How I got started with small CNC
For several years now, and especially since the pandemic started, people have been looking to hobbies to fill their time.
Some people’s hobbies are seasonal, they may surf all summer and ski all winter. Many people garden in the summertime outdoors and then nurture indoor plants in the wintertime.
Other people’s hobbies can be an extension of their workday jobs. That’s the case with me. I’m a CNC machinist by day and had an interest in small CNC for some time now and started with a small Neje brand laser.
It was fun playing with that small machine, and I was able to create things for other people that they couldn’t otherwise make. Due to the small size of the machine, however, I was limited to a working space 3 square inches or smaller.
It was a really basic machine but it still works fine. Inside the machine are guts from CD-ROM drives or DVD drives that you would find inside a desktop computer. They all use a laser capable of making marks on wood, paper, cardboard, etc. at a relatively weak 1500mw power. It was a great easy intro to making things. I’m sure I’ll find some dedicated job for it.
That got me hooked. Next, I started looking for 3D printers because my daughter’s boyfriend started a side gig creating custom bar tap handles. I wasn’t looking to muscle in on his business, but I could see that there was value in being able to create more things out of plastic.
My first printer was a Tevo Tarantula and I got the extended 200 x 280 mm heated bed. I created several successful prints with that before I started messing with it to make it “better”. I’ll highlight some of the upgrades and parts that I put into it in another article.
You see, once the maker bug bites, upgrades and hacking on our machines is what we like to do to make them better, faster, stronger. Think Tim Allen from Tool Time. We all strive for the best “Binford” available.
After buying another 3D printer I started to envision a collection where I could run multiple machines and make money while sitting back and counting my cash. That printer was a Kingroon KP3-S which featured linear rails for the table and x-axis. It has a smaller 150 by 150 mm envelope but if it’s 95% of anything I would normally print anyway.
My next investment was a small CNC router kit, a Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018-PRO. The number 3018 refers to 300 x 180 mm travel. A popular upgrade that can turn these machines into 300 x 400 would make it a 3040, with the Y axis being the longer side.
These small machines are a lot of fun to play with but they can do a number on themselves, your body parts, and other things if you aren’t careful. Make no mistake, a laser can easily blind you and a CNC machine cutter can take off your fingers in an extreme situation.
Now my collection was starting to add up with three different ways to make things. Most CNC routers can also be converted to lasers which is an added benefit over buying simply a laser as those cannot usually be converted to a router.
When it comes to machining, it’s all about the strength of the frame in any cutting situation where a bit would actually touch a workpiece as opposed to a laser or a 3D printer which doesn’t need to cause any stress.
So follow along on my journey and you may learn a few tricks. Please comment so I can learn from you.