CNC 3018 unpacking, installing and full review

This video is about the 3 axis CNC 3018 mini router. It’s a small scale desktop router with a working area of approximately 300 x 180 x 40 mm. The 3018 router can be purchased for under $200, making it very affordable for the hobbiest that wants to start with CNC milling.

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One of the reasons that the CNC 3018 router is so affordable is because it is shipped as a DIY kit. For people like me that are into building things the assembly of the machine is quite fun. If I had to assemble the machine again, with the help of this video, it would take about an hour. My kit didn’t have any tools with it. A couple of crosshead screwdrivers are needed for this build.

Once you have the machine installed you are ready to power it on. A tip that I didn’t include in this video is to use the power supply in the following way: First plug the power supply in the PCB on your CNC 3018 router before you plug in in the power outlet. Doing this in the opposite way often creates some sparks near your PCB. In my opinion it’s better to have some sparks near your power outlet than next to a PCB with sensitive electronics.

With most cheap chinese products the manual is often not that detailed. The manual that came with the CNC 3018 router kit was no different. For this reason I tried to make the video as detailed as possible with a lot of tricks that make the job a whole lot easier. use the timestamps below to help you navigate through this video.

00:00 intro
00:35 unpacking
01:45 how to use the T-nuts
02:55 overview all fastening materials
03:11 frame 1 / bottom part machine
11:45 frame 2 / upper part machine
15:09 installing PCB
16:51 connecting the wires
18:20 software overview
18:45 first engraving
22:02 fixing wrong travel direction axes
23:27 engraving acrylic
24:14 installing upgrade collet chuck
25:43 accuracy test cut in MDF board
27:05 milling a rocket shape in MDF board
27:36 milling a motorcycle shape in MDF board
28:21 cutting out a leaver from MDF board
30:06 milling a rocket shape in multiplex board
31:03 milling aluminium
33:42 conclusion
34:04 should you buy this machine?
35:15 outro

Affiliate links to products from the video:

32:28 note: The WOC should be 2 mm and not lowered by 2 mm.

[MBcreates]

Affiliate links to products from the video:


Affiliate links to budget chineese end mills:

[arthurdent]

Absolutely the best 3018 videos that I have seen. Very well laid out and constructed. Good "Play-By-Play" narration. The only small improvement that I can make is to mention the ubiquitous "Crazy-Glue and Kicker" method of holding the workpiece down to the ablative spoil board. A solid in my book.

This is a fantastic video! The assembly instructions are some of the best I've seen for a diy kit like this.

[freman]

I've seen videos of upgrading this machine, giving it a Makita router head, and flat plates to locate the Z axis rather than the round bars. With those mods it can cut aluminum at something better than a snail's pace.

It's actually a good little system for those who just want something to tinker with, making things like PCB boards and milling acrylic and the like.

[jac]

Thanks, very nice and informatic video. And i love your background with the table, it looks very enjoyable

[josenzo]

By far the best mount 3018 cnc tutorial, thanks a lot

[vapoureyes]

I must thank you for this very good video, I found it very interesting as I was a toolmaker and I’m building my own but haven’t besides on design .
You explained everything very well and excellent video clarity.

[Pieh]

I milled copper plate on a machine like this. Took about a day to get the depth that i wanted (just a cut out across the width and 1cm wide), but that was going at like 0.1mm DOC. It did the job, slowly, but I ended up damaging the bearings on the motor. I bought it from Amazon so I packed it up and sent it back :).


Upgraded to a 3040 after that.

[keithlane]

Another quality video from MB Creates. Thank you for sharing info and evaluations.
There is a gentleman named Roger Webb that has done a similar video on a 60/40 CNC Router.
The machine seems to be super ridgid and very well made, but unfortunately he is very tight lipped about the model number, and manufacturer. He shares the name of the place he ordered it from, but only refers to the CNC Router as "The Rolls Royce of CNC Routers".
When contacting the company, they want the model number.
Roger is a retired engineer so he is very knowledgeable about machine design / construction and seems very impressed with it, but won't respond to inquiries.
He mills thick aluminum parts on this machine.
I don't know if you want to machine aluminum parts on a regular basis, but the machine Roger has, seems to be the one you'd want.
It also has a 4th axis.
Hard to believe it's got so much going for it, and it is very reasonably priced.
If you are looking to move up to a much more durable machine with a 4 th axis that mills aluminum, with your experience, and CNC Router knowledge, this could be your next machine, and maybe you could share the model numbers and ordering information with your channel viewers.
Hope this piques your interest.
Again, good video.

[ytbb]

Leuk filmpje, ik heb de machine ook net gekocht.
Ben erg benieuwd hoe hij gaat bevallen.

[Opa]

Great video. Will use it when assembling my cnc

[thehighprotondiet]

Two big thumbs up for this video! Very very helpful!

[petermuller]

Banggood should link your video as build instructions

[pavalige]

I have one of these it's a great little machine.
I upgraded the spindle and designed a custom mount for it and I can cut 4mm carbon fibre in one pass now ...it's perfect for my hobby and so cheap I definitely recommend it

[Stefan_Boerjesson]

Thanks for a very good video! I've used it, step for step.
Lots of thanks for telling what screw is used. Numbering the items is brilliant!
However, at time 14:07, I needed the number 2 bolt.
When Your video comes to software, things don't work out. Software install ends up with error. No software came with the shipment, no disc, no USB. So far all is dead, only controller boards LEDs alive.

[JJJJ]

Hello. I am a beginner into the CNC world. I have been looking at the 3018, 3040 and 6040. In terms of quality and reliability for someone new. What would you recommend? Thanks!

[bullygram]

Man milling metal with this will kill either the ball screw or the spindle in the long run!

[manuelreyesf]

I have seen in other channels that some of this router change the spindle for one of 500w or even 800w. Its worth doing? How much would the performance of the router improve?

[indigoNine]

Thanks for the video, May I ask if it can do detailed engraving on aluminium?

[drvnlp]

I'm new to CNC. I'm using CREO 3D CAD software on a PC. What kind of software do I need to get the machine to read my CAD files? I'm assuming I need something that will create tool paths. Thank you