3018 Pro - Still a Good Option in 2022? CNC REVIEW

Is The 3018 PRO still a good option in 2022 or should you get something else? I tell you the 3 things I love and 3 things I hate about the machine.

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SOCIAL:

[tratzum]

Great video.
I quickly outgrew my 3018.
I added the y extension
12mm x rails
And 3d printed a dw611 mount and ditched the stock spindle.
Works decent now.

[pheenix]

What folks don't understand is that these machines were originally just 2D engravers for tags, signs, and plaques. Someone out there got a wild idea and it took off from there.

[UrbanShopWorks]

Your cinematography is on point Pierre! Great video!

[AndrewAHayes]

I started with the Sainsmart 3018 but soon moved onto making a MPCNC 4' X 3' cutting area as the 3018 was slow but not as loud as the MPCNC, the 3018 was great for learning CNC not that I consider myself an expert now, far from it LOL, for anyone that is not aware of the MPCNC it stands for Mostly Printed CNC and as you might by now have gueseed is made from printed parts, these printed parts hold the steel conduit pipe that the carriage rolls on with the POM wheels used on many 3D printers, the carriages Z axis is on 2 linear rails with a leadscrew driven by the stepper motor.
The MPCNC enabled me to work much faster and much larger projects, I am next going to make a tool change device to enable me to quickly replace the router for a diode laser, I have an upgraded K40 laser cutter but like the 3018 it is restriced in the size of work it can produce, I am hoping to combine carving with engraving and produce parts for selling at craft fairs and online, I also bought an X carve as I wanted to be able make parts quickly for E sales that were not held in stock

[Aklcorp]

Next time you make a video like this you should include other options that you might consider getting or at least say that this is the best starting point if you think there isn’t anything better out there as a starting point

[lawrenceveinotte]

Just received mine today, looking to learn on it so i can carve foam for lost foam casting, in time i will need the Y to be 1100mm and the Z to be 60mm, thanks for your video.

[foxtrotwhisky]

This was a great video and very informative. Thank you for taking the time!

I was looking at this as a first machine, with a view to finally producing some things. Are there any machines you would recommend that are still low(ish!) budget?

Thank you!

[moinshaikh]

As someone with two years of experience, I highly recommend avoiding GRBL-based control boards. They often encounter random stopping issues, which can be incredibly frustrating and time-consuming, especially during CNC operations. Despite upgrading my stepper driver to the BT6600 and trying multiple solutions—such as upgrading the firmware, replacing the control board, and using different CNC software,   changing usb cable,   changing firmware, changing speed,   changing power supply, supply voltage,   usb settings,   by running on different speed, the problem persists. Also when you do automatic z axis via the probe, automatically machine gets disconnected to pc, Unfortunately, this is a problem rarely discussed on online platforms, but it can completely disrupt a job when the machine unexpectedly stops during cutting.

[adrianharrison]

geat video and some very good points.. I still have my 3018 and to be honest I have so many parts that I could build two of them with all the messing around I have done with upgrades..
I have moved onto a bigger Millright Mega V XXL but I will still keep the 13018 going :) The best upgrade is a 500w motor and it really does help with making the machine quicker

[turgworks]

This is the first video that has made me consider getting a CNC.

I'm not going to but I considered it

Great vid as always Pierre 👍🏻👍🏻

[risbill]

I have actually been looking at one of these for engraving wood and acrylic uab drives for my business. It would also be a good companion to my ortur laser.

[Shorrey]

I have this machine. I don't use it as much as I would like to (you know, time limitations...)
I would love to buy something new and cooler, but fo what I do - 3018 is enough. Maybe, as you said, I am adjusting what I need to what I can, but still...

[SixString_J]

I'm considering either a router table or a cnc machine for guitar part fabrication. My main first function I'm interested in is macking polycarbonite pickguards and plates. Questions:

1. can it do 45 degree perimeter beveling on 2mm plastic material?
2. A guitar pickguard has upwards of 15 screw holes, 2-3 pickup routes, 2-3 control knobs holes, etc.... can I do all of it with the cnc?

Old school method is to make a template out of MDF and tape the pickguard material to the mdf and flush cut the pickguard to the shape of the mdf template and make a final pass with the 45deg on the perimeter. Then you drill press all the holes. It's quite a bit of hand work and I really can see the huge upside of being able to do the template virtually on the cpu and have the cnc do all the hand work.

[TheDorazio]

My #1 issue with these machines is that the spindle mount design is just bad, allowing massive deflection at the spindle even with the upgraded aluminum mount. Basically, because the spindle is so far away from the gantry and the gantry itself rides on shoddy bearings, force applied when the spindle plunges gets turned into torque that allow the whole thing to pivot slightly. On mine, you can push the whole mount up a solid 1mm with just a couple fingers and I haven't been able to fix it. The result is a lot of chatter and not-great accuracy. Anyone been able to fix this on theirs?

[MckoyBeatboxTutorials]

Planning to buy this. How slow is it going to be if the project is 21mm using brass?

[virwitch]

Someone help, my spindle on automatic when i started the machine. How to fix this 😢

[eduard]

Hi wantes to ask if you tried acrylic on it.i want to buy 3 mm and carve logos on it.will accept 30/20 cm acrylic board?

[ChrisPap.]

thank you so much, your videos are so educated!

[MrOner]

you said it cant mill metals like brass... ok what about aluminium?... can i mill it if i go slow?

[steveaubinofangers]

Can it do carbon graphite ? Looking to make coin molds for myself.