Originally Posted by
Tony Leonard
I'm not a CNC expert by any measure, but since you mentioned the AVID, I'd thought I'd offer my experience. Let me qualify first...I am a hobby user. I don't use my machine to make money. I build furniture and lots of other "stuff." I've used the machine to cut wood, brass, aluminum, plastic, engrave marble, circuit boards, engrave glass, engrave slate, cut cardboard, vinyl, stencil material, inlays, veneer, etc. I don't do any "3D" stuff -not my thing and it takes too long! I rarely use sheet goods (sorry, but I'm a plywood hater), but I usually buy those handy panels at Lowes/HD and they fit on the machine. I do use MDF for some utility things (don't 'like' it either, but...).
I have an AVID Standard 24x48 machine that is around 4 years old - wow, time flies! I use Mach 4 and Vetric Pro (working on using Fusion freebie). My machine has a Porter cable 1617 router on it. My shop is pretty small - 16x20. The footprint of the base ( I made it 2x4's) is a bit bigger than the 24x48 capacity. Mine is on casters, but I rarely move it and then just a few inches for cleaning or finding a lost screw under it, etc. (Note that the base does not rest on the casters - they are engaged when needed using scissor jacks) I've only had a few minor issues and AVID was very quick to respond (mostly user error or lack of knowledge). I really could have been happy with a 24x24 machine. Sometimes, I wish I had done that because of the space issue. But, its there when I do need it.
I chose AVID because it was in my budget range and also, while researching, I noticed nobody complained about them or talked much about having to modify their machines (unlike others in the price range just below theirs).
I have never really considered investing in a spindle. Just don't see the need for my usage. This Bosch router has been pretty impressive. I don't know how many hours I've put on that poor thing and it still just keeps on going. And it was a couple of years old when I put it in use on the machine!
One thing to consider in budgeting is all the support items. I probably doubled the price of the base machine itself after buying all the other stuff.
Good luck. Its a big decision. Have fun with whatever you pick. Once you get one, you will find tons of things to use it for. I think I posted this in another response recently, but I was working on a cabinet the other day and needed a shelf pin template with unique spacing to use with those fancy bits. I think it took around 30 minutes from concept to finished product.
Tony