EDIT: ChatGPT finally got it right.
Anybody else in west central FL? I would be curious how many people might be close enough for in person shop talk someday.
Brooksville area myself.
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I am in that same boat hardly anyone in my area that has a onefinity. or even a CNC at all.
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Bradenton
Elite journeyman
Just getting up and running
Long time running cnc’s
Cool! I’ve got an old buddy down there I hardly see but should try harder to. Maybe we’ll cross paths.
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Try Googling for makerspace near me. You’ll likely find CNCers there because that’s typically one of the first machines they get.
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None around. Ive even though about opening my shop as one since there is such a dearth.
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I used to help run one before I moved to NC a couple of years ago. It’s a complicated thing to set up (works best if you set it up as a 501c so you can take charitable contributions which is key for getting grants or donations of tools like lasers, 3D printers, etc). Keeping it going means you and maybe one or two others will be doing all the work. Then you need to figure out a price point that people will pay but doesn’t leave you short on rent, insurance, etc. We had a complete shop - all the computer driven stuff plus a traditional wood and milling side. Taught classes even for nonmembers and had card key access so folks could use it 24x7. We staggered a long for 10 years before finally throwing in the towel when the rent went up for our space. We charged $25/mo for when we were staffed (generally 4 days a week for morning or afternoon hours - getting someone to sit there is a pain or another expense) and $75/mo for 24x7 access with no monitors (except the cameras watching to catch anyone stealing or damaging things).
We never broke even. I’ve seen ones where they’re pitched more to people using it for a shared production space for someone starting or running a small business making things but those members grow up & get their own space/equipment or go out of business. They usually were paying between $600-1,000/mo. They did have hobby members but that was still $100-200/mo. Even those operations relied a lot on minimally compensated staff and an awful lot of grant chasing.
It’s too bad because a lot of this stuff is expensive to buy and it’d be nice to have a powder coating shop to use a couple or three times a year for instance. Or a paint booth you could use once you’ve done the other 90% of a build.
The CNC and lasers were our biggest used items but those take some time to learn how to design for them and that’s a big hurdle for newbies. I taught the classes for CNC (laser, router, 3D printing) operations and another guy did CNC design classes every month. Always had a half dozen or more folks but that didn’t necessarily translate into people willing to drive a half hour or more to access the tools. 
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Wow! What an absolute flood of unexpected knowledge.
Thanks so much for all of that. I have never to into anyone with personal experience in that area.
I feel like I really lucked out.
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