The purchase of new machinery or equipment is always a big decision. You have to weigh the risks and benefits and how this new addition will help you and your business grow. Cost is always the first thing that comes to mind, and then other important priorities such as learning curves, machine requirements, market research and location. One of the hardest challenges is to move ahead and reinvent your whole business. Once that decision is made, it will be one of the best things you can do for yourself and your business! It improves work precision and accuracy while reducing production time and cost.
In the past, the high cost and difficult programming software of CNC routers limited access to many people. Today with help of global markets, open source software and a huge selection of off-the-shelf components, prices are much more affordable. FGPCNC offers production units starting at $15,000. Plug and play!
Who can benefit from having a CNC router?
A CNC router can run any number of custom programs to cut, carve, and slice with laser-like precision. They’re able to produce high-quality results that are consistent and economical. Traditional uses for a CNC router include:
Cabinet Components
CNC routers are the perfect choice for milling everything from cabinet doors to interior shelves and boxes. Computer guidance ensures a perfect cut every time, and the ability to change programs allows you incredible flexibility with just a single investment in equipment.
Proto-typing (Mold making)
Turning a concept into full production design requires sample models and testing. Fortunately, with one of our high gantry 4-axis CNC routers you can build many inexpensive samples while fine-tuning and improving the concept. CNC routers can cut large foam pieces precisely to your specifications within 1-3 thou and provide you with real data.
Sign Making
Signs can be quite complex and highly variable in the depth and angle required of each cut. But CNC routers, with simultaneous 3-axis motion, are perfectly suited to carve out sophisticated motifs in everything from bronze and aluminum to wood, plastic, and foam. Even 3D designs are no problem.
Woodworking
Traditionally, woodworking has been viewed as a hands-on pursuit that eschews machine assistance. But today’s master craftsmen are beginning to recognize – and embrace – the possibilities and consistency offered by CNC routers. Everything from small and delicate toys and game pieces, to intricate designs and lettering set in larger items, can be done in an authentic and high-quality fashion.
Movie set production / Stage builder
With ever growing demand in stage building and rise of production from companies like Netflix, a CNC router has become an integral part of this job. Carve out foam pieces for props and molds or mill wood and aluminum for stage production quickly and accurately.
Custom Furniture
Custom furniture was once made by hand and hand tools from start to finish. This was a time-consuming and expensive process, prone to errors that could destroy the work piece. 3-D software on programmable machines eliminates much of the trial and error once involved. Artists can design custom furniture in 3D software, imply cut angles, layers and surface finish, then calculate cut time, giving accurate estimates to clients based on real data. CNC routers process the same 3D file and within hours, carve out the base for custom furniture. The artist, of course, will still need to use hand tools to finish the final piece and give it a true custom feel.
Artists and individuals
Finally, artists, handymen, general contractors, renovators and crafting enthusiasts will all benefit from having an economical CNC router at home. Our clients use our small routers to manufacture guitars, skateboards, cabinet parts and even ice sculptures from their home garage. Having one CNC opens up new opportunities to merge your creativity with technology and create one-off, custom products or thousands of the same item for the mass market.
