Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Making money from CNC - in a home enviroment

This may also be off-topic.

I have been watching this list for a few months to see if I wanted to
build/buy a CNC machine. My principal goal is to create prototype
parts for robots. As I only need a small number of parts, I have found
it difficult and expensive to work with larger full-service shops in
my area. I suspect I will aquire a mill someday, but right now I'd
rather not invest the time, money, and effort into learning the
basics.

If anyone is interested in machining small parts (from a TurboCAD
file) in low quantities (1-10), please email me off-list at the above
address.

TIA,
Andrew Dubinsky

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 17:05:04 -0000, caudlet <thom@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson <elson@p...> wrote:
> > John Heritage wrote:
> >
> > >Hi,
> > >
> > > I wanted to ask how many of the members have been sucessful in
> making some money, or a living, back from their interest in CNC.
> > >
> > > CNC and physical productivity has always been something that's
> really interested me and I'd like to be able to do something that I
> enjoy as a job. However, I'm a bit unsure of just how achievable this
> is when looking towards the competition.
> > >
> > > To keep this thread within the bounds of CCED, I mean CNC
> equipment that can realistically be owned by a home user. That
> doesn't require 50MW for the spindle alone, cost a million dollars or
> require a degree in mathematics to run. Rather plasma tables,
> converted knee mills, desktop mills and such.
> > >
> > > What makes me wonder is that the highest earning work is being
> done on machines tens of times quicker and stronger than something
> like a converted knee mill.
> > >
> > > So, I'd be really interest to hear if anyone has managed to turn
> CNC at home into something they can make something back from.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > I think this is probably off-topic, but I'll venture one quick
> response.
> >
> > It is probably hard to run a "job shop" out of your house and make
> money
> > at it.
> >
> > On the other hand, if you have "captive products", ie. your own
> designs
> > that you are
> > making parts for, it makes a lot more sense. I have been making
> > electronic gear
> > for some years, and lately it is turning toward CNC motion control
> systems.
> > I make servo amplifiers, and they have a mounting plate that needs
> to be
> > cut, bent and drilled. I do the finishing to size and the drilling
> &
> > tapping on a
> > converted Bridgeport. I've started making CNC drive boxes, which
> require
> > a bunch of odd holes cut in metal sheet and then it is bent in a
> finger
> > break.
> >
> > Before I went with CNC, I made stuff manually. It was really
> stressful
> > to have
> > hours of work in a part, and be worried that one moment's lapse of
> attention
> > would turn it into scrap. Now that I have CNC, I still find ways
> to
> > screw it up,
> > but I don't have hours of work in the part. I fix the mistake and
> push
> > a button,
> > and the next piece comes out OK. Second, I never could get bolt
> holes to
> > line up. Everything needed to have the holes filed until the bolts
> > fit. (I did
> > get a Bridgeport optical measuring system that did allow accurate
> > positioning,
> > but it is a bit difficult to use.) With CNC, the holes in the
> cover fit
> > perfectly
> > over the other part, every time! No more filing! That alone is
> worth a
> > pile of money!
> >
> > Jon
>
>
> This may be off topic in the sense that it is not strictly about
> build a CNC machine but I am sure in the "justification" stage of
> deciding to get into this hobby most of us have dreamed about making
> enough money to quit our jobs and turn our hobby into a business or
> at least to make enough to pay for an expensive hobby. Some of us
> have managed to do that (gasp!). I think you can get more direct
> answers over on the DIY-CNC group which is a subset of the members
> here and is more about what you do AFTER you get your machine built.
>
> One quick observation. A CNC machine is not the "Field of Dreams"
> concept. A large portion of the success is the same as any
> business. You have to find your market place and work like heck to
> build a clientel. I can address the profit from a plasma (not on
> this list) but it is based on my small microchasim(sp) of my world
> (North Texas). I agree with others that running a job shop or doing
> work for other shops is a tough way to go. In the end it's more
> about your innovations and skills that the machine itself.
>
> We can help direct you to hobby sources and with ideas that will help
> you build a machine that will at least give you a chance to compete.
>
> Tom C
>
>
>
>
> Addresses:
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
>
> Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, wanliker@..., timg@...
> Moderator: pentam@... indigo_red@... davemucha@... [Moderators]
> URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
>
> OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto: aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to reach it if you have trouble.
> http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this to be a sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are there, for OT subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
>
> NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY POSTING THEM. DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
> bill
> List Mom
> List Owner
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>