Hi lads I’m on market for cnc for small shop
I have budget up to 5 thousand but I would like buy one with easiest computer set up. As I’m no expert ,there are so many different ones on market that it’s impossible to know which one to pick. Any advice would be greatly appreciated Thanks tadhg

I believe you will find most professionals on here consider that price point will get you a toy or hobbyist play machine. You might try and post it on the CNC section here and see for sure. You'll need something in the $30,000-$50,000 minimum if you are equipping a professional shop. Before retiring, the shop I ran the 5 axis machine in, spent over $30,000 for the software alone.

I think that you will find guys on here looking solve problems as small as a hinge problem. I looked at cnc section and there all in 50 thou range upwards which is why I posted here on this forum I’m new to cnc so I’m not going go out buy. 50 thou dollar machine that I know very little about and have limited work for t

Like Rich said, 5k won't get you very far. If you're willing to put some work into the equation, 5k might get you a halfway decent 4' x 4' setup over at http://www.cncrouterparts.com

But, that's only the moving parts, you'll also need software, tooling, some kind of part holding, etc.

What are you trying to do with the machine is the biggest question. Are you trying to process all of your 4x8 panels for a cabinet shop or is this for doing hobby type stuff. To cut for a cabinet shop there is no way I would consider a CNC without a auto tool change and vacuum table. Just to get started you need a 3/8 compression, 5mm drill, and a fly cutter plus tool holders for all of them. This will run about $800. We have almost 5k is tooling alone. Most software isn't too bad to learn but that is really what sets you apart. If you just learn how to make it cut cabinet parts you aren't making money. All parts need to have blind dados for construction. All shelf holes need to be drilled and the holes for all hinge plates and runners need to be drilled. This way you are not only speeding up the cutting but it speeds up the whole process.

If you are trying to make hobby type stuff and don't need a large table then I would look at Cammaster.

Take a look at Laguna. Entry level.

Hi guys. Thanks for the replies. I’m only looking to do hobbie stuff on this machine
I started off with all mymachinery.small And built them up to Martin etc. and bought most on buy and sell thread here. And have no complaints. This is great thread for advice ;getting prob solved I get what rich and Gary are saying here regarding quality and you get what you pay for butI just want start small first. Get know system. And what it. Entails and. If. Down line I need bigger. I’ll go and invest.
For now I’m happy just get basics
I would never want cut panels. , We have system that works for us but I appreciate all the advice. And will check out recommendations. Thanks lads tadhg

you might be able to get a 4x4 machine without tool changer delivered from China for that price. I have a 4x8 machine from China (they are pretty much all the same), built like crap but it does work. I've made mods to mine in the past 2 years like adding a dust boot for the spindle, changing the motion controller to UCCNC, and a few other things. ER32 collets I think I paid $40 for the set. 3/8 compression bits are maybe $40 on ebay if I remember right. You can get a cheap spoilboard cutter at first for around the same money but the fly cutters with inserts are so much better. Those are around $300 I think. I dealt with Mandy from JCUT. If you don't mind tinkering go ahead with one of the Chinese machines and you could probably get it for close to that 5k mark.