Serious Scene Shop CNC

porkchop

porkchop

Well-Known Member
A company I work with is seriously considering a reasonably sized, high power for a scene shop CNC (Minimum 4'x4' effective cutting bed and at least 3HP spindle). They just got a quote for $28k for a 5'x5' fully assembled machine that is probably a bit more than they need. I know cncrouterparts.com sells a 4'x4' all assembly required kit for between $4k-$5k depending on features, but the shop really doesn't want to spend a week trying to get the thing put together and dialed in.
Is there a quality machine out there that someone knows of in the $8k-$12k range with the kind of cutting capacity they require that doesn't arrive in a million different pieces?
 
Pro cnc machines start at $23,000. Haas, Mazak, Okuma, etc. That money gets you a machine guaranteed to work, long duty cycles, great customer service, huge support network, etc. The $5k-$15kmachines are generally considered home/hobby machines, for folks who tinker. If you only plan to make an occasional widget, then the cheap machines will suffice. However, if your company will depend on CNC work, going cheap up front will cost you in the long run.
 
We're still a scene shop so most of the parts we make will be large, single runs, and that need to look good from 30 feet away. The precision and repeatability of Haas and Mazak type machines are beyond their needs. What I'm looking for is something more similar to Tormach's 1100 PMC, but sacrificing a little precision for a bed that can fit a 4'x4' piece of MDF.
 
We have a Shopbot in our scene shop. Works well, 4x8 bed and hasn't given us much trouble that wasn't a programming error on someones part. Prices seem to be a bit above your range but not to bad. Worth a look at least.
 
The one we hand at Acme Scenic couldn't keep up with the demand for parts and it was a Huge 5' x 10' or 12' industrial model. We kept it running sometimes 80 hours a week. Once you start using one in the shop you want to use it for more and more.
 
We run a MultiCam 3000. It gets a LOT of use. I can't imagine having a table unable to accommodate 4x8 sheet goods. It's NOT cheap, but it's an incredible time saver, and once you start using it, it becomes a go-to. Our PM calls it the hardest working employee in the shop.
 
I agree that once you start using one, you'll keep using it. Our shop has 2 that always run. Odd flat shapes, curved stuff, stock jacks or apple boxes, cutting out own faux brick panels out of foam. So long as someone can draft it and someone can run the machine you'll find the uses. anything less than a 4x8 seems like a waste to me, having to cut down a sheet every time we want something on the table is wasted time and the ability to do long runs of something is immediately beneficial. Though routers are definitely in the commercial budget range.

Think about it like this. You'd be paying more employees a lot more money over a longer period of time to churn out work by hand than what the router can do. If you're at the level where you're doing lots of curved stuff or routing a lot by hand, the initial investment saves you loads down the line and it makes up its cost pretty quickly if you keep it running.
 
The economic advantage it obvious to everyone at the shop. That's why they want to own rather than continue to outsource CNC pieces. However economic realities exist and there is a large gap in price point between a $5k assemble yourself kit and the reasonable scale assembled units that I'm finding starting at $15k or more. Perhaps I'm just surprised that the only unit I find filling that gap is the Tormach that presents a set of sacrifices that are basically opposite of the needs of a scene shop.
 
So I've been reading but don't really have input except for this, if you are going to lay towards the cheap side of things and go with the low end one that you have to assemble yourself. Why not call around to places that do CNC work and see if you could trade ad space or tickets for someone to come out and get you up and running.

I mean you are on Vegas. There has to be someone willing to barter with and or you hook them up with some good casino shows.

Plus I think it would be fun to put together a CNC machine. It would be like building a life size erector set.
 
Given the range of input here I figure I'd report back. The shop pushed their budget a little and got a PRO 4'x8' machine from CNCRouterParts. Setup was a bit of a process. Not difficult, just time consuming. CNCRouterParts has been great to work with. They have lots of videos to help with setup and a few times when we've gotten lost they've been very helpful on the phone as well. The frame made out of 80/20 stock has lots of adaptability for add-ons and customization.

Now all I need are more time and jobs that require CNC work.
 
Would take all your throw away stuff and start practicing. Glad to hear y'all got one.
 
Congrats on your new baby, is it by any chance named SIN CITY CINCIE !
This is one of those things where the mushroom factor comes into play, you were going for 4 x 4 but (wisely) went for 4 x 8. I do wonder if going for 5 x 10 would have been worth it so you could use Baltic birch for road cases and the thinner sheets for awesome profiles. I am thinking 3D art deco palm trees. Can it also machine plexi? I'm thinking of 3D faux chandeliers for one example.
As far as waiting for jobs that really require the CNC, at least you aren't making the mistake of small time LDs who finally get some wiggle lights, just because they can wiggle and jiggle and blink doesn't mean they HAVE to wiggle and jiggle and blink all the time!
 
JohnD said:
Congrats on your new baby, is it by any chance named SIN CITY CINCIE !
This is one of those things where the mushroom factor comes into play, you were going for 4 x 4 but (wisely) went for 4 x 8. I do wonder if going for 5 x 10 would have been worth it so you could use Baltic birch for road cases and the thinner sheets for awesome profiles. I am thinking 3D art deco palm trees. Can it also machine plexi? I'm thinking of 3D faux chandeliers for one example.
As far as waiting for jobs that really require the CNC, at least you aren't making the mistake of small time LDs who finally get some wiggle lights, just because they can wiggle and jiggle and blink doesn't mean they HAVE to wiggle and jiggle and blink all the time!
Click to expand...

With CNCRouterParts's machine at least, the work area of their 4'x8' machine is 51" x 99.5" so we have that extra few inches that we'd want for normal ply and MDF sheets. We haven't used 5'x10' sheets often so hopefully we won't miss it. The larger physical size would have been difficult to commit to in our space.

I'm just happy I got the owner to stop typing CandC in emails.
 
porkchop said:
I'm just happy I got the owner to stop typing CandC in emails.
Click to expand...
Did you 'splain that it stood for Computer Navigated Contraption?
 
porkchop said:
With CNCRouterParts's machine at least, the work area of their 4'x8' machine is 51" x 99.5" so we have that extra few inches that we'd want for normal ply and MDF sheets. We haven't used 5'x10' sheets often so hopefully we won't miss it. The larger physical size would have been difficult to commit to in our space.

I'm just happy I got the owner to stop typing CandC in emails.
Click to expand...
@porkchop Can water jet be far behind?
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.
Edit: @DIYLED Only "test editing" a post from two months previous for purposes of testing the longevity of CB's Edit function. NO CHANGES MADE, INTENDED OR DESIRED. [How's that for anal retention?]
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.
SEASON'S BEST!!!
 
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