CNC Milling Shop · 5-axis
An industrial 5-axis machining center with automatic tool change: cabinet facades (3D and curved), carved products, doors, stairs, signage. A high barrier to entry — a premium niche.
A Gravity LLC project.
The complex work goes to shops with 5-axis and automation. Without it, a shop slides into low-margin subcontracting.
Premium walks away
Curved and 3D fronts and complex millwork — the highest-margin work — go to whoever has 5-axis.
Outsourcing won't last
Today shops without 5-axis send the hard work out. Tomorrow the shop they send it to takes the simple jobs too.
The window is closing
Few such machines exist in Sacramento and the Bay Area. Whoever installs first owns the niche; the rest pay them.
Any competitor can install this machine. The question is whether you're first — then the complex work and outsourcing flow to you, not away from you.
Key numbers
Figures from the financial model (single shift, 3 scenarios). Estimates, not an offer.
P&L — 3 scenarios
| Volume, ft²/mo | 1,900 |
| Revenue / mo | $34,200 |
| Gross profit / mo | $25,650 |
| OpEx / mo (salary, rent, processing, books) | $14,017 |
| EBITDA / mo | $11,633 |
| EBITDA / yr | $139,596 |
| EBITDA margin | 34% |
How it works
1 · CAD/CAM
Program the facade or pattern (woodWOP / Maestro / bSolid + Aspire for relief).
2 · Work-holding
Pod-and-rail consoles or a vacuum table — hold the part with no re-fixturing.
3 · 5-axis machining
ATC and aggregates: 3D/curved facades, undercuts, angled boring, carving on contoured surfaces.
4 · Finish
Sand, paint/stain, accent the relief.
5 · QC & packing
Label parts, check geometry, assemble the order.
Production range
The 5-axis center is not a single-product bet. Cabinet fronts create the base load, while millwork, molds, signage and job-shop work smooth seasonality and idle time.
Cabinet fronts and facades
3D and curved fronts, ribbed/fluted surfaces, classic raised-panel doors, shallow relief in MDF and solid wood.
Doors, windows, stairs
Arched rails, curved handrails, volutes, stringers, balusters, posts and complex joinery with minimal re-fixturing.
Panels, fences and decor
Carved wall/fence panels, acoustic and geometric surfaces, decor for restaurants, wineries, HOAs and parks.
Sculptural furniture
Chairs, tabletops, bases, curved laminated parts and organic forms where 3-axis machining is not enough.
Patterns, molds, prototypes
MDF/model-board/foam plugs for vacuum forming, composites, concrete, exhibit pieces and product prototypes.
Signage and retail fixtures
Dimensional sign blanks, exhibit pieces, counters, display bases and acrylic/solid-surface/wood components.
Jigs and job-shop work
Fixtures, templates, angled boring, short runs and outsourced work from shops without true 5-axis capacity.
Product
Cabinet facades (kitchen doors/fronts, incl. 3D and curved) for the B2B cabinet-shop market; plus carved panels/fences, doors/windows/stairs, signage and 3D decor.
Differentiator
True 5-axis + ATC is a high barrier: few local shops make curved/3D facades and complex millwork. A premium niche with outsourced demand.
Market
Sacramento ~2.4M + Bay Area ~7.7M — a large kitchen, furniture and millwork market; shops without 5-axis outsource the complex work.
Unit economics
Machining gross margin ~75% ($13.5/ft²). A kitchen facade set (~120 ft²): ~$2,160 revenue, ~$1,620 gross profit, ~$324 gross profit per machine-hour.
Risk & damper
The main risk is sales/utilization, not cost. Damper: start on a proven used machine (CapEx a third of new), diversify (facades + fences + jobbing).
Synergy with Finance~Gravity
One vendor with the Homag cabinet line; anchor customer is the own factory; premium carved-fence line (MuralFence project).