Our Pick: Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436

It scores 80/100 overall versus 52/100, winning 7 out of 10 comparison categories.

Avid CNC
Spec
Sainsmart Genmitsu
$2800
Price
$269
660 × 961 mm
Work area
290 × 180 mm
152 mm
Z travel
40 mm
710 W
Spindle power
120 W
120 kg
Weight
n/a
Aluminum frame with profile linear guides and ball screws on all axes
Frame
Aluminum frame with plastic X/Z spindle carrier, round guides and lead screws
Avid CNC control system running Centroid CNC12; motor and control package selected when ordering
Controller
GRBL 1.1 (32-bit)
Centroid CNC12, Fusion 360, VCarve, Aspire
Software
Candle, Compatible GRBL sender and CAM, LightBurn or LaserGRBL for an optional laser module

Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436 wins 3 of 4 spec categories. Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2 costs $2,531 less. Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436 leads by 28 points overall — here’s where those points come from:

Benchmark Scores

Side-by-side score comparison across all five benchmark dimensions.

80
Avid CNC

Overall

52
Sainsmart Genmitsu
42 Value 88
88 Rigidity 25
90 Precision 40
40 Ease of use 82
82 Capability 18

Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436

Pros

  • Industrial-grade linear rails and ball screws
  • Aluminum frame with profile linear guides and ball screws on every axis
  • Designed for wood, plastics and non-ferrous metal work with a suitable spindle and tooling
  • True CNC motion controller (not GRBL) for advanced features

Cons

  • Expensive for the work area offered
  • Spindle, control package and work surface affect the complete-system cost
  • CNC12 setup and learning the machine still take time
  • Requires a suitable Windows control PC for CNC12
  • Assembly is more involved than consumer machines

Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2

Pros

  • Very affordable entry point
  • Large community and documentation
  • Semi-assembled; SainSmart estimates 20-35 minutes for assembly
  • Upgradeable spindle and laser module

Cons

  • Small work area
  • The 60 W rated spindle limits practical feed rates and depth of cut
  • Frame flex under load
  • Metal cutting needs conservative tooling and settings on this small frame

Verdict

Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436 wins this comparison with 7 categories to 3.

It scores 80/100 overall versus 52/100, winning 7 out of 10 comparison categories.

Where to Buy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436 and Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2?

The Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436 ($2,800) features a 710W spindle with a 660×961mm work area and a Aluminum frame with profile linear guides and ball screws on all axes frame. The Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2 ($269) features a 60W spindle with a 290×180mm work area and a Aluminum frame with plastic X/Z spindle carrier, round guides and lead screws. Overall, the Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436 wins more comparison categories.

Which is better value for money — Avid CNC Benchtop Pro 2436 or Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2?

The Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2 is $2,531 cheaper at $269 vs $2,800. Our value scores rate the Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2 higher at 88/100.

Which router is easier to set up and use?

Based on our ease-of-use benchmarks, the Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2 scores higher (82/100 vs 40/100). Both support Mach4, Fusion 360, VCarve among other software options.

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