Answer These 5 Questions Before Buying A CNC Router

With the way technology is changing the woodworking business as well as the introduction of more computers, a CNC router is inevitably on every woodworker’s mind. You may be asking yourself whether or not you should purchase a CNC, where to buy, do you need one for your shop, and more. In this discussion I hope to answer some common questions about CNC routers so that you are able to make an educated purchasing decision.

Do I Have The Space?

The biggest question that needs to be answered is whether or not you have the physical space in your shop. Many woodworkers are small businesses with limited floor space. You may be working out of a single car or 2-car garage. You may have a small dedicated shed that has been converted into a shop. Or, you may have a full-fledge shop with tons of room for machines and tools. Whichever stage of your woodworking business you’re at now will more than likely dictate your space concern. For example, you may have a spare 8ft by 8ft corner in your shop that can be used. If so, a hobbyist CNC router will fit perfectly and will leave you with enough room for maintaining, running, and operating the CNC router to perform various cut and carve tasks. If you’re in a tiny shop, however, a CNC router may be a bit too large to accommodate without comprising the loss of another tool.

Planning for floor space for a CNC router can be a bit intimidating. You must consider the physical size of not only the CNC itself, but also the accessories. Accessories make CNC work much easier and include items such as a shop vac or dust collector, computer with a stand or table, bit storage, and storage areas for your stock material. You may also want to consider the size of CNC router you wish to purchase. For example, you may have enough space for a 18”x18” desktop CNC router, but not necessarily a 4-foot by 4-foot CNC router.

Am I Willing To Learn?

Unless you have previous experience with CNC work, you’re probably not a CNC expert. That’s fine. No one is born as a CNC expert. What is more important is that you are willing to learn the skills needed to perform CNC work. These skills will continually develop over time and can vary slightly from machine to machine. Different brands and models of CNC router machines operate different, require different software skills, etc. Basic computer skills are definitely a head start, and if you have design skills, you’re way ahead of the game. Regardless of how much or how little you know already about CNC tool paths, software setup, and design, it’s best to keep an open mind and be eager to learn new skills throughout the CNC journey.

Do I Have The Money?

I’m not going to sugar-coat it, CNCs can be expensive. However, I would recommend viewing a CNC purchase as more of an investment into your woodshop rather than an expense. CNCs do, however, range in price tremendously. There are nice beginner-level CNCs available online for affordable prices. While these CNCs aren’t the best for production work, they are good starter machine to learn with. These machines can be purchased for under $200 on Amazon. On the high-end, CNCs can be as much as several hundred thousand dollars. Keep in mind that these super high-priced machines are usually used for fast paced production work. On the hobbyist end of woodworking CNC routers, the average price for a good quality machine that will enable moderate production work is between $1,000 and $10,000. I understand this is quite a wide range of affordability, but they truly do vary in price. In conclusion, if you aren’t planning to see financial returns right away, view the purchase of a CNC router as an investment in your shop.

Can I Supply The Necessary Accessories?

While the accessories used with CNC routers are truly endless, there are some accessories you will need from the beginning. Various accessories include items like bits, clamps, and dust collection systems. As you progress through your CNC journey and continue to learn and develop new skills, you will find that additional accessories simply make sense to add to your arsenal. For a basic set of accessories, I recommend hold down clamps, a variety of bit types and sizes, and some sort of dust collection solution. For a more detailed look into CNC accessories, check out this article: Top 5 Must-Have CNC Router Accessories. While accessories aren’t a difficult take or super elaborate, they are something to consider. Instead of simply purchasing a CNC router itself, you will also need accessories and a computer or tablet to be able to run and operate your machine to perform even the most basic tasks. Again however, try viewing these accessory purchases as an investment into your shop and woodworking business, rather than a liability expense.

Do I Need A CNC Router & Can I Market My Services?

Let’s start with whether or not you feel like you need a CNC router. Different people have different views on tool purchases. While we all want many tools of interest, sometimes the financial investment isn’t feasible unless the tool is needed on a particular project and will be paying for itself in project profits. So, I recommend doing some market research to see what types of services you can offer and what products you may be able to sell with a CNC router. The beauty of having a CNC router is that you may have the ability to offer services that no other woodworker in your town offers. The other possibility is that you are able to offer the same services offered elsewhere, but at a faster rate. Many times, a CNC router speeds up production as you are able to get the machine operating and allow yourself to work on other things without having to tend to the machine while it runs. A CNC router is also nearly-perfect in precision and accuracy. Nothing is perfect, but since the router operates based on a form of computer coding, the margin of error is reduced. Often, CNC routers offer precision cuts and carves down to the smallest of measurements.

The contrary argument would be that if you have the money to invest in a CNC router and are comfortable in the fact that it may take a little time to obtain back the money you spent on the machine, then a CNC router purchase could be perfect for you. You could purchase the machine and learn the necessary skills to prepare for some time prior to actually generating income from the machine.

In conclusion, if you’re on the fence about whether or not you are ready to purchase a CNC router, I hope that this discussion has helped you understand the questions you need to ask yourself before making such a large purchase. I personally, however, will say that a CNC router is a great addition to any wood shop and is a great way to learn new skills while putting yourself ahead of the competition. If you have further discussion, comments, or questions, feel free to contact me.