Are Hobby Style CNC Machines Worth The Investment For a Woodworking Shop?
It's honestly not that long ago that if you wanted to invest in a CNC machine, you wouldn't get much change out of $50,000. So, for a lot of small woodworking businesses—investing in CNC technology wasn't an option. But that has all changed...
HOBBY STYLE
It's companies like Inventables & Carbide3D who are really leading the way and bringing prices down. All of a sudden CNC machines in and around the $1,000 mark are available. And they're good! Hobby style CNC mills have small bed areas, and don't have the functionality of a large scale commercial machine such as tool changers or more than three axes. So for many woodworking businesses they don't make sense.
A hobby style machine is probably of little use to a cabinet shop, joinery millworks, or a commercial interiors business. Although even for these larger types of business, these smaller machines can be useful for cutting sign lettering and smaller elements that make up a project.
TORQUE
Another thing to note with hobby style machines is that they simply don't have the torque of a larger machine. Pretty obvious you might say. And there's a good reason.
These machines will use a rack and pinion system to manoeuvre as opposed to ballscrew. This can result in greater chance of backlash, which means slower feed rates, and longer machining times. Paradoxically this is worse for the life of your cutters. The tendency for many new CNC owners is to go slower and shallower with your cuts. This is called "babying the cut". DO NOT BABY THE CUT! It puts undue pressure on your cutter and machine. There is a sweet spot to be found—and this will come with experience. A good CNC operator is like an artist. There are so many variables to consider.
SOFTWARE
This is where hobby style machines come into their own. Easel, Carbide Create, and third party software programs like V-Carve Pro are streets ahead of the software that drives large scale machines. CNC CAD-CAM programs were initially designed with engineers in mind. These newer software packages are much more user friendly with a much shallower learning curve.
CAPABILITIES/EFFICIENCY
A CNC can't do everything. And it won't make you a good woodworker. But even the most basic machines have tremendous capabilities. The can accurately reproduce parts. They can partly automate your sign letter cutting process. They are hugely efficient at cutting curves accurately. But they are not so efficient at cutting square/rectangular parts. You'll be much quicker on your table saw. They can be efficient at cutting pockets out of material, but so can a simple jig with a handheld router.
It should also be noted, that it is rare that a part comes off a CNC ready for use. Often times sanding or flush trimming will be required to clean up the part before it can be used in assembly. So if you think that even the best CNC produces perfect parts all the time—you'd be mistaken.
CONCLUSION
Does a CNC make sense for your woodworking shop? The short, honest answer is; it depends.
If you are considering getting one, make sure you have work for it. An X-Carve for example is not going to be the best way of cutting cabinet components. But if you are going to dedicate it to cutting your sign lettering, or cutting small craft type pieces, then it's probably worth it.
With machines around the $1,000 price tag, this can easily be built in to the price of a large project. If you are fitting out a restaurant for example that has some custom signage, this $1,000 can easily be incorporated into the cost of a $40/50K contract.
On the flip side, there are times when you buy a new tool and it opens up a world of opportunities for you. You will come up with ways to use it and integrate it into your work flow. But be careful, you can get caught up in the world of CNC machining and end up adding dog-bone fillets to a piece just for the sake of it.
Just remember, a CNC is an extremely useful tool—once used in the right context.
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