CNC Router Sign Making - How to Design & Price

If you own a CNC machine, you will find yourself replicating printed logos. Whether you're working for yourself, a friend, or a paying client, the logo-to-real-life process presents a unique set of challenges.
Here, Kevin takes you through the competing factors, concerns, ideas, and concepts you'll need to create beautiful builds successfully. AND.....he breaks down exactly what you should be charging for your CNC Router projects.
CHAPTERS:
1:19 - Corporate Clients are more Valuable
1:46 - How to Dissect a Logo
2:42 - Giving Away Items Builds Your Business
3:30 - How to: Take the Logo from 2D to 3D
7:55 - Make and Charge for a Prototype
8:13 - Creating Features with Depth
10:43 - The Alleged "Experts"
11:00 - Prepping a Walnut Panel (creating stock)
11:55 - Why Use Premium Materials?
12:23 - Creating the Final Build
13:31 - Pricing Your Products
15:04 - Our Goals with this Channel and Your Skills
LINKS:
The work of two Shapeoko owners is prominently featured in this video. Follow them for ideas and inspiration.
Nick Valencia: nicks_fix_l...
Darren Byrd: byrdogcreat...
Partnership with an Artist Video: • Create an Artistic Par...

[@myk3l9675]

These videos get better and better every time!

[@farshadbagheri]

Quotable takeaway: "You can keep your thous, and weirdo fractions". Love it

[@carbide3d]

It's from the heart. - Kevin

[@peterdooley684]

Agreed, I get a great deal of inspiration from Kevin's pep talks and on-line demos. Please keep up the pace! It may also be beneficial to slow down a little for the basics so that the new guys gain a more complete understanding off each piece of the puzzle. The more experienced folks are already hooked.....don't worry so much about them......everyone must start at the beginning! Please do a slow and detailed video on maintenance of the Shapeoko 5Pro! Please publish a list on-line of the short cuts to be used in Carbide Create.....i.e. "Command CV" to make copies. Many thanks for a wonderful opportunity. I completely agree with Kevin...... give some stuff away.....even if it's only MDF.......people will see your capabilities and want more.

[@carbide3d]

Hi Peter Here are a couple of links you might find helpful: Create Shortcuts: carbide3d.com/carbidecreate/shortcuts Maintenance Guide: carbide3d.slack.com/archives/D02L9063ZJN/p1715617404066599 Video for Linear Rail Maintenance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXaQZGmDos-lg7M

[@LaserGuy64]

Thanks for the great build how-to and various business aspects of this type of woodworking.

[@bryanperry4557]

Love the Vid...!!!! Keep them coming...!!! I love my SP5...!!!

[@davidjunk6117]

Pricing thoughts: Write down how you calculated your pricing (for EVERY customer/job). Why? Because if you get multiple jobs from a customer they might call you out on a price they think is higher. Yes, you might want to dump that customer for being a nit picker. [source: I occasionally used to do estimation work when the boss was on holiday and we had a customer who'd always argue if the price was 'too high' - and who'd remember the ones quoted 'too low' and hold them up as the benchmark to try to save money]

[@carbide3d]

Hey David, Sometimes, it takes a customer going to a "cheaper" vendor and seeing what that buys before realizing that you are not expensive. You're just good at what you do.

[@louisstrowger8807]

Great project and great process description. The Walnut looks great but KOA would have been amazing and ALOT more expensive to build.

[@carbide3d]

You are absolutely correct about Koa......and yes......sooooo much more money!

[@DesertDolphinWoodworks]

Love your videos. Hope to get a CNC someday. 🐬🐬🔼

[@carbide3d]

We look forward to you joining the Carbide 3D Family.

[@ChrisSchorre]

Great video as always Kevin. Agree with your thoughts on pricing.

[@carbide3d]

Thanks Chris.

[@dash-ca]

How cool would this be if you carved topographic islands. Love your videos.

[@carbide3d]

So true, so true. Something to add to a future build.

[@Wipedout63]

Great video and great explanations. Hey can y'all do a video on cutting soapstone with a shapeoko? I have a bunch of it and Im not sure where to start

[@carbide3d]

This is an intriguing suggestion.

[@netltube]

Great vid, lot of good info. Pricing though - Maybe in HAWAII you'd get 1500 for that lmao. In the southeast? lol be lucky to get 300 for. Have to think of a person without a cnc, they're going to use a scroll saw or a band saw , make it out of pine, stain it walnut. From 15ft away their piece starts looking a lot like yours - except without all the imaginary input costs etc. Most people don't know what walnut is, they see a piece of brown wood lol. The portion of the market that would spend 1500 in this economy is a very tiny sliver, that most people just don't have access to.

[@carbide3d]

It all comes down to making the right products for the right customer base. Too many woodworkers talk themselves out of their actual value.

[@arkangel3231]

wow grate video thanks for the info

[@blairgage]

Did you sand? Or do you optimize your speeds and feeds or a finished surface off the machine. Maybe have a video about sands pockets and weird contours in the future?

[@carbide3d]

Hey Blair, Sanding was necessary in the main pocket of the bottom section and the tops of the islands. Tooling marks can be reduced with a smaller DOC finishing pass featuring a much smaller stepover. It all comes down to the desired final look and how much time you'd like to spend. As mentioned at the end of the video, any time spent should be included in the final product price.

[@sinsofvorador]

That tool path simulator. Is that something new or a Bata?

[@carbide3d]

It’s in the Beta: carbide3d.com/carbidecreate/beta

[@sinsofvorador]

@@carbide3d Holy crap. I'm waaaaay behind.

[@tylerkent5251]

@@carbide3dHow does the simulation look so defined? It’s so hard for me to see depth in my simulations.. or is it just my 12 year old laptop? 😭

[@ctenos45069]

Cool video. However, I wish you would quit pronouncing Boolean as “Boo Lean”. Every scientist and math person will tell you it is pronounced “Boo Lee Un” I enjoy your great videos, but it makes me cringe every time you say that. LOL

[@carbide3d]

Boo Leans are less filling.