tech today
MACHINING FOR THE 12-VOLT INDUSTRY How to find a CNC that works best for you, set it up for optimum efficiency and start using it in your shop. WORDS BY JOEY KNAPP
Last month, we got a glimpse into 3D printing thanks to the very knowledgeable Brian Schurg. Hopefully, Brian answered some of the questions you had about 3D printer technology and how to integrate it into your mobile electronics business. This month we will continue looking into the more popular maker tools being utilized by 12-volt fabricators. This segment on CNC machines is written by yours truly. I am the new owner of a hobbyist CNC!
Exploring the Options: From 3D Printer to CNC I have known about 3D printers, CNC and lasers for quite some time. In recent years, my Facebook feeds have been dominated by my 12-volt friends making all sorts of game-changing items with their new automated tools. It’s very exciting to see how our industry is advancing, but also a little discouraging for me because most of these technologies were financially out of my reach. The 3D printer was the most cost-effective option, and the prices continue to
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drop. I wasn’t sure, however, that I could see one of those fitting into real world everyday use in my shop. The main issue was the printing time. I knew plenty of friends with them, so if I ever really needed something printed, I could probably arrange it. The other challenge to a 3D printer was the software. I started learning Fusion 360 and realized it would be a steeper learning curve than I really had time for at this point. Lasers are another cool tool. There were some more affordable options, but it seemed you got what you paid for. The more inexpensive lasers were either from companies that may have questionable support, or didn’t provide enough wattage to cut what I wanted to cut. I knew I could handle the software for a laser, but there was no value at the price point I could afford. The final option was a CNC. I could see myself getting regular use out of it. I always thought it would be great to have box designs saved, and cut them at the click of a button. A few years ago, the owner of Jacksonville, Florida-based Audio Designs & Custom Graphics, Darren Fettik, invited
me to his facility to take part in the training for his new CNC. Darren had recently jumped feet-first into production fabrication with the purchase of a Techno HDS 4896. It was exciting to spend the day learning about the capabilities of that fine machine. This was my first experience seeing a CNC in action, and it was certainly impressive! The problem: Your first exposure to something this superior is that the bar is set very high. After leaving Darren’s shop, I knew the way to go was a four-foot by eight-foot machine. In my mind, that was truly the only option for a mobile electronics fabricator. As a result, I had yet again priced myself out of a new fabrication tool.
Changing the Way We Think About CNC I continued with my rudimentary caveman techniques of routering by hand, and sanding things. A few years ago, I started seeing the items one of buddies, Christopher McNulty, had been creating. He was making smaller pieces, and did not have a full-sheet CNC. He had purchased a smaller desktop model. I initially
