a good cnc machine for a beginner?

As far as I can gather a 3 axes gantry type CNC router would be good for you. The intended job size will dictate the bed size.

The make will depend on what you can get in your part of the world, but be aware that even different models of one manufacturer can be good or bad. You have to inspect the machine for sturdiness before you buy.

Further you would need a solid CAD/CAM package to produce drawings and tool paths.

I have written my own front end / driver to do exactly what we need.

Sherline makes a number of hobby-CNC machines that I have seen some very amazing things created.

It can't chew metal like a full-sized machine, but with time and patience it will produce some exciting things.

Another big advantage is taht it has a huge following, so finding forums with people to help you is a snap.

Hi there

I have a 1986 FADAL VMC 40 which you can get used for around 15,000. The interface

is easy to use and it's capable of machining just about anything you want. Bobcat Cad is a CamCad system which is not too expensive and is good for making molds etc. using

DNC (direct numerical control) or drip feed as most people refer to it. Drip feed means that the program is fed to the machine from a PC instead of using the machine's controller which hasn't anywhere near the memory required for this type of work.

Check it out. Maybe it's a little overkill for what you want to do, but if you go this route, you'll end up with something that is quantum leaps ahead of these little hobby machines.

Good question. Variable results. If for some reason you cannot use a 3D drawing program, nor 3D printer, I would suggest paper, pencil, erasing template, and a lot of erasers. The amount of information you gather in pursuit of the Ideal will be well worth the effort. Take a look at Howard Chapells 'Yacht Design and Planning' where variables become part of the equation. Work through it, step by step. you will learn about the design spiral, variables, and considerations you had not a clue about. Yes, it's tedious, but the more your knowledge spreads horizontally, the more stable the platform.

Instant gratification? Go to Burger King.

Carl

try which one fits your requirements in below list. all are for sale.

CNC CHUCKERS, MULTI-SPINDLE 2066 - KITAKO MT4-125 CNC 4-SPINDLE CHUCKING CENTER CNC DRILLS, MULTIPLE SPINDLE 1651 - 27 SPINDLE MOLINE MODEL HF68-10 CNC VERTICAL GANG DRILL CNC DRILLING AND TAPPING 1894 - BROTHER MODEL TC-32A CNC DRILLING AND TAPPING MACHINE 1895 - BROTHER MODEL TC-32A CNC DRILLING AND TAPPING MACHINE 1924 - BROTHER MODEL TC-321N CNC DRILLING AND TAPPING MACHINE 1925 - BROTHER MODEL TC-324 CNC DRILLING AND TAPPING MACHINE 1926 - BROTHER MODEL TC-324 CNC DRILLING AND TAPPING MACHINE 1241 - HYUNDAI SPT-V30TD DUAL PALLET CNC VERTICAL MILLING, DRILLING AND TAPPING MACHINE CNC GEAR CUTTERS, MULTI AXIS 1019 - KLINGELNBERG OERLIKON S-35 10-AXIS SPIRAL BEVEL & HYPOID GEAR CUTTING MACHINE 1020 - KLINGELNBERG OERLIKON S-35 10-AXIS SPIRAL BEVEL & HYPOID GEAR CUTTING MACHINE
CNC GRINDERS 1394 - SHIGIYA MODEL GAS-3050ND ANGLE HEAD CNC GRINDER CNC MACHINING CENTERS, GANTRY 1892 - QUICKMILL MODEL 60-324-24 GANTRY TYPE VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER (Video) 1941 - MASCO 2-PALLET BRIDGE TYPE MODEL "BRIDGEMAX" CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER 1942 - MASCO 2-PALLET BRIDGE TYPE MODEL "BRIDGEMAX" CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER CNC MACHINING CENTERS, HORIZONTAL 1987 - KITAMURA MYCENTER HX400i CNC HORIZONTAL MACHINING CENTER 1891 - STARRAG HECKERT MODEL CWK 400 4-AXIS CNC HORIZONTAL MACHINING CENTER (Video) 1954 - MAZAK MODEL H-400 CNC HORIZONTAL MACHINING CENTER (Video) 2054 - MAKINO MODEL MC98-A60 CNC HORIZONTAL MACHINING CENTER (Video) (50 Taper & Lots of Tooling) CNC MACHINING CENTERS, VERTICAL 1793 - KITAMURA MYCENTER 2 CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER 1622 - FADAL MODEL VMC2016L CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER 1984 - FADAL MODEL 3016 904-1 CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER 1985 - FADAL MODEL VMC15 CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER 1986 - FADAL VMC 4020HT MODEL 906-15 CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER 1685 - MILLTRONICS PARTNER I CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER 1709 - MIGHTY VIPER MODEL 1500P CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER (Video) 2004 - SUPERMAX MODEL YCM-V218B CNC VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER (50 Taper) CNC TURNING MACHINES (HORIZONTAL) 1543 - MAZAK MODEL QT-12C CNC 2-AXIS CHUCKING MACHINE WITH ROBOTIC LOADER/UNLOADER 1747 - OKUMA LC-40 2ST CNC TURNING MACHINE 1810 - CLAUSING COLCHESTER STORM 80 CNC TURNING CENTER 1851 - MORI SEIKI MODEL ZL-35B/750 4-AXIS CNC TURNING CENTER 1896 - MAZAK MODEL QT-6G GANG STYLE CNC TURNING CENTER 1963 - HWACHEON MODEL HI-ECO10 CNC TURNING CENTER 1964 - HWACHEON MODEL HI ECO10E CNC TURNING CENTER 2077 - HITACHI SEIKI MODEL HICELL 23 CNC TURNING CENTER WITH LIVE TOOLING CNC MILLS, VERTICAL 1714 - SOUTHWESTERN INDUSTRIES TRAK MODEL TRM CNC MILL 1795 - 9" x 49" SUPERMAX MODEL YCM-40 CNC KNEE MILL