Meet Joaquin and the Robot He Plans to Build with the C500
From an apartment CNC setup to the Nestworks workshop in Shenzhen
Joaquin is a mechanical engineer and product design engineer working on smartphones in Chicago. Outside work, he enjoys mechatronics projects that combine mechanical design, electronics, and software. His projects range from custom robotics and rock-climbing training accessories to whatever unusual idea happens to catch his attention.
To make parts for those projects, Joaquin runs a DIY CNC setup in his apartment and uses it to mill aluminum and plastic. Lately, he has been developing a six-axis desktop robot arm that is both backdrivable and teachable. The current parts are 3D printed, but he hopes to replace selected components with aluminum parts machined on the Nestworks C500.
DIY CNC machine designed and built by Joaquin himself.
Why the C500 Stood Out
Joaquin first discovered Nestworks through a YouTube video. The C500's industrial design caught his eye, but the specifications shared on Kickstarter made him look more closely. An 800 W spindle with an automatic tool changer is unusual in an enclosed desktop CNC machine, and it addressed two practical frustrations with his current setup.
"My current CNC is homemade, and according to my girlfriend, it is not pretty enough to live in the office. I also hate stopping to change tools, so the automatic tool changer was a big draw."
The early videos and livestreams from Nestworks helped turn that interest into a decision. Joaquin liked what he saw of both the machine and the people behind it. The team came across as approachable and genuinely excited about the technology they were building.
An Unexpected Visit to Shenzhen
Joaquin's connection with the team became more personal during a work trip to Shenzhen. It was his fourth visit to the city, but he had not realized that Nestworks was based there. About a week into the trip, he watched a Stranger Parts video featuring Scotty's visit to Nestworks headquarters and learned that the company was located in Huaqiangbei.
He sent the team a message asking whether he could stop by. He did not expect an answer, especially on short notice. Nestworks replied within 20 minutes and welcomed him in.
"I knew Nestworks was in China, but I had no idea they were in Shenzhen, right in the heart of Huaqiangbei. Once I found out, I had to ask if I could visit."
Inside the Nestworks Workshop
The scale of the operation was Joaquin's first surprise. He had pictured a team of around 12 people; by the time he visited, more than 40 people were working there. He spoke with Henry, met Wu and other members of the team, and saw prototype machines going through reliability testing.
His favorite stop was what the team called the machine graveyard, an area filled with earlier prototypes. Seeing those machines made the development process tangible. Each version showed how much testing and iteration had gone into the final design, while the active reliability tests revealed how the team was working through the last details.
Before the tour, Joaquin still wondered whether the C500 would feel as solid in person as it looked online. The visit put that concern to rest. He came away more impressed by the build quality and more confident in his decision to back the project on Kickstarter.
"The machines were even better in person than I expected. What stood out most was the team's energy and how much they cared about making the best product they could."
A C500 Memory Worth the Heavy Lifting
One of Joaquin's favorite memories came during his second visit. Nestworks had recently shared a video of people lifting the C500, and someone on Discord questioned whether the clip was real. Wu, also known in the community as Nestworks Dude, decided they should settle the matter with another video.
Soon after Joaquin arrived, he and Henry lifted the machine together and posted the result to Discord. There was no doubt the C500 weighed more than 100 kg. It was a funny way to settle an online debate, and it became one of Joaquin's favorite memories from the trip.
What Joaquin Is Making with the C500
Joaquin has now received his C500 as a beta tester, and one of the first projects he completed was a ring holder for his girlfriend. She loved it. Since he backed the machine, she has been sending him photos of things she would like him to make, so there are plenty of projects still waiting.
The robot arm remains one of his bigger goals, and having the C500 in his workshop gives him a way to deepen his understanding of CNC machining. Many parts he designs at work involve CNC processes. By learning more about what the machine can and cannot do, he expects to make better design decisions professionally while continuing to enjoy the hobby at home.
After a successful first project, Joaquin is ready to work through the rest of his growing list and continue developing his robot arm. He is also looking forward to seeing what other makers create as their C500s arrive.
"I am looking forward to seeing what everyone makes when their machines arrive."