About to take the plunge

**Olly** · 13-06-2017

Hi Chris

I have just joined the site, looking to retire at the end of the year and was hoping to do something like this myself. Im 56 years of age, worked as an aircraft machinist doing more conventional than CNC but have an understanding how CNC works, I may want to pick your brain for any info you may have

Thank you

Steve

**Clive S** · 14-06-2017

Originally Posted by Olly

Hi Chris

I have just joined the site, looking to retire at the end of the year and was hoping to do something like this myself. Im 56 years of age, worked as an aircraft machinist doing more conventional than CNC but have an understanding how CNC works, I may want to pick your brain for any info you may have

Thank you

Steve

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum if you want to start building a machine I suggest you start a build log and start asking questions and be prepared to take a bit of flack you will find that there is a good bunch on here and wiling to help

**ChrisJ** · 15-06-2017

Hi Steve.
Great post-retirement project and I wish I had your engineering background. I'm very happy to contribute anything I've learned but just to warn you that I'm new to this game so my knowledge is pretty limited.

Re Clive's self-build comment (hello Clive) - I was toying with the idea of building a machine but from what I've read, a steel frame is preferred for reasons of strength/ rigidity/ weight/ cost, and I don't have welding skills or the tools to accurately cut chunky bits of steel box section. Is using aluminium a viable alternative or would that be starting out on the wrong foot? I'd ultimately be aiming to use my CNC for wood only, but although I'm only a simple carpenter, I am fairly exacting so if the design and execution of a self-build machine didn't give me decent reproducible accuracy, I'd be a bit gutted. The cost-effectiveness of a self build does appeal though!
Chris