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.
Affiliate links to products from the video:
CNC 3018 router kit: bit.ly/2Ijrldd
Collet chuck/springs set: bit.ly/2PQg204
End mill for aluminium: bit.ly/3cwWac8
End mill set 1#: bit.ly/39sPw4J
End mill set 2#: bit.ly/39sO5TN
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
Support the channel: paypal.me/mbcreates
Affiliate links to products from the video:
CNC 3018 router kit: bit.ly/2Ijrldd
Collet chuck/springs set: bit.ly/2PQg204
End mill for aluminium: bit.ly/3cwWac8
End mill set 1#: bit.ly/39sPw4J
End mill set 2#: bit.ly/39sO5TN
32:28 note: The WOC should be 2 mm and not lowered by 2 mm.

[@MBcreates]

Affiliate links to products from the video: CNC 3018 router kit: bit.ly/2Ijrldd Collet chuck/springs set: bit.ly/2PQg204 End mill for aluminium: bit.ly/3cwWac8 End mill set 1#: bit.ly/39sPw4J End mill set 2#: bit.ly/39sO5TN Affiliate links to budget chineese end mills: Tool 1: ⅛ inch 2 flute: bit.ly/2N2DyEE Tool 2: 4 mm 3 flute: bit.ly/2N2DPXZ Tool 3: 5 mm 3 flute: bit.ly/2N2DPXZ Tool 4: 4 mm 2 flute: bit.ly/2N1KYb2 Tool 5: 4 mm 2 flute: bit.ly/2SxnT6g Tool 6: 6 mm 2 flute chamfer: bit.ly/2tmihfX

[@arthurdent8091]

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 99.99999% in my book.

[@19855342]

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

[@MBcreates]

Glad it was helpful!

[@josenzo89]

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.

[@jac2206]

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

[@Opa10]

Great video. Will use it when assembling my cnc

[@freman007]

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.

[@thehighprotondiet3127]

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

[@mr.Bruutt]

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

[@petermuller608]

Banggood should link your video as build instructions

[@indigoNine]

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

[@gabrielmanin]

Thanks for this video 👌🏻

[@suntony0446]

Can this machine cut aluminium plates at 3mm? And how long would it take for it to cut a steering wheel base plate for example?

[@Pieh0]

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.

[@tonysutherland7200]

Id to know where got got the cables from. Mine didn't have plug like that for my spindle drive like that

[@oneal-alloveart1479]

Good job i love

[@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.

[@sean00172]

he's alive \o/

[@keithlane4343]

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.

[@MBcreates]

Thanks Keith. I'll take a look at his videos.

[@TheJohdu]

very helpful video. thanks alot! i exceeded the drive limit of the z-axis while testing the machine in GRBL. made some wierd sounds but still seems to work when reversing the direction. is this bad and do i have to do some re-adjustments? how?

[@MBcreates]

Your fine!

[@bullygram]

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

[@YanouFishel]

Hey MBCreates, where did you order your 6060 aluminium?

[@richardoulds9936]

Hi there,I got my cnc 3018 pro and have got to the part where I was set to do a test but it does not come up anywhere I can find? Sorry but saw it on the James Dean Designs site,but I am stuck in limbo now.Can you help me get to and past the test stage,thank you.

[@Polinenko]

I have problem of engraving being too small 🙃 don't know how to fix it?

[@jimmihenry]

Blyatifull, i will give a thumb up :)

[@lea-rw5cb]

I plug all leads in and when i switch mains on the spindle just continously spins

[@drvnlp6269]

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

[@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

[@MBcreates]

Cool. what kind of hobby do you have?

[@pavalige]

@@MBcreates I fly custom designed racing drones

[@mohamed_fawzy]

just in time ❤️ greatings from Egypt ☺️ keep up 👋👋

[@manuelreyesf1722]

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?

[@petermuller608]

Upgrading the spindle might be a good investment but 500 W is just overkill. The xyz motors don't have enough torque so without upgrading them as well you will not have the full benefits of such a high power spindle

[@mtz3843]

great vid, can this machine cut a paper size piece of wood, 8.5 x 11

[@jon9947]

This machine is lucky if it can cut the paper, and yes it will cut wood a few times, but as someone who has owned one it is just a matter of time before the lead screws nuts give out on it.

[@mrlagartijaro]

Hola +MBcreates precisamente estoy buscando información en la web porque quiero adquirir una CNC Router. Thanks for idea. greetings from Colombia.

[@MBcreates]

Your welcome !

[@carramba86h77]

Netjes man! Een vraagje: denk je dat als ik een plasma torch installeer in plaats van de router en ik leg een waterbakje op het plateau, zou ik 'm dan kunnen gebruiken als plasma snijder?

[@MBcreates]

Thanks! In de praktijk gaat het lastig worden. Zelf zou ik eerder een eigen tafel bouwen met wat zwaardere motoren, goede bescherming tegen water en vonken. Ook is de interference van goedkope plasma snijders op de elektronica van de machine iets om rekening mee te houden. De CNC 3018 is niet uitgerust met shielded cables of eninge vorm van aarding.

[@carramba86h77]

MBcreates bedankt voor de informatie

[@JJ305JJ]

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!

[@MBcreates]

if you can spare the money and have the patience to spend a couple of weeks to get the yourself educated on the software en machine setup I would go for the 3040/6040. If you are on a budget or want to start off with a simple machine/software I would go for the 3018.

[@JJ305JJ]

@@MBcreates Thank you for the reply! I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to gaining more CNC knowledge from you.

[@iamkian]

wat is het verschil tussen deze CNC 3018 en de CNC 3018 in deze video ?? kzbin.info/www/bejne/g16UlYyAjM1mqNk mijn vader en ik willen er een gaan kopen. voornamelijk aluminium. in de andere video gaat aluminium wel goed.

[@gsp911]

34:05 No, I would not recommend buying it. Maybe somewhere else, but not exactly this one from banggood. Mine came with a wrong lead screw for the x axis. It was a 4 thread, must be a 2 thread. The machine is useless without a lead screw, and they will not send a new one so I can get it assembled.

[@waynegulliver8320]

I am aware of your answer, How ever I am trying to find out Why the 24 Volt power supply will not run the CNC, What could cause it act like it does. I have a 10sec. youtube shoot of it if you would like to see it.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

31:00,... well, Operator Errors were present there! Cutting metal on a Mill absolutely REQUIRES lubrication of the cutting head with oil. Beyond that, your feed rate was waaaaaay too high.

[@minahilashraf5617]

great video.I need your help to install limit switch on each axis.I want to install 2 limit switches on each axis.I have new version of controller board.it has three connector for limit switch one for each axis.can you please guide me.I will be grateful if you share your email ID so that I can send you board picture and my planned connection diagram.

[@MrKaziukas]

i do all step by step, but my cnc dont works. CNC ignore any comands

[@J87513]

wish i would have watched this video before wasting money on foxalien wm3020 :(

[@Dark_Phoinix]

cina pay you for scam users? from 6040 to wc...

[@jw200]

This is not cnc, its garbage. Only useful to start learning the cnc stuff. Nothing else. I have this and just collects dust. Im planning to buy bigger/heavier cnc.

[@abhimanyusingh4281]

Moral of the story don't try aluminium on such cheap machines

[@TheSecondSomething]

Ahahaaa I have one and had my hand at routing PCBs. Could be feasible but I never perfected it after it started trying to mill its own alu bed and by that time the prototype I needed was finished

[@nicola3444]

“When everting is hooked up correctly” well this is the only step you don’t cover - rest of the vid is obvious

[@SaitoGray]

Well, if you don't know how to plug the X motor in the X socket, your don't need that sort of machine.

[@ericcxxxx]

software suck not work

[@sirmiluch6856]

Hoy cow, thank you. That manual is completely useless.