Tinker toy and waste of money?

[Larry Foster]

Recently. I've developed an interest in CNC routing/engraving.
After watching a ton of YouTube videos on the subject, started looking at machines.

My budget is low and, initially, looked at 3018 machines on Amazon.
$200-300.
I realize the working area is smaller than a piece of copy paper.

Also looked at the Maslow CNC kit which makes huge stuff up to 4'X8' and would take up a lot of space in my small work area.
https://www.maslowcnc.com/

And looked at a kit from BobsCNC
https://www.bobscnc.com/

I would like to stay under $500 but don't know if this will give me anything worth having.
(BobsCNC kit is a little more)

My initial interest is in router engraving and haven't gotten excited about laser engraving.
Maybe because I don't know anything about it

I'd like something I could use an offline controller instead of having a computer in my dirty cramped unheated shop.

I see lots of plans for DIY builds, not sure that's what I want to do.

While I would, initially, just be doing hobby stuff like engraving pictures in wood, there might be a possibility of selling some stuff.

My wife does 30+ craft shows a year so she might be able to display some things.
Possibly Christmas ornaments, Steeler stuff for gifts (Steelers logo is the only NFL logo not trademarked), for example.

Am I living in a fantasy world?

If not, any suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks, as always, for any input

[Bill George]

Your talking about toys here when most of the folks have spent $3000 at minimum. Spend a little time reading here and you will see what I am talking about. Here is one that seems to be popular https://carbide3d.com/shapeoko/

[Larry Foster]

Your talking about toys here when most of the folks have spent $3000 at minimum. Spend a little time reading here and you will see what I am talking about. Here is one that seems to be popular https://carbide3d.com/shapeoko/

Thanks, Bill.
I forgot to mention that I read all of the posts in CNC Machines and many in the Laser Engraving and Sign Forums.

It sounds like a fantasy that I can do anything in this?

[Jim Becker]

Larry, there is still a "ceiling" where being under it brings many, many trade-offs that can result in discouragement and abandonment of the activity. You can do real work with the Inventables machine or even the smaller Shapeoko setups, but below that things start to get iffy...In My Humble Opinion. My recommendation is to chose a machine that can do real work so that your investment isn't wasted. And if you find it's not for you, you'll have a much easier time selling a quality setup than you will with something lesser.

[Larry Foster]

Thanks, Jim.

I suspected that was the case.

Unfortunately, those kinds of machines are out of my range at this point
But, I will take a look and see if I may be able to find a way.

[Bill George]

Thanks, Jim.

I suspected that was the case.

Unfortunately, those kinds of machines are out of my range at this point
But, I will take a look and see if I may be able to find a way.

Did you even look at the Link I posted? You might find them used but not for $300

[Larry Foster]

Sorry, Bill.

I missed the link but will go there next.

Just checked out the X-carve and Shapeoko and my wife would kill me in my sleep

[bobby milam]

If she does craft shows already, show her some of the stuff you could make and sell to try to pay for the machine. Look for a used machine. Make some stuff to sell at the craft show and save that money to buy one. There's always a way. I wouldn't waste my time personally with one of those real cheap machines.

[Larry Foster]

Thanks, bobby.

My wife throws nickels around like manhole covers.
Don't get me wrong.
I love her and her "thriftiness" is sometimes a good balance.

I just checked on Ebay and Pittsburgh Craigslist and didn't find anything there.

A thought I had was to get one of those cheap machines and make a few things it would be capable of and, possibly, upgrade if there was a market

[Bill George]

Thanks, bobby.

My wife throws nickels around like manhole covers.
Don't get me wrong.
I love her and her "thriftiness" is sometimes a good balance.

I just checked on Ebay and Pittsburgh Craigslist and didn't find anything there.

A thought I had was to get one of those cheap machines and make a few things it would be capable of and, possibly, upgrade if there was a market

Your wasting your money, look at the machines in that Link I sent you. Sell something, work some overtime, get a part time job or whatever it takes…. but don't waste your money. There is Always a way. Listen to the guys on here, you asked for advice, these folks are the best; investing money to make money is not waste. Your wife needs to rethink her goals. PS check the buy sell area of Sawmill Creek.

[Larry Foster]

Thanks for your advice, Bill.

I do trust the advice I get here.

But, I'm 70 years old.

I only work at my old job a couple days a month.
While looking for something to tinker with, I may have to face the fact that it may not be a $1500+ machine.
I'll keep my eyes open to see if I stumble on a used one.

I do appreciate everyone's helpful insights even if it's not what I wanted to hear.

[bobby milam]

Everyone has a budget. If you know that they are going to have limitations and you may be limited to more of engraving than carving then try one of the small machines. Used machines come on the market all the time but you never know when. Patience is key. Might try going to the shark cnc forum and see if any of them are being listed. Not a great machine but you can get by with one. I did it for awhile. Personally, in that price range, I might look at a cheap laser engraver rather than the routers at that price.

Another option is to look into the chinese machines. Much cheaper and they make small ones and they are definitely cheaper.

[Bill George]

My first CNC project was converting a mill drill to CNC my second was trying to get a blue light laser CNC working and reliable.
I am a retired master electrician with a pretty complete home machine shop. With my welders and such I can build damn near any thing I wanted CNC or not.
But I wanted to make things, not machines that have zero resale. The OP as I understand wanted a reliable working machine.

[Bill George]

Instead of wasting time on building a machine that runs so slow and can not cut anything useful try this>https://www.automationtechnologiesin...r/3-axis-6040/

It will do up 28 by 16 inches nominal and has a "real" spindle motor. Runs on Mach4 and please get the ethernet option. I have purchased from John before and they are a fair and honest vender in Chicago. I had one of those machines and trust me it works! You can make real things, wood signs and much more. You will still need a computer, I see used laptops for $150 on Craigslist.

I had the same machine until I purchased my 48x48 one and then I sold it. You will have about $2K in the machine ready to run. What no one tells you that for Mach 3/4 to run it needs a computer with a parallel port, hard to find. Thats why you need the ESS ethernet option.

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/...046848479.html

[Larry Foster]

Thank you for your continued support and advice, Bill.
You don't know how much I appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and recommendations.
As should be clear, I'm a dunderhead and know zip about this stuff.

That looks like a good machine.

Unfortunately, that's way over my head.

I have to stay at the $500ish area which is way past the level where my wife will kill me in my sleep if she finds out.
Even the $250 ones on Amazon will cause me to pay dearly.

I also know myself.
While I like messing around and making things, I'm not as dedicated as I want to be.

Very ADHD.

Some of this may change soon.
My wife is getting near retirement and I may want to spend more time in the shop.



They and many other DIYers recommend a Dewalt for cutting.

Is that not adequate?