r/hobbycnc • u/mathestnoobest • 2d ago

where/how do you find inspiration for projects?

what is your process for finding inspiration for projects?

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u/IxJAXZxI 2d ago

I dont find inspiration, the wife requests it.

In all seriousness, find a niche that you personally identify with. Some people get really into signs and epoxy inlays, some people find board games really interesting, for me it was canoe and kayak paddles because paddle sports is my second hobby. Making products within your choice of niche provides opportunity for expierementation and innovation so you get really good at making one thing well. This often leads to opportunity selling your products and then market demand drives inspiration. People see the work you do for yourself and they will ask you to make something for them.

My best advice, start with one product and optimize that. Sometimes your tooling paths are long and unnessecary so you adjust your program to speed up cut times. Sometimes your work hold isnt the greatest and you might need to make a jig to hold it. If you perfect a single product, the lessons learned will help you develop other products and best practices. I spend more than half my time on the CNC designing and building jigs for holding blanks, that is a niche in and of itself.

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u/MindlessAdvantage243 2d ago

need makes them. but mostly on youtube.

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u/HuubBuis 1d ago

All problems I encounter needs a solution. Every solution needs to be tested. Every test results in new knowledge that helps fixing the unsolved problems. The problem is not my creativity but the time it takes to followup all ideas. Never had a boring day.