Image: Sainsmart
Sainsmart Genmitsu 3018-PRO
Sainsmart
Best for: Learners on a tight budget who want to build a CNC themselves and do small engraving, PCB and soft material work
Typical starting price
$149Editorial baseline for this machine
Overall score
Best current buying path
Where to buy
SainSmart: $149 · checked Oct 2
- Shipping varies by retailer
- Check manufacturer site for availability
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Quick verdict
The 3018-PRO is the kit that made the 3018 format popular: a 300 x 180 x 45mm machine on a 2040 aluminum base with phenolic side plates, round rods and T8 lead screws. It ships with a 775 brushed DC motor rated at 60W and 10000 RPM, an 8-bit GRBL board and an offline controller. At $149 it is one of the cheapest ways into GRBL CNC with real support behind it. The trade-off is that you build it from parts, there are no limit switches or E-stop, and the rods and plastic carriage limit you to light cuts. It is a learning tool and engraver, not a production machine.
Who this fits best
Learners on a tight budget who want to build a CNC themselves and do small engraving, PCB and soft material work
Buy this if
Learners on a tight budget who want to build a CNC themselves and do small engraving, PCB and soft material work. $149 gets a complete GRBL machine with an offline controller in the box.
Skip this if
Full kit build, Sainsmart quotes under two hours and first-timers often take longer, and stock 775 motor is rated 60W (120W peak), fine for engraving but weak for real cutting.
What else you still need
Limit switches and an E-stop if you want homing and a safe stop, proper flat end mills (the kit ships 20 degree V-bits only), clamps beyond the four included, and a sacrificial board on the T-slot bed. The GS-775 20000 RPM spindle or the all-metal Z carriage with a 300W spindle are the usual first upgrades.
Material reality check
Good for engraving wood, acrylic, PVC, foam and PCB isolation milling. Hardwood needs slow, shallow passes. Aluminum is limited to engraving and very light surface work with the stock 60W motor.
Better alternative if...
pay roughly $90 more for the pre-assembled 3018 PROVer V2 if you want limit switches, an E-stop and a 30 minute setup instead of a kit build. See Genmitsu 3018 PROVer V2
Where it wins
- $149 gets a complete GRBL machine with an offline controller in the box
- Huge user base, so guides, mods and troubleshooting threads are everywhere
- Accepts the Y-axis extension, laser module and an all-metal Z carriage for a 300W spindle
- Power supply already supports the 20000 RPM GS-775 drop-in spindle
- Simple open GRBL electronics that are easy to understand and repair
Where it falls short
- Full kit build, Sainsmart quotes under two hours and first-timers often take longer
- Stock 775 motor is rated 60W (120W peak), fine for engraving but weak for real cutting
- No limit switches, no homing and no E-stop from the factory
- Rods-only gantry and plastic carriage flex as soon as you load the cutter
- 45mm of Z travel limits stock thickness and bit length
Specifications
300 × 180 mm
540 cm²
60W
775 brushed DC motor, 24V, ER11 collet (1/8in included)
8-bit Arduino-based GRBL board with DRV8825 drivers, offline handheld controller included
7.1 kg
$149
DIY kit
Full specification table
Relative to database
Benchmark Scores
Overall Score
Composite across 5 dimensions
Community Sentiment
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