While it’s true that advanced projects should be left to experienced CNC users or those providing professional CNC milling services, there’s still a lot one can do with the entry-level CNC machines available on the market today.
Getting Started
If you are a new CNC user, you must remember to be patient, however. Entry-level CNC machines have a range of limitations, unlike the powerful machines used by those providing professional CNC milling services, and as such, there are certain materials and project types which are best avoided. You will also need a great deal of practice before you will be able to perform truly clean cuts on a range of materials without damaging the components of your machine or the parts you’re milling or cutting.
To get the most out of an entry-level machine, look for a sturdy model which has a good reputation for providing rigidity close to that which is provided by the machines used for professional-grade cutting and CNC milling services. While these models may cost a bit more, they will make the learning curve far easier.
With those caveats out of the way, you’re ready to get started; check out the four beginner-friendly ideas below–many of these projects can be used around the home, and are sure to delight friends and family:
Signs, logos, and engravings. These simple projects are often recommended as a natural starting place for new CNC users as they are simple, straightforward, and only require working with two dimensions. If you have children, you may wish to try engraving wooden signs (feel free to use pre-cut signs when you’re just starting out) to place on their doors, replete with their names and a simple design. For added enjoyment, you can allow your children to try painting their signs.
Create custom accessories for musical instruments. Creating engraved guitar picks, engraved guitar neck plates, and other components for musical instruments can either enrich your own musical hobby or provide a wonderful personalised gift for a musical individual in your family or circle of friends. These projects are also the next step up from simple logo and engraving work and help to build upon the basic skills described in step one.
Experiment with functional art. Card cases, coasters for drinks, and all manner of holders, stands, and other such household implements can be elevated to the level of art when crafted as one of a kind CNC machined pieces. Once again, these are projects which make for excellent personalised gifts, especially if you create them with meaningful themes in mind, e.g. a set of coasters engraved to reflect a friend’s favourite football team. These projects provide a test of one’s burgeoning CNC skills as they often require working with three dimensions.
Create a “skeleton clock”. Wooden skeleton clocks have become very fashionable in recent years, and they are also considered the kind of challenging project that can help a beginner to determine if he or she has graduated to intermediate-level CNC machining.
As they require working primarily with wood, these clocks can be made with even an entry-level CNC machine without issue, so long as the user has the skill to work with the complex design involved.
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