Starting a CNC jobshop.

Why do you want to start a CNC job shop? That is a huge question and only you can answer it. If it's for the money you are starting on the wrong foot. There is a large investment and a very slow rate of return.

Here is why, you purchase a CNC vertical Haas VF3 Approximately 60 grand. You will need a place to put your machine that has 3 phase power, a lease for $5 to $9 a square foot. Electrician will cost you about a grand. The VF3 holds 24 tools which cost $50 to $300 each and over time you will need more than just 24 tools. You will also need a way to hold your parts, Kurt vises are $600 each, hold down sets $50 bucks. Every part you will make is different in some ways and you may need to build fixtures. Depending on the job you will need cutting tools like end mills and drills, reamers and taps to name just the basics. Hopefully your customer will supply the material and you don't scrap any.

Lets compare other businesses. You can charge anywhere from $45.00 to $75.00 per hour for your machine time and expect to win quotes. Your machine will run about 60% of the time so 6 hours in a 10 hour day. That means you should gross $360.00 per day at $60.00 / hr labor rate. High production runs will run for a higher percentage of a day with less setup and break down.

An Electrician charges over a $100.00 per hour, they have much less over head. A lawyer $250.00 per hour and you will need one of these too. A tattoo artist needs a chair and $500.00 in equipment and they will charge you $200.00 an hour. Wheres the justice in that? Am I bumming you out yet?

If it is in your heart to be in business for yourself and your patience to reap the rewards from manufacturing. You will need to check back for Part 2 HOW


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