need a machine that will improve your speed and accuracy then try a CNC machine when you are getting large jobs done or doing very repetitive tasks. You can get a used one for half the cost of a new one since most individuals wouldn’t want to spend their money on a new one. CNC equipment can be found in woodworking shops or industrial settings. Add them to your collection that includes a milling machine as well.

If you need to drill holes than consider a CNC router. Some of them can hold more than one tool too. This makes it possible to do more than one procedure at a time. This will help you cut back on the tie you spend working and help you become more accurate.

Computer Numerated Control is the full name for CNC. In the 1970’s this technology was first created. These machines are easy to run and operate after they have been initially set up. They also need to be set up correctly and programmed before they are operated.

They can be made so you can drill a hole automatically. This can be much more accurate and quicker than manual drilling. You will get more uniform results. If you have a large job that needs a lot of drilling then this can be a good choice for you. You might get more inconsistent results when you are doing manual drilling and if the operator gets tired.

If you want a good thing to cut wood with then try a CNC lathe. You can buy one that ranges from 15-40 horsepower. You will choose the lathe power you need depending on the type of wood you use. You can get a model that comes with more than one mode. You can one that is totally manual or CNC. You can rig each machine for your individual project.

If you want the best in milling technology then try a Bridgeport mill. You can find a mill in both a small shop or a large one. If you want a mill that will last forever than try a Bridgeport mill. They are very pricey and more so than most people can afford.

A CNC mill use a special type of instrument that uses a combination of robotics and computer programming. You will get great results better than anyone could ever want. These are the kind of mills that the airline companies use. The CNC decides which tool is need for an operation and changes as it goes.

Since CNC equipment is so pricey it means most people can’t afford it. If you get a used machine you may find that you can afford it. You may be able to save about half on a used machine compared to a new one.

Linden J. Walhard asked:


A CNC machine is used in woodworking shops and some other industrial settings. They are very expensive, so most individuals do not buy them, although used ones can be obtained more cheaply. They are important for speed and accuracy in large, repetitive tasks.

There are many uses in industry for CNC machines. Routers drill holes, for example. Many CNC machines can perform a number of tasks at once, improving efficiency in the manufacturing process.

The technology behind these machines is Computer Numerated Control. This technology was developed in the seventies and it allows for a machine to be programmed in advance so the operations are set up to work almost automatically. The initial setup is a little complicated, but once that is done the machine is easy to operate.

A CNC router would be programmed to drill a hole repeatedly at certain intervals. This is much more efficient than manual calculation and drilling and eliminates inconsistency due to human error or fatigue.

A CNC lathe would be used to cut pieces of wood of uniform size and shape. Lathes can have horsepower ranging from 15 to 40 HP, and how much power is needed depends upon the job being done. A good CNC lathe will allow you to work at various levels of automation, so that you can work all manual, or all automated, or any combination in between.

The best mill available is the Bridgeport mill. Mills are designed to be used in both large industries and small milling shops, and the Bridgeport mill is built to last in any situation. The price is prohibitive, however, for individual use.

A CNC mill is considered specialty equipment. The concept is to use computer programming and robotic operation for speed and accuracy. This kind of speed and accuracy would be impossible to achieve for an individual. The airline industry frequently uses the CNC technology of Bridgetown mills; specifications are entered, and the mill automatically determines which functions to perform and how.

Engravers can also be CNC machines. Engraving can be done on many materials, including wood or wood composite, metal, stone or glass. These machines can do very exact engraving on materials from the smallest to the largest, and have the same result over and over.

Since CNC machines are so expensive most individuals cannot afford them, there may be individuals who do a lot of repetitive machine work and would like to obtain one. An option in this case is a used CNC machine, which can be as low as half the price of a new one. It is important to make sure the used machine is in good condition, so you may be better off looking for a rebuilt machine. This is one that has had the major components replaced so it is almost a new machine. Frequently, rebuilt machines have a warranty of at least one year, so that you can be assured that it will be working, or you can get it repaired if it does not.