Our Pick: PrintNC
It wins 7 out of 9 comparison categories while costing $1000 less.
PrintNC wins 4 of 5 spec categories. PrintNC costs $1,000 less. PrintNC leads by 14 points overall — here’s where those points come from:
Benchmark Scores
Side-by-side score comparison across all five benchmark dimensions.
Overall
PrintNC
Pros
- Extremely rigid steel frame
- Cuts aluminum and steel with ease
- Fully open source — modify everything
- Active community and detailed build wiki
- Large work area for the price
Cons
- Full DIY build — expect 40-80 hours
- Needs welding or a local fab shop
- Sourcing parts from multiple vendors
- No customer support — community only
- Total cost depends heavily on component choices
Stepcraft D.600 CNC System
Pros
- German-engineered precision with tight tolerances
- Modular tool system -- CNC, laser, drag knife, vinyl cutter, 3D printing
- Generous Z-axis travel of 140mm
- Compact design with excellent build quality
- Multiple spindle options from 500W to 1kW
Cons
- Expensive for the work area, especially with spindle add-ons
- Modular tools add up in cost quickly
- Smaller community than American brands
- Software options are less beginner-friendly than Carbide Create or Easel
Verdict
PrintNC wins this comparison with 7 categories to 2.
It wins 7 out of 9 comparison categories while costing $1000 less.
Where to Buy
Price-first merchant links with the clearest reason to click first.
PrintNC
$1200Stepcraft D.600 CNC System
$2200As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links may earn a commission at no extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PrintNC and Stepcraft D.600 CNC System?
The PrintNC ($1200) features a 2200W spindle with a 630×835mm work area and a Steel tube (welded or bolted) frame. The Stepcraft D.600 CNC System ($2200) features a 500W spindle with a 600×420mm work area and a Aluminum with precision-machined components frame. Overall, the PrintNC wins more comparison categories.
Which is better value for money — PrintNC or Stepcraft D.600 CNC System?
The PrintNC is $1000 cheaper at $1200 vs $2200. Our value scores rate the PrintNC higher at 95/100.
Which router is easier to set up and use?
Based on our ease-of-use benchmarks, the Stepcraft D.600 CNC System scores higher (60/100 vs 15/100). Both support UGS, CNCjs, LinuxCNC among other software options.