I have been thinking of playing with a CNC router. timber only not metal.


The default seems to be the 3018. If I went that way I'd buy one with aluminium rails rather than bakelite as my long term intent would be to make the machine bigger.


I don't need speed. I know how to 3D model stuff up and can probably work out generating coodinate files to run the machine. I want it to carve complex shapes as I'm hopeless at this sort of thing.


So if a basic $190 3018 isn't a good option could someone explain what exactly is wrong with them and alternatives ?


I've looked at the mpcnc and the newer version. The thing that scares me about those is working out the control system. I can build a 3 axis table. that's easy, it's the stepper motor control that baffles me.


Please note I am not online as often as I might be lately. Now I'm blind everything takes 10x longer..


Thank you in anticipation.