I have been lurking here reading and researching CNC machines for over two years. I finally made a decision. I was fretting over whether to get a Plasma or a Router CNC machine. The answer was obvious…get both. So, now that I’m committed the wife gave me a dirty look anyway, but I took the plunge. For me this is the start of a side hustle. My other business is management consulting and I sorely miss working with my hands.
I have the Crossfire Pro otw with all the options, the RW45 except for the laptop stand that I don’t need since I will install a dedicated mini PC or Mac Mini for Fire Control.
I want to thank all of you for your posts and insights and sharing. I have learned a lot even though I’ve never operated a CNC machine I feel like I have already. 100’s of hours of youtube videos… whew. I have built a maker kit 3DP (LayerFused x301) and used 3D printers before so I’m not totally green. But I am still prone to reckless mistakes, so be prepared for dumb questions.
I am going to order a Shapeoko Pro 5 soon too, once I get the new garage space squared. Oh, also the wife is a bit peeved about that. I’m trading the one car garage for the two car garage. Anyway, hello and cheers.
That is what I was going to say! But, in a slightly snarky way. You took the air out of my balloon but congrats are in order.
Well, you know “marriage” is not a word. It IS a sentence. You know you are going to make this up to her. @Cletus has had some experience with purchasing a new tool and dragging it through the kitchen.
Welcome to the forum. It sounds like your research will have removed a lot of surprises. There will still be issues that happen. That is life. It is how you approach the issues that help each of us realize what we are made of.
When I got back from my honeymoon my boss came into my office and told he had one piece of advice for me. He said there is no right or wrong in marriage… just a difference of opinion.
I tell that to my wife all the time… I’m not sure that’s the interpretation my boss intended…
things they dont tell you on youtube…
.after your first cut your water is going to be dirty kinda like sewer water but thats just the way it is
the first time you clean it you will see how much ends up in the pan
your nice pristeen concrete floor and walls will take a beating from this lovely brown water splashing out of the pan …eventually I plan on putting down epoxy so it can be cleaned up
study feed rates ,amprage settings and recomended psi for what you want to cut
plan on spending another 100 to 200 on an air dryer for your plasma machine
the easiest path to your first cut that I have found…inkscape to save to .svg file import drawing to sheet cam (buy the license its worth it) turn it into gcode and make sure you read up on layers and tool paths…run it on fire control
spread out your cuts so that your metal doesn’t warp …the first time you ruin a real nice piece of metal is a real downer
Take your time puttting together your machine …the build quality is excellent and everything is well labeled
just my advice from another new owner …and you made the right choice getting the pro with the Z axis …I don’t have it but it looks like I will be spending another 550 to get it
But, in a slightly snarky way. You took the air out of my balloon but congrats are in order.
I’m not sure that’s the interpretation my boss intended… 
