What to look for in a CNC machine

SHOP NOW What to look for in a CNC machine Now that we have a handle on all the terms and lingo surrounding CNC machining, let's take a look at what some of the most important features to look for in a CNC machine are. Aside from common sense characteristics, like reputable vendors, good reviews, and great support, finding the right CNC machine depends largely on determining your budget and requirements for the machine and buying what works best for you.  When looking at the technical specs of any given machine, keep the following bullet points in mind. Footprint - This is how much space the machine will take up on your bench, desk, or table. Cutting Area - Describes the maximum working area within the CNC machine. This is the largest piece of material the machine is capable of cutting. Working Area - This could be describing how large of material you can place within the machine. Make note that this may (and probably will) be different than the cutting area. Where the cutting area describes the maximum area your machine can cut, the work envelope describes how large of a piece you can place within the machine. Clearance - This is the distance between the wasteboard and the lowest point on the gantry (usually the bottom of the Z-axis.). Clearance describes how much height you have to work with, you'll need height for things like really thick material and space to clear clamping (like a vice). The more clearance, the better! Spindle - Pay special attention to the spindles max RPM and max torque. Make sure it can accept and handle 1/4" shank end mills if you're going to do any sort of serious cutting. Shapeoko accepts our Carbide Compact Router or VFD Spindle.  The Compact Router is a great low-cost option, while the VFD spindle offers a quiet, high-performance option.  Software - Most machines ship with no software at all! You'll need machine control software, CAD Software, and CAM software if you want to fully-working machine Carbide3D provides all the software you need with the purchase of a Shapeoko or Nomad 3 CNC machine. All our software runs on both Mac OS X and Windows.  If you know that Shapeoko is right for you, head over to our store and pick one up today! If you're looking for a more turn key solution that looks gorgeous inside a studio or small office, take a look at our other CNC machine, the Nomad883 Pro.  And that wraps up this 5 part series on getting into CNC machines. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us directly at sales@carbide3d.com. We personally respond to every email! Take Care, Edward Co-Founder, Carbide 3D No longer want to receive these emails? Unsubscribe. Carbide 3D 3630 Skypark Dr Torrance, California 90505