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What size router / engraver ?
Just curious here. I see many manufacturers produce what, in my opinion, is "useless" sized machines, and yet they sell….(Like 360 x 360mm)
We cannot make do with small machines. This because we do building cladding, requiring large size ACM to be processed, as well as pylons and canopies for service stations.
But, speaking from an "average" small signmaker’s perspective, what is the "ideal" size machine? This for the kind of work that regularly gets done (and/or outsourced) like engraving memorial / inauguration plaques, flat cut acrylic / alu lettering, build up lettering etc?
Roland seems to think 400 x 600mm is "big" in their line-up, and produce smaller machines as well. How often do you need bigger? 600 x 900, or 800 x 1200, or 1000 x 1500mm? What will cover 90% of what you need? (Speaking smaller, Less than sheet-size machines here)
Those of you who do have CNC routers and even Laser Engravers, please declare your size 😳
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2 Replies
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Mine has a cutting area of about 550mmx 1150mm. I use it mainly to make up flatcut lettering from acm. But I would prefer it to be slightly wider – say with a cutting area of about 620mm? But it’s all down to cost and compromise. The bigger the machine the more difficult it is to build in the rigidity required.
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It depends on what you want to do with it, I rushed out about 10 years ago and bought an axyz 4008, as that was the max I could afford. It got damaged on transporting it, slid out the back of the truck, so they swapped it for a 4010 which is 1.5 x 3.0m but I found it frustrating cutting down sheets from 3050 x 2030mm all the time, which is standard here.
So when we changed earlier this year it was 3100mm x 2100mm. I would think about what you want to do, what you might add to your business, and how much other work you can do with a cnc. Maybe try and find a bigger used machine as a start rather than a new smaller machine.
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