This Machine Has Earned Me SO MUCH MONEY 

People should understand when watching a video like this, that you can't order equipment like this and suddenly have a successful business. It's a productivity/capability tool with no equal. But building a business is the same as with any business. You have to build up demand for your services. Many well equipped business fail for not appreciating this simple idea.

The first half of the ru-vid.comUgkx3ICSK6nSknaL_45CU2NmFSoXjarGMDiJ book is everything about wood: types, tools, finishes, setting up shop etc. The second half is all about doing projects for inside and outside of the home. The color pictures are helpful. After reading a dozen of these types of books, this is probably the best overall (layout, color photos, plans). Only detraction is that many of the projects use a table saw/router/planer, which are usually expensive and take up space, so the plans are less friendly to newcomers and the budget conscious. But I know I can use a drill, circular saw or a jigsaw to make the projects.

This doesn't really remove the art of woodworking, it just transfers the art to the design aspect. Is it for everyone? No. Nothing is, but its a good tool for creating intricate designs that would otherwise take tons of time or skill that most people today just don't have. Myself, I can see using it, but for now, I like the hand carving imperfections that make each piece a true "one of a kind".

$7.1K + freight if anyone is wondering. Don't expect anything less than $3-4K if you're a DIY. The beefy gantry, LM guides, and electronics account for much of the cost, and they're not cheap. I'd use SBR16 to cut down the cost and still be in the $1.5K-2K range for a 4x8 build. The easiest way to level the cutting bed is to run passes through a sacrificial HDF/MDF base. My pride as a mechanical/electrical/automation CSE in the semiconductor industry doesn't allow me to take that shortcut because the success of a multi-million dollar installation starts with leveling the base, or all hell breaks loose.

Goliath springs to mind. Second time viewer and now new follower. Loved woodworking my entire life but have nowhere to work now that I'm retired. I love watching younger folks succeed in these times.

So excited for you buddy!! Wish I had a chance to play with it. Next time

Great video! I’m definitely thinking how I could budget one in. I get it’s not the old school hard core woodworker way, but if you are trying to make a business out of your love for woodworking I agree it’s the logical way to go. Saves tons of time which in return makes money. I have so much respect for the ones using hand tools, and especially their patience and I love watching them work. I think for the ordinary Joe that loves building things and would like to turn that into a business ( doing something you love for work is a dream that I think everyone should have if that can) then this is definitely the way to go for the most part. I’d prefer to make epoxy tables for a living and have some woodworkers hate online than go do something I can’t stand every day just because of someone’s opinion. If it makes you happy, provides you with a living, and allows you more time for other things in life then I’m all in. I guess now it comes down to pricing your work to not cut out those who do everything by hand.

Have fun with the new machine, it opens up a lot of new possibilities! Best regards!

I agree, the CNC future is excellent, especially if you want to product multiples or flat pack type furniture. It also can do so much with 3d carving and inlays --that lots of customization is possible as well. If you are looking to make money or even just pay for your toy you can't go wrong with CNC.

I am a total wood working noob but managed to make a complex landing platform for small rotorcraft with a CNC router and plywood. Totally agree!

Great video. I too share your thoughts on the present and future of woodworking and general manufacturing using CNC. Every time I try using traditional woodworking machines I don't quite get the joints, or edges cut or shaped as accurately as I wish. This is why I started building CNC machines in the first place.

It's a great CNC.. I got the 4X4 Pro version in 2017. I love it for my hobby. To cut on cost, I got my own electronics and wired it myself. I was definitely steep learning curve on how it works and configured. It was a great experience putting everything together. I was using Vcarve but switched to Fusion 360 because I also do 3D printing and Fusion 360 can do both. I would call it behemoth.

Twenty-two years CNC fabricator here. It's funny that I get the opposite reaction in the wood shop. Every little task is by default sent to the CNC department even if a traditional tool like a table saw would be a better choice for the task. "We need 3 rectangles of plywood 12x12 inch." I'll walk past them to the table saw and be done in a fraction of the time LOL. But to your point, CNCs are amazing machines and I feel privileged to get to "play" with them everyday for pay.

CNC is definitely the "here and now" of any production shop but there will always be a niche for custom work, one-off pieces, refit and repair. This became the focus of my work a few years ago. I can see how a CNC would be helpful in creating quality woodwork, but it can't replace a master craftsman.

So glad I found you! You make great suggestions and explain things very well. Going through a midlife crisis and completely changing careers. I’m looking into different business opportunities that mix creativity with building. Thank you for sharing!

Great video brother! Keep up the great work! You’re really good at this and I am glad to see you’ve got a good following. 👊

I remember being in the fourth grade in 1987 and my teacher was talking about the future and now it has arrived! I think the small shops are back in vogue stimulating a new American economy of manufacturing. Something I think we can all appreciate. I too am new to fusion 360 and chose to get it for the $500 a year. I have played around with sketch up and might be wondering if I should start there instead just to get things done faster because it could be more intuitive. Either way my fight is to put the hours in on fusion and choosing a good starting point. Let us know if you suggest a good educational platform besides all the random RU-vid videos. Thanks for the video and super sexy machine my man!

"Some Assembly Required"!!! Thanks for making this. I'm actually building a 48x48 Gatton CNC as I'm listening to this video. I also run a commercial grade CNC at work, cranking out high-end cabinets. I have a whole line of Stickley-style furniture, cut out of europly plywood.

Hello Jonny, did you pay for this cnc or was it provided for you to make this video?

Since you refer to it as a monster of a machine, I think you should name it Frankenstein! Good luck as you go forward with your shop and your new tool.

I agree about cncs being a lot more common in small shops and diy/ hobby shops. I'm considering one for mine too. And fellow Sooner fan here, definitely think you should name it Boomer!

I think a combination of both hands on and CNC depending on the needs of a particular project, customer or client. I have questioned the use of CNC myself and at one time thought I would never use one, some people say it's unnatural and takes away from real hands on woodworking craftmanship and I get this, however after much thinking I've come to the conclusion that CNC machines may not be natural but they are part of a progression of nature because their still made or designed by humans who used craftmanship and design elements that only humans can do, so in essence, CNC is just another extension of human nature and it's just part of the evolution process, it still takes brains, thinking, talent and creativity to build things. it's not something just anyone can do or have interest in. So IMHO their is a good need and use for CNC, however, you could not use CNC to make an all natural rocking chair made of all natural tree branches so both world's of woodworking serve a purpose IMHO, not every project has the same purpose or reason or life.

It depends... If we're talking about a business shop, then absolutely. It's a total necessity, I would say. But for a hobby shop like mine... Well... Not so much. But, still, it would be great to have one! Either way... Congrats, Jonny!!! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

I was so impressed with the build quality of this unit. It looks like a lot of thought and care went into manufacturing this CNC. I hope to get there one day :) As for the name Sarah a good solid name for such a robust CNC

Thanks for your video.

I can’t wait to see what you do with this

you should name it a beast. cant wait to see your projects

I thought we would see the features and stuff it can do, addons etc. Maybe compare it to old one, but all we got is I got a new gadget and "how great it was"

A honest and sincere video. Thank you. CNC is a mystery to me though I have Fusion 360 3D modeling experience. This video is helping.

Great video. Totally agree. Affordable robots (and CAD) are slowly changing our world. Centralized manufacturing swinging back to decentralized, "buy local." Mahalo for sharing! : )

Cncs are here to stay, no question. I won't argue that they are super helpful for small businesses and creative design. I don't know if they are for sure the future though. The biggest reason so many of us are in the shop is the human element of it. We like to create with our hands and I think the cnc makes shop time more impersonal. While great for making a specific part that just couldn't happen without the cnc I don't think it can ever replace the buzz of a table saw or chips flying off the lathe. An awesome addition but not the entire shop in itself.

Thank you for removing the cloud over using CNC machines. I've worked in a machine shop since '76 and used a ShopBot in my CAM class for 20 years. In working with students and apprentice machinists they get all of the stuff that old guys, like me, learned later (especially CAD). Their computer skills are top shelf. The best people get the flexibility that you are talking about. These machines release the creativity of these young CNC adherents. Do they understand all that experienced shop veterans know? Not yet, but they are fast learners. We do stress the understanding of setup. alignment and especially workholding. I'll be retiring soon, guess what is going into my shop?

Your video was very intuitive and I loved it. What is your computer set up beside your CNC? I have been 3D printing for the past year and I want to graduate to the next level and get an x-carve. Curious what your computer set was?

Kudos for the benefit this has had for your building, but as an Australian, I find it very surprising hearing how you say it's the future. I'm assuming CNC flatbeds aren't really popular in NA. Down under they've been the staple for small, medium & large businesses for the last two decades. I almost take flatbed nesting for granted considering I myself have been using it for the last 10 years. Glad to see it's gaining momentum however, as this will breed competition and innovation in a current niche of the industry that I feel is somewhat languishing. Keep up the good work.

Hey Jonny! Not sure if you’ll see this but if you do any chance you could provide a list of everything you ordered to get to your setup (minus your own dust collection design). Just went on Avid CNC’s site and looks like the pro kit is one thing but there are a ton of upgrade options and additional purchases (eg legs assembly, plug n play CNC control system etc). I know I might be asking a lot but something like this in the description would be extremely helpful or maybe a mention of it in your next video. Very keen to go down this path and upgrade from my current CNC.

Come on Johnny it's gotta be called "Jabba the cut"!! 🤣🤣

Well, as someone who built his humble career around CNC machines, I welcome you among us. They have been around for a couple of decades now and they are getting better and better everyday. In my opinion, like plastic manufacturing then metal working, wood working will find its was into 3D printing. Probably something like MDF will be printed by our exact needs soon.

Well done man 👍

I'm new at this and liked the video...I have bn making a wood wind instrument as a hobby.and have decided to get out of wood floors(since 1987).and get a shop on my house and be able to CNC the parts out..your video is a good starting point to see what can happen if one stays at it....I am after a specific shape...I will watch more.

Very nice, I’ve got the original one from Cnc Routerparts . Makes money every day for me. The new bearings and z-plate are a great upgrade from mine. Because of mainly my use of sheet goods I went with a vacuum bed instead. At some point you may wish to switch to an ATC . So much time gets wasted with tool changing manually. The only is is real estate from the kit size. However with Avid you just need to add a little more length for tool storage.

I love seening small businesses take off

My dad was a great woodworker and a computer engineer. He built his own cnc. It’s just sitting in the shop since he passed away. Would love to learn how to use it.

Thanks!

Great video again, bro👍👍👍

I just bought the exact same machine, except I added the 4 axis lathe. I bought it originally to do custom cabinet work. Oddly enough I have yet to cut a carcass out on this machine. I have spent hours making Wall hangings and signs though. Doing the 3d carvings is great fun

Just bought the same today ) can't wait. btw, name it little green woodpecker

Great Video...

Thank you so much

CNC leads me to C&C, or Command & Conquer - and if I'm heading that way, we'd have to call it Kane.

I would definitely love to get a cnc to add to my arsenal.

Name it the Kracken. Lol. I have a CNC in my shop as well, and they are worth their weight in gold. Not as big as yours but it does a lot of work for me in a fraction of the time it would take traditionally. In some cases nearly impossible. Thanks for the video. Great job 👌👌

I just specked out one like yours, OUCH!!! What type phase converter would it take to run this spindle in a home shop environment static or rotary?

Just from a business perspective CNC's make a ton of sense. They have so many ways they can be used.

Johnny Build’s BEAST!

Can you turn the 5x5 in to a 5x10? Thinking space wise the 5x5 would be a good start with Nema34 motors. Upgrade if I have the room later. Curious how hard it is to get 3phase power installed at home.. and more so how much it costs to run the machine every day.

was really hoping to see the process and what machine can do and how fast and not just listen how it will pay itself off for 15. minutes

Does it come with the software required to design the CNC parts?..or do I need to purchase a separate CAD program?

I think its a great tool to open up all kinds of opportunities. It's just the capital to buy such a tool but I guess there's always places out there with a CNC you can use until you meet the demand or orders where you can afford or persuade a bank to see your purchase orders to allow you to buy one it's definitely making me consider the opportunity as I already have design and cad skills. The growth in online retail is another plus.

I have an X Carve Pro on order. For the price do you recommend the Avid over the X Carve? Thanks in advance.

I think it’s a fantastic machine but I like the process of using the jointer, planer, and table saw with lumber. I’m going to keep CNC in mind though because learning something new is always good for me. Maybe call it Snuffleupagus? Those dust bristles around the cutter just remind me of him.

Lol I would love to see you take your CNC on site and get laughed back off. 😄

I already have a family business in intricate wood carving. But honestly a very few people actually wanna put the time in to learn how to do carving like that. Would you advise pivoting into a more "manufacturing with a cnc" kind of business?

I absolutely love my cnc!! And you should name it buster!!

How did you get customers for CNC? Great video!

I too had purchased the xcarve but haven't had any real luck on sales. if I could just catch that one break, I had looked into the larger machines to do more detailed work and sign making. but.. gotta have the income coming in first. perhaps some of yall could give a few pointers

It’s a robot worker. Owning robot workers to do jobs, and make money for their owner, is 100% way to go. Rock on!

Where can i find the video on the cart with the monitor lift?

My CNC is named Milldred. Seemed appropriate. Vcarve Pro 11. Axion AR8Pro. I mainly do inlays. Good luck and congrats.

How about......wait for it.....Oakie.....not only for the wood species but for also where you are located!!!!!!! Love ya man!

As a classical woodworker and cabinetmaker I have spent the last few decades focusing on furniture from the Pre-Edwardian periods for restoration on private contracts. While I would LOVE to add a CNC to my wood shop, and it would add speed, perfect detail and accuracy to my work, the contract I have with my customers is to use only materials, fasteners, glues and tools that existed in the day the piece of furniture was made. While this limits me to only accepting four contracts per year maximum it also spreads the butter on my very satisfying bread….and puts the diesel in my truck…soooooo….I will drool over these tools and continue to do what I do.

The supply for high quality woodworking products has never been oversaturated because the skill required keeps those doing it limited in numbers. CNC is definitely flooding the market and the lack of skill required means it will continue to draw in and eventually be oversaturated. I'm a huge advocate for CNC manufacturing but if I'm at an event with things I actually made but next to someone else with similar or better that they made with CNC, it will be exceptionally frustrating. Add an NS to the end of CNC?

Atlas would be a good name. Because it is holding the world of woodworking on its back. Great Video:) PS: like the greek god

Good purchase ! The more advanced version would be to use the diagonal CNC machine. Those occupy less floor space, while cutting larger work areas. Prefab home builders use CNC and offer cheaper homes, which they deliver in parts.

I think cnc is really really frigin cool and I would love to have one but just for hobbying its not worth it because of the cost and my lack of available space. I have been 3d printing for like 3 years now so I think I would be able to figure it out pretty fast. However I also don't have time for a business because I'm still in school.

How does the machine know how big the slab is and wat the shape is

I think that CNC machines will be used in future, but some traditional industries will be replaced with 3D printing, main reason for that is development of 3D printers, 3D printers alredy can print metals and alloys, yeah i know that 3D printer basically is CNC machine, if we talk about furniture industry its for sure that CNC machines are staying here for a long time, but some other industries that is "unapproachable" for proccessing with CNC machines will be swallowed by 3D printers, my opinion is that the casting industry will be replaced with 3D printing for small objects, and in future that scale will just get higher and higher.

Were you nervous about hitting that aluminum extrusion with your bit when your ran those pockets on the spoil board mounting holes?

I see you can add a plasma attachment to this Pro fixture but it doesn't look like more than an after thought. I'm leaning towards the Plasma CAM.

Congrats on the upgrade. CNC’s are here and not going anywhere. At the end of the day whether that’s a good thing or not depends on your approach to the work. If you are a hobbyist or someone for whom the process of making a specific or one-off thing is the point, then CNC’s will likely take away from what you are doing and why you are doing it. However, if you are a business or just focused on having and using a finished piece then the CNC will be great for you because it will allow you to finish faster, get paid more, or just flat out delegate much of the work that you may not want to do to the machine so that you can focus on the front end design and back end assembly, use, or sales. From a business standpoint, I will definitely get one someday and will use it proudly for products and parts that I want to produce and sell regularly. However, for personal projects and super custom commissions that I won’t ever sell twice, I’ll likely stick with the traditional tool kit. Also, my vote is to name the machine “Dog” because at some she will eat your homework or do something weird. When that happens, you’ll be able to say that the Dog did it.

I love the name for your CNC “Zeus”

Totally agree with you about CNCs; machine should be named Stella or Helga! 😂

You're absolutely right. The future (and present) of woodworking (and metalworking) is CNC. And a woodworker refuses to admit this to their own detriment. That being said... there will always (or at least for a good long time) be a market for artistry and craftsmanship. These things are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but they certainly can be. To draw a parallel; you'd be hard pressed to find a song in the Top 10 or whatever that isn't sequenced, sampled, and auto-tuned. Those songs are products designed to make money. Nothing more. BUT, I don't want to imagine a time when you can't go to a club or tavern and see live, actual musicians who've honed their craft over years of practice and playing experience. Again; not necessarily mutually exclusive (there are DJs and sampler artists who really are groundbreaking artists), but in many cases they are. It doesn't have to be an argument. There's room for both technical precision and individual artistry (even Wendell Castle used CNC to create his pieces... and nobody can argue that they weren't ART).

Having a CNC machine cuts the cost of flattening slabs, making logos and cutting shapes to such a degree, it is crazy! Think how much it costs to do it somewhere else (time, transport, price). My CNC is my number one go to machine (the second is the planer). It's magical. JESSY should be the name :)

CNC is the future of making money as a renter. $110 an hour and for a large slab, that would take a couple hours vs 75$ and hour and I can level a slab in 10 minutes for basically 40$. I personally hate cnc for flattening large slabs as chip outs and oddball patterns I have to meticulously sand out. I prefer the wide sander. If it's too big, then yes I'd go with a CNC. Do I want to OWN a CNC? Yes, yes I do but I have a love hate relationship with them. With that said, your take on it is valid - it's a great way to expand your business. Really, it depends on what a person is looking for, if your a builder or customer, etc.

So half a year ago you started 'renovating', how is it going? I see some random CNC machine vid, but that's not what I expected, lol.

The beast.

For everyone watching All these CNC machine videos what they will never tell you is you can not run the little router with out a PC & their programs that charge hugh monthly fees or per Year which can go as high as $3000 to buy their program know as one time fees your really borrowing or renting their program if your lucky you can find a free program that is extremely difficult to figure out with your machine and the programs you decide to use that are easy still have learning curve that takes some serious time & hours we worked in a Sign Shop it took years to master a new program when the old company stoped making updates. So if you all think your gonna jump on these CNC Machines and start making thousands of dollars your gonna learn A very hard & expensive lesson.

Good investment and my dream, the cost is relevant but market for its products must be available, woodworking has options and its the beautiful thing about it , for now I do believe high end shops with experience should take on it .

Nice!!

The beast

I am interested but not convinced. I assemble a lot of Ikea furniture for TaskRabbit. I doubt that I could ever match them for design, quality, or price on CNC manufactured furniture. The only angle I could reasonably try for is to try to find a niche item they don't make. The reason I would be getting into woodworking or furniture building is, even Ikea furniture leaves a lot to be desired, especially for durability.

Can you put the link for the machine?

What is the cost of that machine and where to get it

I’d name it Thourgood Jobston, since it does a thorough and good job with all your projects lol.

Hello, does Avid CNC (PRO4896 4' x 8' CNC Router Kit) work with Fusion 360?

It would help if you defined CNC/explained what it is - some of us have no clue. I prefer to work on a small scale, rescuing old pieces and scraps of wood.

What cnc is it, are there any plans?

I like the name 'Conchita', which is the Latin word for 'conception' and has the letters CNC in it AND is fun to say :)

Did you buy this or was it given to you by Avid?

Name depends if Avid gifted this machine to you, or if you paid for it yourself. Very few RU-vidrs with this many subs have to pay for an Avid themselves