CNC Router Machine TTC450 PRO for Woodworking, Upgraded 3-Axis Milling Machine, GRBL Control CNC Engraving Machine for Wood Acrylic MDF Nylon Carving Cutting

Great deal for the money

I have years of experience in 3D printing and laser cutting. So, naturally, I thought the transition to CNC would be a breeze. But from the moment I assembled it and was ready to try it out, I realized that was not the case.Now, the assembly itself was not trivial. Although everything was neatly packaged and labeled, the included instructions were one of the worst I have encountered for that type of equipment. Many steps were omitted, the pictures did not represent the tasks, and importantly, none of the images had any pictures of the cables attached to the machine. I had to guess which cable goes where. I even went to Two Trees website for instructional videos, but since this is a new product, their website did not even list it yet. At the last step of assembly I found some QR code that eventually led me to a minimalistic set up video.So, now that I have this machine built, I realized it does not come with the actual software to run it. Turns out if you want a software that actually does everything in one: design, assign tools, generate gCode and send it to the machine, be prepared to spend hundreds of dollars (and in some cases even thousands if you want state of the art software). If you are on budget, then it will most likely be 3 different software, some are trials and some are open source. And this is where I got stuck. Not only I have to pick the 3 software but also learn to use it before I even attempt to run this machine. Currently this is on hold for me as we are nearing the holiday season and my time is limited. Once I get back to figuring this out, I will update with the best option I ended up with.I do want to mention, that the quality of parts appears to be very well made. It is definitely better than my experience with early versions of Ender 3, all built with linear rails and subpar components. NO, this CNC is solid built and well designed. I only took a star off for mediocre instructions and lack of software.

I had been looking at CNC routers as a hobby to take up in retirement for a year now--intimidated by the number and variety of machines to choose between, prevented from making a decision by the complexity of the determinative choices going with any specific machine required.So, when this machine became available to me through Amazon's Vine program I ordered it. It now have it, but I'm still learning how to use it. I am not at all versed in the use of it. I'm still researching the machine online via reviews and videos. I've taken the machine out of its box, but not yet made anything with it. Nevertheless, I am happy I have this particular machine and I look forward to using it for the following reasons....1) It's a serious machine. It's not a cheaply made machine. It may be inexpensive, but it is a solid CNC router.2) The manufacturer, I have learned, is a respected company in China with a small American presence--largely limited to sales on Amazon. However, reading all I could on the internet about this CNC machine and the company's overall reputation and equipment, I was pleased to learn that emails to support DO get answered. I haven't gotten to the point of needing to contact support yet, but it was reassuring to learn that others have been able to resolve setup issues by contacting support.3) The upgraded Pro version of this CNC machine addresses a complaint I saw in one or two reviews of the initial model--that the machine wasn't as rigid as the reviewer would have liked. This machine is much more rigid, made of thicker aluminum with more powerful step motors.4) I also like that the manufacturer sells several upgrade components for this machine, including a 500W spindle (the base Pro model has an 80W spindle), an actual router and a laser module. I got a honeycomb base to use with the laser that I hope eventually to purchase. I really don't know what the usage difference between the router and the 500W spindle is and I can't find information on why you would choose one over the other.5) One final available component I should mention separately is the rotary attachment that allows this CNC machine to be used kind of like a lathe, making many more designs and projects possible. I intend to get this and I hope with its help to make a few wooden fountain pens.So I'm excited to get down to using this machine. There are a few things that concern me as well.First, this machine requires a Windows computer to program it. I'm now entirely Mac. I run Windows on Parallels on my Mac, so I'm hoping that will address this potential problem, but I haven't tried doing so yet.Second, the programming of this CNC router is far more complicated than I anticipated. It's intimidating, and the complexity of the process is the reason I'm writing a review of a machine I haven't used yet. I think it's going to take me a year to figure out what I'm doing in running the machine and since I need to leave a review, I'm just giving initial impressions and information I've learned researching the machine on the internet.The bottom line is that I think what I have here in this TTC450 Pro is a good initial step into the world of CNC routing. I think it will allow me to go far enough with a solid enough machine that I'll be able to determine whether this is something I enjoy and want to go further in. The price of the machine is small. It's a small commitment in terms of money, but it's not a toy machine. it really works and I believe it will give me a good initial platform for learning on.Let me just say in conclusion that I own a lot of tools and though I don't know the CNC world well, I do know quality in tools and I find this CNC machine to be surprisingly well-built for the price. It's a solid machine.

Sort of a good news / bad news vibe going here.The good news is that this is a really well built machine, very likely the best one available at its price point.Bad news, you'll quickly want to upgrade the cutting head.Good news, there are a couple of drop in heads available (500w spindle, 20w laser), and even better news, it's pretty easy to find / make adapters to hold a variety of small routers, lasers, or even plasma cutters and the solid build will support their use.Good news is that tech support is pretty good, albeit slow, and there's a pretty robust user community for support. Bad news is that you'll need support, the instructions are abysmal, and the machine has its finicky quirks.If you're a pro-sumer, want a system that just plain works, and are willing to spend the money, this isn't for you.If you're a hobbyist and enjoy the journey of fiddling with parts to get just the machine you want, this is a great place to start at a friendly price,Just realize that if your time is more valuable than the journey, by the time your done upgrading this to your satisfaction you'll realize it would have been easier to just shell out the big bucks at the start.On the other hand, if you're just getting your toes wet to start, this is much less of a commitment.

This thing is crazy capable. It's incredibly precise and easy to operate, and I've already created some awesome little widgets. Maybe nothing that would blow you away but a nice custom set of dice for my wargaming habit for instance. The build quality is fantastic, and the machine is sturdy and well-made. Assembly was pretty easy and yes it's quite robust. I highly recommend this router to anyone looking to take their woodworking or engraving to the next level!