@RasterofPuppets had a great suggestion that i’d like to know more about as well.
What size machine do you currently have?
And in the comments mention the size you have and the size you want… also please make mention what kinds of projects you couldn’t do or had to decline because your machine wasn’t big enough.
I have a 4x4 and 75% of the reason is simply, because I can. The practical reality is that I have never need it to be bigger and do not anticipate that I ever will other than a one-off situation. The main benefit for me, is having room for a 4th axis to stay in place (most of the time) and enough space for several different projects in process, or different work-holding things. I would have regretted buying a 2x4, and a 3x4 would have been occasionally limiting.
I make alternating stair treads for my wood guy most consistently.
Stringers are the long pieces similar in size to a 2x8. An 8’ machine would allow me to take on more work from him creating the stringers, and therefore create more tool money (where I don’t have to ask the wife permission).
It would also allow for more projects that would require a full sheet.
Damn delete button!…Anyway, 1F Woodworker, 32 x 32. Haven’t needed anything bigger yet.
Edit (or at least it would have been if I hadn’t inadvertently deleted original post). I’m thinking a 3 x 4 might be a good idea in that I could leave my 24 x 24 Airweights table and my rotary installed all the time.
I have a 2x4 now next up is a 4x4 but might get a 4x8
I have a OF Woodworker, 32 x 32. Most of the time it serves me just fine, but I mainly make guitars now and I have to make bass necks on a 45deg angle, and can’t do my neck through designs until I get an ALTMILL.
Just to show you, not all was lost
We (Chatfield Robotics) have a 2’x3’ Stepcraft. We rarely if ever need more space. We always need a stronger gantry.
Cutting aluminum plate is a difficult ask for this CNC. It will do polycarbonate and plastics well, but 1/8”, 3/16”, 1/4” aluminum is really asking too much of it.
I have a 2x3. But I lose a few inches for the rapid change atc and a few more for the vertical table. Comes out to be about 24 inches wide and 30 inches deep. Which is just a little too small to build the cabinets that I have making for my router table, and Co2 laser. 4x3 would get me there with some effort. In the end if I were to be building a kitchen I would be looking at 5x5 (Baltic birch plywood size) + enough space for the atc and vertical table. The ability to load up a full sheet of plywood, punch a button, and come back to perfectly square parts is very appealing.
If i can ever find the time, i’ve really been wanting to throw a 3ft x 3ft slab of aluminum up on my Dominator and run a relief carving. I think that would be an awesome example of the strength and power of our machine.
OF 32x32.
I am a luthier, and the CNC is so big that I have my rotary permanently installed. No need for a bigger machine, I would have trouble fitting it in my basement.
Instead of a bigger waste-board I would prefer a more sturdy CNC that would handle aluminum better.
5 x 10(ish) that I’m currently installing the Pwn conversion on. We mainly work with foam and have been getting into more signage. Previously we used our CNC hotwire and hopefully this will save us time by not having to glue up letters and other embellishments.
have a 2x4, would be maybe happier with a 2.5x5 but no real reason for me to go bigger than that. I’m just a retired hobby guy.
why 5 specifically? Can 50” work?
One of the things I am building is pinball machines, the cabinet sides are around 52-54” long. I just cut by hand and hand routing in the needed recesses and holes and such. But just doing as a hobby so not a huge production shop, maybe 3 or 4 a year.