Using CNC table bed for non-CNC activities

1

Hi all. Maybe an odd question, but I’m going through a lot of planning for the process of building a new pole barn shop on my property and tool layout, CNC placement, workbench sizes, etc. One area I need to figure out is adding an assembly table and a 4x8 or 5x10 CNC and the space is starting to get tighter. My plans now had a big assembly table in addition to my traditional woodworking benches but a big assembly table starts taking away from the CNC space.

Most of my projects don’t need a large assembly table and would just be nice for very occasional large glue ups like a dining table or king bed that won’t be very often.

Then I thought about how big and flat the bed on the CNC table would be and the convenient location next to my workbenches. So…does anyone occasionally use the bed on their CNC for large glue ups or assembly on an occasional basis? I realize the CNC would be out of commission during that time but I’m mostly a hobbyist and work on one project at a time. I also know I’d want to protect the top of the bed during a large glue up. This would enable me to make a smaller assembly table and use the bed of the CNC for very limited large projects when they come up.

Thoughts? Any issues with this thinking?

2

Every flat surface becomes a table.

3

If you you the cnc table you get to use your favorite clamping methods. Maybe you could train the CNC to stir the glue, wipe the joints … :slight_smile:. If you pull the collet you can use the spindle to hold things down.

I use my cnc table for lots of stuff.

4

Once in a while, I use my layout table, assembly table, gluing table, staining table and finish table as a CNC table! Lol!

Wood Projects - Coat Hanger - Jean - 1 of 1
Wood Projects - Coat Hanger - Jean - 1 of 11920×1440 601 KB

5

I got a big roll of rosin paper from the big box just for that purpose :grin:

6

As long as you have a way to handle chips and fixturing issues, any platform will work. The older, traditional CNC machines simply had four baffles and certainly didn’t take up anywhere near as much space as modern ones do.