I’m getting close to retirement, have had interest in CNC but not sure if it’s my thing. I’ve built myself a real nice wood shop and enjoy playing in it.
I’m in Alberta and would love to find a person close to Red Deer that I can come see, watch, and of course ask a 100 questions.
I know I need to dump $5000 ish on the table to buy one but is it my thing.
Not looking to turn it into a business or use it for income. Wife and grandkids will keep me busy enough.
Thanks Bill
Hey Bill,
You could always go with the more affordable option to start out and then upgrade from there if you feel it’s necessary. There’s no need to start with the top tier machine, my Journeyman x-50 suits me just fine! You’ll find a very helpful community here in the forum should you run into any issues.
Welcome!
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If you’re looking to see CNC is for you, I would also suggest trying out one or more CAD/CAM applications as that is where you will do 80% of your work in owning/operating a CNC. There are many that offer either a free version or a free trial version you can test out.
Here is a list of some of the available applications:
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If you can not find someone to visit, someone in your time zone might offer a video call demonstration.
I demo’d CAD/CAM through to milling to not so technical friend and got them to make a small box out of a single piece of stock (1.5" diameter octagonal ring box) and that took a long afternoon.
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Congratulations on the upcoming retirement! I too am retiring in January and am doing my research into buying my first CNC and just joined the forum. Unfortunately I am in midwest US, Columbus OH or we could go on a similar leaning journey.
I just sent you a DM
Hey Bill @Bills, hey Derek, hey Andy, hey Auntjemimma,
Bruce @GrandPooPaw, hey all,
I agree to this, mastering a CAD/CAM software takes some time so you should start early. If you have to rely on what others created, it will become boring, better learn to create your own objects.
And there are also many free and open source tools today that are very evolved.
See here for details.
Be sure that you master your CAD/CAM software and you are able to create objects in virtual 3D space when the machine arrives!
Welcome to the forum!
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Thanks for reaching out! I am researching CAD/CAM software and watching some tutorials. Unfortunately, I am a MAC user so I am waiting to trial software until I invest in Windows and Parallels. Going slow and creating an overall budget spreadsheet as I go.
Hey Bruce,
if you had followed the links in my post above, you would have noticed that all the Free and Open Source Software that I linked are all available for MacOS:
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Thanks for the response, I am not only learning about CNC, I am learning how to navigate forums too. Sorry I should have noted I was talking about the paid versions of software eg Vcarve or Carvco as it seems that is the best long term direction. I have however already downloaded Blender and have started to look at tutorials and poking around a bit to get a grasp of what lies ahead.
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As you are just starting out with CNC and it sounds like to computers to some degree, I wouldn’t sink too much time into Blender. The others are far easier to use. I started with Vectric and ran with it even though I already knew how to use Fusion 360 to some degree from working with 3D printers.
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Hey Bruce,
Blender is good for creating and modeling 3D objects.
FreeCAD is a all-in-one-solution that can do everything. You can create a 3D model (or import one), and then make a g-code toolpath of it and export it to the Onefinity CNC and directly mill it on your workpiece.
I assumed you wanted to try the free and open source software first, before you pay $699 for Vectric Pro. Many people use FreeCAD and are very happy with it.
It offers vast documentation and tutorials:
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Hi Ken - I have good experience with computers, but my deficiency lies with designing projects with software. I have always drawn up my projects using good ole paper and pencil or free hand on my iPad. So I am looking to get a “free” feel for CAD as a starting point.
Awesome - I will give FreeCAD a shot - thanks again.
Hey Bruce, hey Bill @Bills, hey all,
I came from drawing with paper and pencil too. As a child, I did that most of my time.
Using a CAD software User Interface is a completely different way to “draw” things – but the softwares evolved since decades already, and if you first follow the tutorials for learning to use the user interface and the “tools” offered there, you will notice that in the end, you will be able to create your images or 3D objects as quickly and easily as you were used to with pencil and paper.
Although digitizer tablets and digital pencils exist, the main tools you use with a CAD software are keystrokes on your keyboard and a pointing device like a mouse or a trackball. I know that many graphics designers, despite being right-handers, learned to use the mouse with their left hand to be able to use the right hand at same time for the keystrokes. The speed you can achieve this way when working on your virtual objects impresses many people (I can report).
A trackball for both left and right hand use that I can recommend is Kensington Orbit with Scroll Ring (white variant), but there are more. It is also recommended by Blender, Cinelerra and Ardour users for editing. The advantage of a trackball over a mouse is
- You don’t need much space on your table
- the trackball will not pick up the crumbs and dirt on your table
- You can mount it vertically (also ideal for use on a CNC).
There is also the Kensington Expert Mouse® Wireless Trackball but I haven’t tested this one.
If you want to work efficiently, never use the mouse for navigating in menus. It takes WAY too much time to always move your hand from the keyboard and back if you work this way. Instead, learn the keystroke combination for the specific function. The mouse/trackball is then exclusively used for free-hand operations like enlarging a box or positioning an object etc.
See here for an example of simultaneously using a keystroke with the right hand and a pointing device with the left hand. Here another example.
sorry to bother you again, I am fuddling around in the forum looking for input and user error has precluded me from finding what I am looking for. I learned I can get Carvco maker for 1 year free, does it make sense to learn on that then look to upgrade or should I jump right in to VCarve Pro? I promise I did search and also promise not to lean on you further. thx bruce
Hello
Andre here, i live in St. Albert if that is of any help to you. i have been a manual machinist my entire adult life, with a tiny bit of cnc added in, I bought an X-50 woodworker a couple of years ago and it was a good purchase. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have, within my knowledge base, and if you are ever up in my part of alberta I would be more than happy to show you my setup.
Regards,
Andre
Hey Bruce,
better wait for answers from others as Carveco is no software I’m experienced with 
Thanks - I appreciate the response and openness
Thanks for your offer. I will be in touch with questions I’m sure. Would email work
strong2@shaw.ca