Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1451376
1 6 G R A P H I C S P R O J U L Y 2 0 2 2 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M e shop is also taking in routing work from another Signarama franchise and a nearby FastSigns business for wholesale work. "It is not the most profitable work, but it keeps the router running when regular projects are not coming in," he says. Signarama also spent about $2,500 on spindles and tools and $6,000 on an arm attachment to place the braille beads into ADA signage. However, Lokpez stopped using it because it always missed beads. Now, his employees place the beads by hand. SPACE Adding a CNC, dust collector, vacuum and air compressor to a shop means they all need somewhere to go. If a machine says it has a 4' × 4' cutting area, you are not planning for a 4' × 4' machine. It will be more like 6' × 7' in your shop and then you also need space to work around it and load material, Smith says. "When you get the actual measurements for the machine you are considering, plan for at least a two-foot perimeter around the machine. We do totally understand that is not always possible. Sometimes you have to put one side of the machine against a wall but, ideally, a two-foot perimeter is minimum," Smith says. Space is also needed for the machine's controller or interface and some place to keep router bits. Most commercial shops will buy 4' × 8' or 5' × 10' CNCs. e difference between those two machines isn't so much about the size but the "speed with which it can do jobs that makes a dif- ference," he adds. Another thing shops may overlook is that they must get the CNC into their building, which means they need a large enough Since adding the CNC, Lokpez's shop has started working with property managers and construction companies to create customized wayfinding signs. With the router, he says his team can get creative with sign design.