5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Purchasing a CNC Router
Buying a CNC router is a big investment. Regardless of your needs or expertise, you’ll always want to make sure you’re buying a machine that will serve your needs today while also growing alongside your production goals in the future.
Still, many first-time CNC buyers fail to keep several key aspects in mind during the purchasing process a mistake that can leave them second-guessing their purchase even just a few months into ownership.
To help shed some light on these mistakes for future buyers, here are five of the most common pitfalls to avoid as you go about researching and purchasing your CNC router.
Pitfall #1: Going the Cheap Route
The saying, you get what you pay for, is as true in the CNC world as it is in any other industry. Many shop owners looking to ramp up production while preserving their short-term margins will opt for a lower-end and less expensive machine, only to reap disappointing results in the months that follow.
If you go cheap to save money on the front end, it will almost certainly end up costing you even more money on the back end as your machine hurts your shop’s efficiency, versatility, and capability to grow. Make sure you invest in a high-quality CNC router that will deliver on day 1,000 as well as it does on day one (with proper maintenance, of course).
Pitfall #2: Failing to Plan for Future Growth
Another short-sighted mistake of first-time CNC buyers is failing to consider where their shop will be (or where they’d like it to be) a year or more from now and what that will mean for the capability of their equipment. If you’re hoping to scale production significantly in the coming months and years, your machine (or an upgrade plan from the manufacturer) needs to be able to accommodate that.
While this may involve a more significant upfront investment, it will more than make up for itself once it starts allowing your production to keep up with demand without sacrificing on quality or precision.
Pitfall #3: Forgetting About Accessory Compatibility
As the scale of your offering grows, you will likely need to find new ways to expand your production capabilities in a cost-effective manner. Outside of purchasing a new machine or hiring new employees, leveraging the right CNC accessories is one of the best ways to do this.
Finding the right accessories for your machine can help streamline and automate certain tasks and movements that were once unachievable or unrealistic on your timeline or budget. Features like dust collectors, automatic toolchangers, and wireless pendant controls can all deliver increased command over your machine to help you grow without having to greatly modify your process or hire additional help.
Pitfall #4: Failing to Consider Manufacturer Support
Another key consideration for first-time buyers is the level of support you may need from your CNC router manufacturer as you get up and running. There are many different nuances to running your own production shop that can overwhelm and frustrate novice or even moderately experienced craftsmen.
Working with a CNC manufacturer that will remain in touch will you long after purchase to offer lifetime support can make a huge difference. ShopSabre offers this support to all our customers, establishing relationships that last for years after purchase to ensure they have everything they need to make the most of their CNC router.
Pitfall #5: Buying a More Complex Machine than You Can Handle
Its easy for first-time CNC purchasers to get in over their heads by buying a machine that is much more complex or advanced than they’ll ever be in need of. For small shops especially, it’s important to factor in how easy the machine will be to operate for themselves or for any new support staff they may need to onboard.
ShopSabres CNC routers are a true turnkey solution requiring no professional or hands-on training. They arrive pre-assembled with no installation required simply connect to power and you’re ready to go to work.
Experience CNC the Way It Was Meant to Be with ShopSabre
ShopSabres industry-best CNC routers, plasmas, and accessories are designed to help shop owners grow their production through unmatched precision, repeatability, and automation all at an affordable price.
Our machines are easy to get up and running and to learn how to operate, even without any formal training. Our team of dedicated experts offers one-on-one support to help find the right machine for you and to make sure it works the way you and your business need it to.
Here are a few of the reasons ShopSabre is able to develop and produce such revolutionary CNC technology:
- Experienced in-house engineering talent
- The ability to totally fabricate and test designs onsite
- The ability to place the designs into production in-house
Shop our unmatched collection of CNC routers and CNNC plasmas today to experience CNC the way it was meant to be.