While my aspirations are for a Tormach or a converted Bridgeport, the Genmitsu 3020 Pro Max V2 is a good place to start.
My goal in life is to be able to be able to build almost anything. I prefer motorcycles as my subject and metal as my medium, but at the end of the day if I decide to build a set of custom kitchen appliances from parts and a pile of raw materials I want to have the skills and equipment to do so. I’d also like to be able to do it again if the need arises. Then theres the fact I like working on things that are beyond the age of being supported by the manufacturer and some of the parts are just not out there. I also like to have things that no one else does and put parts together that were never meant to mingle. All these reasons combined have put me on the path of a getting a CNC mill. (A metal lathe is on the list too)
3D printing and at home CNC weren’t on my radar 25 years ago. The amount of knowledge needed and the investment up front of time and money were just too high. Its not that way anymore. Now days for the price of a new car you can have a very nice machine shop in your garage or shop. I didnt step in that far, at this point I’m looking to machine simple parts for my bike builds and have some manly stuff to sell at the farmer’s market to offset the cost ot the tools and materials I’m putting into setting up shop.
After months of looking at CNC mills and routers I ended up settling on the Genmitsu 3020 Pro Max V2. At $500 I wasnt a buyer, but at $380 on Amazon with the extra 5% off with the amazon card It was a no brainer. My reluctance to pick one of these up at the $500 price was because the 8×12″ cutting area was a bit small and the 300w (about 1/3 hp) spindle is a bit anemic for hoggging aluminum. The reason I jumped on it was at $380 I can get the extension table and the upgraded spindle motor for about $180 giving me a 12×16″ work area and a 1-1/4 spindle for under $550. My only concern now is the limited travel (3″) on the Z axis (up and down). It’s not ideal, but I figure I can fix that in the future.
Having made so many of my own tools its nice to know the tool I bought is capable of making the parts needed to make itself better. Out of the box I can do a bit of engraving, cut stuff into or out of wood and slowly cut soft metal. But with work and time I can make small parts and braces to make it stronger and more capable and upgrade it. It’s not just a toy or throw away thing. It can grow with me and as my needs grow. It will remain useful as long as I put in the time and effort to keep it that way. Eventually my needs will grow and it will be necessary to get a bigger and more capable machine. When that time comes I’ll be in a position to start the cycle over again. This time taking with me all the knowledge and skills I learned on the little 3020. As the new bigger and more capable machine cranks out parts that little machine will still be making small parts or prototyping in the background.
I think the point of all this it that I took my time, I researched and I was patient. I knew what I needed, what was available and what it would take to keep meeting those needs in the future. I’m learning, and just as we did when we were kids I’m taking it slow. I’m starting with the fundamentals and putting them into practice and building off of them. When it comes to most things we dont do that anymore. I suppose, the best way to make my point is, you couldnt read this and I couldnt have written it if we hadn’t first learned our ABCs. It’s hard to take our time in a world that seems to move so fast, but I’m finding that starting slow and taking my time at the beginning saves me a lot more in the end.
Josh