Decision about what to get first.

[medicarts]

I have been looking around for a budget machine to get started on the CNC, and ran across a used M3. I am basically down decision wise to the M3 and a Next Wave Pirinah XL. Next wave is a little bigger as far as engraving area, but for what I am doing right now, not too much of a difference. Price is about 2x the price of the M3. What I am curious about is, which way would you recommend. I am basically doing small signs in Wood and Plastic, and some xmas ornaments. The intention is to purchase a Carve King 2 after the first of the year, but as an EMT, a purchase like that is something I have to plan and save for. I have a license for VCarve Pro, as I had a 3018 for a while that was not very good. 

Any ideas what I should do?

[btreichel]

I went form a 3018 to a mega v xl and never looked back. Its like a scooter vs. a Harley (or ....)

[medicarts]

I would love to have the Mega V XL myself, but I retired several years ago due to a major on duty back injury and a house fire all within a month of each other. I am currently back in school working on my Paramedic Certification, so back to work part time as an EMT. Funds are just not quite there to do this the way I want to do, at least if I want to eat and not have to walk to class 35 miles every day....lol. Price I found on both machines seemed to be pretty reasonable, but had no prior experience with the M3, and wasn't sure about the size and the wood construction. My intention is to do holiday stuff with it, maybe come inlays, small plastic and wood signs and stuff like that. I have a couple 3d printers already and both a small CO2 and Diode Laser already in my little shop. Thought was to get up and running, even if I have to tile quite a bit, then upgrade the CNC to what I really want. I have done some stuff on the Ham Radio side with the laser, and someday will get around to posting the videos on YouTube, but my schedule wont let up until probably sometime towards November. I have even looked at some of the Chinese machines that will do larger stuff, but not wanting something that I know is going to be more of a project than the woodworking stuff that I am doing.

[medicarts]

Pulled the trigger yesterday and bought the M3. Seems to be a well designed machine but do think I will need to add limit switches at least on the x&y axis. Is there a kit to do this…

[alpscraftshack]

Welcome to the Board.  I bought a used M3, from someone here. It is a good machine, and, quickly outgrew it. I did make enough money with it though to pay for purchasing a Carve King (the original wood one). Have had it almost 5 years and it has been a good machine - giving me very little problems. I have made enough money with it to purchase 8 of them, if I had any use for them.

[medicarts]

The Carve King is what I really would like to have. This is starting out as a hobby thing for me, and hopefully, I can find the right products to make and sell that will allow me to afford the larger machine. For the signs that I really want to make with the CNC, I am already outgrown with the M3 but it was at least affordable. Working in public safety for a private ambulance company, pay isnt what you would consider great, so have to move slow and save up the pennies to be able to afford the better toys....lol. My intention is to eventually get the larger machine and start doing custom wood signs for all the different fire stations that I work with, along with whatever other ideas I can come up with. I already have a couple of laser machines, 1 co2 and 1 diode so its just finding the ideas and getting them built. This time of year its a little too warm here in the Phoenix area to be able to spend a lot of time in the shop.

[alpscraftshack]

The Carve King is a good machine, and I am sure that the new model, Carve King 2 (metal), is just as good, reliable, and well-built as it's predecessor, the Carve King 1 (wood) was. It should more than adequate to do the things you have mentioned, and, when you get it, I am sure you will be happy with it. I make custom signs with mine; themed desktop business card holders; coasters; holiday decorations for all major holidays, gnomes, refrigerator magnets; door hangers; as well wooden shapes, cutouts & blanks; and have even done custom photo booth props. I also have a couple of lasers - a CO2 and two (2) diodes. One of the diodes is solely dedicated to ceramic tile etching / engraving. I also have a vinyl cutter. I live in southern California, so I know about the heat and finding creative ways to keep the shop cool enough to work in on those hot summer days.  I am also in process the of refurbishing / upgrading my M3, so I can off-load the smaller jobs to it.