Tips for Starting a CNC-SHOP

MetalV · Dec 8, 2020

Hello Community,

I am looking to start a CNC-Shop bussines, and I want to be sure with all I have to do. How can I expand, find customers? Where I find 5-7k Euro Cnc-Machine(like an Haas mini-mill/Vf1 etc.). Could you give me some advices/tips.

Kind regards,
Eng. Vlad

MetalV ENGINEERING
Manufacturing Engineering
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasile-ovidiu-vlad-821a42175
Romania, Cluj-Napoca

Mebfab · Dec 8, 2020

You can try using the search function. Do you think you are the first?

Cole2534 · Dec 8, 2020

Mebfab said:
You can try using the search function. Do you think you are the first?

If that ^^^^ is step 1, step 2 is to buy a hotdog cart.

Scott314 · Dec 8, 2020

Cole2534 said:
If that ^^^^ is step 1, step 2 is to buy a hotdog cart.

Is that still the standard in the integrated/lean/flat/IOT/v4.0 manufacturing werld? I think we should update this recommendation to a banana stand. Lower overhead, less capex, less WIP, less inventory. Shirley a banana stand would be the modern way...

BTW, step 2 is still "???"

Cole2534 · Dec 8, 2020

Scott314 said:
Is that still the standard in the integrated/lean/flat/IOT/v4.0 manufacturing werld? I think we should update this recommendation to a banana stand. Lower overhead, less capex, less WIP, less inventory. Shirley a banana stand would be the modern way...

BTW, step 2 is still "???"

There's always money in the BANANA STAND!

Sent via CNC 88HS

BT Fabrication · Dec 9, 2020

Cole2534 said:
If that ^^^^ is step 1, step 2 is to buy a hotdog cart.

And step 3 is Profit?

mhajicek · Dec 9, 2020

MetalV said:
Hello Community,...

I think what people are trying to say is that you haven't provided enough information to even begin to postulate the merest possibility of formulating an answer.

HuFlungDung · Dec 9, 2020

Tip: start with more money

AARONT · Dec 9, 2020

BT Fabrication said:
And step 3 is Profit?

These gnomes know what they're doing. I bet it would work for bananas as well. South Park Underpants Gnomes Profit Plan - YouTube

LOTT · Dec 9, 2020

Become an ISO certified Toolmaker. You'll be rolling in the dough... at your night job delivering pizzas...

Hardplates · Dec 9, 2020

A CNC machine is an import part of every CNC machine shop

Mickey_D · Dec 11, 2020

Start with a great big pile of money and ambition and watch it it whittled and beaten down over the years by unrealistic customers who do not like paying bills. Hopefully you will have some good customers who will make it worthwhile but the rest will drive you insane.

primeholy · Dec 11, 2020

I like hot dogs more than I like bananas. I prefer Nathans.

706jim · Dec 11, 2020

Mickey_D said:
Start with a great big pile of money and ambition and watch it it whittled and beaten down over the years by unrealistic customers who do not like paying bills. Hopefully you will have some good customers who will make it worthwhile but the rest will drive you insane.

Just remember my comment from a post I made years ago here:

"There's no such thing as a 15 minute job".

Cole2534 · Dec 14, 2020

Hardplates said:
A CNC machine is an import part of every CNC machine shop

Um, mine are domestic, sir.

wheelieking71 · Dec 14, 2020

primeholy said:
I like hot dogs more than I like bananas. I prefer Nathans.

"Smiths" it is an NE, PA thing Wieners - Smith Provision Company, Inc.
Natural casing of course. If you have had them, then you know. There is no better hot dog.
I'm sure digger doug will back me on this.

Evenglischatiest · Dec 14, 2020

The best advice I have is to keep your day job, and do the shop on the side. Don't even consider quitting until you're making more from your shop than from your job, AND you're turning down orders because you don't have enough time.

It helps if the day job is something other than machining. Throwing chips for 10 hours at work makes you not want to come home and do exactly the same thing all night.

Find a customer, or make your own product, that's solid enough to pay your bills when everything else dries up. It doesn't have to be enough to make a profit. But you need something steady, that's big enough to pay your overhead. And take care of that customer like it's your own family. No matter how much money you're making, I'd recommend keeping the day job until you find this customer.

blackwolf4278 · Dec 15, 2020

If 5-7k Euro all you have than I wouldn't start just yet. Go at least for 30k then you will be able to buy a good enough machine for ~10k and have the rest for other tooling, since everything is costly in this industry.

CORONA VIRUS · Dec 18, 2020

My suggestion is to open a liquor store instead of a machine shop. Even during a recession you will still make a lot of money.

William Wallace · Dec 18, 2020

Cole2534 said:
If that ^^^^ is step 1, step 2 is to buy a hotdog cart.

Cole2534 said:
There's always money in the BANANA STAND!

Sent via CNC 88HS

HuFlungDung said:
Tip: start with more money

LOTT said:
Become an ISO certified Toolmaker. You'll be rolling in the dough... at your night job delivering pizzas...

Mickey_D said:
Start with a great big pile of money and ambition and watch it it whittled and beaten down over the years by unrealistic customers who do not like paying bills. Hopefully you will have some good customers who will make it worthwhile but the rest will drive you insane.

Are things this bad in the industry that the best answer to "How to start a shop?" is "Don't do it"?

Obviously the thread starter asked too vague a question.

If I learned anything about starting a shop (and I'm just sticking my toe in now)... it seems like "don't quit your day job yet" is the #1 rule.

Tips for Starting a CNC-SHOP

Plastic

Diamond

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Plastic

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Titanium

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Stainless

Stainless

Stainless

Stainless

Aluminum

Titanium

Diamond

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Cast Iron

Aluminum

Banned

Aluminum

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