CNC 3018-PRO Router Kit GRBL Control 3 Axis Plastic Acrylic PCB PVC Wood Carving Milling Engraving Machine with Offline Controller, XYZ Working Area 300 x 180 x 45mm

I was just like you, reading reviews and contemplating if I should meander in to the world of CNC machines, a world that I know nothing about. If you're searching for these machines, you're already interested - so the only thing I can tell you is - get it.I have basic knowledge when it comes to electronics/hardware/software, if you're completely new to these things, the setup and usage may be slightly intimidating, but it IS easy enough that anyone can do it by following basic instructions. Like most mention - instruction manuals aren't the easiest to understand (for anything) but there are a ton of user videos all across the interwebs showing you how to set up/run the 3018. (seriously, if you need to learn anything, ever, about anything, ever, just YouTube or TikTok that ish)Out of box - I was a bit anxious. Any time you're opening a package that has hundreds of tiny parts it can seem like an uphill battle. If you dedicate a half hour or so of watching a set up video (all the way through), then setting it up while watching it again, it makes this set up a breeze. I had mine completed in about an hour, and after a minor issue was up and running. The V Bits that come with the machine are what I use most for cutting out designs. I also purchased some straight bits to use which, to me, are necessary if you're cutting out large pockets of material. As far as while this machine is running, people have mentioned noise quite often in reviews. I did not find the noise to be overwhelming. I have the 3018 set up in a room inside my house, and with the door shut, it doesn't disturb us at all.I use a Mac currently. I hate it, I was born and raised on a PC. So far I have found that Easel (it's a free application from inventables) is the easiest and most user friendly application to send G-Code, or your designs, to the machine. It's also incredibly user friendly for creating new designs for your 3018 if you're less than a novice and don't use any number of graphic suites (inkscape, illustrator, photoshop) along with Fusion 360 to create toolpaths for your designs. Windows users have a ton of more options to utilize your machine while connected to a computer, or you can upload your codes to the controller that comes with the machine to create your projects.I have used the 3018 quite often in the month I have had it. As always, there is trial and error involved. There is a learning curve when it comes to types materials to cut/carve at what speeds, and what types of bits to use. As you try a few projects here and there, you'll get much more comfortable about what to cut, and how to cut it. You can research and read about spindle speeds/materials/bits as much as you want, but you'll inevitably learn more from trial and error after having that basic knowledge from your prior research. So far I have mainly used MDF for my projects, though when attempting to use it on acrylic and copper, I can see the vast potential this machine has.CUSTOMER SERVICE for this product awesome. I had an minor issue during set up, and I was sent a replacement part incredibly quick. I was up and running the same week I received the machine. I have seen reviews complaining, but my experience reflects all of the glowing reviews about the help I received.This isn't a plug and play machine. You have to set it up. You have to learn it. At the price point, and with the capabilities this machine has - it is the PERFECT starter machine to get into the world of CNCs. All I can say is that you won't regret this if you try it. I'll upgrade the bed of the machine for larger projects, and eventually invest in the laser module to play with that as well. I would definitely recommend this machine and I would buy it again.

I put this together in about 2 hours, i loosely fitted all the parts and then kind of sequentially tightened everything to make sure it was uniformly snug, I wired it up after that and ensuring everything was mechanically ok with it, I was braced for massive flex and performance issues and all sorts of nightmares after reading these (I read after I had ordered it), but it works fine, I had to flip two of the axis in candle to get it working how I wanted, but it has no flex at all, when set up right with a carbide miller bit that I bought along side the machine, its got good resolution, the long cut times were not a thing, but I am on an 8 core server so I think maybe the lag times are due to the computers, because that demo dragon only took about 3 hours, not 6. There was some oil and aluminum shavings, but I just wiped and brushed as I went because I was aware of it before hand. I am using fusion 360 and exporting g code and doing the cutting with candle and while its not the absolute fastest work flow, its definitely not the most tedious I have dealt with. I think people are either rushing the assembly or trying to step too fast on harder materials or something, cause I got it basically just to tool wood and plastic for prototypes, and so far it has worked as well as any other machine I have used, like the axis problem was one line of code in candle if you read the manual, and with fusion 360 I have cad and cam and just port it out to the cutter, like manually set my x,y,z with the material and the machine, and it cuts the part, the only two problems I have had was one was fuzzy because I set my starting point too deep, and one I had to abort cause I didnt have the material clamped well enough and it slid, but both of those are user error, so the sum total of me having to rig it is one line of code in candle.If its your first machine maybe take a look at general building instructions about loose fitting and tightening and how to handle electronics, because theres a lot of nightmare stories on this and I experienced none of them at all. Just need to set it up with care and calibrate the software propperly FIRST, and then and only then try to do some cuts.I was doing a basic test of it with the manual controls, and it went right through a hardened paint stick with no problems, I mainly cut hdpe plastic, I am currently machining out a 4th axis lathe piece for the table, just a manual one to flip sides for a top and bottom.Would have given it 5 stars, but there was the one problem, and its not as easy as super expensive stuff and the materials were a little dirty and I still think it was a little pricey for what i got, not by much, but if it was a little cheaper I could have just bought a 4 axis or something, and priced out for the parts theres a bit of a mark up, but im an engineer so I factor all the design and stuff as things I could do and extra money added. Right now though, with it all propperly tightened and the machine set sturdy I havent actually experienced flex on it, which is a nice surprise and thats why I gave a 5 for accuracy, I know its description accuracy, but the actual accuracy is 5 stars.One tip, if you are doing your own files, when in doubt, just set it up like its cutting something harder than it is with more shallow cuts, itll add cut time, but all these people talking about stalling stepper motors are just pushing the machine too hard, the only thing that will do is add some time but save your machine. One thing I would really like to have seen is some kind of limit on the axis so it wont drive itself past the actual limit on the threads, I had that happen twice where it was trying to push against the housing and yeesh that was a moment, just some kind of kill switch or something would be nice for it, cause it makes me just completely unable to trust files that I didnt make with this machines limits in mind.I also put the value at 4 stars cause I was looking at the accessories and just insta noped at the prices for them. Like I know what I need this for and the money I will make back for it, and yeah, thatd just blow my budgets to peices, cause I was considering getting the laser attachment and looking into a rotary wheel if there was one, and possible rail upgrades, and pretty much all of them just priced me out, cept the rotary wheel which wasnt an option, hence me making one.Anyway, I tried to be as honest and unbiased as possible the whole way through this, hopefully it helps.Anyway, im about 2-3 days in on it.