For most woodworkers, Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) equipment is a significant investment, both financially and for how it affects the woodworking process. Prized for their diverse cutting ability and efficient operation, computer-controlled routers are perhaps the most useful type of CNC equipment, but to buy a CNC router that truly meets their needs, woodworkers must consider the following points as they search for woodworking machines for sale.
Table Size
The size of a router’s cutting table determines the size of the pieces it can cut. Most computer-controlled routers can cut small and midsize pieces, but not all of them can cut large pieces such as stair risers. Buying a model that has a small table can save money, but buying a model with a large table can make it possible to earn more money by producing a wider range of pieces. The key is to determine the pieces that will be produced before investing in a particular model.
Number of Axes
The number of axes a CNC router contains determines the types of cuts it can make. An axis is defined as a motion, linear or circular, that is made by the cutting mechanism. Models that contain a high number of axes (e.g. five axes) can make cuts in various planes, and create the intricate pieces that computer-controlled equipment is revered for producing.
Used Versus New
Computer-controlled equipment has a wide price range, with industrial grade equipment costing the most. When woodworkers need industrial grade equipment, buying it from a seller that has used woodworking machines for sale is often the best idea. Used industrial grade equipment can offer topnotch performance and reliability for decades, and typically costs less than comparable new equipment.
Footprint
Woodworkers frequently purchase computer-controlled equipment to increase the production rate of their operation—a move that often corresponds with finding a larger production facility. For those who plan to increase their production rate while remaining in a small workspace, the footprint of new equipment should be factored into the total workspace needed for all equipment.
Service Options
Because it can last for decades, industrial equipment can be resold when it is twenty or thirty years old, and sometimes older. Although the equipment may perform well, buyers should ensure that technicians still service it. Most types of older computer-controlled equipment can still be serviced, but if a particular model has been out of production for years, and is no longer serviced, its buyer should purchase the equipment with a plan to service it.
RT Machine Sells CNC Equipment
For over ten years, RT Machine has sold quality new and used woodworking equipment. If you need a CNC router, and you are looking for woodworking machines for sale, we can help. If we do not have a certain type of equipment in stock, our locator service can find it in another equipment inventory, and have it delivered to your location. To learn more about our equipment and services, browse through our website, or call us today.
