Hi all,
I am in the market for a CNC machine for my wood working shop. I am a newbie, but I want to buy once and cry once :). So, I am looking at the Elite Line of CNC’s from OneFinity and I am wondering if the learning curve would be prohibitive to make such a purchase or are the machines intuitive or user friendly? For making cabinet parts and panels what size unit should I purchase?
Thanks for the help!
John
General advice for CNCs for woodworking is to buy the largest you can afford and fit in your shop. You’ll rarely ever find yourself wishing you had less machinable area available.
As for learning curve, there is one, as there is with any new-to-you technology. But the internet has so many resources for learning at this point you’ll be hard pressed to find something that someone hasn’t done, and documented, before. If you catch the itch you’ll learn very quickly.
Welcome to the community!
I have the Elite Woodworker and agree with Newsman, get the largest machine you can afford and fit in your shop, I find the Masso control to be pretty easy to use and understand.
Have fun
Pat
Thank you for the info!
Learning the machine is straight forward. Learning CAD and CAM software is where the steepest learning curve lies if you don’t already have experience with a package.
I don’t. But I think I could pick it up.
As long as you dont mind making mistakes and destroying wood, you will eventually pick it up. Look in the forums for CAD/CAM recommendations, there are plenty of threads on it with comparisons. If you buy directly from Onefinity, they provide a one years ubscription on Carveco Maker. You can also find a monthly trial before you get a CNC to check it out.
Thank you for that info!
Hey John,
to buy a CNC machine takes one minute. Choosing one maybe one month of research. But if you don’t want to stay with making name signs for the thanksgiving table (which would not justify the costs of such a machine), you need to master a CAD/CAM software. This means virtual 3D objects creation. To master such a software takes at least about one year. Better three. In my country, this is a profession which takes three years to learn.
And no, you don’t pick it up. You need to follow tutorials for monthes, be they in written form, as videos or in courses in a classroom. Otherwise your knowledge and capabilities to make something with such a machine will remain rudimentary and unsatisfactory, often leading to the question if space in the garage could be used in a better way. Many believed they could pick the knowledge up, you see their machines ending in the “for sale” section.
Welcome to the forum!
Thank you for that response. I will look for a CAD/CAM Class locally and see if I can’t get some training first.
See if there’s a local Makerspace near you. They often host classes (I taught at mine for a decade).
Or check with the local community college. They took often have classes on CAD design. Finally, the local school’s adult education program may offer one too.
BTW, you’ll make faster progress than many of your classmates with a machine in the garage/basement to try your work on. The ability to see how a design is going to work in near realtime is invaluable in learning.
Hey John,
a class is surely the best.
Meanwhile the FreeCAD Tutorials are also nice
(FreeCAD is free and open source software)
For 3D modeling you can also use Blender (free and open source software) by using this
So much to learn!
Yes the machine. I recommend the 1F. Built so well!! Little vibration. And I bought a spindle. You are naive. It’s not only learning the can but the software Too VCarve recommended. But then HOLD DOWM, Materials Types of cuts V Profile, and which bits do you use. Locating Zero, building registration, convertrinbg v carve files to tool paths and uploading same. A MONSTER. But I think it so worthwhile.
!!!
Hi John…
Welcome to the community! I am also a newbie… just got my 1F Elite Foreman about five or six weeks ago. I agree with what others have said… there is definitely a learning curve but also plenty of resources (most of them free, some not) available on the interwebs.
As for size, I again agree that you should get the biggest machine you can afford / have room for. I have already done one job cutting 28 cabinet doors / drawer fronts on mine, and the 4’ x 4’ capacity was definitely a must. If you plan to cut alot of cabinet parts though… like regularly turning out whole kitchens or something along those lines… you really need a more industrial full size machine, 4’ x 8’ at least.
Some resources I highly recommend, if you haven’t already stumbled across them: Marty Mitchell’s YouTube channel MitchellsWoodwork. Fantastic guy… he has documented his entire journey with his 1F Elite Foreman. It’s practically a step by step of every aspect from building the table to installing an ATC. Next would be PWNcnc… they make and sell all kinds of accessories from clamping to spindle kits to ATC’s and everything in between. Another great website / YouTube channel is IDC Woodcraft. They specialize in bits and accessories, but Garrett Fromme also has many training videos as well. Lastly, Cadence Manufacturing and their line of ‘Jenny’ bits… phenomenal quality bits.
I went with Vectric software, VCarve Pro to be specific. Although 1F does offer a free 1yr subscription to Carveco, I found VCarve to be more intuitive. But that’s a personal preference thing. If you do go with Vectric, I can’t recommend highly enough Kyle Ely’s website, LearnYourCNC.com. He has an incredibly comprehensive master training course (plus a bunch of other stuff), which you get for life once you purchase it… learn at your own pace and all future updates included as new versions of software are released. Learning the software as much as you can before you get the machine gives you a huge leg up.
Good luck on your new journey! Even at the hobby level it can get expensive, but once you get the bug you’ll be addicted… trust me.
Mike