[hflwaterski]

I've enjoyed reading as much as I can about the choices others have made. With all of your experience and expertise, I thought maybe you could share your opinion about my situation.

I have a 3 1/2 detached garage with no cars in it. I just have misc. woodworking equip. It has three identical garage doors that measure approx. 9' W x 7' H. I would like to start with a CNC machine in my home shop and see where it goes from there. I hope to run a multitude of things, including MDF raised panel doors, cabinet parts, plaques, signs and display cabinets. I know the list is varied but I have my fingers in alot of stuff. My shop is equipped with a 100 AMP sub-panel from my 200 AMP main in the house. I have exposed trusses that currently give me a max. height of 8' across the entire garage ceiling.

I do know that I want a machine that can run panels that are 60x60 and also 4'x8' Melamine that come slightly oversized. I was leaning towards a small end machine like a ShopBot or a used Thermwood because of the eCabinets software but I also feel like I could handle a DIY project also given that I worked in a professional CAD job for about 10 years and during college I worked at a machine shop on a surface grinder and milling machine.

My budget would be about $7000 now or $17,000 this spring after I've unloaded a lot that I own.

What do you think you would do if you were in my shoes. Go with a new low end machine, a medium production used machine or a DIY build?

[ViperTX]

Make sure there was a market for the product that you want to produce, and then estimate the cost of producing that product.

Most of the production machines will need 3 Phase power, and if you do any amount of cutting....you'll need a rather large cyclonic dust collector system.

[Rance]

What do you think you would do if you were in my shoes. Go with a new low end machine, a medium production used machine or a DIY build?

Go with a DIY build and spend the rest of the money on a looooooooong hang gliding vacation.

[ger21]

What Viper said. Make sure you can get the work before you spend the money. And a Thermwood will more than likely need 3 phase power.

Unless a ShopBot can't do what you'd want, I'd start there and move up when demand warranted it. If you want to build, check out http://www.mechmate.com/

[ViperTX]

What about Shop Sabre http://www.shopsabre.com has anyone used them....they look better then the ShopBot....they use linear rail, THK Ballscrews and are in the same price range as the ShopBot.

[project5k]

i would build it myself, that is if you have the tools and skills to do it... which, if you have a shop like that, you probably do... i prefer the building cause then you know what you have and the limits of the machine, and if it breaks then you know how to fix it and where you got the parts from... if you buy something, and it breaks then your forced to rely on them to help you get it fixed.... i dont like relying on other people, they allways let me down...
if you have 7k, then i would get (if you dont already have) a small mill, like a rf for a grand or so, and a mig welder... and build it yourself... dont forget to get your software.. and electronics...

[hflwaterski]

Thanks all for your suggestions so far. I think I've decided to build a machine. I have a good relation with a friend that owns a CNC laser cutting business and my nephew is a CNC mill operator. I'll probably pick up a MIG welder as suggested and get working on it. The only thing I'm still struggling with is my 110 service and what will work with a 5-7HP spindle and what VFD to use.

[ger21]

You can get a 3HP spindle and VFD that will run on 220V single phase. Maybe even 5HP. Check at www.ekstromcarlson.com