Want more? Watch this playlist kzfaq.info/sun/PLp-J1-xoURvX6p-5kVjLD4YChqFt1ywrs

As a professional cnc programmer and operator with over 25 years experience I would highly recommend that beginners use a safety guard around their machines as if a bit snaps or shatters they can cause serious damage and injuries. When it comes to setting feed rates and rpms you need to find the sweet spot. That is when the rotation speed and feed rate are in harmonic balance and the tool will actually cut very quietly even at full length of cut

I did literally every step of this process the hard way years ago. Listen to this guy.

I have 51 years experience working with wood starting with 2x4 framing and progressing through cabinets and furniture. When considering the addition of a CNC router to my backyard shop, I found this video to be the perfect information needed for my decision. Thumbs up!

One thing I always appreciate is a person that is where I want to be, who is willing to show others below him on the ladder. Everybody has something to teach and everybody has something to learn. Much appreciated!

Because of videos like yours, my first build went together like I had been doing this all my life! I work in industry, so “perfect” startups of complex systems rarely happen, but my CNC mill just “fell together” and worked perfectly as I followed the steps. And that’s just the hardware, which is probably the easiest part, because then comes the software, for design, and then for communicating with the machine. Again, advice from channels like yours helped me navigate through “the weeds” without making costly mistakes, so I thought I would just say thanks!

You are a gifted teacher. I am inspired by your journey from newbie to competent expert, as outlined in your videos. I like your solid realistic approach and the way you manage expectations. CAD/CAM is a fascinating area and I look forward to learning more from you. Thanks again.

Thanks for the breakdown. I went for the sub1000 price range, and got a small 3018 clone, and upgraded the spindle/controller to a variable rate with a wasteboard and clamp. Coming from 3D printing I already have some experience with these little quirky machines. Im a fledgling pocket-knife creator, and I wanted something to compliment the synthetic 3D extrusion with the ability to cut out small plastic/soft metal parts. Im already looking ahead to setting up a larger router system in my garage workshop where the bigger tools are. Ill use your resources as I progress in my journey. Cheers!

Thank you for your very informational video. I was a machinist for 8 years and worked with CAD and then had to manually write each line of G code (that sucked). But I am chomping at the bit to get an all in one cnc router, plasma type table. I've been watching videos and yours explains best on what to expect when first starting this journey. Thank you!

I’m just about to start the fascinating world of Glowforge and CNC. You have made my job 1000% easier, you’re a natural in front of the camera and convey your information in a clear and concise way. You’re my number one source of information before anyone else, many thanks for you’re amazing videos.

Thanks for the video , I took on a challenge that I didn’t realize was so on going ,I was given a desktop CNC that needed a full retro fit . Learning about what controller would be easier and was in my budget , it’s moving on slowly as I learn more about CNC machines . Again thanks for the info it helps a lot.

I love videos like this. I love when you have more encouragement to these machines. I think a lot of people could buy these and the machine pay itself off in a project or two. Which then becomes a rabbit hole of all the things you can do. Much like a 3d printer. People need reminded of the capabilities, and also how to approach these machines, so they can be confident in making the first step. Great video.

Back in 2008, I designed and built a fairly large CNC machine. Once I got it working, I discovered that I had no idea how to use it! Not too long after, I figured it out, and became addicted to making all sorts of things with it. Needless to say, it has clocked up many thousands of hours of productive, and profitable, machine runtime :) .

Great video man! Thank you for taking the time to make it. I would love to get a CNC for my shop one day, but I know there is SO MUCH to learn. Keep up the GREAT work! 😀👍

Gdmorning Andy, I want to thank you for documenting your CNC journey. I've been watching your for a while and I'm impressed with how you have grown into your craft and your curiosity, I'm just beginning my journey and you have been a BIG HELP, so thankyou and Keep Paying It Forward!!!

I'm so glad I found your channel. Please keep pushing these videos, your tribe is for sure tuning in

A very refreshing and honest attempt to make new users aware of what to expect, always remeber '' To be forewarned is to be forearmed ''.

Sometimes the truth is hard for us to hear. Your experience and honesty are greatly appreciated! Keep up the superb efforts.

I'm putting together a workshop in my garage since my father passed and I am disabled; I always felt at home in shop classes and only used a laser cutter once but a CNC machine sounds perfect for the craft shows I want to do.

As someone who has been thinking about purchasing a CNC machine for several years, I found this video very informative. Thank you.

You are spot on sir. Everyone thinks somehow everything is easy. But there is a lot of just grit and determination that make any shop task a finished task and sadly most folks do not possess the level of determination that you do. Learning a new program, learning a new machine, learning the abilities and limitations of said machine along with the process of troubleshooting issues can and is quite frustrating and overwhelming to most lay people. I found this out with basically the same machine except for cloth, IE. digital embroidery, the learning curve was vertical but my nature is to NEVER give up... lol. Thanks for the video it was spot on as I said and well done.

Great vid, man. I'm only vaguely interested in CNC, but I wanted to give you kudos for taking the time to put together a no-nonsense, honest and helpful video.

One of the best videos I've seen so far when I get into the next side hustle , clear and true .

Thank you for your wonderful series! God bless you all!

Best set of advice I have seen to date. This coming a background of woodworking, welding, computer programming, and 3D printing. (I was looking at reviews for a particular desktop CNC router when I came across this video.)

Thank you for this. Very well done...no fluff...extremely well presented and informative...thank you for taking the time to produce this.

Oh I so much recognise myself when I was starting out with 3D Printing in how you are talking about CNC :) Thanks! It all makes total sense and I will most surely come back to watch again when have space prepared for CNC.

All great points to consider for a noob. I'd add that if you set your expectations accordingly you can also learn a lot from a $200 3018 along with $50 worth of bits. Sure, it's slow and what you can do with it is very limited but it's a great way to negotiate the learning curve and figure out if CNC is really something you want to pursue before dropping over 10x that amount on a more capable machine.

Great video, well done. took me a week to setup and build my machine. two days for mechanical build and three days to do electrics and software config

What a fantastic and honest video, thank you so much for making it, there is a lot of wisdom in those words.

Thank you for an honest video! It sounds like the software have a lot of room for improvement. Comparing to a 3D printer once you have the 3D model, with minimal adjustments, the printer will just print it our for you, while a CNC sounds a lot more hands on. Although 3D printers are still years away for an ordinary person to use.

Dude al the info in This video wil letterly safe you a lot of Hessel. I have so much respect for this Guy

Totally off topic but the piece of wood on the wall by your left shoulder is that gumwood/satin walnut. I made a gun case from it when I was in high school and I love the look of it. Thanks for the info.

A 4th one is a down cut bit. I highly recommend buying one. I have had no need for the replaceable ones. Then again I have only done small jobs on a printed CNC. I am thinking of committing money to a larger CNC like a Shapico or something at some point. I started on CNC when I was 14 as an apprentice Tool & Die Maker. Back then CNC was a new thing. Left the trade to work on computers and never looked back till I wanted a hobby build. Now I enjoy it.

Thank you man, I was just talking to my partner about getting a cnc, and i completely understand what your saying, If I'm going to do it i don't want some simple, cheap machine, i want something that will make things that have quality and with a machine capable of doing the best job. A little more saving for me but i will take your advice!! Thanks

Great video. I have been using a WorkBee desktop cnc setup for 3 and a half years. KZfaq is such a gift for learning this stuff. I have been loving the journey so much I even got a 3D printer recently too!

excellent and realistic view on getting ready to start your CNC work. Thanks!

Thank you for your honest opinion and expertise. I found this most helpful.

I own a small workbee, and also a big industrial cnc. I would recommend that you change the 1/4 bit for 1/8. Most small routers have way too fast rpms, and cant sustain the required feed rate for the ideal chipload. You end up going through alot of 1/4 inch bits as they burn up fast.

Thank you Andy, that's why I built a machine with a small footprint and some automation. Enjoy!

Very helpful! Thank you for your transparency and guidance.

Dig it Brother... No nonsense... just good prose! Thank you Sir.

Good video! I'm searching high and low to add to my CNC knowledge. Just bought a Shark and it should be arriving in the next couple of days. Your suggestions are excellent.

Wow dude, that almost made me cry, you brought up so many factors on starting out with honesty! Wish we were neighbors, lol

Taking the time to get your machine square and level is the going to save you so much headache later on. What I like about the price point you picked is it allows most people to grow into their machines instead of quickly growing beyond them.

When I first started using a CNC milling machine, there was no such thing as CAD/CAM and the processes I used were later incorporated into that format. I am now a retired master machinist and look back on G-code programming with fond memories. By the way, the tools you refer to as tapered bit, I ground myself with relief.

Skreeeech! That is me slamming the brakes because I just started looking for my first CNC machine. You are a wealth of information Andy and I'm so glad I saw this video before spending $500.00 on my first machine. My jaw hit the floor and disappointment as well when you said 3k to start. I'm on a fixed income and 3k is a lot of money for me. I guess I'll be doing more side jobs and filling my piggy bank for that time when I will eventually be able to pull the trigger. By then though the starting cost will be up a few hundred more dollars. I am a new subscriber now so I'll be looking forward to seeing more of your stuff.

Thanks for the heads-up :) I will be looking at an entry level machine for home hobby work.

Hi. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I would like to engrave a desing made of leaves and curves and would like to know which program you would recommend. Many thanks in avance again.

Thanks Andy... Starting a MPCNC build and there were some great tips here..

A lot of wisdom here. Newbies pay attention. I have taken the journey Andy speaks of over the last year or so as well. You are not going to be creating beautiful projects on your first cut. So much to learn before you begin producing sellable products. I started with a very cheap partially 3D Printed CNC. For me this CNC allowed me to make some very disastrous mistakes that didn't cost me much to fix. I broke something I just printed a new part. It had entirely too much give and flex for what I wanted to do but it got my head into cad, into cam and into the software that navigates the cnc and was very forgiving when I screwed up. Several crashes later and I had a good understanding of what NOT to do. Eventually I determined this cnc wasn't going to do what I needed it to do and committed to (what Andy said) around a $2500 budget and got what I would call a serious CNC. Taking what I learned from my mostly printed CNC I was able to then delve into my feeds and speeds and operating the machine in a manner it was intended. But I didn't just start right in making projects. I have been running test cuts in pine and hardwood to determine what is too fast of a feed and what is too slow of a speed for my router. I just about have every possible cut figured out and dialed in so as I begin making projects. So give yourself the time it takes to learn things and make your mistakes. Because you are going to make several. Like Andy said be willing to fail and you rewards will be great. Thanks for this video Andy. Wish you had made it a year ago.

Thanks for the info

Thanks for the video. It was a very thoughtful approach, and much appreciated.

On endmills/bits, I'd add 'multiple spiral upcut/downcut bits' for the probable reality that, as a beginner, you are going to break one/some pretty quickly.

Andy, Thank You for doing this video. I appreciate your advice for ppl like myself. 🙏🏻👍🏻🙋🏼‍♀️☕️

Great VIDEO, recommended bits 1/4 up cut, 60 degree v-bit, bowl and tray bit

Good info, thanks

Excellent summation. I always suggest that anyone uncertain about using a CNC machine first buys a 3D printer. This gives experience with design and gcode files etc, but doesn't have the complexity of tooling, hold-downs, cutting paths or collision issues. No infrastructure such as tables and extraction. Once that is all learned, the step to CNC is much gentler, and the 3D printer remains a useful resource. If it is all too much, the lost investment is much smaller.

Thank you. I can’t wait to get started.

An excellent aproach bro!

Great video....alot of valuable information!

Really encouraging!👍

Awesome. Clearest and most easy to follow CNC guide i have seen. I am about ready to buy my first CNC. Every bit of experience is well received..👍🇬🇧🙋🏼‍♂️

I bought my Probotix CNC 5 years ago now and I use it most weekends. I use V-Carve Pro and find it so user friendly. I then bought a laser to compliment it and now making some money, not a lot but I love the CNC.....

I think starting with a 3d printer is best. It's also useful for making adaptors and tools for other machines. They operate on similar principles too.

This is a great video to help people understand what it really takes to own and use a CNC. It took me months to learn the CAD/CAM and feed/speed/toolpath aspects.

Clear, concise and well presented. Thank you for that.

Very simple and straight to the point instructions. I'm not looking to get a CNC in the near future as I'm generally intimidated by learning new software. But I know this video will be helpful for me if I ever decide to get one.

This is the most honest and helpful video that I've seen, so far, on KZfaq. Anybody even thinking about a CNC should watch this one.

Thanks for creating this video. I'm a retired machinist who's been looking for a hobby to help make ends meet. I know about speeds & feeds for all the metals I worked with. It should be easy enough to make wood chips. My question is, due to the high speed of routers, are most cutting tools carbide, or is it a mix of high speed steel & carbide tools being used? I'll be watching the play list you just mentioned. The biggest learning curve I'm facing is learning CAD.

Thank you for the good advice

Well thought out, consice and clear

Thanks for the video very informative. Where could I see a demonstration of this machine in Melbourne Australia thanks.

Thank you for your time and great explanation.

I truly enjoyed watching your video and thanks for all the information

Great presentation man! I'm into FDM 3D printing and CNC is next on my list.

I agree with all the points made here. I think there are a lot of gold that jump in head first thinking that it’s a simple Press of a button to carve something. It’s not rocket science, but It takes work.

Thank you for the info, friend. Very insightful!

Great stuff Andy. Very informative. Taking your points on board as I begin the journey. Cheers, JAYTEE

Great video, well done and thank you.

I'm used to larger, corded routers kzfaq.infoUgkxfQ5_mgwq6PcudJvAH25t-I4D-3cTPz4z so this was a different experience for me. Basically, this is an incredibly sweet machine, fits well in the hand, etc. It has slightly less power than I'm used to, but that's understandable. Maneuvering freehand takes some practice. These days, it's especially nice to be able to avoid power cords. This is above the level of a hobbyist but below a pro level.

Excellent informational video. It can be a daunting experience.

Great video Andy, I’m getting ready to dive back into a CNC router again. About 5 or 6 years ago I bought a New wave shark CNC I think I spent about $5k getting started, and gave up and sold it after the 2nd month. Needless to say I lost my, well you know. I’ve owned a CNC plasma cam, and vinyl plotter Cutter and just recently purchased a ORTUR laser engraver/cutter and have been able to operate them just fine. You said that a good budget to start out with was around $3k, well that’s exactly what I was thinking when I decided to try it again. The CNC I have decided on is the Shapeoko 4 XXL CNC Router with the added on bitsetter and the recommended spindle router, I was thinking a few hundred dollars more and buy the Pro model but for just as a hobby and making some extra money I really didn’t see much difference between the two other then it was built a little sturdier. (Your thoughts on that?) before I push the pay button..lol. I’m retired now with some time on my hands and I like to make stuff in between traveling in my RV. P.S. I almost was going to buy the Bobs CNC to save some money, but after watching 1000s of KZfaq videos on all types of CNCs I decided on Shapeoko 4 XXL CNC Router. Love all your videos thanks 🙏

Thank you.

You are helping me a lot! Thanks very much!

Thanks for this. Been using a 3d printer for years and looking for a CNC router, and it's overwhelming the number of models that are out there. I see Yoududes making videos that seem like thinly veiled commercials, because when you read actual reviews, they're junk.

Great video....thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Well done well said..... I'm considering making the jump into CNC as a carpenter/furniture builder so your videos are very helpful....3000$ is a commitment that i have to warrant and not just a whim though ...your videos are helping me to make the right decision...thanks

I never use an up-cut bit with wood because it tears out the top surface. Took me a while to learn that, but down-cut only for me (often sold as 'left handed'). Straight for plastics. Up-cut for metal. Down-cut helps to keep the work flat on the table and gives the cleanest top surface.

great video. thank you for sharing your experience. may i ask how you got that terrible scar on those 2 fingers?

Thank you for sharing this information.

Great video. It's been a year this month i have had my cnc I so far have only 12 bits got 2 bit starter packs. One was from my CNC manufacture (onefinity) had 4 bits in it and i bought a pack from bitsbits had 8 bits in it was a very useful pack. I needed compression bits along with surfacing bits ect... got them in the pack. waiting for stock i need 2 more bits lol. the One thing i wanted to add to your video was the need for a dustoper to save your shop vac. I look forward to learning from you. Thank you..

What maintenance do you do on your Shapeoko pro? I’m new to mine. I bought the oil they recommend for maintenance but their paperwork isn’t great. It would be great if you can make a short video on what you do. Love the channel.

This is excellent work and analysis.

I fucked up the same basic project for months but it helped me comprehend the whole process better ultimately.

Great video. Helped me a lot as I am entering that world.

very good - very useful. thanks. Is it harder to CNC hardwood like rosewood etc?

Thanks Andy. I appreciate all the advice from you. I'm saving money for my CNC. Great work. Please keep up with this videos. From Cypress Texas.

Awesome video, thankyou!

Mate thanks for this video... Opened my eyes to somethings I didn't even consider... ie. Dust