Image: Makera
Makera Z1 Desktop CNC
Makera
Best for: Beginners, classrooms and makers who want an enclosed, quiet desktop mill for small parts, PCBs and light metal
Typical starting price
$1,399Editorial 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 Z1 is Makera's cheaper sibling to the Carvera Air, launched in 2026 after a very large Kickstarter. It is a fully enclosed desktop machine with a one-piece cast frame, linear rails, a 150W closed-loop spindle with a quick tool changer, and a small 200 x 200 x 100 mm envelope. Early reviews found it handles aluminium and brass to roughly 0.15 mm in practice, which is impressive for the spindle size, and the enclosure makes it easy to live with indoors. The trade-offs are the small work area, lead screws on the base model and a CAM package that is still catching up.
Who this fits best
Beginners, classrooms and makers who want an enclosed, quiet desktop mill for small parts, PCBs and light metal
Buy this if
Beginners, classrooms and makers who want an enclosed, quiet desktop mill for small parts, PCBs and light metal. Fully enclosed cast-frame machine with built-in dust handling for an office or classroom.
Skip this if
200 x 200 mm work area is small even for a desktop machine, and 150W spindle means slow, light cuts in metal.
What else you still need
Bits sized for the custom collet (1/8 inch standard, other sizes optional), spare MDF beds, and the vacuum bed or vise if you plan on metal or PCB work.
Material reality check
Wood, plastics, PCB material, carbon fibre, aluminium and brass in small parts. Not suitable for steel or other ferrous metals.
Better alternative if...
you want automatic tool changes and a bigger spindle. See Makera Carvera Air
Where it wins
- Fully enclosed cast-frame machine with built-in dust handling for an office or classroom
- Mills aluminium and brass in testing despite the small spindle
- Quick tool changer and very low 0.01 mm spindle runout
- Optional 4th axis, vacuum bed and 5W laser from the same ecosystem
- Simple setup and job workflow through Makera's own app
Where it falls short
- 200 x 200 mm work area is small even for a desktop machine
- 150W spindle means slow, light cuts in metal
- Base Z1 uses lead screws and open-loop NEMA 17 motors; ball screws need the Pro
- Makera's own CAM is still limited for 3D work
- Accessories push the real price well past the base $1,399
Specifications
200 × 200 mm
400 cm²
150W
150W closed-loop spindle, 0.01 mm runout, quick tool changer
Makera controller with the Makera App, NEMA 17 steppers (closed loop on Z1 Pro)
17 kg
$1,399
mid range
Full specification table
Relative to database
Benchmark Scores
Overall Score
Composite across 5 dimensions
Community Sentiment
We have not summarised owner feedback for the Makera Z1 Desktop CNC 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.