Kickstart Your Creativity with the Carvera Air CNC Mill!

A detailed guide to the Carvera Air Desktop Cnc Mill, which features an innovative Quick Tool changer.
Carvera Air:
kck.st/3xjdKPF (The campaign has ended; the link is here for reference)
The Carvera AIR will only be available for sale after the Kickstarter pledges are fulfilled. MSRP $2199
Carvera Standard (with Auto tool changer):
bit.ly/makerahome
Kiri:Moto grid.space/kiri/
Disclosure: Makera provided a preproduction development machine for this review.
00:00 Intro
02:14 Setup
03:00 Makera projects
03:16 PCB
08:01 ABS Plastic Base
09:07 Dust shoe
10:50 Acrylic sign
11:19 Archmagos
12:03 Aluminium switch
13:20 Edge Lit Light
13:35 Relief Carving
15:40 Laser Engraving
17:13 Rotary axis
20:36 PCB Milling
22:55 QFN28
25:00 Aluminium Milling
25:53 Change Tool Collet
27:32 Aluminium project
29:36 4th axis index milling
31:03 Machine definition change
32:28 Kiri:Moto Rotary 4th Axis
35:21 MakeraCam
36:25 Review

[@techydiy]

I have used this machine for hours, every day for three months, so if you have any questions, please ask. Carvera Air: kck.st/3xjdKPF (The campaign has ended; the link is here for reference) The Carvera AIR will only be available for sale after the Kickstarter pledges are fulfilled. MSRP $2199 Carvera Standard (with Auto tool changer): bit.ly/makerahome Kiri:Moto grid.space/kiri/ HSMAdvisor hsmadvisor.com/ Disclosure: Makera provided a preproduction development Carvera Air machine for this review.

[@armastat]

Excellent Review, except for one thing, you breezed right past the laser option, with a passing mention that its not for cutting. however a 5watt laser is just fine for cutting thin stock and can do dozens of really cool projects. any particular reason why you pretty much dismissed the laser option? Especially for cutting?

[@techydiy]

I ran out of time to include it in the video, but I did test it. It can cut 3mm (1/8") laser ply with 3 passes, full power, 100mm/min, and an air assist nozzle. It also cuts 3mm black acrylic with 3 passes, full power, 100 mm/min, and no air assist. Makera said it's designed/intended for engraving, not cutting. I would have liked to show it curing UV solder mask because that is a pretty cool application.

[@armastat]

@@techydiy Cool, thank u sir. . I suspect they say that because it doesn't have a finely focused beam since its difficult to fill in space with a fine brush than it is with a bigger one. the power and number of passes needed, to cut, are prob a result of that too. A laser upgrade would be handy. I am just getting into laser cutting, looking for my first one. but is it the case that if u have a small beam laser spec'd for cutting, u can use it in 'de-focused', low power mode to engrave?

[@armastat]

Now if they also included a 3D Printer head it would be a true all rounder, lol (but then u would want an airbrush head, and so on)

[@thefcpk]

How did you find the chatter when running through aluminium? do you think deeper(think 2cm deep) aluminium pockets would be possible?

[@DoRC]

I think you're the first person to actually show the machine moving in real time and what it actually sounds like. Thank you.

[@frikkied2638]

What a time to be alive. To think a (serious) hobbiest can buy a tool that can do all these different things, unthinkable ten years ago.

[@lyafpv9056]

i love how my little place have some tools now, over 3d printer / laser / resin _ mill now and some other comming, can't think that 10 years ago ahah

[@rooster700rr]

Tormach has been around for 20 years and they started of designing machines for a serious hobbiest.

[@Asnovich]

Until now I have seen all Carvera Air reviews and this is best of all of them. Very good instructions and detailed overview. Thank you!

[@techydiy]

Thanks, it took a lot of work, so I appreciate that.

[@mathieubonaparte]

@@techydiy I agree. Most "reviews" just go through the sample projects. You actually did your own work and showed your workflow. Great job!

[@GuyH77]

Agree. Except video and makes me happy I’ve backed this

[@Asnovich]

@@womackoyes

[@GuyH77]

@@womacko I've seen it. Really good also. Made me happy I'm adding the 4th axis

[@timnicholls6066]

Brilliant! I backed this in the first hour of the Kickstarter and I've been checking the review videos as they've been appearing. Yours is the most comprehensive and informative by a long way. Thank you.

[@techydiy]

Glad I could help!

[@_GOD_HAND_]

These results are a lot more impressive that I was expecting.

[@timnicholls6066]

Exactly the deep dive I was looking for - thanks!

[@techydiy]

Thanks!

[@CiptaJim]

This is the best review and really reassured me and calmed me after backing the campaign. Thank you so much kind sir

Excellent video. Thanks it was very educational. Can’t wait to get mine.

[@gubski1]

Excellent review! Thank you.

[@xrcontrol]

Thanks for the video. This is a amazing maschine! I like the PCB work.

[@techydiy]

Glad you like it!

[@user-um8tq1tz7m]

Oo man what a blessing this would be to have I could really help my disabled self with this nice to dream

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Great review as always

[@deanjohn9203]

What a great video you put together showing the device in action - very cool! Too bad I didn't know about it during the KS, out of my price range now!

[@frikkied2638]

This is an insanely good review video/tutorial 👍

[@techydiy]

Glad you think so!

[@SpaceGringos3D]

That looks like it would be tons of fun!

[@MursePetty]

Thanks for this. I was starting to consider cancelling my pledge and going with something else. But for the Kickstarter price it definitely seems like a good deal.

[@neffk]

The price is outstanding. Quick change looks great

[@HiVisl]

Wow! Amazing.

[@sondaubacvlog]

that so wonderfulllll !

[@sobreaver]

hmm interesting, I've always been scared of Gcoding and such, but always been curious of the 'sculpting' capability. Use to own a resin 3D printer, but my landlord didn't quite like the odour so I had to get rid of it, sad, was fun despite some difficulties. nahh I can't be going in the CNC direction for now hehe Thanks for sharing ! Great demonstration.

[@peterpeter5666]

watching this blew my mind. i thought my 3d printer was cool , this is crazy !

[@b3owu1f]

Overall it's a pretty impressive "little" machine. I think it gives you most of what you need for most small projects. I'd be remiss if I didn't say though that for a couple grand more (yes I realize thats 2.5x the price of this) you can get a 4x4 cnc machine with much bigger tooling capabilities, more speed, etc. That said, those take up a lot more room as well and eat up more power too. So for a starter cnc project maker, this is pretty slick.

[@cplcabs]

Very nice

[@chadgdry3938]

Now how cool is that?

[@dillonharnden-shea57]

This is so freakin cool

[@mysticmarble94]

15:18 ... Love how much the CNC software is in sync with the machine 🤭

[@blockfifteen]

i cant tell if your kidding lol, its hard to tell as its sped up

[@Xenthera]

Thank you so much for going beyond the sample projects. It’s nice to see what this machine can do. I backed the kickstarter and I am super excited. Do you think you could achieve 0.05mm pcb traces like wegstrcnc can achieve with the right v bit?

[@techydiy]

I would think so. 3mil (0.0762mm) was the lowest trace size on the cad program, so that was the only reason that I stopped there..

[@k3rt1984]

Great in depth look What timber are you using for the 3d relief? Im guessing it's a softwood? I currently use a wm3020 with a makita palm router on it for my A4 oak wall plaques and i really like the look of the carvera but the 200w spindle with 0-13000 rpm is putting me off

[@techydiy]

Beech.

[@B_M_A]

What a time to be alive. In the next 5-7 years these will be on the same path as 3D printers. Started out pricey and few and far between and now they are relatively affordable and everybody has one / can get one. It will be absolutely wild to be able to have a desk top CNC.

[@k.s.8959]

Could you please try some mild steel milling flat and milling some mild steel and aluminium tubing on the 4th axis?

[@MarkHopewell]

And to think my late father (a miller) would do all this from drawings and his own spacial awareness before CNC proliferated.

[@clausziegler5720]

What type of vacuum system are you using? Have you found problems that the guiding systems are not covered and can get the chips?

[@techydiy]

I have a camvac 2 motor dust extractor which is total overkill. It really doesn’t need anything powerful. No I didn’t have any problems. I assume Makera will add covers.

[@TheAudiopulse]

11:18 The Archmagos speaks!

[@JAYTHEGREAT355]

great review. kinda pricey for me , i would only use it now and then . the machine looks solid , the noise levels are high , the incasing needs improving .

[@Andrey0I]

Для работы с металлом нужна подача жидкости или большой запас сверл)

[@saamirt]

Can you please explain more about that accessories port (4pin connector) on the machine? What type of connector is it? Is this something that many dust collection or shop vacs already support?

[@techydiy]

If I remember correctly It is a Gx12 aviation type connector. No you would need an external relay or SSR to switch an external appliance. I will demo how to do it at some point.

[@joeking433]

I thought it was $1399?

[@mik8352]

Tabarnak, j'en veux une...😎

[@destaaf11]

I noticed you put some aluminium in the 4th axis, but don’t see any footage of you actually milling it. Did you try it and if so, how was your experience?

[@techydiy]

I have tried Aluminium rotary index milling with f360 and that worked fine. I only got Kiri:moto working at the end, so I haven’t tried rotary toolpaths with that yet. Lots more to explore basically.

[@luisbarbosa5597]

beast

[@Sir-Dexter]

nice

[@jublywubly]

It seems really cool, but wow is it expensive! 😮

[@techydiy]

You are probably looking at the wrong machine, the Carvera air is different from the Carvera.

[@Diy_Cnc84]

I wish i have this machine😅

[@ericgolub8589]

Great video, one quick suggestion, include a small graphic in the corner that indicates when footage is sped up or real time.

[@techydiy]

I add the fast forward symbol in the bottom left corner when it’s sped up. I might have missed some, not sure. For the most part the clips are real-time.

[@reconrules]

Great viedo. I would like to see a 4th axis setup in Fusion 360 like for the example file Makera sent with the product. Can´t figure out how to get the 4th axis to turn when milling.

[@techydiy]

Rotary toolpaths are only available with the manufacturing extension. Tool orientation is available with the full version. The free version you need a new setup for each direction.

[@reconrules]

@@techydiy Thanks for responding. Yes, i know that. Hoped someone could make a video of it before i maybe upgrade or go for another program.

[@techydiy]

Makera used Deskproto for the demo file; the hobby multi-axis edition is more reasonable at 248 euros.

[@reconrules]

@@techydiy Thanks for info. Will check that out

[@spider2544]

$2,000 for all that?? holy shit thats an insanely good deal

[@aarongebrehiwot6391]

i would like to see the actually time it take to machine metals like silver and gold and if it is well suited for silver and gold, I'm in the jewelry business and trying to figure if this is a machine for me.

[@techydiy]

Given that they are very soft metals, my guess is that it would be better to machine a mould and then cast silver and gold. It could certainly machine the mould (mold), and the time it took would depend on the size and the detail.

[@usergainwtj]

The country I live in is Korea. How can I buy it? I'm curious about the purchasing process

[@techydiy]

You can email them about shipping to specific countries.

[@TastySlowCooker]

This video is NOT sponsored by PCBWay

[@reedxuk]

Is it usual with these type of machines to refer to end mills by their length, example 25mm and 12mm, rather than the diameter?

[@techydiy]

I am assuming that the viewer sees the photo earlier in the video with all of the endmill details.

[@reedxuk]

@@techydiy at 9:16 as an example.

[@techydiy]

3:12 is where I define what the 25mm endmill is. I thought it was clear.

[@kingshinigami8921]

Would have been nice if this was posted early. Deadline was May 10th, and this posted on May7th. Can't pledge now.

[@Lion97233]

Can aluminium be milled using the rotary tool? thanks

[@techydiy]

Yes

[@arbjful]

That rotary 4th axis at 2:10 looks amazing. Any idea of this can be bought separately? I want to use this in my 3axis cnc router

[@techydiy]

You can just buy genetic rotary units, try ebay

[@DanSwanson2070]

Can you cut XPS foam with this?

[@techydiy]

Yes

[@renaissanceman5847]

Not bad at all considering the top of the line Sherline CNC system is $7,000 and has less rigidity and open loop Steppers

[@gattosquad2241]

What's the biggest piece you can mill with this? Likewise can it be used for turning, say if i want to take material off a 300mm barrel?

[@joshbates241]

Ghost guns here we come.

[@peterpeter5666]

how much?

[@TheRTM]

were do I send my money?

[@xxjusxstarxx]

This looks like bambu labs take on a 3018

[@_Richard_F___]

It seems they cheaped out on the stepper drivers .

[@techydiy]

I showed a development machine that has a few features missing. Apparently, the production machines will have closed-loop steppers.

[@_Richard_F___]

@@techydiy 👍

[@adeafguy80]

Please make it affordable 😩

[@davidzenful]

Look nice but sorry, to me nothing beat a good old cnc on mach3 , job done in three moves .

[@joeking433]

I see this coming down to under $500 soon.

[@techydiy]

No chance.

[@harrysvensson2610]

Who in their right mind thought adding mouse clicking sounds was a good idea?

[@techydiy]

Me, to annoy you ;-)

[@jasongooden917]

the plugs look extremely flimsy but otherwise it's nice

[@Festivejelly]

Lol at low cost.

[@user-yx3my1tr5o]

perhaps it would have been worth the money if it weren’t for the round shafts (not rails!!) on the y-axis. the mechanism on the x is like cardboard bent and glued to a screw. If someone gave me something like this, I wouldn’t refuse it, but I definitely wouldn’t buy it.

[@mikek1618]

This makes a desktop 3D printer seem like one of those plastic tool benches that Walmart sells so toddlers can pretend to do real work

[@scaledsilver]

Can I get one to make a video on making gears? can you get me in contact? I'm an independent researcher and inventor, This would help me a lot

[@armyofancestors7190]

Its a great machine, however at that price point, I can get larger, machine, more power, more features.

[@Xenthera]

List machines, I’m curious

[@JohnJaggerJack]

it cant be that good if its using rods for linear rails...

[@sc8366]

Anything over $1,200 and you're a sucker.

[@arbjful]

$1200 is too less don’t you think?

[@aaronfeyh4502]

Oh please.... show me a single 4 axis machine doing aluminum, titanium, and other soft metals for less than $1200 you crack head.