Image: CNC-STEP
CNC-STEP High-Z S-400/T
CNC-STEP
Best for: A European buyer who wants a machine with local warranty and service rather than the cheapest specification
Typical starting price
€3,545Editorial baseline for this machine
Overall score
Best current buying path
Where to buy
Prices change often: compare the stores below
- Shipping varies by retailer
- Check manufacturer site for availability
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost.
Quick verdict
The High-Z is what you buy when the thing you actually want is a German machine with a German warranty. On paper a Chinese 6040 gives you more envelope for a third of the price, and that comparison is real. What you get here instead is ball screws throughout at 0.01mm repeatability, a complete machine with the spindle included, and a company in Germany with a Dutch storefront that will still answer the phone in three years. For a Netherlands buyer that is a different proposition to shipping a machine from Shenzhen.
Who this fits best
A European buyer who wants a machine with local warranty and service rather than the cheapest specification
Buy this if
A European buyer who wants a machine with local warranty and service rather than the cheapest specification. Made in Germany with EU warranty, support and spare parts.
Skip this if
Expensive next to a Chinese or North American machine of the same size, and 400 by 300mm envelope is small for the money.
What else you still need
A PC for WinPC-NC, end mills, clamps and dust extraction. Check whether the spindle option you want is in the bundle, because the price moves a lot with it.
Material reality check
Ball screws and a welded aluminium portal handle wood, plastics and aluminium well. Steel is light-pass territory only.
Better alternative if...
you want more cutting area per euro and do not need the German build. See Shapeoko 5 Pro 2x2
Where it wins
- Made in Germany with EU warranty, support and spare parts
- Ball screws on all three axes with roughly 0.01mm repeatability
- Sold as a complete machine with the spindle, not a kit with a shopping list
- CNC-STEP run a Dutch storefront, so NL and BE buyers get local service
- 4-axis capable controller out of the box
Where it falls short
- Expensive next to a Chinese or North American machine of the same size
- 400 by 300mm envelope is small for the money
- WinPC-NC is dated compared with modern senders
- Almost no English-language community, documentation is German-first
- Slow to arrive compared with in-stock US brands
Specifications
400 × 300 mm
1200 cm²
1050W
Kress or Mechatron spindle options, sold with the machine
CNC-STEP 4-axis 5-channel control unit
48 kg
€3,545
premium
Full specification table
Relative to database
Benchmark Scores
Overall Score
Composite across 5 dimensions
Community Sentiment
We have not summarised owner feedback for the CNC-STEP High-Z S-400/T yet, so this section is intentionally left without claims. Check the sources for current owner discussions.
Community sentiment is aggregated from forums, Reddit, Discord, and manufacturer communities. Individual experiences may vary.