CNC Wood Router: Things to Consider Before You Buy

CNC machinery is the most significant woodworking invention since the turning lathe. Just as the turning lathe streamlined the woodworking process in the 1300's, so did the CNC machine in the early 1970s. By using a computer to control how wood is cut, it makes processes that were once "hands on" hands off. Today, the move from manual control to computer control is defining woodworking around the world, as smarter router models are designed to assist companies and individuals alike. The difference between buying a CNC wood router as a company and as an individual can be significant.

Cost Factor

Like other elite machinery, computer-controlled routers improve the machining process at a premium price, especially when industrial models are required. Fortunately, many woodworkers need midgrade models for the medium capacity production of small to medium size pieces that require cutting along two or three axes, as opposed to four or five. For those who do need an industrial model, buying used is a meaningful option.

With their rigid design and superior engineering, industrial routers can deliver top performance for decades. In fact, it isn't uncommon for an industrial router to be sold in used condition more than once. To ensure that a used router is reliable, buyers should take a four-step approach:

(1) buy from a professional seller,

(2) check the seller's record at the Better Business Bureau (BBB),

(3) check the machine's official maintenance record,

(4) and inspect the machine in person before buying it. Inspecting a machine firsthand helps you assess its wear.

When is a Good Time to Buy?

Most woodworkers buy CNC routers for one of two reasons: to improve work quality, or to improve production rate while maintaining work quality. An example of the first case is a hobbyist woodworker who wishes to create more professional products, perhaps to sell them. An example of the second case is a professional woodworker who needs a solution for increased product demand, perhaps in conjunction with moving to a new workspace.

For hobbyist woodworkers, a CNC router is a personal investment. It can either be afforded, or it can't, and there is no harm in waiting to make the investment. For woodworkers whose businesses are growing, buying quickly could be crucial to acquiring customers. If this describes your position, purchase a router that is affordable based on the income from the work that you need it for. Overbuying in terms of table size and production capacity risks what every woodworker fears: repossessed machinery.

Conclusion

CNC routers help woodworkers in a variety of ways, with high cutting accuracy, ability to cut intricate patterns, and ability to increase production rate being primary benefits. For most woodworkers, a CNC machine is a significant purchase, one that should be made with regard to present and future finances. If you are currently in the market for a new router, shopping with a professional seller of new and used woodworking machinery that performs machine location worldwide is the ideal choice.

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