Buying woodworking tools is not an easy task regardless of the technology behind the machine. Numerous factors must be considered before investing in CNC equipment for your business. Routers offer significant production and cost benefits, but are only useful if selected appropriately. As with any type of machine, you need to first determine if the equipment is capable of doing what is expected or required. It is common for a buyer to become overly fascinated by the abundance of supplied features. Do not base your decision solely on woodworking CNC router speed. Instead, you should focus on the machinery quality, ease of use, space, suppliers, and floor area. Computer equipment must be set up in a separate office for monitoring. Verify sufficient floor space to ensure proper movement and access will be provided before install. Be certain the floor area can support the weight of the machine as well as any supplied vibration. These factors need to be tackled upfront before making purchasing decisions.
CNC Machine: What Dynamics need to be evaluated prior to Equipment Selection?
Create a machinery floor layout plan and evaluate building capabilities before considering the purchase of a CNC machine. This will outline any sizing or other restrictions you might be facing. Electrical power is not only a machine consideration, but also one that must be verified in regards to your building. The result could be expensive if the power requirements of a device cannot be supported. Lack of air capacity creates a hard stop on your line, thus eating up time or possibly money. The proper air capacity should be acquired for your current system to provide the right support. You can make changes to these factors if a specific piece of equipment must be implemented. Floor plans, electrician services, pipe or dust collector re-routing, and even construction changes may be necessary to make this type of buy possible.
Workflow may change when a new CNC machine is added to your production line. Items affected can include the plant layout, operation routing, scheduling applications, and even the “Bill of Materials.” You might want to also consider the type of inventory needed for this equipment. Cutting tools, parts, and other inventory could be a concern since the equipment needs certain items to prevent frequent periods of non-operation. Research local suppliers, the machine provider, or other companies to ensure these items will be available. Many distributors also offer comparable services when the machinery is purchased from them directly.
Programming, computer networking, and employee training are other considerations. A method of collecting dust will be needed when the equipment is operating continuously. Countless decisions must be made outside of the actual machine purchase. By taking the time to evaluate all these factors upfront, you have the information needed to make the wisest choice. RT Machine carries a large variety of both used and new woodworking CNC routers. You may visit our website to view current inventory, or call one of our professionals to gain knowledgeable assistance for buying this type of equipment.
