I’m planning on buying Onefinity, but as a new user should I buy the elite or the standard model?
Best thing you can do is read the product pages and watch reviews and compare that to your own list of wants and needs. No one can answer that question for you.
For me personally, the Elite is way overkill for my needs and I do light production work. For others, the elite might not even have the base features they need, and as a result end up going more industrial.
The people on this forum are super kind and even more helpful, so if you state your usecase, I’m sure people will give their own experiences, however at the end of the day you’re the only person who can make that decision.
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What will be the primary use of your Onefinity? That can be one of the largest factors in choosing between them.
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My typical answer to that question about tools is . . . you should buy the best you can afford. Better to buy once than continue to buy less over and over again.
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I’m with Don, I find every time I skimp and get the mid line I end up selling it and leveling up to what I should have bought in the first place.
With that said, both machines are totally capable of meeting your needs. As Newsvan stated your budget should always be #1 priority, you have other bills to pay so don’t dive in debt to buy bigger than you need. If you are weekend woodworker and want to make some really cool stuff the standard machines will meet your needs without issue.
If you want to more produce a lot of things it may be worth the extra money if you have it to spend.
-Alex
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This machine is really for my father. He recently had a stroke last year and is having some issues with moving short-term memory to long-term memory. His stroke has left him where he can’t do a lot of woodworking with confidence. Before his stroke, he used to do a lot of woodworking and sell at a local market. It would likely be used for production of small quantities. I think this machine might give him freedom back and a source of income. I did look at all the special requirements the step motors are what really kind of makes it more interesting to me. If he messes up, we can actually go back and start the program from the line code that it was on, however, if I can get away with the original onefinity it is a lot cheaper. I thank everyone for their comments and their guidance in helping me choose a machine. Also, do you guys change the speed of a Makita router frequently? It could be a problem for my father to remember to change the spindle.
I think I would prefer the base model if it can d the job I need done, but being new to CNC I really don’t know. Thanks for your guidance.
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If he is having cognitive issues, is learning a new technical skill feasible? If he is driven it could also be helpful.
These machines are awesome but are not printers. Who is going to do the project design and toolpath creation?
He will need to observe and adjust router speeds until he learns optimal settings for each job and material.
I would be more concerned with his safety watching and working a robot spinning a cutter than using tools he has for years in a wood shop.
Hey Tony,
the advantages and drawbacks of the two different Series from Onefinity, the Original X-35/X-50/PRO Series with buildbotics-derived Onefinity CNC controller and the Elite Series with MASSO G3 Touch CNC Controller, is a frequently discussed topic in this forum. You may want to read what I wrote the other day, I tried to focus on the relevant things:
- Trying to decide on Elite vs. X-50 Series before I buy – the known problems are on both Series,
- Buildbotics vs. Masso Controller,
- Is setting up Rotary Axis simpler on Masso than on Buildbotics?,
and - You are completely wrong (About the history and the future of the buildbotics-derived Onefinity Controller on the PRO Series)
This will allow you to judge on the differences and point to more information on various relevant things regarding each Series.
Furthermore, what you must be aware of in the first place is that neither using a CNC, nor setting it up, is like buying a 3D printer and then printing something. Not at all. Regarding being able to use a CNC, you got to know that from a technical point of view, both Onefinity Series are hobbyist machines that show more than one aspect that I consider as not ideal and that will require you to spend your time in not working with the CNC, but improving or repairing it. See the posts above. Regarding setting it up, you have to know that there will be a long way until you really have a workplace where you put your workpieces in in order to let them be processed by the machine and be satisfied with the workflow, you will need to choose a lot of accessories including workpiece holding, which can be from simple clamps to pneumatic clamping and vacuum tabletops and much more. Plan for a longer period of trial and error until you are clear about how you want the workpiece processing to be realized.
Regarding what to produce with the machine, don’t think that buying 3D files of different objects available in the web will satisfy you, nor justify the costs of such a machine. Usually you don’t buy such a machine without having learned to create objects in CAD/CAM software and to export them as CNC toolpath. I would say that you need one year to master a CAD/CAM software if you are new to it. If you don’t learn this, it could happen that you finally own a machine from which you don’t know what to do with it, or you only make name signs and U.S. flags all the time because you don’t know how to do other things.
I bought the Elite model after reading a lot on this forum and mostly due to the large cases of strange issues that in my opinion don’t seem to happen with the Elite model.
I suffered using Mach 3 for many years and the elite is a dream compared to Mach 3.
I also agree with Poppyscott, buy the best you can afford and don’t regret saving a few bucks for the remainder.
It sounds like you father does much the same as myself, I make stuff and sell at a local market, Elite has the advntage of G54-G59 work offset coordinates, I use these for doing repeat processes and it along with a tool setter make life much easier.
My two cents worth.
Pat
Hey Pat, hey all,
just to be exact, the G54–G59.3 Coordinate System Offsets are fully supported on the buildbotics-derived Onefinity Controller too. What it lacks at the moment is a page on the User Interface with input fields to enter your values:
Image: Entering Coordinate System Offsets on the Masso G3.
But Coordinate System Offsets G54-G59.3 are fully implemented on the Buildbotics Controller
- when encountered as part of your g-code program
or
- when entered into the command entry field of the Manual Data Interface (MDI).
It even seems you have three more coordinate system offsets you can use on the Buildbotics, than on the Masso (nine instead of six) 
I pretty much set it around Number 3 and left it there. Every once in a while I would adjust on the fly, like when going to 11 for cutting foam, but most if not all wood products did great at middle of the road on the dial.
Also, because the Makita speed dial is notorious for wiggling around over time from all the vibrations, I did the following (with photo) which could benefit your Father a lot.
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Hello Liam, I can only tell you what I did. I’m a beginner all the way around. I had never heard of CNC, and had know idea what I was doing, and still don’t. I do know more now, but very little. I went with the Onefinity Elite Foreman, as I read to get the biggest my space would allow, and buy one time. I am totally satisfied, but haven’t used it a lot. I’m still trying to figure out Vectric Vcarve Pro, plus still trying to decide what I want to do with this new “hobby”. Like one of the replies says here, I actually just made two signs, and nothing else yet. I hope to expand, but if not, I’m still happy with my 1F. I would say try the free week trial of vetric, and of course any of the free CAD/CAM software programs that are out there. If you don’t figure out how to use the software comfortably, then the machine would just collect dust. Good luck my friend.
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I am in the same position as you were Bub. I am currently overanalyzing everything; watching YouTube video’s, reading forums, building cost estimates in Excel, trying free software, and reading tarot cards ;-). I think I just need to hit the “purchase now” button in my cart and start my journey. Certainly open to any early on ideas / things I can try. Enjoy your journey.
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Good Luck to you as well Bruce. I just signed up with the LearnyourCNC academy online course with Ely. I have learned quite a bit, and have only finished the intro and part of level 1 2D design. I have actually only done 3 projects on my 1F, but each one was better than the last.
Good insight thank you, I will definitely check it out. I am in a quandary whether ot go with Pro or Elite so I am still researching. Take care