Genmitsu 3018-PROVer V2 CNC Router Machine for Beginner, Mini Milling Engraver Kit with Z-Probe, Limit Switches, E-Stop, Ideal for Wood, Acrylic, MDF, Plastic, PVC (Without Offline Controller)

Cutting to the chase, this machine is great. It's built like a tank, assembly instructions were fine, and there are a ton of resourced available online. I got my machine on Sunday, and on the following Saturday was able to cut the piece in my attached picture with no issues.In fact, the only issues that any of my cuts have had were of my own making. The machine works very well. That said, prepare to do some learning, some troubleshooting, and some problem solving. This is my first CNC, but I have extensive experience with 3D printers, and they're the same way. This machine isn't there to hold your hand while carving out intricate masterpieces. It's a tool that you need to learn to use.Another reviewer said something like "8 hours of failure was too much." (I had the same problem that he did. It was solved by changing the "Safe Retracts" setting in Fusion360.) If 8 hours of failure is too much for you, then this isn't the machine you want. To make this (or really any CNC machine) "work", you will need some basic understanding of G Code, 3D modelling, woodworking, and electronics. You don't need to be a master at any of this stuff, but you're going to touch all of it. It will take time. You will screw things up. You will get sawdust in your hair. That's what makes these things fun.Now, more specific to this machine itself, I was very, very impressed. There are many very similar units on Amazon, and I selected this one because of the included upgrades, and the known brand name. I found the machine to be extremely well built, and straightforward to assemble. The inclusion of limit switches is important. While limit switches can be a bit frustrating, they are there to make sure you don't accidentally send the machine a command that will damage it, and the work perfectly for that. I find the offline controller to be wonderful. There seems to be a lot of hate for this part, but I like that I can run he machine "headless" and not have to leave a laptop in my dust shop. I actually had a much smoother experience using the offline controller than I did using the PC-based Candle, but they both do the same job. My motor doesn't wobble, isn't loud, and hasn't had any issue cutting through various woods at 300mm/min. I did several calibration tests on the machine as soon as I got it built, and didn't have to adjust anything.The only bad things about the machine are the hold-down clamps that are included (they work, but are the definition of "fiddly"), the included Vee bits (again, they work as they should, but why give me a bunch of Vee bits and no end mill?) and the size of the workspace. The 3018 is actually a great size for a small workspace like mine, where it will need to be moved and worked around, but just like everyone else, I'd love to be able to make bigger stuff.I've probably said enough glowing stuff about this device, but I'll sum it up, here. When I spend ~$350 on a piece of Chinese technology that's based on open source designs, I expect to get a pretty low-end product that I can usually upgrade to make it useful. In this case, I got a solid, well-deigned, functioning piece of gear. I haven't been this amazed at how well a cheap gadget works since the Elegoo Mars Pro.If you're looking for a cool tool with a steep, but fun learning curve, look no further. If you want to easily and quickly cut wood (or metal) parts with the push of a button, maybe wait a few years.Software That I Used:-Candle (included) for machine control-Easel (very limited free use) for design and GCode Creation-F Engrave (free) for GCode creation-Carbide Create (free) for design and GCode Creation-Fusion360* (free) for design and GCode creation-Inkscape (free) for image design*Fusion360 is the real workhorse, here. It has by far the most features, but also the steepest learning curve. If you're familiar with Fusion360, you'll have no trouble. Otherwise start with Carbide Create.

I've been looking at CNC for some time and could never bring myself to spend the $ to jump in. I do a lot of woodworking and a need finally arose. After reading the mixed reviews, I was very nervous about this machine and even gave thought to canceling, I am glad I did not.I agree with all the other reviews regarding the build, it takes quite a while. You should have no issues if you take your time reading the manual paired with the video. I took my time and it took me about 2 hours.For the first interactions, I simply used the included designs to test and they seemed to work fine. I will say that Candle has a very steep learning curve and I looked for other solutions. Easel worked out great and it has a 30-day free license. The real trick is learning feed rates, plunge rates, pass depth, etc., which comes with testing. A good rule of thumb for pass depth is to divide the width of your cutting bit in half and use that number. If your bit cut's 1/8", set your depth pass to 1/16". Luckily, I have not broken any bits (I bought more aside from the provided ones). I do recommend buying carbide bits, they hold up very well and if used properly they will last. The more you work with it, the more you feel comfortable finding your settings.Also, do your research on the different types of bits and how they are used. Upcut, Downcut, Combination, Ballnose, V-bit, flat end, etc. Using the bits straight out of the box will leave you disappointed if you want to get something carved in a decent amount of time. Use the finer point bits for detailing and buy a larger bit for cleanout. You will thank yourself!!!The only thing I don't like about this machine is the small cutting surface, I kind of knew this coming in but did not think about adjusting size because you need to allow for the hold-down clamps. I will probably buy the Y-axis extension kit to gain a little more surface. Also, the clamps while effective are a pain in the you-know-what to use, so I also purchased the quick clamps for easier clamping & unclamping.Extras to consider purchasing: Quick clamp hold-downs, Y-axis extension kit, upgraded spindle (20k rpm), dust shoe, carbide bits, and some kind of work light if you don't have one.After this experience, I would definitely buy another Sainsmart CNC, only bigger!Overall this is a great machine for a beginner to learn on, and if you are only doing smaller jobs, it is more than sufficient.