CNC Services
The CNC handles a 4' x 4' and a 5' x 12' work area, in wood from 1/8" thick up to most
slab thicknesses. 2D engraving, 3D relief, logo work, flattening —
whichever the project needs. Rate is $100/hour, which covers programming,
setup, machine time, and the quick adjustments that come with doing the
job once instead of twice.
Most jobs run 1 to 3 hours. Bring a file if you have one — SVG, DXF, Ai
work fine — or bring a sketch on paper. Detail can get down to 1/32",
which is about the thickness of a credit card, which is usually enough.
A note on outside wood: anything being surfaced or CNC'd on this machine
needs to be kiln dried and pest free. If it's coming from somewhere else,
three questions before you load the truck — where did you buy it, was it
kiln dried, and how was it kiln dried. If those don't have clear answers,
the wood doesn't go on the machine. The kiln and the CNC don't recover
from a bug infestation.
FAQs
Q: What exactly is CNC woodworking and why should I care?
A: Think of CNC as having a robot with perfect hand-eye coordination and endless patience. Whether you're dreaming of intricate business logos, custom signs, or 3D relief carvings that look like they took years to hand-carve, our 4’ x 4’ CNC machine can turn sketches or even just an idea into reality with incredible precision.
Q: What's this $100/hour rate all about?
A: This fee covers the machine time, programming, setup, and our expertise in making sure your project fits your vision. The precision and detail that CNC machining can achieve is invaluable, especially when an equivalent job completed by hand in months is achieved in hours or even minutes. Most projects take 1-3 hours, depending on complexity.
Q: Can you work from my sketch/drawing/napkin doodle?
A: Absolutely! In fact, most CNC projects start from a visual design of some form. We can take your hand sketches, digital drawings, or even that logo you found on Pinterest and transform them into CNC-ready files. We can handle both 2D and 3D modeling, so whether you want simple engraving or complex 3D relief work, we've got you covered. With a little effort, we can even turn a child’s adorable crayon drawing into custom, live-edged wood wall art.
Q: What's the largest thing you can CNC?
A: Our machine has a 4' x 4' working area - that's big enough for most signs, panels, and decorative pieces. Need something bigger? We can get creative with multiple panels that combine into one larger piece.
Q: What materials can you work with?
A: While we primarily work with hardwoods, our CNC can handle a variety of materials including hardwoods, softwoods, plywood, composites, and even some of the softer metals. Each material has its sweet spot for cutting depth and detail, and we'll help you choose what works best for your project.
Q: How detailed can the work be?
A: We can achieve details as fine as 1/32 of an inch - that's about the thickness of a credit card. Whether you want subtle texture or intricate detail that makes people say "no way that's machine-made," we've got the capability to make it happen.