2 in 1 20W CNC 3018 Engraving Machine CNC 3018 Pro Router Machine 3 Axis GRBL Control DIY Router Kit Machine with Extension Rod +Offline Controller Board

When I was in college, in architecture school, I took a class called digital fabrication, where we could use all sorts of gadgets, we had a complete wood workshop but also laser engraver, 3d printer and a full size cnc router. I had so much fun playing with these things and making different designs. But they were too expensive for me to even think about getting any. Fast forward 18 years and I found myself looking around to see if I could buy any smaller version that could still powerful enough and sturdy, not a toy. And one that could do other materials in addition to wood, after searching around for some time I decided on this one, because it has many of the characteristics I was looking for and its small enough to be used in my apartment. I must say that the installation is a bit complicated, I watched a video to try to understand how but it also comes with very specific instructions on how to do it. I'm pretty happy with it and I'm already looking into buying some other bits and accessories for it and maybe a 3d printer too? lol

UPDATE: removing a star, the more I use it the looser the Z axis gets. Now has a lot of wobble not just up and down like it did new but side to side, the bearings and rods seem to have developed this. I am now designing new brackets and carriage to use linear rails and a ball screw, that should firm everything up. Also only using 3 bars for the spoilboard does not do it, the mdf likes to bow even with having faced it. I'll be adding 2 more 2020 bars to it to remedy this. IF you buy this expect to have to do "upgrades" soon after getting it together.the z axis has a bit of play in it that causes issues at times, working on a fix for this. Even though the machine comes mostly assembled you are going to want to place it on a flat surface and loosen EVERY screw and make sure it is all square. mine was so far out of square on foot was a solid 1/8 off the table. No documentation for the controller board is available, but with a little playing around it can be flashed with the arduino IDE set as an adruino pro, so I was able to make a few firmware tweaks and flash to the latest version of GRBL. But With a little bit of setup this is a really good machine. Now with the negatives out of the way lets say something good. For the price the machine is solid metal construction, no acrylic plates like others of similar price. the 500w motor is a great upgrade from the 300w that others also come with. For the cost I expected some issues needing to be addressed, but I did not expect it to be as solid as it is!

The media could not be loaded.  It arrived well packaged. Setup took about an hour or two because i was going back and forth on the laptop. The software is pretty easy once you play around. I couldnt find a way to convert my cad files from ds mechanical to g-code so i downloaded rabbitcam. Tested the laser after focusing and it worked. Im testing feeds and speeds on acrylic currently. I bought some single flute end mills to use over what came packaged. It comes with collets also. Couldnt figure out the clamp system so i made a vice out of cast plastic then milled it on my milling machine. Theres no mounts for limit switches which is a big drawback so i can't give it 5 stars. Ive crashed the bed twice already. I bought limit switches but need to make mounts for them. Otherwise its sturdy and can't wait to test aluminum on it.Update 3/20/23Im adding this in and rating from 4 star to 5; i had a minor issue and contacted customer service and i will say service is through the roof! With more companies were like this one. They are pretty fast to respond and are dedicated to helping you. I havent had a company do this in over 10 years and help the customer like they do. They just became my go-to for accessories and upgrades or parts. That is my appreciation for what they are doing to help me! Awesome!

I approached this product with a sense of optimism, buoyed by the promise of superior performance and quality. However, my experience has been marred by a series of shortcomings that cumulatively render this product far more of a hindrance than a help.The laser output, advertised as 7000mW, falls short of expectations. It fails to meet that output and thus cannot outperform other 3018 modules, despite commanding a higher price point. This discrepancy between promise and performance is a significant letdown.The frame, while appearing robust, is prone to bending and twisting under minimal stress, particularly along the x/z axis. The mere act of installing the spindle/laser reveals the extent of its flex. The side panels lack sturdiness, and the threads on the frame and motors are of inferior quality. Several arrived pre-stripped, possibly from a prior return, or were so poorly made that they stripped during hand-tightening, sans hex wrench. Each motor has at least one stripped threading, resulting in improper seating. A few frame threads share the same fate. To render this product usable will require an investment of considerable time and money, a fact that I regret was not discovered before making this purchase.The included printed instructions are incomplete, with the full set oddly located on the accompanying flash drive. This is not only inconvenient but also frustrating. Additionally, the test files provided are subpar, necessitating the use of modified files I had from another build. The instructions, partially comprised of loosely organized jpeg files with nondescript names like IMG_20190411_143657, reflect a lack of effort and consideration for the user. The manufacturer's awareness of these shortcomings is evident in their suggestion to seek YouTube tutorials for assembly and usage guidance instead of using the provided instructions.Despite these criticisms, it is only fair to acknowledge the aspects of the product that functioned as expected. The controller and board performed admirably, and the additional accessories I purchased fromGenmitsu (switches, roller, probe, bits) were compatible and worked well with the machine. The software, albeit outdated by several major versions, ran smoothly after I took the precaution of running scans from a sandbox environment. However, I opted to download updated versions from the official websites for optimal performance.In conclusion, I cannot recommend this product, even to a beginner. The steep learning curve required to modify it for proper functioning is simply too great for entry level and too much of a pain the ass for anyone with expertise. I find myself wishing I had invested more in a superior model. This product, unfortunately, falls far short of the mark.

Excelente producto, instrucciones fáciles de seguir.