Best Desktop CNC Milling Machines:
Our Comparison

                What should you be looking for when purchasing a CNC machine?

                Besides the value behind the company - service, local sourcing and manufacturing, open source - which we'll let you decide how important they are, here's a technical guide to comparing CNC machines.

                This article is structured into 4 parts 

                1. Before buying - which questions you should ask yourself
                2. Evo vs Competitors - entry level desktop CNC comparison
                3. Pro vs Competitors - professional desktop CNC comparison
                4. Fab vs Competitors -  standalone CNC comparison (upcoming)


                1. Questions you should ask yourself before buying a CNC milling machine 


                What materials do you want to mill?

                Although versatile, each CNC machine is designed with strengths and weaknesses, with a specific set of tasks in mind. It's important to choose a machine that is well-suited to your needs and projects.

                Start by thinking of the type and size of materials you’d like to mill, which will impact specifications such as the size of the working area or the strength of the machine structure. 

                The cadence of production you’re looking for will also be highly influenced by the feed rate possibilities of your machine.

                What level of precision and accuracy do you need for the projects you have in mind?

                CNC machines are capable of producing parts with incredible precision, but the quality of the finished product depends on the quality of the machine itself

                If you’re looking for extra-precision or complex assemblies, look for a CNC machine with high-precision components, such as ball screws and prismatic rails, and make sure it has been calibrated by the manufacturer or that there's a procedure to help you calibrate it

                If you’re however looking for carving or wood projects that don’t need extra precision (we’re talking in tenth of millimeters here), this will be a less impactful criterion.

                What type of CAD/CAM software can you use with the machine? 

                Consider the compatibility of the machine with any existing equipment or software you may be using. Many CNC machines are compatible with a wide range of software and equipment, but it's always a good idea to double-check before making a purchase.

                What is included with the machine? 

                Depending on the vendor, there may be some additional costs compared to the price you originally see on the product page: 

                • Do you just get the mechanics or is everything included?
                • Is there a CNC control software included in the price? 
                • Do you need to select the spindle separately? 
                • What add-ons will you need (spoilerboard, touch probe, etc.) ?
                • Do you need an external computer to use the machine? 

                One machine may look cheaper than another before taking into account the necessary add-ons. 

                Are you ready to assemble it yourself?

                Buying a kit might save you some money, as it will be much easier to ship - due to the weight of a CNC machine, shipping costs and import fees are a key factor in the final pricing.

                However, this will cost you time. Take it into account in the timeline of your project.

                Will you have access to training and tutorials?

                If you're purchasing a first-time CNC, make sure you've understood the workflow you'll have to use, and that you have enough resources from the manufacturer or the software provider to learn to use the machine. 

                How good is the customer service of your manufacturer?

                CNC machines are complex machines with many moving parts, and it's important to have access to replacement parts and support in case something goes wrong, no matter your level of experience. 

                Look for a manufacturer that has a good reputation for customer service (in its Google reviews, for example), and will be able to communicate with you in a language you understand. 

                2. Evo vs Competitors - entry level desktop CNC comparison


                Every digital milling machine is based on a mechanics - electronics - software combination that results in its performance, accuracy and durability. You can read more on our design choices here, but the purpose of this section is to compare our Evo machines to other you may find on the market.

                Mekanika >< Euromaker

                 

                Brand Mekanika Euromaker
                Model EVO-S Aureus 3x600
                Price excl. VAT 2223€ + 230€ (spindle) + 106€ (Spoilerboard) 2290€
                GENERAL INFORMATIONS

                Footprint(mm)

                850x850

                650x650
                Working area(mm) 650x650 425x390
                Z clearance (mm) Up to 200 with High-Z kit
                71
                MECHANICS

                Driving system Steel core belts & pulleys + leadscrew  Belts & pulley +
                ballscrews
                Guiding system V-wheel on aluminium  V-wheel on aluminium 
                Structure & frame Aluminium extrusion & 6mm steel plate Aluminium extrusion & aluminium plate
                Maximum travel speed 15.000 mm/min Not annouced
                Annouced precision 0,1mm Not annouced
                ELECTRONICS

                Motors 4x Nema 23 4x Nema 23
                Drivers & Controller Planet CNC (europe based) Grbl
                Protected electronic box Mekanika control unit Open box
                Onboarded computer Raspberry Pi 4 No
                Interface touch pad
                Touchscreen & keypad No
                Limits switches 4x mechanical sensors Not annouced
                Spindle Up to 1,4 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                AMB 1050 FME-P manual control  (included)
                Connectivity Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth,USB USB
                ADD ONS

                Spoilerboard Included Included
                Dust shoe Optional Optional
                Probing device Included Optional
                Square gantry feature Included No
                SUPPORT

                Warranty 5 years   1 year (B2C) - 2 year (B2B)
                Help & tutorials Yes Yes

                 

                Brand Mekanika Ooznest
                Model EVO-S Workbee
                Price (excl. VAT) 2223€ 1663€ (+ import fees for EU)
                GENERAL GEOMETRY

                Footprint (mm)

                850x850

                750x1000
                Working area (mm) 650x650 520x770
                Z clearance (mm)  Up to 200 with High-Z kit
                88
                MECHANICS

                Driving system Steel core belts & pulleys + leadscrew  Belts & pulley +
                leadscrew
                Guiding system V-wheel on aluminium  V-wheel on aluminium 
                Structure & frame Aluminium extrusion & 6mm steel plate Aluminium extrusion & aluminium plate
                Maximum travel speed 15.000 mm/min Not annouced
                Announced precison 0,1mm 0,1mm
                ELECTRONICS

                Motors 4x Nema 23 4x Nema 23
                Drivers & Controller Planet CNC (europe based) Duet 2
                Protected Electronic box Mekanika control unit Open box
                Onboarded computer Raspberry Pi 4 No
                Interface touch pad Touchscreen & keypad No
                Limit switches 4x mechanical sensors Not annouced
                Spindle Up to 1,4 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Up to 1Kw manually controled (option)
                Conectivity Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth,USB Wifi or Ethernet
                ADD ONS 

                Spoilerboard Optional Optional
                Dust Shoe Optional Optional
                Probing device Included included
                Square gantry feature Included No
                SUPPORT

                Warranty 5 years   None
                Tutorials & articles Yes No

                 

                Brand Mekanika Stepcraft
                Model EVO-M M1000
                Price (excl. VAT) 2636€+ 148€ (Spoilerboard) 2730€
                GENERAL GEOMETRY

                Footprint (mm)

                850x1250

                913x1226
                Working area (mm) 650x1050 679x1044
                Z clearance (mm)  Up to 200 with High-Z kit
                194
                MECHANICS

                Driving system Steel core belts & pulleys + leadscrew  Leadscrews
                Guiding system V-wheel on aluminium  Bearing & rails
                Structure & frame Aluminium extrusion & 6mm steel plate Aluminium extrusion & aluminium plate
                Maximum travel speed 15.000 mm/min Not announced
                Announced precison 0,1mm 0,05mm
                ELECTRONICS

                Motors 4x Nema 23 4x Nema 23
                Drivers & Controller Planet CNC (europe based) Stepcraft
                Protected Electronic box Mekanika control unit Integrated in machine
                Onboarded computer Raspberry Pi 4 No
                Interface touch pad Touchscreen & keypad No
                Limit switches 4x mechanical sensors 3x mechanical switches
                Spindle Up to 1,4 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Up to 1,4 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Connectivity Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth,USB USB, optional Ethernet
                ADD ONS 

                Spoilerboard Included Included
                Dust Shoe Optional Optional
                Probing device Included Optional
                Square gantry feature Included No
                SUPPORT

                Warranty 5 years   3 years
                Tutorials & articles Yes Yes

                 

                Brand Mekanika Sorotec
                Model EVO-M Hobby Line XL kit
                Price (excl. VAT) 2636€+148€ (Spoilerboard) 2352€
                GENERAL GEOMETRY

                Footprint (mm)

                850x1250

                860x1250
                Working area (mm) 650x1050 610x1050
                Z clearance (mm)  Up to 200 with High-Z kit
                140
                MECHANICS

                Driving system Steel core belts & pulleys + leadscrew   belts & pulleys + ballscrews
                Guiding system V-wheel on aluminium  Bearing & rails
                Structure & frame Aluminium extrusion & steel plate Aluminium extrusion & aluminium plate
                Maximum travel speed 15.000 mm/min Not annouced
                Announced precison 0,1mm Not annouced
                ELECTRONICS

                Motors 4x Nema 23 3x Nema 23
                Drivers & Controller Planet CNC (europe based) Beacicon2
                Protected Electronic box Mekanika control unit Sorotec control unit
                Onboarded computer Raspberry Pi 4 No
                Interface touch pad Touchscreen & keypad No
                Limit switches 4x mechanical sensors Not annouced
                Spindle Up to 1,4 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Up to 1,4 Kw manually controlled (option)
                Conectivity Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth,USB Ethernet
                ADD ONS 

                Spoilerboard Included Included
                Dust Shoe Optional Optional
                Probing device Included Included
                Square gantry feature Included No
                SUPPORT

                Warranty 5 years   1 year (B2C) - 2 years(B2B)
                Tutorials & articles Yes No

                 

                Brand Mekanika Carbide 3D
                Model EVO-S Shapeoko  4 Standard
                Price (excl. VAT) 2223€ 1870€
                GENERAL GEOMETRY

                Footprint (mm)

                850x1250

                840x610
                Working area (mm) 650x1050 430x430
                Z clearance (mm)   Up to 200 with High-Z kit
                100
                MECHANICS

                Driving system Steel core belts & pulleys + leadscrew   Belts & pulleys  + leadscrews
                Guiding system V-wheel on aluminium  Bearing & rails
                Structure & frame Aluminium extrusion & steel plate Aluminium extrusion & aluminium plate
                Maximum travel speed 15.000 mm/min Not annouced
                Announced precision 0,1mm Not annouced
                ELECTRONICS

                Motors 4x Nema 23 3x Nema 23
                Drivers & Controller Planet CNC (europe based) Arduino + Gshield
                Protected Electronic box Mekanika control unit No
                Onboarded computer Raspberry Pi 4 No
                Interface touch pad Touchscreen & keypad No
                Limit switches 4x mechanical sensors 3x inductive sensors
                Spindle Up to 1,4 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Up to 0,9 Kw manually controlled
                Conectivity Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth,USB Ethernet & USB
                ADD ONS 

                Spoilerboard Included Included
                Dust Shoe Optional included
                Probing device Included Optional
                Square gantry feature Included No
                SUPPORT

                Warranty 5 years   1 year (USA)
                Tutorials & articles Yes No

                3. Pro vs Competitors - professional desktop CNC comparison


                Every digital milling machine is based on a mechanics - electronics - software combination that results in its performance, accuracy and durability. You can read more on our design choices here, but the purpose of this section is to compare our Pro machines to other you may find on the market.

                Mekanika >< CNC Step

                 

                Brand Mekanika CNC Step
                Model

                PRO-L

                High-Z S-1400/T-105

                Price (excl. VAT) 5942€ 6510€
                GENERAL INFORMATIONS

                Footprint (mm)

                1400x1400

                1350x1730
                Working area (mm) 1050x1050 1100x1400
                Z clearance (mm)  Up to 230 with High-Z kit
                110
                MECHANICS

                Driving system Ballscrews 16mm Ballscrews 12mm
                Guiding system Prismatic rails Non supported rails
                Structure & frame Aluminium extrusion & 8mm steel plate Aluminium extrusion & aluminium plate
                Maximum travel speed 10.000 mm/min Not announced
                Annouced precision <0,1mm <0,1mm
                ELECTRONICS

                Motors 4x Nema 23 4x Nema 23
                Drivers & Controller Planet CNC (europe based) CNC Step
                Protected electronic box Mekanika control unit CNC Step Box
                Onboarded computer Raspberry Pi 4 No
                Interface touch pad
                Touchscreen & keypad No
                Limits switches 6x Inductive sensors 3x Mechanical sensors
                Spindle Up to 2,2 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Up to 1,4 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Connectivity Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB USB, Parallel port
                ADD ONS

                Spoilerboard Optional
                Optional
                Dust shoe Optional Optional
                Probing device Included Included
                Square gantry feature Included No
                SUPPORT

                Warranty 5 years   2 years
                Help & tutorials Yes Yes

                 

                Brand Mekanika Stepcraft
                Model PRO-L Q404
                Price (excl. VAT) 5942€+197€ (Spoilerboard) 8320€
                GENERAL GEOMETRY

                Footprint (mm)

                1400x1400

                1596x1501
                Working area (mm) 1050x1050 1223x1223
                Z clearance (mm)  115 145
                MECHANICS

                Driving system Ballscrews 16mm
                Ballscrews 16mm
                Guiding system Prismastic rails 15mm & bearings Supported rails & wheels
                Structure & frame Aluminium extrusion & 8mm steel plate Aluminium extrusion & aluminium plate
                Maximum travel speed 12.000 mm/min 12.000 mm/min
                Announced precison <0,1mm <0,1mm
                ELECTRONICS

                Motors 4x Nema 23 4x Nema 23
                Drivers & Controller Planet CNC (europe based) Stepcraft 
                Protected Electronic box Mekanika control unit Stepcraft control box
                Onboarded computer Raspberry Pi 4 No
                Interface touch pad Touchscreen & keypad No
                Limit switches 6x Inductive sensors 3x Mechanical sensors
                Spindle Up to 2,2 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Up to 2,2Kw manually controled (option)
                Conectivity Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth,USB USB & parrallel port
                ADD ONS 

                Spoilerboard Included Included
                Dust Shoe Optional Optional
                Probing device Included included
                Square gantry feature Included No
                SUPPORT

                Warranty 5 years   Up to 3 years
                Tutorials & articles Yes No
                Mekanika >< Sorotec

                 

                Brand Mekanika Sorotec
                Model PRO-M Compact Line 1007-kit
                Price (excl;VAT) 5364€+197€ Spoilerboard)  4465€
                GENERAL GEOMETRY

                Footprint (mm)

                1000x1400

                910x1320
                Working area (mm) 650x1050 710x1020
                Z clearance (mm)  115 170
                MECHANICS

                Driving system Ballscrews 16mm
                Ballscrews 16mm
                Guiding system Prismastic rails 15mm & bearings Supported rails & bearings
                Structure & frame Aluminium extrusion & 8mm steel plate Aluminium extrusion & aluminium plate
                Maximum travel speed 12.000 mm/min Not announced
                Announced precison <0,1mm Not announced
                ELECTRONICS

                Motors 4x Nema 23 Optional
                Drivers & Controller Planet CNC (europe based) Optional
                Protected Electronic box Mekanika control unit Optional
                Onboarded computer Raspberry Pi 4 No
                Interface touch pad Touchscreen & keypad No
                Limit switches 6x Inductive sensors 3x Mechanical sensors
                Spindle Up to 2,2 Kw software
                controlled (option)
                Up to 1,4Kw manually controled (option)
                Conectivity Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth,USB Not included
                ADD ONS 

                Spoilerboard Optional Included
                Dust Shoe Optional Optional
                Probing device Included Optional
                Square gantry feature Included No
                SUPPORT

                Warranty 5 years   1 year (B2C) 2 years (B2B)
                Tutorials & articles Yes No
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