Budget CNC which cuts metal? FoxAlien Masuter Pro CNC Review

In this episode I do a full review of the FoxAlien Masuter Pro and find out if it can really machine metal.

Masuter Pro extension kit

Alternative routers available here:

150+ Fluting Profiles

Carveco Maker
Discount code JAMESDEANDESIGNS

CNCWITHME
Discount code JAMESDEANDESIGNS

Jenny Bits
10% off code: JAMESDEANDESIGNS

Chapters:
Intro 00:00
Spec 00:50
Tests 09:14
Projects 14:50
Review 17:32

I have recently set up a Patreon page to help keep making tutorials and keep my YouTube channel moving forward.

If you want to help but do not want to become a Patreon, you con contribute directly:

Some product links I use are affiliate links. This means they do not cost you any more but I might make a small commission in return which helps towards making these videos.

[karljolley]

I appreciate the effort to speak both imperial and metric, since there is no easy conversion; and I try to use both depending on what I am building. Point being that describing with both is very helpful. Nice presentation over all.

[foxalien_official]

Thank you for sharing, James!!! The video is really impressive!!!

[onomatopoeidia]

Added a plasma cutter to mine and cutting metal is no longer any issue! Most fun ever.

[norm]

Wonderful machine. Just purchased a Basic model, will put together soon, will looks for these upgrades, thank you for sharing this with us today Stay safe and healthy from Henrico County Virginia

[zinfendal]

Lol I am printing the one with the logo. I saw the thingy post. You design. I will give it props.

[derekjenkinson]

Got this and have added a Mikita router and made a dust shoe from scrap piece and a draft excluder. Tonight I made a set of dust guards from craft foam, but realised my spoil board isn’t centred so it’s a little tight on the right. Will tweak tomorrow. Just wish I had got a laser for it as well.

[Spunge]

James, Just a heads up on this as im watching - the Auto generated sub titles 2:13 are translating your pronunciation of Mashuter to "Mass Shooter" - just giving you a heads up as i don't want them de-funding your page due to their own incompetence flagging it as some ridiculous out of context comment and then not checking it seen it happening to many a youtuber recently.

Keep up the amazing work!

[jonmcginty]

Which bits were you using to machine the Stainless steel and Aluminum?

[dustinmertz]

Thank you for the info. Been in the market looking for a unit that can be used both as CNC and laser and this definitely seems to be the piece I will be buying.

[craigscnc]

Great review love the tip at the end about moving the control box.
Can’t wait to see the next video
Thank you keep up the great work you do

[joeyreyes]

Hi James. What bit do you recommend for aluminum cutting?

[sixwheelsdown]

Hi James!
Thanks for your review on the FoxAlien Masuter Pro.
I just ordered one of these machines with the extension kit and also the laser engraving/cutting head.
Seems to be a very nice machine for a hobbyist workshop.

[maderightamerica]

Thank yu for your excellent indepth review. I finally found what I was looking for thanks to you.

[Chipchap-xupk]

Found the channel researching small CNC, heard the Midlands accent, already confident I've found someone who knows his stuff. Great video, subscribed.

[h.a.]

One of the issues I had with the Masuter is the uneven bed when using clamps. Because the bed is split in half with no support underneath you can easily put more pressure on one end tilting your piece at an angle. I thought that was a serious flaw in design.

[efficientequilibrium]

First of all very good review and thank you. But this machine is like an insult to those who purchased the older version not so long ago. Older version was not a "baby" version it was simply the first iteration of this exact machine which was still sold for around $550 (which is slightly cheaper but not too far from the new versions price) and shared the geometry, electronics, cutting size etc. Most of us purchased the previous model thinking that it can cut wood at a reasonable speed but it doesn't because it flexes so much in all directions.
The previous versions problems were mainly Acrylic plates instead of aluminum ones where the beams and steppers are connected and the notoriously weak z axis. You slightly touch z axis and it flexes forward. They seem to address all of these and the fixes are really not costly. $150-200 for all of these upgrades is nothing if they are going to make the machine capable of what it was advertised of doing.

For example, with the older version, from 3.5mm plywood I just cut the same 30mmx25mm rectangle side by side. One cut climb mode the other conventional with 0.4mm step down, 1000mm/min speed settings. The climb mode came nice measured 24.95x29.97 but the conventional one (which puts a bit more stress) came out 24.4x29.3. Horrible almost 1mm play and this is a very easy simple cut.

Honestly, this is more like being used like a lab rat with your money. Accepting that a machine costed around $500 is now paper weight in less than a year and the only way to upgrade is to get rid of it and buy the newer version for another $650 because the new version is now fixed the issues and can do the things it claims to do it.

I think Foxalien is a good company and they are trying to come up with good machines. But what they offer after selling the machine is also important.

Since the machine fundamentally didn't change they should give the users of the old version a reasonable way to upgrade their machines to this version. This means making the z axis assembly, , aluminum side plates available.

And James, know that there are lot's of people like me who make their purchase decisions by watching your content. It may be a good approach to set the expectations right so maybe being a bit more critical can be good for us buyers.

Best

[jonwoodworker]

Which should I buy, FoxAlien Mauster Pro or SainSmart Genmitsu PROVerXL? This will be my first CNC. Thanks

[UrbanTreats]

Awesome review James, a great machine indeed.

[goatman]

What would you buy Masuter Pro with Mikita router or the 4040-XE?
Love our channel I’m leaning a lot.

[slanwar]

Did you had to buy an adapter for the makita?

Edit: never mind I saw you installing the adapter