Last Updated on May 25, 2023 by Ellie Macadam
Anyone Can Create Intricate Woodworking Projects with Ease!
Woodworking is a lot of fun. People can create amazing things with a simple piece of wood. However, in times past, we had to rely on carving out or guessing at the cuts that we would make. CNC machines promise to lessen some of this effort to make it easier. It also allows you to create amazingly intricate designs and fine details.
If you are interested in upping your creativity with wood, plastics, PVC, and more, you are in the right place. We have searched to see if there could possibly be a perfect machine out there. Our results are listed in our best wood CNC machines. We hope that you find one that may meet your needs.
VEVOR CNC 3018-PRO – BEST WOOD CNC MACHINE – IMAGE FROM AMAZON
Best Pick
Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO Router Kit
- Sturdiness
- Easy Assembly
- Very Accurate
Staff Pick
MYSWEETY DIY CNC 3018-PRO
- Good for Beginners
- Easy to Assemble
- Accurate
Budget Pick
CNC Router Machine 3018
- Accurate
- Easy Assembly
- Good for Beginners
Our Top Choices of The Best Wood CNC Machines
1. Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO Router Kit
This wood carving, milling, and engraving machine can be controlled by your computer or with an offline controller. It has a working area of 300 x 180 x 45mm. It also has a premium, updated power adapter that is CE/FCC/UL-approved. This means it is built for heavy-duty and long usage.
Moreover, it has an integrated mainboard and uses custom software to ensure seamless operation. The software promises to be simple to use. When you are offline, you can manually adjust X, Y, Z-axis, which makes it a nice machine to work with, overall.
Conclusion: This machine can cut all types of plastic, soft aluminum, wood, PVCs, and more. A helpful support team is available if you get stuck while trying to use the machine. It promises to cut, etch, and engrave details well enough that it should be ideal for most woodworking enthusiasts to consider.
Pros
- Sturdiness
- Easy Assembly
- Very Accurate
Cons
- Poor Instructions for Setup/Use
2. FoxAlien Masuter CNC 4040 Router Machine
This FoxAlien is an upgraded model of the previous variants. The working area is 15.75 x 14.96. It has a 775-spindle motor and works with Windows XP/Win 7/Win 8/Win 10. It can work offline thanks to a controller that has a 1G capacity. This means that you can leave your PC in the house while working on projects in the shop or garage.
The features a new control board that has an integrated driver chip, fixed heat sink, external fans, and more. It is all designed to extend the lifespan of the control board. This machine also has self-contained short circuit protection and a 12-month warranty.
Conclusion: When it comes to creating outstanding woodworking projects, you need a machine that can keep up with your ideas. That is where this machine comes in. It works well to engrave plastic, wood, acrylic, PCB, PVC, and more. However, you should avoid trying to engrave harder materials since it could damage the drills. Overall, it seems like a solid choice with the ability to work well for most people.
Pros
- Assembly
- Accuracy
- Fun to Use
Cons
- Limited Instructions
3. MYSWEETY DIY CNC 3018-PRO
If you are just now discovering the joys of a CNC machine, this 2-in-1 unit could be a great addition to your workshop. It is designed for beginners. It comes with a spindle motor and a 5.5W module on the Z-axis. You can also take advantage of an offline controller with 1G capacity. This means you can design and leave your computer in the house and the machine anywhere else you want to work.
It has a new and improved control board that can extend the life of this machine. It even has short circuit protection to further ensure that it is difficult to damage. If you run into issues, you are protected by a 12-month warranty.
Conclusion: This machine seems simple to use and capable of cutting all types of softer materials like aluminum, acrylic, PVC, and more. All assembly instructions are included, but you can reach out to support if you run into complications. Overall, it seems like a good option for beginners and the warranty is nice to have as well.
Pros
- Good for Beginners
- Easy to Assemble
- Accurate
Cons
- Loose Couplings
4. Upgrade Version CNC 3018 Pro GRBL Control DIY Mini CNC Machine
This Mini CNC machine has an integrated driver chip, a fixed heat sink, an external fan, and a sturdy casing. There is also self-contained short circuit protection to ensure it does not sustain damage easily. The core components of this machine are pre-assembled to make it easier for you to set up. In fact, it should only take about 20 minutes.
The offline controller for this machine has up to a 1G capacity. This means it can operate without a computer is close by because the included SD card reader writes to a root directory G-code or NC file. When you want to use it, you can also manually adjust the X, Y, and Z-axis locations to adjust your starting point.
Conclusion: This machine can carve a variety of softer materials. Hard materials may cause damage. Everything you need to get started is included in the set. This machine is durable and easy to use, however, if you run into complications you can ask for help. There are a 12-month warranty and a helpful support team that will talk you through the problem.
Pros
- Easy Assembly
- Accurate
- Easy to Use
Cons
- Requires a Learning Curve
5. Upgraded CNC 3018 Pro by Genmitsu Store
This Genmitsu CNC machine has undergone an update that focused mostly on the control board. The update adds a fixed heat sink and an external fan. It also has a sturdy shell that extends the service life. This machine has some components already assembled, which makes it easier to set up and start using. There are assembly instructions on YouTube for your convenience.
You do not need to have your computer attached to this CNC machine. It has an offline controller that can provide up to 1G storage. It works on a variety of materials, excluding hard metals, jade, and similar. If you try to cut hard materials, you may damage the included drill bit.
Conclusion: This machine has an effective engraving area of 11.8 x 7.1 x 1.8 inches. The machine itself measures slightly larger. It is compatible with most Windows OS. With this machine, you can create a large number of projects. Wood engravings, carvings, and intricate details are sure to impress all who see them. We think it could be worth considering for most.
Pros
- Easy to Assemble
- Good for Beginners
- Accuracy
Cons
- Small Workspace
6. 2-in-1 3000mW Engraver CNC 3018 Pro-M Machine by Titoe
With an engraving area of 200 x 180 x 44 mm this machine can accommodate most projects. This product included GRBL control software, a 775-spindle motor (12-36V) 24V:10000r/min. It works well with Windows XP/ Win 7/ Win 8/ Win 10.
It has a 2,000W tube, a built-in cooling fan with fine heat dissipation, and high engraving power. This Titoe machine has two shields to protect you and comes with a pair of safety goggles to further protect your eyes. It can work using an offline controller, so you don’t need to bring your computer to your CNC machine. You can also adjust the X, Y, and Z-axis manually.
Conclusion: This machine comes with everything you need to get started except ideas. There is easy access to a support team if you run into issues that are beyond your ability. It can engrave a large variety of soft materials. Overall, we feel it is a solid choice for most people.
Pros
- Accurate
- Easy Assembly
- Fast Shipping
Cons
- Not for Beginners
7. VEVOR CNC 3018-PRO 3 Axis CNC Router Kit
This upgraded 3018 Pro by Vevor has components that do not need to be positioned. This reduces the difficulty of the equipment and improves the overall accuracy of its function. It has an effective working area of 11.8 x 7.1 x 1.8-inches.
This machine is easy to use and works with most Windows OS. The instructions for use are located on an included flash drive. To use, it has an offline controller so that you can use it without a PC nearby. This also means that you do not need to download files and can manually adjust the X, Y, and Z-axis to the starting point you want.
Conclusion: This machine promises high performance and comes with all the pieces to facilitate that. It is designed for all types of engraving projects. You can engrave on plastic, soft aluminum, wood, acrylics, and more. You should know that it cannot cut hard materials and it does not come with a laser head. This could influence your decision, but we feel it is worth considering.
Pros
- Accurate
- Easy to Assembly
- Solid Construction
Cons
- Requires a Learning Curve
8. SainSmart Genmitsu CNC Router Machine 3018
This CNC kit is the latest version of the 3018 Desktop. It is pre-assembled so that you don’t have to deal with a lot of issues setting it up. It takes 15 minutes once you open the box. This machine is still based on open-source Grbl V1.1 the PROVer, only better. With silent Toshiba drivers, that give it added life and performance. You will also find optocouplers that will protect your mainboard from hard stops. It eliminates signal-to-noise for more consistent projects.
You can put confidence in this CNC machine. It has an all-aluminum body. It is stable and allows you to mill a wider range of materials.
Conclusion: One of the nicest things about this machine is that it puts the controls at your fingertips. It has a 1.8-inch display, which will clearly show you readouts and provide manual control of the mill. No computer is required. It also has an emergency stop so you can turn it off if something starts to go wrong. It also has an effective engraving area of 10.2 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches, which will work well for most projects and most people.
Pros
- Accurate
- Easy Assembly
- Good for Beginners
Cons
- Requires a Lot of Learning
9. 3 Axis Desktop DIY Mini CNC 3018 Router Kit
This router kit from CNCTOPBAOS has a working area of 30 x 18 x 4.5 cm. The frame measures 40 x 33 x 24 cm. It is a CNC router that promises to be easy to assemble. This machine features a 775-spindle motor and a fuselage length of 34mm.
You can use this with Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8. It has the ability to engrave plastic, wood, PVC, PCB, and other similar materials. Once you download the software, the rest should come easily since it comes with everything you need to get started.
Conclusion: This seems like a solid machine from a good seller. The seller is happy to help if you run into issues. This does seem to be an older-style machine, which could be a problem for some people.
Pros
- Easy Assembly
- Accurate
- Ok for Beginners
Cons
- Difficult Assembly
10. RATTMMOTOR CNC Router Engraver-3020 Wood Milling Machine
This CNC router by RATTMMOTOR is one of the few that promises to work with Windows or Mac PC. It has a bakelite body which means that it is water-resistant, has insulation for high-temperature resistance, and will provide you with added security. It also promises to be easy to assemble and use.
Moreover, it has a 4GB USB Flash drive that is provided. This is where you will find the instructions and multiple GRBL-Based software programs. It works well with wood, bones, PVC, plastics, and more. There is also an extended laser module available if you want it.
Conclusion: By looks alone, this seems like a very impressive machine. We like that it runs off Mac or Windows. It has an engraving area of 17.6 x 10.87 x 6.73 inches. Overall, we feel it could be a good machine for some people, especially those who are just starting out with CNC machines.
Pros
- For Beginners
- Easy Assembly
- Accuracy
Cons
- Takes Time to Learn
Final Thoughts
Basically, all the machines listed on our best wood CNC machines are capable of cutting softwood, plastics, and more. This means that they are designed to be used by basic woodworkers and crafters. Most of them are considered entry-level machines and may not be great for professionals. With this in mind, if you are looking for a machine, we urge you to choose carefully, even if you don’t choose one of the ones on our list.
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