hey guys,
just to say, when I first started getting into my first CNC machine, I spent 1.5k on a cheap machine, it was OK, took some tweaking, but It worked great for over a year for me, and would of continued to do so if I had not wanted to do larger work.
But what I wanted to say is the cost does not end with the machine.
By the time you have worked it all out, along the way you have broken countless cutters and also figuring out which cutters work well for you, worked out you need some particular software, then the issue of lubricating, I think I spent as much again in the next 6 months learning as I spent on the machine..
and then engraving! that's another ball game in which a long time is spent learning, of course any one can mark the panel with text, but neat work is hard work.
oh and there is the next issue of paint infill!! that's another work of art which I never ever thought would be a pain in the arse as it turned out to be..
just to say, machining is great fun, and very rewarding, but there is learning curve. If you want to just make a few panels, think how many panels I could of had made for my start up costs...I often think this..
FrankNRG helped me enormously when I started, im happy to pass my knowledge on too fwiw..
so in a nut shell, get your machine, have some extra cash put aside for extras as you find your way, and know it will take a bit of time to get the hang of, if you are cool with that it will be very very rewarding indeed.
also check
http://www.cnczone.com/ its a pretty manic web site, but a ton of information there...
good luck
Pete
